Psalm 147 17

Psalm 147:17 kjv

He casteth forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold?

Psalm 147:17 nkjv

He casts out His hail like morsels; Who can stand before His cold?

Psalm 147:17 niv

He hurls down his hail like pebbles. Who can withstand his icy blast?

Psalm 147:17 esv

He hurls down his crystals of ice like crumbs; who can stand before his cold?

Psalm 147:17 nlt

He hurls the hail like stones.
Who can stand against his freezing cold?

Psalm 147 verses

Psalm 147 17 Meaning

Psalm 147:17 illustrates the Lord's absolute and overwhelming control over the elements of nature. He sends forth severe weather, such as ice and frost, with ease, comparing them to scattered fragments. This demonstrates His supreme power, to which no one can withstand or offer resistance, underscoring human vulnerability and God's irresistible might.

Psalm 147 17 Context

Psalm 147 is a hymn of praise and thanksgiving, likely composed after the return of the Jewish exiles to Jerusalem, celebrating the rebuilding of the city and temple. It beautifully interweaves God's providential care for His people (especially Israel) with His sovereign control over the natural world. The psalm emphasizes that the same God who heals the brokenhearted and gathers the outcasts is also the one who commands the snow, scatters frost, and sends the ice. This verse (17) falls within a section (v. 15-18) specifically highlighting God's power through weather phenomena, contrasting His limitless might with humanity's limitations and incapacity to manipulate or withstand such forces. Historically, ancient cultures often attributed weather events to multiple deities or impersonal forces, making the psalmist's clear affirmation of Yahweh's sole and absolute control a significant statement of monotheistic theology.

Psalm 147 17 Word analysis

• He: Refers directly to Yahweh, the Lord. This immediately establishes the divine source of the power and actions described. The Hebrew pronoun is implicitly carried in the verb's conjugation, emphasizing God's agency.
• casts forth: (Hebrew: יֹרֶה - yoreh, from root יָרָה - yarah) Meaning to throw, shoot, cast, or direct. It implies intentionality and precision, not mere randomness. God doesn't just let things happen; He actively directs and dispatches His elements.
• His ice: (Hebrew: קַרְחֽוֹ - qarḥo, from קֶרַח - qerach) Refers to ice, frost, or hail. The possessive "His" (וֹ - o) indicates it is God's own instrument, under His direct command, a manifestation of His divine will, not an independent force.
• like morsels: (Hebrew: כְּפִתִּים - kəphittim, from פִּתּוֹת - pittot) Literally "like pieces" or "like crumbs/fragments." This simile can imply several things:
  • Abundance: God scatters a multitude of ice pieces, like throwing many crumbs.
  • Ease: He casts them forth with such ease, as if they were insignificant morsels, despite their devastating potential.
  • Fragility: Though small individually, their collective power is overwhelming. It underscores that even seemingly minor elements, when used by God, possess immense force.
• Who can stand: (Hebrew: מִי יַעֲמֹד - mi ya'amod) This is a rhetorical question. Mi (who) introduces a query, and ya'amod (will stand/endure) implies the ability to resist, remain firm, or withstand.
• before His cold?: (Hebrew: לִפְנֵי קָרָתֽוֹ - liphnai qorato) Liphnai (before/in the presence of) indicates confronting something directly. Qarato (His cold, from קָרָה - qarah which can mean cold or coolness/chilling effects) refers to the severe, piercing cold or the extreme effects of such weather. The question emphasizes that the force God wields in the cold is irresistible and renders human beings helpless.

Words-group analysis:

• He casts forth His ice like morsels: This phrase showcases God's sovereign command over natural forces, not as distant creator, but as active governor. The imagery of "morsels" conveys both His effortless power (he dispenses powerful elements as easily as dropping crumbs) and the vast scale of what He can unleash. It debunks any notion of elemental chaos or the independence of natural phenomena; all are subservient to God's command.
• Who can stand before His cold?: This powerful rhetorical question drives home the theme of God's overwhelming might. It implies a resounding "no one." It challenges any human pretense of control, self-sufficiency, or ability to resist divine power when manifest in creation. The "cold" here represents the full, unbridled force of God's natural judgments or demonstrations of power, against which humanity is utterly vulnerable. This implicitly counters any belief systems that rely on human strength or control over the environment, positing God alone as truly potent.

Psalm 147 17 Bonus section

The poetic parallelism often found in Hebrew poetry is subtle here, contrasting the direct action of "casting forth ice" with the question about "standing before His cold." This links God's active power (the throwing) with its inevitable effect (the cold's irresistibility). This verse, read with verse 18 ("He sends out His word and melts them"), provides a full picture of God's control: He can send the harshest cold and also cause it to thaw, demonstrating His comprehensive mastery over cycles of nature. This holistic control further accentuates His supremacy. The concept of God using ice and hail for judgment is not new, echoing narratives like the plagues in Exodus or battles in Joshua, suggesting a continuous divine pattern of intervention through nature.

Psalm 147 17 Commentary

Psalm 147:17 serves as a vivid testimony to God's absolute sovereignty over creation. It reinforces the theological truth that all natural phenomena, even seemingly mundane ones like winter weather, are under His direct command and control. The imagery of casting ice "like morsels" highlights God's effortless power; He handles elements capable of immense destruction as if they were insignificant trifles, indicating that His strength is boundless. The rhetorical question, "Who can stand before His cold?", is designed to humble humanity, reminding us of our frailty and impotence in the face of divine power. This verse compels us to fear and worship the Lord alone, recognizing that all life and even the harsh realities of nature originate from His authoritative word. It assures believers of God's perfect control, while warning all of His inescapable justice. Practically, it encourages reliance on God even amidst difficult circumstances, knowing He orchestrates all, and reminds us that trials or harsh realities are within His sovereign plan, demonstrating His power to His glory.