Psalms 104 · Verse 3

Psalms 104:3

Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:
Psalms 104:3, King James Version

Psalms 104:3 in other translations

BSBlaying the beams of His chambers in the waters above, making the clouds His chariot, walking on the wings of the wind.
WEBHe lays the beams of his rooms in the waters. He makes the clouds his chariot. He walks on the wings of the wind.
ASVWho layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters; Who maketh the clouds his chariot; Who walketh upon the wings of the wind;
YLTWho is laying the beam of His upper chambers in the waters, Who is making thick clouds His chariot, Who is walking on wings of wind,
DARBYWho layeth the beams of his upper chambers in the waters, who maketh clouds his chariot, who walketh upon the wings of the wind;
BBEThe arch of your house is based on the waters; you make the clouds your carriage; you go on the wings of the wind:
WebsterWho layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:

What does Psalms 104:3 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
3. in the waters--or, it may be "with"; using this fluid for the beams, or frames, of His residence accords with the figure of clouds for chariots, and wind as a means of conveyance. walketh--or, "moveth" (compare Psa 18:10, 11; Am 9:6).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 3 המקרה במים עליותיו hamekareh bammayim aliyothaiv. "Laying the beams of his chambers in the waters." The sacred writer expresses the wonderful nature of the air aptly, and regularly constructed, from various and flux elements, into one continued and stable series, by a metaphor drawn from the singular formation of the tabernacle, which, consisting of many and different parts, and easily reparable when there was need, was kept together by a perpetual juncture and contignation of them all together. The poet goes on: - השם עבים רכובו hassem abim rechubo, המהלך על כנפי רוה hamehallech al canphey ruach. "Making the clouds his chariot, Walking upon the wings of the wind." He had first expressed an image of the Divine Majesty, such as it resided in the holy of holies, discernible by a certain investiture of the most splendid light; he now denotes the same from that light of itself which the Divine Majesty exhibited, when it moved together with the ark, sitting on a circumambient cloud, and carried on high through the air. That seat of the Divine Presence is even called by the sacred historians, as its proper name, המרכבה hammercabah, The Chariot.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 104:1-9

Chapter Outline God's majesty in the heavens, The creation of the sea, and the dry land. (1-9) His provision for all creatures. (10-18) The regular course of day and night, and God's sovereign power over all the creatures. (19-30) A resolution to continue praising God. (31-35) Verses 1-9 Every object we behold calls on us to bless and praise the Lord, who is great. His eternal power and Godhead are clearly shown by…

Read the full comment on Psalms 104:1-9 →

Psalms 104:3 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

הַ֥מְקָרֶֽהHam.ka.rehthe [one who] makes beams forH7136
בַמַּ֗יִםva.Ma.yimon the watersH4325
עֲֽלִיּ֫וֹתָ֥יוali.Yo.Tavupper rooms hisH5944
הַשָּׂם\־ha.som-the [one who] makesH7760
עָבִ֥ים'a.VimcloudsH5645
רְכוּב֑וֹre.khu.Vochariot hisH7398
הַֽ֝מְהַלֵּ֗ךְham.ha.Lekhthe [one who] walksH1980
עַל\־'al-onH5921
כַּנְפֵי\־kan.fei-[the] wings ofH3671
רֽוּחַ\׃Ru.ach[the] windH7307

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Psalms 104:3

  • Amos 9:6

    It is he that buildeth his stories in the heaven, and hath founded his troop in the earth; he that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The Lord is his name.

  • 2 Samuel 22:11

    And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: and he was seen upon the wings of the wind.

  • Psalms 18:10-11

    And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind. He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.

  • Isaiah 19:1

    The burden of Egypt. Behold, the Lord rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it.

  • Nahum 1:3

    The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the Lord hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

  • Psalms 139:9

    If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;

  • Matthew 26:64

    Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

  • Revelation 1:7

    Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Who layeth.
18:10,11; Am 9:6
maketh.
Isa 19:1; Mt 26:64; Re 1:7
walketh.
18:10; 139:9; 2Sa 22:11; Na 1:3

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Psalms 104:2

    Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:

  • Psalms 104:3

    Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:

  • Psalms 104:4

    Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:

Read all of Psalms 104

Psalms 104:3 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Que establece sus aposentos entre las aguas; el que pone las nubes por su carroza, el que anda sobre las alas del viento;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Il joint les poutres de ses chambres hautes dans les eaux; il fait des nuées son char; il se promène sur les ailes du vent.
German
Elberfelder 1871		der seine Obergemächer bälkt in den Wassern, der Wolken macht zu seinem Gefährt, der da einherzieht auf den Fittichen des Windes;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Laudamini in nomine sancto ejus; lætetur cor quærentium Dominum.