English Standard Version
Psalms 104:3
3He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters; he makes the clouds his chariot; he rides on the wings of the wind;
Psalms 104:3 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:
- New International Version (NIV)and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters. He makes the clouds his chariot and rides on the wings of the wind.
- New King James Version (NKJV)He lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters, Who makes the clouds His chariot, Who walks on the wings of the wind,
- New Living Translation (NLT)you lay out the rafters of your home in the rain clouds. You make the clouds your chariot; you ride upon the wings of the wind.
Context of Psalms 104:3
1Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, you are very great! You are clothed with splendor and majesty, 2covering yourself with light as with a garment, stretching out the heavens like a tent. He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters; he makes the clouds his chariot; he rides on the wings of the wind; 4he makes his messengers winds, his ministers a flaming fire. 5He set the earth on its foundations, so that it should never be moved.
Read all of Psalms 104Psalms 104:3 word by word
הַ֥מְקָרֶֽה בַמַּ֗יִם עֲֽלִיּ֫וֹתָ֥יו הַשָּׂם־עָבִ֥ים רְכוּב֑וֹ הַֽ֝מְהַלֵּ֗ךְ עַל־כַּנְפֵי־רֽוּחַ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Who layeth the beamsקָרָהqârâh · to lay beamsH7136
- of his chambersעֲלִיָּה‛ălîyâh · upper roomH5944
- in the watersמַיmayim · waterH4325
- who makethשׂוּםώûm ώîym · to set: makeH7760
- the cloudsעָב‛âb · cloudH5645
- his chariotרְכוּבrekûb · chariotH7398
- who walkethהָלַךְhâlak · to go: walkH1980
- upon the wingsכָּנָףkânâph · wingH3671
- of the windרוּחַrûach · spirit: breathH7307
Cross-references for Psalms 104:3
- Psalms 18:10He rode on a cherub and flew; he came swiftly on the wings of the wind.
- Amos 9:6who builds his upper chambers in the heavens and founds his vault upon the earth; who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out upon the surface of the earth— the Lord is his name.
- Isaiah 19:1An oracle concerning Egypt. Behold, the Lord is riding on a swift cloud and comes to Egypt; and the idols of Egypt will tremble at his presence, and the heart of the Egyptians will melt within them.
- Matthew 26:64Jesus said to him, "You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven."
- Revelation 1:7Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.
- Psalms 139:9If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
- 2 Samuel 2:11And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.
- Nahum 1:3The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty. His way is in whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
Commentaries on Psalms 104:3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3עליותיו במים המקרה 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…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters - The word here rendered “layeth” - from קרה qârâh - means properly to meet; then, in Hiphil, to cause to meet, or to fit into each other, as beams or joists do in a dwelling. It is a word which would be properly applied to the construction of a house, and to the right adjustment of the different materials employed in building it. The word rendered “beams” - עליה ‛ălı̂yâh - means “an upper chamber, a…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3This poetic description pictures the clouds as beams that support the heavens.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. 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).Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 104:3
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Psalms 104
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- The Treasury of David
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries