Psalm 77 16

Psalm 77:16 kjv

The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee; they were afraid: the depths also were troubled.

Psalm 77:16 nkjv

The waters saw You, O God; The waters saw You, they were afraid; The depths also trembled.

Psalm 77:16 niv

The waters saw you, God, the waters saw you and writhed; the very depths were convulsed.

Psalm 77:16 esv

When the waters saw you, O God, when the waters saw you, they were afraid; indeed, the deep trembled.

Psalm 77:16 nlt

When the Red Sea saw you, O God,
its waters looked and trembled!
The sea quaked to its very depths.

Psalm 77 verses

Psalm 77 16 Meaning

Psalm 77:16 speaks to God's majestic power and sovereignty over creation, particularly the elements of water. It poetically describes how the very waters, seeing God, were overwhelmed with terror and convulsed in fear, acknowledging His absolute authority. This verse marks a profound turning point in Asaph's lament, shifting from despair over God's seeming inaction to remembering His past miraculous interventions, especially the Red Sea parting during the Exodus. It highlights that no natural force can withstand the presence and command of the Almighty God.

Psalm 77 16 Context

Psalm 77 begins with the Psalmist Asaph in deep distress, crying out to God, whose presence he feels distant and whose past deeds he struggles to reconcile with his current suffering. The preceding verses are a personal lament, full of questions and anguish, pondering if God's steadfast love has vanished. Verse 16 marks a dramatic shift in tone and focus. Instead of dwelling on his affliction, Asaph intentionally recalls and meditates on God's mighty acts in the past, specifically the Exodus from Egypt and the parting of the Red Sea. This remembrance is the turning point that transforms his despair into renewed trust and hope, as he considers God's unchangeable power and faithfulness to His covenant people.

Psalm 77 16 Word analysis

• The waters (מַיִם - mayim): Refers to large bodies of water, specifically here the Red Sea (Yam Suph) encountered during the Exodus. In biblical cosmology and Ancient Near Eastern thought, "waters" or "the deep" often symbolized chaos and untamed forces. However, for God, they are mere creation subject to His will.
• saw You (רָאוּךָ - ra'u kha): A profound anthropomorphism, attributing sight and recognition to inanimate waters. It signifies not merely a physical observation, but an instantaneous, instinctive awareness of God's overwhelming presence. The waters perceive God's raw, divine power directly. This reflects the pervasive divine presence, where all creation is sentiently aware of its Creator.
• O God (אֱלֹהִים - Elohim): The generic, powerful name for God, emphasizing His role as Creator and Sovereign over all things. The choice of Elohim highlights His supreme deity in contrast to the natural elements, asserting His transcendence and absolute authority.
• the waters saw You; they were afraid (יָחִילוּ - yakhilu): The repetition of "the waters saw You" adds emphatic force, stressing the immediacy and certainty of their reaction. "Afraid" (yakhilu) is a strong verb suggesting not just simple fear but a violent, trembling, or writhing motion, as if in labor pangs. It conveys the idea of overwhelming panic and uncontrollable agitation caused by God's manifest presence, forcing a dramatic, physical response (i.e., parting). This vividly portrays God's unparalleled might.
• the depths also trembled (אַף תְּהוֹמוֹת יִרְגָּזוּן - af tehomot yirgazu):
  • the depths (תְּהוֹמוֹת - tehomot): Refers to the abyss, the deep ocean chasms, and metaphorically to primordial chaos. In some Ancient Near Eastern cosmologies, the deep was associated with unruly, divine forces. Here, it is unequivocally subservient to Israel's God.
  • also trembled (יִרְגָּזוּן - yirgazu): This word signifies a strong shaking, agitation, or trembling with terror or anger. Both the surface waters and the deepest parts of the sea are affected by God's awe-inspiring presence, indicating His comprehensive dominion over all aspects of creation, from the visible to the hidden.

Psalm 77 16 Bonus section

The imagery of waters 'seeing' and 'trembling' also implicitly refutes pagan deities associated with sea and chaos (like Baal or Yam in Canaanite mythology). The Israelite God does not engage in battle with these forces as an equal; His mere presence elicits their total subjugation. This verse also sets a pattern for understanding God's relationship with creation – not through struggle but through inherent authority, where elements obey instinctively. This foundational truth assures believers that no obstacle is too great for the Lord, and His interventions for His people are certain.

Psalm 77 16 Commentary

Psalm 77:16 serves as a pivot point in Asaph's psalm, transforming his anxious questioning into an act of remembrance and worship. The verse masterfully employs personification, depicting the very waters and their depths as sentient beings that "see" God and react with fear and trembling. This imagery recalls the dramatic account of the Red Sea parting (Exod 14), where God demonstrated His absolute sovereignty over nature to deliver His people. It is a powerful polemic against any notion that natural forces possess independent power or can impede God's will; they are merely instruments that recoil in terror at His manifest presence. The "trembling" suggests a convulsive, visceral reaction to divine glory, emphasizing God's omnipotent control over chaos and creation. This recollection reaffirms that the God who acted so powerfully in the past remains sovereign and capable of intervening in His people's lives, shifting Asaph's focus from his personal woes to God's enduring faithfulness and unparalleled might. It teaches believers to anchor their hope in God's proven track record of mighty works.