Psalm 65 9

Psalm 65:9 kjv

Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it.

Psalm 65:9 nkjv

You visit the earth and water it, You greatly enrich it; The river of God is full of water; You provide their grain, For so You have prepared it.

Psalm 65:9 niv

You care for the land and water it; you enrich it abundantly. The streams of God are filled with water to provide the people with grain, for so you have ordained it.

Psalm 65:9 esv

You visit the earth and water it; you greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water; you provide their grain, for so you have prepared it.

Psalm 65:9 nlt

You take care of the earth and water it,
making it rich and fertile.
The river of God has plenty of water;
it provides a bountiful harvest of grain,
for you have ordered it so.

Psalm 65 verses

Psalm 65 9 Meaning

Psalm 65:9 describes God's active involvement in sustaining the earth and all its inhabitants. It highlights His visitation and meticulous care, ensuring the land is abundantly watered and enriched to produce bountiful harvests. The verse portrays God as the ultimate provider, whose "river" of provision is inexhaustible, preparing the earth's fruitfulness for the sustenance of life, thus underscoring His benevolent providence over creation.

Psalm 65 9 Context

Psalm 65 is a hymn of thanksgiving, celebrating God's power and benevolence, particularly His provision through nature. The first part (vv. 1-4) focuses on God's character as one who hears prayer, forgives iniquity, and chooses people to dwell in His courts. The middle part (vv. 5-8) praises God's awe-inspiring power manifested in His control over the sea's roar and the tumult of the peoples, bringing quiet and causing the ends of the earth to stand in awe. Verse 9 then transitions seamlessly to God's universal care, illustrating His provision for creation, culminating in a celebration of the abundant harvest (vv. 10-13). For the ancient Israelite, an agrarian society, reliable rain and fertile ground were direct signs of God's favor and faithfulness, essential for survival. This psalm indirectly contrasts the Lord's consistent, life-giving provision with the impotence of regional fertility deities like Baal, who were thought to control rain but frequently failed.

Psalm 65 9 Word analysis

• You (אַתָּה, 'attah): Directly addresses God, establishing Him as the active agent. This personal address emphasizes a relational God who actively governs and provides.
• visit (פָּקַד, paqad): More than just a casual visit; it implies attentive oversight, superintendence, and active intervention for purpose. In this context, it is a visit of care, inspection, and provision. God is intimately involved with His creation, not distant or detached.
• the earth (הָאָרֶץ, ha'arets): Refers to the whole habitable land, particularly the agricultural land essential for human sustenance. It signifies God's comprehensive care extending to the very ground that sustains life.
• and water it (וַתְּשֻׁקְקֶהָ, vatteshuq-qehah): From the root "to drink" or "to irrigate thoroughly." It signifies drenching, saturating, or abundant watering, going beyond mere moistening. It conveys generosity and thoroughness in God's provision.
• you greatly enrich it (רַבַּת תַּעְשְׁרֶנָּה, rabbath ta'asherennah): "Greatly" (רַבַּת, rabbath) signifies abundance, "enrich" (תַּעְשְׁרֶנָּה, ta'asherennah) means to make wealthy, fruitful, or productive. This highlights God's role not just in sustaining but in bestowing fertility and prosperity upon the land, making it abundantly productive.
• The river of God (פֶּלֶג אֱלֹהִים, peleg Elohim): Not a specific geographical river, but a metaphor for the divine source of water. "Peleg" denotes a stream or channel, and "Elohim" signifies its divine origin and boundless nature. It symbolizes God's inexhaustible, heavenly supply of rain, the ultimate source of all earthly water. It underlines that all sustenance comes from God.
• is full of water (מָלֵא מָיִם, male mayim): Emphasizes the superabundance and limitless nature of God's divine provision. There is no scarcity in His supply; it is consistently and fully available.
• you provide (תָכִין, tachin): To establish, prepare, or make ready. God doesn't just enable growth; He actively prepares and arranges the conditions for the harvest. This denotes intentionality and purposeful divine action.
• their grain (דְּגָנָם, degânam): Specifically refers to corn or harvested grain, the staple food. This clarifies the ultimate purpose of the divine watering and enrichment – the sustenance of people.
• for so you have prepared the earth (כִּי כֵן תְּכִינֶהָ, ki chen tekhinêha): This phrase re-emphasizes God's deliberate and intentional action. "Prepared" (תְּכִינֶהָ, tekhinêha) connects directly to "you provide," reinforcing that God actively sets the conditions and arrangements for the earth's fruitfulness, establishing the order of nature to produce food. This preparation is a continuous and deliberate act of providence.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• You visit the earth and water it: God's direct and intentional engagement with His creation. This isn't a passive oversight but active intervention, saturating the ground.
• You greatly enrich it: Beyond mere watering, God endows the earth with a capacity for extreme fertility and productivity, ensuring not just survival but abundance.
• The river of God is full of water: This metaphorical "river" speaks to the unending and abundant source of God's provision. It is inexhaustible, emphasizing His limitless resources to bless and sustain. It contrasts with earthly rivers which can run dry.
• You provide their grain: The purpose of all this divine action: food for humanity and creation. God takes responsibility for the fundamental needs of life, showing His care.
• For so you have prepared the earth: This final clause reaffirms God's pre-arranged and continuous system of provision. It signifies divine order and intentional design behind the earth's capacity to yield sustenance. God establishes and maintains the cycle of life.

Psalm 65 9 Bonus section

The agricultural cycle, dependent on rain, was not only vital for physical survival in ancient Israel but also a key indicator of spiritual favor or disfavor (e.g., Deut 28). God's provision of rain (Ps 65:9) was seen as a direct manifestation of covenant faithfulness. Furthermore, this imagery subtly debunks any reliance on pagan fertility deities. Unlike Baal, whose power over rain was considered capricious and required human manipulation, the God of Israel (Yahweh) is portrayed as the sole, reliable, and effortless source of water and fertility. His "river" is perpetually full because His being is inexhaustible. This also speaks to a broader principle: God's unseen power works through natural means to fulfill His purposes. The "rain" and the "river" are instruments of His grace, leading to the abundance of life.

Psalm 65 9 Commentary

Psalm 65:9 presents a profound declaration of God's universal providence, revealing Him as the attentive, powerful, and benevolent Sustainer of life. He doesn't just create; He actively "visits" the earth, signifying a meticulous and purposeful care. The metaphor of "the river of God," perpetually "full of water," paints a picture of boundless divine resources from which all earthly provision flows, notably rain. This contrasts sharply with human efforts which are often limited or dependent on unreliable weather patterns. God "greatly enriches" the land, indicating that the fertility and productivity of the earth are direct results of His intentional generosity, leading to the provision of "grain" – the essential staple. The phrase "for so you have prepared the earth" summarizes His ongoing work, establishing the very processes and conditions for life's continuance. This verse calls for deep gratitude and trust, reminding us that every harvest, every season, every drop of rain, and ultimately all sustenance, originates from God's unfailing love and intentional design.