Psalm 65:13 kjv
The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing.
Psalm 65:13 nkjv
The pastures are clothed with flocks; The valleys also are covered with grain; They shout for joy, they also sing.
Psalm 65:13 niv
The meadows are covered with flocks and the valleys are mantled with grain; they shout for joy and sing.
Psalm 65:13 esv
the meadows clothe themselves with flocks, the valleys deck themselves with grain, they shout and sing together for joy.
Psalm 65:13 nlt
The meadows are clothed with flocks of sheep,
and the valleys are carpeted with grain.
They all shout and sing for joy!
Psalm 65 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 96:12 | Let the field be joyful, and all that is in it... | Creation's rejoicing |
| Isa 55:12 | For you shall go out with joy... the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. | Nature's exuberant praise |
| Ps 104:13-14 | He waters the mountains from His upper chambers; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of Your works. He causes the grass to grow for the cattle, and vegetation for the service of man... | God's provision for creation |
| Ps 148:7-13 | Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all deeps; fire and hail, snow and cloud; stormy wind, fulfilling His word; mountains and all hills, fruitful trees and all cedars... | Universal creation praises God |
| Job 38:26-27 | To satisfy the desolate wasteland and cause the grass to spring forth? | God's sovereign control over weather/fertility |
| Gen 1:11-12 | Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed... and the fruit tree that yields fruit...” | God's original creation of plant life |
| Joel 2:21-26 | Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice, for the Lord has done great things! Do not be afraid, you beasts of the field... your vats shall overflow with new wine and oil. | Land rejoices in restoration/blessing |
| Hos 2:21-22 | "I will respond to the heavens, and they will respond to the earth; and the earth will respond to the grain, the new wine, and the oil..." | Interconnected blessing from God |
| Deut 28:11-12 | The Lord will grant you plenty of goods, in the fruit of your body, in the increase of your livestock, and in the produce of your ground, in the land of which the Lord swore to your fathers to give you... | Blessings for obedience |
| Zech 8:12 | For the seed shall be prosperous, the vine shall give its fruit, the ground shall give her increase... | Promise of future abundance |
| Mt 6:26 | Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. | God's faithful provision for creation |
| Acts 14:17 | Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness. | God's universal witness through nature |
| Rom 8:19-22 | For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God... The creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption... | Creation's future hope in redemption |
| Heb 6:7 | For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God. | Earth blessed by God's watering |
| Ps 72:16 | There will be an abundance of grain in the earth, on the top of the mountains; its fruit shall wave like Lebanon... | Abundance in the Messianic reign |
| Lev 26:4-5 | Then I will give you rain in its season, the land shall yield its increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. Your threshing shall reach to the time of vintage... | Covenant blessings of agricultural plenty |
| Ezek 34:26 | I will make them and the places all around My hill a blessing; and I will cause showers to come down in their season... | God's showers of blessing |
| Isa 35:1 | The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them, and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose... | Transformed creation in joy |
| Jer 31:12 | They shall come and sing in the height of Zion, streaming to the goodness of the Lord for grain and new wine and oil... their souls shall be like a well-watered garden... | People rejoicing in God's abundance |
| Hag 2:19 | Is the seed still in the barn? As yet the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have not yielded. But from this day I will bless you. | God promises future agricultural blessing |
| Ps 4:7 | You have put gladness in my heart, more than in the season that their grain and wine increased. | Joy of blessing, contrasting with human desires |
Psalm 65 verses
Psalm 65 13 Meaning
Psalm 65:13 speaks of the profound and abundant blessing of God evident in the natural world. It describes the rich grazing lands and fertile valleys as being so bountifully covered with livestock and grain that they metaphorically express joy through shouts and songs. This imagery portrays a complete and exuberant celebration of God's overflowing provision and goodness, demonstrating how His divine care permeates and transforms the earth into a state of flourishing and praise.
