Psalm 8:8 kjv
The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.
Psalm 8:8 nkjv
The birds of the air, And the fish of the sea That pass through the paths of the seas.
Psalm 8:8 niv
the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.
Psalm 8:8 esv
the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas.
Psalm 8:8 nlt
the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea,
and everything that swims the ocean currents.
Psalm 8 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 1:26 | "Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image... and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air..." | Original dominion mandate |
| Gen 1:28 | "God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply... and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing..." | Reiterates command to rule creation |
| Gen 9:2 | "The fear of you and the terror of you will be on every beast of the earth and on every bird of the sky... they are given into your hand." | Renewal of dominion after the Flood |
| Heb 2:6-8 | "What is man, that You remember him... You have put all things in subjection under his feet." For in subjecting all things to him, He left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we do not yet see all things subjected to him." | Fulfilled in Christ, human ultimate potential |
| Heb 2:9 | "But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor..." | Christ's perfect dominion |
| 1 Cor 15:27 | "For He has put all things in subjection under His feet. But when He says, “All things are in subjection,” it is clear that He is excepted who put all things in subjection to Him." | All creation subject to Christ |
| Eph 1:22 | "And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church..." | Christ as head over creation and Church |
| Col 1:16 | "For by Him all things were created... all things have been created through Him and for Him." | Christ as Creator, implying ultimate control |
| Php 2:9-11 | "For this reason also, God highly exalted Him... that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth..." | Universal submission to Christ |
| Ps 8:6 | "You make him rule over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet..." | Direct immediate context of human rule |
| Ps 104:24-26 | "O Yahweh, how many are Your works!... There is the sea, great and broad, in which are swarming things beyond number, living things both small and great... There the ships move, and Leviathan, which You formed to sport in it." | God's absolute sovereignty over vast sea creation |
| Job 38:8-11 | "Or who enclosed the sea with doors When, bursting forth, it went out from the womb..." | God's absolute control over the sea |
| Job 41:1 | "Can you pull in Leviathan with a fishhook?..." | Humanity's limitation compared to God's power over mighty creatures |
| Isa 42:5 | "Thus says God Yahweh, Who created the heavens and stretched them out, Who spread out the earth and its produce, Who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk in it..." | God as sovereign Creator |
| Jonah 1:17 | "And Yahweh appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the stomach of the fish three days and three nights." | God's direct control over sea creatures |
| Matt 8:27 | "The men were amazed and said, “What kind of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”" | Jesus' power over creation |
| Mk 4:41 | "And they became very much afraid and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”" | Jesus' authority over nature |
| Lk 8:25 | "And He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were fearful and amazed, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him?”" | Jesus' divine power over natural elements |
| Neh 9:6 | "You alone are Yahweh. You have made the heavens, the heaven of heavens with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You preserve all of them, and the host of heaven bows down to You." | God's role as Preserver and Creator of all |
| Acts 17:24 | "The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth..." | God as supreme Lord of creation |
| Rev 5:13 | "And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea and all things in them, I heard saying, 'To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.'" | Ultimate worship and submission to God and Lamb |
Psalm 8 verses
Psalm 8 8 Meaning
Psalm 8:8 signifies humanity's divinely bestowed dominion over the entirety of the created animal kingdom, encompassing all living things in the air (birds), the sea (fish), and even those obscure or distant creatures and phenomena that move through the deepest or widest oceanic routes and currents. It reiterates the mandate of stewardship granted to humanity by God, emphasizing a comprehensive and universal authority within the created order, reflecting God's ultimate glory in His trust placed in humanity.
Psalm 8 8 Context
Psalm 8 is a majestic hymn praising God's glorious majesty displayed in His creation and His surprising elevation of humanity. The psalm opens by extolling God's name above the heavens (v. 1), then notes His strength revealed even through infants (v. 2). It reflects on the vastness of the cosmos and God's work (v. 3), contrasting it with humanity's smallness yet asking why God would be mindful of such beings (v. 4). The psalm then transitions to God's incredible grace: despite humanity's seeming insignificance, God has crowned them with glory and honor and made them rulers over His creation (v. 5-6). Verse 8 serves as the culmination of this description of dominion, specifically listing the comprehensive scope of creatures under human stewardship: the flying creatures, the aquatic life, and extending even to the movements and inhabitants of the deepest or farthest parts of the seas, concluding the powerful imagery of human authority delegated by the Almighty Creator. Historically, this theme resonated in a world often dominated by fear of chaotic forces or multiple deities claiming different natural domains; Psalm 8 clearly states Yahweh's sole universal sovereignty and humanity's unique role within His ordered cosmos.
