Psalm 95 4

Psalm 95:4 kjv

In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also.

Psalm 95:4 nkjv

In His hand are the deep places of the earth; The heights of the hills are His also.

Psalm 95:4 niv

In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him.

Psalm 95:4 esv

In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also.

Psalm 95:4 nlt

He holds in his hands the depths of the earth
and the mightiest mountains.

Psalm 95 verses

Psalm 95 4 Meaning

Psalm 95:4 declares God's absolute and comprehensive sovereignty over all creation, specifically highlighting His ownership and control from the deepest, most hidden parts of the earth to its highest, most powerful mountain peaks. This verse provides a fundamental reason for the worship and humble reverence called for in the preceding verses. It asserts that everything, from the unseen mysteries beneath the surface to the grand, seemingly immutable forces of nature, is entirely "in His hand" and "belongs to Him," emphasizing His creative power and ongoing dominion.

Psalm 95 4 Context

Psalm 95 is often described as an invitation to worship. The preceding verses (vv. 1-3) issue an enthusiastic call to praise God as a great King, greater than all gods. Verse 4 and the following verse 5 provide the profound theological basis for this call: God's ultimate power and dominion over all creation. He is not just a god among gods but the sole possessor and controller of everything. This declaration sets the stage for the rest of the psalm, which transitions from praise of His universal sovereignty to a solemn warning to Israel based on their historical rebellion in the wilderness (vv. 7b-11). The connection implies that the God who created and controls all also demands obedience and steadfast faith from His people. Historically, this declaration of God's universal sovereignty also functions as a direct refutation of the polytheistic nature worship of surrounding Canaanite peoples, who ascribed control over specific natural phenomena (like rain or mountains) to various limited deities. Psalm 95:4 unequivocally asserts Yahweh's unparalleled and comprehensive dominion over all aspects of creation, leaving no room for rival claims.

Psalm 95 4 Word analysis

• "In his hand" (בְיָדוֹ, b'yado): This anthropomorphism portrays God's immediate and intimate control, ownership, and authority. It signifies active guidance, protective power, and ultimate dominion. It's a statement of active rule rather than mere influence, reflecting His power in creation and providence.
• "the deep places of" (מֶחְקְרֵי, meḥqerê): Derived from miḥqār (מֶחְקָר), related to the verb ḥāqar (חָקַר), meaning "to search out" or "explore." This refers to the literal subterranean depths (caves, foundations, ocean trenches) and anything hidden, mysterious, or beyond human discovery. It implies God's thorough, intimate knowledge and mastery over the most obscure and inaccessible aspects of creation.
• "earth" (אָרֶץ, aretz): Denotes the entire planet, encompassing all its terrestrial features, vastness, and concealed parts. It underscores God's universal domain.
• "and the strength of" (וְתוֹעֲפֹת, v'to'afot): From to'afah (תּוֹעָפָה), implying might, elevation, or towering height. This conveys the robust, formidable, and towering aspects of mountains. It speaks of their imposing grandeur, perceived stability, and unyielding nature. This balances the 'deep places', encompassing the full verticality of creation.
• "hills" (הָרִים, harim): Used interchangeably with mountains. In ancient cultures, mountains were often symbols of permanence, power, and sacred spaces. By asserting that the "strength of the hills" belongs to God, the psalmist emphasizes that even these seemingly unmovable and awe-inspiring natural formations are completely under God's control and ownership, not independent powers or dwelling places of other gods.
• "is his also" (לוֹ, lo): Meaning "to Him" or "belongs to Him." This final phrase emphatically states divine ownership and entitlement. It reinforces the assertion of "in His hand" and reiterates God's exclusive claim over every part of creation, from the mysterious depths to the majestic heights. This echoes a king's declaration over his absolute domain.

• "In His hand are the deep places of the earth": This phrase illustrates God's intimate and absolute control over everything hidden and mysterious within the globe. It means not just that God created these depths, but He actively governs, knows, and holds them in His power. This highlights His omniscience and omnipotence, especially over what is unfathomable to human understanding.
• "and the strength of the hills is His also": This complements the first phrase by encompassing the opposite extreme – the highest and most powerful features of the earth. "Strength of the hills" (or mountains) conveys their grandeur, solidity, and seemingly unconquerable force of nature. Attributing this "strength" and these "hills" as belonging to God demonstrates that even the most enduring and imposing natural elements derive their power and existence solely from Him.
• Together, the two phrases: They form a literary device called a merism, using two contrasting parts (depths to heights, hidden to towering) to represent the entire entity – in this case, the entirety of creation. This effectively declares God's total and exhaustive sovereignty over the entire cosmos, leaving no part outside His dominion. It asserts a universal, uncontested rule, thereby establishing Him as uniquely worthy of worship.

Psalm 95 4 Bonus section

This verse reflects a systematic Hebrew worldview where God's dominion is declared over the entirety of the terrestrial realm, encompassing its lowest parts (depths) and highest parts (mountains). This systematic coverage is a theological assertion of totality. It stands in direct polemic opposition to polytheistic systems where various limited deities might preside over specific natural forces or locations; Psalm 95:4 unequivocally assigns ultimate, comprehensive control over all nature to Yahweh alone, rendering other such claims baseless. The anthropomorphic phrasing "in His hand" renders abstract divine power relatable, underscoring both intimacy and command. This deep biblical understanding of God's comprehensive creative and sustaining power naturally flows into the New Testament's portrayal of Christ's role as the agent through whom all things were created and sustained, affirming His own inherent deity and ultimate authority over all creation (e.g., Col 1:16-17).

Psalm 95 4 Commentary

Psalm 95:4 profoundly asserts God's limitless sovereignty over all creation, bridging from the deepest, hidden elements of the world to its majestic, towering peaks. This declaration grounds His supreme worthiness of worship. The "deep places of the earth" reveal God's mastery over the mysterious and inaccessible, affirming His intimate knowledge and control of what lies beyond human reach. Conversely, "the strength of the hills" signifies His dominion over the grandest and seemingly most permanent natural structures. Mountains, often symbols of might and eternity, are presented as utterly dependent on God, their strength originating from Him alone. This dual assertion forms a complete statement of God's omnipresent power—from the unseen roots to the sky-piercing summits—establishing Him as the sole possessor and ruler of all. It undermines any notion of independent power in nature and serves as a powerful reminder of the all-encompassing authority of the Lord. For believers, this verse is a source of security in God's omnipotence and a call to reverent submission to His rule.