Psalm 65 13 Context
Psalm 65 is a song of praise to God, primarily for His gracious and bountiful provision. The psalm transitions from acknowledging God's forgiveness of sins (vv. 1-4) and His awesome power over creation (vv. 5-8), to celebrating His universal care demonstrated through the life-giving rain and abundant harvest (vv. 9-13). It begins with anticipation of praise in Zion and culminates in a vibrant depiction of the earth’s joyful response to His generosity. Historically, for ancient Israel, an agrarian society, the rain and fertile land were direct indicators of divine favor, ensuring life and prosperity. Thus, the flourishing described in verse 13 is not merely an observation of nature, but a profound theological statement about YHWH as the sole Giver of life and Sustainer of the cosmos, contrasting with the polytheistic fertility cults that ascribed such power to various local deities.
Psalm 65 13 Word analysis
- The pastures: (נָאוֹת, na'ot) Refers to rich grazing grounds or green pastures, signifying places of comfort and ample provision for livestock. In a pastoral society, lush pastures denoted prosperity and divine blessing, providing sustenance for the herds, a primary source of wealth and food.
- are clothed: (לָבְשׁוּ, lav'shu) From a verb meaning "to wear," "to be clothed," "to put on." This is powerful personification, likening the pastures to putting on a garment. It suggests a complete covering and adornment, indicating an overwhelming abundance of flocks, such that the very ground is concealed by them, akin to how clothing covers a body.
- with flocks: (צֹאן, tzo'n) Refers specifically to sheep and goats, which were crucial for the livelihood of the Israelites—providing meat, milk, wool, and sacrificial offerings. The image conveys great increase and prosperity for the community.
- The valleys: (וַעֲמָקִים, va'amaqim) Low-lying, often fertile plains, traditionally the best land for cultivating grain. This contrasts with the higher ground of pastures, showing the pervasive reach of God's blessing across different types of land.
- are covered: (יַעֲטֻפוּ, ya'atu'fu) From a verb meaning "to envelop," "to wrap up," "to faint from abundance." It suggests a state of being completely overwhelmed or swathed by something. Here, it implies an extreme abundance, where the grain entirely blankets the valleys.
- with grain: (בַּר, bar) Refers to cereals, especially wheat or barley, the foundational staple crops. Its abundance guarantees food security and prosperity for the population, signaling God's full provision.
- They shout: (יִתְרוֹעֲעוּ, yit'ro'a'u) From a root (rua) meaning "to raise a war cry," "to shout aloud," "to make a joyful noise." This word conveys exuberant, unrestrained, and boisterous joy. Applied to the valleys, it amplifies the personification, implying an almost audible expression of delight from the land itself. It's a shout of triumph and celebration over the abundant harvest.
- for joy; they also sing: (אַף יָשִׁירוּ, af yashiru) Af means "also" or "indeed," emphasizing the second action. Yashiru means "they sing." This further develops the personification of the land. Not only do the valleys shout in revelry, but they break into song, expressing their profound satisfaction and gratitude to their Maker. This double action emphasizes the intensity and totality of their joyous response. The creation's response is depicted as vocal, deliberate, and profound.
Psalm 65 13 Bonus section
The poetic parallelism in Psalm 65:13—"The pastures are clothed with flocks, the valleys are covered with grain"—employs vivid sensory imagery to emphasize completeness and plenitude. The sequence from pastures to valleys, and flocks to grain, covers the essential aspects of an agricultural economy, illustrating a holistic blessing from God. This passage stands in direct theological contrast to pagan agricultural rituals which sought to "motivate" fertility gods; Psalm 65 powerfully asserts that the true and sovereign source of all fertility and provision is YHWH alone, whose blessings flow naturally and exuberantly from His nature, prompting spontaneous rejoicing from the earth itself.
Psalm 65 13 Commentary
Psalm 65:13 caps a magnificent tribute to God's providence. It illustrates the physical manifestation of God's blessing upon the earth. The personification of "pastures clothed with flocks" and "valleys covered with grain" describes a superabundance, where the land is overflowing with life and produce, signaling profound prosperity. This is not a passive scene but an active declaration of joy. The land itself is depicted as jubilant, metaphorically shouting and singing praises. This imagery underscores that God's goodness evokes an enthusiastic response from all creation, an echoing praise back to its Creator for His boundless provision. It teaches that the abundance we see in nature is a visible testimony to God's character and an invitation to join in creation's worship.