Psalm 65:10 kjv
Thou waterest the ridges thereof abundantly: thou settlest the furrows thereof: thou makest it soft with showers: thou blessest the springing thereof.
Psalm 65:10 nkjv
You water its ridges abundantly, You settle its furrows; You make it soft with showers, You bless its growth.
Psalm 65:10 niv
You drench its furrows and level its ridges; you soften it with showers and bless its crops.
Psalm 65:10 esv
You water its furrows abundantly, settling its ridges, softening it with showers, and blessing its growth.
Psalm 65:10 nlt
You drench the plowed ground with rain,
melting the clods and leveling the ridges.
You soften the earth with showers
and bless its abundant crops.
Psalm 65 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lev 26:4 | "then I will give you your rains in their season, and the land shall yield..." | Rain for obedience |
| Deut 11:14 | "he will give the rain for your land in its season, the early rain..." | God's promise of rain |
| Deut 28:12 | "The LORD will open for you his good treasury... to give the rain..." | Divine treasury of rain |
| Job 5:10 | "He gives rain on the earth and sends waters on the fields." | God provides rain |
| Psa 104:13 | "From your lofty dwelling you water the mountains..." | God waters creation |
| Psa 147:8 | "He covers the heavens with clouds; he prepares rain for the earth..." | God orchestrates rain |
| Isa 30:23 | "And he will give rain for the seed that you sow in the ground..." | Rain for agricultural yield |
| Jer 5:24 | "who gives the rain in its season, the early rain and the later rain..." | God controls seasons' rain |
| Joel 2:23-24 | "He gives the early rain... and the threshing floors shall be full..." | Rain bringing abundance |
| Mat 5:45 | "he makes his sun rise... and sends rain on the just and on the unjust." | Universal divine provision |
| Acts 14:17 | "he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons..." | God's goodness through nature |
| Jam 5:7 | "the farmer waits for... the early and the late rains." | Patience for God's provision |
| Heb 6:7 | "For land that has drunk the rain... and produces a crop... receives a blessing." | Rain enabling spiritual fruitfulness |
| Hos 6:3 | "...He will come to us like the showers, like the spring rains that water..." | God's refreshing presence like rain |
| Isa 55:10-11 | "For as the rain... comes down from heaven... so shall my word be..." | God's word like fertile rain |
| Psa 29:10 | "The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD sits enthroned as king." | God's sovereignty over water |
| Psa 78:23-24 | "Yet he commanded the clouds above and opened the doors of heaven..." | God providing Manna/divine sustenance |
| Neh 9:6 | "...you preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships you." | God as preserver and sustainer |
| Gen 1:11-12 | "And God said, 'Let the earth sprout vegetation...'" | Initial creation of plants and fruitfulness |
| Col 1:17 | "And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together." | Christ as sustainer of creation |
| Zec 10:1 | "Ask rain from the LORD in the season of the latter rain, from the LORD..." | Asking God for rain |
| Rev 11:6 | "They have power to shut the sky, that no rain may fall..." | God's power over rain (delegated) |
Psalm 65 verses
Psalm 65 10 Meaning
Psalm 65:10 celebrates the Lord's continuous and abundant provision for the earth's fertility. It describes God's direct involvement in preparing the land, watering it with rain, and ensuring its produce, thereby sustaining all life. This verse highlights divine benevolence and power manifested in the agricultural cycle, transforming seemingly barren ground into fruitful land through specific acts of care.
Psalm 65 10 Context
Psalm 65 is a psalm of thanksgiving, primarily focusing on God's benevolence both in redeeming His people from sin (Psa 65:1-4) and in sustaining creation (Psa 65:5-13). Verse 10 specifically falls within the latter section, which celebrates God's providential care for the earth, emphasizing His power over natural phenomena and His role as the ultimate source of fertility and abundance.Historically and culturally, ancient Israel was an agrarian society deeply dependent on seasonal rains for their crops and sustenance. In this context, the psalm presents a direct contrast to the pagan beliefs of surrounding nations (such as the worship of Baal), who believed false gods controlled rain and fertility. This verse serves as a powerful polemic, declaring that only the God of Israel, Yahweh, has the power and willingness to bring rain, soften the ground, and bless the harvest, demonstrating His absolute sovereignty over creation and all aspects of life.
