Psalm 147 18

Psalm 147:18 kjv

He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: he causeth his wind to blow, and the waters flow.

Psalm 147:18 nkjv

He sends out His word and melts them; He causes His wind to blow, and the waters flow.

Psalm 147:18 niv

He sends his word and melts them; he stirs up his breezes, and the waters flow.

Psalm 147:18 esv

He sends out his word, and melts them; he makes his wind blow and the waters flow.

Psalm 147:18 nlt

Then, at his command, it all melts.
He sends his winds, and the ice thaws.

Psalm 147 verses

Psalm 147 18 Meaning

Psalm 147:18 beautifully describes the Lord God's absolute dominion over nature, specifically the transition from harsh winter to the life-giving flow of spring. Following a description of snow, hoarfrost, and hail as God's "gifts" (vv. 16-17), this verse reveals His powerful decree that reverses the frozen state. "He sends out His word" initiates the command, and this divine utterance immediately "melts them" – the frozen elements. Further, "He causes His wind to blow," signifying the arrival of warming breezes or the Spirit's enabling power, leading to the outcome where "the waters flow," transforming stagnant ice and snow into gushing, life-sustaining streams. It highlights God's sovereignty over every condition and His ability to bring warmth, life, and abundance out of cold, desolation, and immobility through His active will and agents.

Psalm 147 18 Context

Psalm 147 is a hymn of praise, exhorting the people to extol the Lord. The chapter praises God for two main categories of His glorious attributes: His powerful dominion over the natural world and His gracious, benevolent care for His people, Israel. Verses 15-18 fall under the first category, focusing on God's sovereignty over the weather and seasons. Verse 15 introduces the swiftness of God's word going forth, preparing for its impact on creation. Verses 16-17 describe the visible effects of winter: God gives snow like wool, scatters hoarfrost like ashes, and casts down hail like crumbs—conditions that render the earth immobile and cold. Verse 18 then presents the divine resolution to these conditions. It transitions from the severity of winter's grip to the powerful thaw and renewal, demonstrating God's complete control over both the onset and the cessation of such conditions. Culturally, in an agricultural society dependent on seasonal rain and the thaw for crop growth and water supply, God's command over these elements was directly tied to survival and prosperity. This theme also contains an indirect polemic against surrounding pagan beliefs in lesser deities or nature gods who were thought to control weather; the psalm emphatically declares that only the God of Israel holds this sovereign power.

Psalm 147 18 Word analysis

• He sends out (יִשְׁלַח, yishlach): From the root שָׁלַח (shalach), meaning "to send, stretch out, cast off." It denotes a deliberate, volitional act by God, not an impersonal force. God initiates the action, exercising His sovereign will directly.
• His word (דְּבָרוֹ, d'varo): From דָּבָר (davar), meaning "word, speech, matter, thing." Here it specifically refers to God's spoken command, His divine utterance. This "word" is inherently potent and effective, as seen throughout creation (Gen 1) and in prophecy. It highlights that God's power is communicated through His decree, achieving immediate results.
• and melts them (יַמְסֵם, yamsem): From the root מָסַס (masas), meaning "to melt, dissolve, cause to languish." This verb graphically describes the dissolution of the ice and snow, returning them to their liquid state. It implies a complete and irreversible transformation, signifying God's overcoming of the hard and immobile with ease.
• He causes His wind (יַשִּׁב רוּחוֹ, yashshiv ru'cho):
  • יַשִּׁב (yashshiv): From שׁוּב (shuv), meaning "to return, bring back, restore." In this context, it implies causing something to "turn back" or "be restored to activity," specifically causing the wind to blow.
  • רוּחוֹ (ru'cho): From רוּחַ (ruach), meaning "wind, breath, spirit." While often referring to the Holy Spirit, here in a natural context, it is God's atmospheric power – a warm wind that contributes to the thaw. Yet, the double meaning is profound, as God's "wind" or "Spirit" is consistently associated with life, animation, and change throughout Scripture.
• to blow: Implied by the verb יַשִּׁב and the noun רוּחַ, indicating the active movement of air.
• and the waters flow (יִזְּלוּ־מָיִם, yizz'lu-mayim):
  • יִזְּלוּ (yizz'lu): From נָזַל (nazal), meaning "to flow, gush forth, drip." It denotes the free, often rapid, movement of water, indicating abundance and vitality.
  • מָיִם (mayim): Meaning "waters." The outcome of God's action, a sign of refreshment, fertility, and life renewed.

Words-group analysis:

• "He sends out His word and melts them": This phrase emphasizes the unparalleled and effortless power of God's spoken command. His word alone is sufficient to change the fundamental state of matter (from solid to liquid), signifying complete dominion over the most formidable aspects of creation. It is not a laborious process but a divine decree, illustrating immediacy and ultimate authority.
• "He causes His wind to blow and the waters flow": This second part complements the first, showcasing another powerful agent – God's "wind" (or Spirit). The wind serves as the instrument or facilitator of the thaw, bringing the warmer conditions necessary for the transformation. The flowing waters represent the desired outcome: life, productivity, and release from winter's dormancy. The parallel structure highlights two distinct yet equally powerful divine interventions (Word and Wind) leading to a unified beneficial result (melting and flowing).

Psalm 147 18 Bonus section

• Divine Decrees and Agents: This verse provides a perfect illustration of God's modus operandi: His powerful word (decree) often sets things in motion, and His "wind" or Spirit (agent) facilitates the physical manifestation or complete the work. It reinforces the concept that God's power is both commanding (through His word) and immanent (through His Spirit/wind).
• Dependence and Gratitude: By illustrating such a fundamental process critical for survival and agriculture, the psalm inherently calls the reader to acknowledge complete dependence on God for daily provision and the rhythms of life. This naturally fosters an attitude of praise and gratitude for His unwavering control and beneficent provision.
• From Stagnation to Movement: The imagery of "melting" and "flowing" profoundly signifies a transition from stasis and rigidity (frozen water) to vibrant activity and abundance (gushing waters). This is a consistent biblical theme of God bringing life out of deadness, movement out of stagnation, and fruitfulness out of barrenness.

Psalm 147 18 Commentary

Psalm 147:18 reveals the astonishing and efficient power of the Almighty God. Having earlier in the psalm detailed His minute care for the weak and His immense wisdom, the psalmist here highlights His macrocosmic control over the very elements that shape our environment. The imagery of winter's grip (ice, snow, hail) transformed by God's decree into gushing waters is a profound demonstration of His absolute sovereignty. His "word" acts as the supreme command, rendering the immovable mutable. Coupled with this, His "wind"—a dynamic force often symbolizing the Spirit's active presence—completes the process, bringing life-giving flow. This divine intervention speaks not only of seasonal change but metaphorically of God's power to thaw spiritual hardness, bring refreshment to parched souls, and resolve seemingly insurmountable obstacles in the lives of His people. Just as physical ice gives way to liquid life, so can spiritual dryness yield to overflowing grace under His sovereign hand.