Psalm 8 8 Word analysis
- The fowl (
עוֹף, oph): Refers to "winged creatures," birds in general. This includes all aerial life, from majestic eagles to the smallest sparrows, signifying humanity's dominion over the skies. - of the air (
הַשָּׁמָיִם, hashamayim): Literally "of the heavens" or "of the sky." This phrase emphasizes the habitat of the "fowl," explicitly denoting the creatures that fly freely above the earth, reiterating the extent of human stewardship. - and the fish (
וּדְגֵי, udegey): Refers to "fish" (specifically a construct form, "and fish of"). This signifies aquatic life. In the ancient world, the vast and often mysterious realm of the waters held powerful symbolic significance, frequently associated with chaos or forces beyond human control. Here, it is brought under humanity's appointed dominion. - of the sea (
הַיָּם, hayam): Literally "the sea." This specifies the habitat of the fish, designating all marine environments, from coastlines to the open ocean depths, reinforcing the control over water-dwelling creatures. - and whatsoever passeth (
עֹבֵר, ʻovēr): This is an active participle meaning "passing," "moving through," or "going." It speaks to ongoing motion. This broad phrase captures anything that navigates or traverses the specified paths. It is deliberately inclusive, indicating not just static presence but also dynamic movement. - through the paths (
אָרְחוֹת, ʼorḥôt): Refers to "paths," "ways," "routes," or "courses." This term is profound, alluding to ocean currents, deep-sea migration routes, or even historical navigation paths for ships. It speaks to hidden, less accessible, or immense movements within the watery domain, suggesting control extending beyond visible inhabitants to the very dynamics of the deep. It counters ancient Near Eastern (ANE) polytheistic beliefs where the vast seas and chaotic waters (often personified by gods like Yam or Tiamat) were considered untamable, or the domain of competing deities; here, they are subject to God's will and delegated to humanity. - of the seas (
יַמִּים, yammim): The plural form of "sea." Using the plural emphasizes the vastness, multiplicity, and global reach of the oceans, encompassing all their diverse regions and depths. This amplifies the scope of dominion to cover all the earth's waters. - Words-group analysis:
- The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea: This represents a classic merism, a literary device where two contrasting or encompassing parts ("air" and "sea") are used to signify the totality or all that is between them, implying all animal life. This demonstrates a comprehensive scope of authority over every type of animal based on its primary habitat.
- and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas: This concluding phrase expands the merism, ensuring no part of creation, especially the enigmatic and immense oceanic realms, is left out. It emphasizes not only creatures but the very movements and vastness of the water bodies, indicating profound and comprehensive delegated authority that goes beyond obvious inhabitants to encompass the deep and the currents, perhaps even hinting at humanity's eventual seafaring and scientific exploration capabilities.
Psalm 8 8 Bonus section
- The phrasing of Psalm 8:8 using "fowl...fish...whatsoever passeth" employs a form of merism, covering the heights (air), the depths (sea), and the far-reaching and dynamic aspects within creation, signaling completeness and comprehensiveness in the scope of human dominion. This ensures that nothing is excluded from the divinely appointed stewardship.
- The emphasis on "paths of the seas" likely refers to deep ocean currents and migration routes, demonstrating that humanity's delegated authority is meant to extend beyond merely visible creatures to the hidden and complex natural phenomena of the earth, showcasing God's trust in His creation being managed effectively by mankind.
- The Psalm's declaration of humanity's rule is often seen as a counter-narrative to prevalent ancient myths where sea monsters or primordial waters (like Tiamat or Yam in Mesopotamian/Canaanite myths) were chaotic forces not fully subdued or were realms of opposing deities. Psalm 8 declares God's complete sovereignty and His delegation of authority even over these symbolic realms.
- While this verse speaks of human dominion, it is intrinsically tied to human responsibility as God's image-bearers and vice-regents, not unbridled exploitation. This divine commission implies a call to care for, manage, and tend to creation, echoing Genesis 2:15, where Adam was placed in the Garden to "cultivate it and keep it."
Psalm 8 8 Commentary
Psalm 8:8 provides the climax of humanity's dominion over creation, reiterating the creation mandate from Genesis 1. It declares God's astounding trust in humankind by appointing them as stewards over His handiwork. The listing of "fowl of the air," "fish of the sea," and "whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas" represents a comprehensive and expansive scope. This phrase captures airborne, aquatic, and the more mysterious, transient elements of the deep. It implies authority not just over the visible and accessible, but also over the vast, hidden, and dynamic elements of the world's oceans and migratory patterns. While this stewardship has been marred by humanity's sin, leading to exploitation and a marred relationship with creation, the New Testament, particularly in Hebrews 2, reveals that this Psalm finds its ultimate and perfect fulfillment in Jesus Christ. He is the true and perfect Man, the Last Adam, who perfectly embodies and restores this divinely intended dominion. Thus, Psalm 8:8 is not just a statement of initial human authority but a prophetic glimpse of the Messiah's supreme reign over all creation, and through Him, the eschatological hope for redeemed humanity to truly fulfill its calling.