Psalm 65 10 Word analysis
- You water (רַוֵּה, ravveh): From the root ravah, meaning "to be satisfied, drink deeply, be fully watered." It denotes abundant, saturating hydration. This isn't just a sprinkle but a thorough drenching, highlighting the generosity of God's provision. It's a proactive, personal action by God.
- its furrows (תְּלָמֶ֣יהָ, tlamēhā): Refers to the channels or grooves made in the earth by plowing. These are deliberately prepared lines in the soil, ready to receive seed. It implies that God tends to the prepared ground, emphasizing the connection between human effort (plowing) and divine blessing.
- abundantly (נַחֵ֣ת, naḥēṯ): This word also carries the sense of bringing down, causing to settle or descend. Often paired with ravveh, it further emphasizes the ample nature of the water falling, deeply penetrating and settling the soil.
- You settle its ridges (גְּדֽוּדֶיהָ, gĕdûḏeyhā): "Its ridges" refers to the clods or elevated parts of the soil left after plowing. "You settle" or "let down" means these elevated parts are broken down, smoothed, and moistened by the abundant water, making the ground suitable for healthy plant growth. It suggests God breaks down hardened soil for penetration.
- You soften it (תַּמְגֶ֤גְנָה, tamgegnah): This verb means "to dissolve," "melt," or "soften." The rain's effect is not just superficial but deep, breaking up compacted soil. This ensures the soil becomes permeable, allowing seeds to sprout and roots to penetrate easily.
- with showers (בִרְבִיבִ֖ים, birvīvîm): Refers to the heavy, saturating downpours or plentiful rains. It signifies that the softening comes not from light drizzle but significant precipitation necessary for agricultural success, indicative of God’s complete provision.
- You bless (תְּבָרֵֽךְ, tĕvāreḵ): From the common Hebrew verb barak, meaning "to kneel, praise, bless." In this context, it signifies divine favor and empowerment that results in fruitfulness and prosperity. God’s action ensures that the effort culminates in successful growth.
- its growth (צִמְחָ֣הּ, ṣimḥāh): From the root ṣemaḥ, meaning "sprout," "growth," or "vegetation." This refers to the springing forth of new plant life from the prepared and watered ground. It encompasses the entire process of germination and initial development, culminating in a harvest.
- Words-group Analysis:
- "You water its furrows abundantly, You settle its ridges": This initial phrase establishes God's meticulous and thorough engagement with the prepared earth. He is directly involved in irrigating and tilling the soil through His rain.
- "You soften it with showers": This phrase details the mechanism and effect of God's watering, highlighting that the rain's quality (showers) and outcome (softening) are precise for cultivating fertility.
- "You bless its growth": This climactic phrase summarises the divine goal and ultimate result. All prior actions by God—watering, settling, softening—are directed towards the blessing of new life and abundant yield, underscoring God's benevolence as the ultimate source of life.
Psalm 65 10 Bonus section
The agricultural imagery in Psalm 65:10 reflects a common biblical theme where natural processes are metaphors for spiritual realities. The prepared "furrows" and "ridges" can be likened to the human heart, which needs to be receptive and open (plowed) for the "showers" of God's Word or Spirit to soften and bring forth spiritual growth and fruit. The contrast with pagan fertility cults is a strong undertone, declaring Yahweh as the sole Lord of creation, thereby rebuking any reliance on idols or human endeavors as ultimate sources of blessing. This verse also implicitly showcases God’s covenant faithfulness, as part of His promise to sustain creation after the Flood (Gen 8:22) and to bless His people with land productivity in the covenant (Deut 28).
Psalm 65 10 Commentary
Psalm 65:10 offers a profound picture of God as the attentive and diligent Gardener of His creation. It's not a distant deity, but one intimately involved in the mechanics of earth's fertility. Every aspect, from preparing the ground by deeply watering furrows to settling compacted ridges, is His active doing. The "showers" are precise in their softening effect, not just random rain, pointing to divine intentionality and perfection in provision. The ultimate outcome, the "blessing" of growth, reveals God's generosity and life-giving nature. This divine work is critical; without God's active involvement, the farmer's labor would be in vain, emphasizing that true sustenance comes from the Lord. Practically, this inspires trust in God's providence in all areas of life, from physical sustenance to spiritual growth, reminding believers that just as He nurtures the earth, He nurtures His people. For example, just as rain helps a seed grow into a plant, God’s grace and Word allow believers to grow in faith and spiritual fruitfulness.