Psalm 144 5

Psalm 144:5 kjv

Bow thy heavens, O LORD, and come down: touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.

Psalm 144:5 nkjv

Bow down Your heavens, O LORD, and come down; Touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.

Psalm 144:5 niv

Part your heavens, LORD, and come down; touch the mountains, so that they smoke.

Psalm 144:5 esv

Bow your heavens, O LORD, and come down! Touch the mountains so that they smoke!

Psalm 144:5 nlt

Open the heavens, LORD, and come down.
Touch the mountains so they billow smoke.

Psalm 144 verses

Psalm 144 5 Meaning

Psalm 144:5 is a fervent plea from King David for a dramatic and direct divine intervention. He calls upon God to visibly manifest His power and presence in the world. The imagery used evokes a majestic and awe-inspiring theophany, reminiscent of God's descent upon Mount Sinai, signifying an immediate and overwhelming display of His might intended to confront and defeat adversaries. It is a prayer for God to "come down" from His transcendent dwelling to engage directly with earthly matters, particularly in warfare or crisis.

Psalm 144 5 Context

Psalm 144 is a Davidic psalm, characterized by a blend of praise for God as the Giver of strength and victory, and a heartfelt prayer for deliverance from enemies and for the prosperity of the nation. It opens with an acknowledgment of God as his "Rock and his Fortress," training his hands for battle. Verses 1-4 praise God's greatness and man's frailty. Verse 5 begins a shift, as David calls for a direct, dramatic intervention from God against the "strangers" or foreign enemies (vv. 7, 11) that threaten him and his people. The plea in verse 5 for God to "bow the heavens and come down" and for the mountains to "smoke" underscores the extreme urgency and dire need for overwhelming divine action. Historically, this aligns with David's reign often being characterized by warfare and the constant need for divine protection and guidance against numerous external foes.

Psalm 144 5 Word analysis

• Bow thy heavens (תֵּט שָׁמַיִם - tet shamayim):

  • תֵּט (tet): An imperative verb from the root natah, meaning "to stretch out," "to incline," "to bend," or "to bow down." Here, it expresses a forceful command or urgent plea for God to physically bend or stoop the heavens, which are His dwelling place. It depicts a divine movement of condescension and accessibility.
  • שָׁמַיִם (shamayim): "Heavens" or "sky." This plural form (ending in '-ayim') signifies the upper regions, God's dwelling. The image is of God's vast, ethereal abode lowering itself, indicating a departure from His transcendent remoteness for direct engagement. This evokes a powerful theophanic scene where the divine sphere directly touches the earthly realm, symbolizing immediate divine presence.

• O Lord (יְהוָה - YHWH): The personal, covenantal name of God. By invoking YHWH, David appeals to God's relational commitment and faithfulness to His people, implying a plea based on an established covenant relationship rather than a generic deity.

• and come down (וְתֵרֵד - vetērēd):

  • וְ (ve): The conjunction "and."
  • תֵרֵד (tērēd): An imperative verb from the root yarad, meaning "to descend," "to go down." This is a direct, action-oriented request for God to manifest Himself by stepping out of His heavenly sphere into the earthly realm. It underscores the urgency and necessity for an active, visible intervention, rather than passive observation or distant blessing. This "coming down" is for immediate engagement in the battle.

• touch (גַּע - ga‘): An imperative verb from the root naga, meaning "to touch," "to strike," or "to reach." This conveys an active, direct, and intimate involvement of God. A mere touch from the Almighty is enough to elicit a dramatic reaction, demonstrating effortless and absolute power. It highlights that God does not need grand effort to achieve monumental effects.

• the mountains (בֶּהָרִים - behārīm):

  • בֶּהָרִים (behārīm): The plural form of har (mountain) with the preposition 'b' (on/in). Mountains are symbols of strength, permanence, and majesty in ancient Near Eastern thought. For God to "touch" them implies that even the most formidable natural features are instantly affected by His presence and power. Their solidity provides a powerful contrast to their expected reaction.

• and they shall smoke (וְיֶעֱשָׁנוּ - veyeʿěšānū):

  • וְ (ve): The conjunction "and."
  • יֶעֱשָׁנוּ (yeʿěšānū): A verb from the root ashan, meaning "to smoke." The future or jussive aspect here indicates a guaranteed outcome or a direct consequence of God's touch. The imagery of smoking mountains immediately recalls the terrifying scene at Mount Sinai during the giving of the Law (Ex 19:18). This demonstrates God's awe-inspiring power, holiness, and the fearful aspect of His presence, especially in judgment against foes. It implies disruption, fear, and a display of divine fury that dissolves opposition.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "Bow thy heavens... and come down": This phrase describes God initiating contact from His celestial abode. It is a direct invocation for the transcendent God to become immanent, demonstrating condescension in power. The image is of a warrior-God descending from His fortress to fight alongside His people, indicating personal investment in their plight.
  • "Touch the mountains, and they shall smoke": This conveys the ease and overwhelming power of God's action. A mere "touch" from the Almighty creates a cataclysmic, terrifying effect on the most stable elements of creation. The smoking mountains symbolize the undeniable, fearful evidence of God's holy presence and the fiery aspect of His judgment, echoing the theophany at Sinai and portending terror for enemies.

Psalm 144 5 Bonus section

The strong Sinaitic imagery in this verse serves not only to invoke God's overwhelming power but also as a direct polemic against the regional pagan deities. Canaanite religions often associated Baal with storm clouds, thunder, and mountains, claiming his dwelling was on mountaintops. By picturing YHWH "bowing the heavens," "coming down," and making the "mountains smoke," David implicitly declares that the true God of Israel, YHWH, is not merely associated with such phenomena, but commands and creates them through His own terrifying, sovereign power. This demonstrates YHWH's absolute transcendence and dominion, far surpassing any localized or limited deity. The prayer, therefore, implicitly asserts monotheistic supremacy and divine uniqueness, emphasizing that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is the only true source of such cataclysmic and decisive power.

Psalm 144 5 Commentary

Psalm 144:5 is a poetic yet profoundly practical prayer for decisive divine intervention. David petitions God to manifest His presence not subtly, but with cosmic, undeniable force. The imagery of bowing heavens and descending deity signifies God's personal involvement, breaking through the veil between the spiritual and physical realms. His touch upon the mountains, causing them to smoke, illustrates His absolute sovereignty and power over creation. This is not just a call for help, but a plea for God to "show up" in His full, dreadful glory, demonstrating His awesome power to intimidate enemies and assure His people of victory. It invokes the fearful might of the God of Sinai, who comes down to establish His will, bringing terror to those who oppose Him and assurance to His chosen one. Practically, it reflects a deep conviction that only God’s overwhelming power can deliver from insurmountable threats.