English Standard Version
Psalms 104:4
4he makes his messengers winds, his ministers a flaming fire.
Psalms 104:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:
- New International Version (NIV)He makes winds his messengers, flames of fire his servants.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Who makes His angels spirits, His ministers a flame of fire.
- New Living Translation (NLT)The winds are your messengers; flames of fire are your servants.
Context of Psalms 104:4
2covering yourself with light as with a garment, stretching out the heavens like a tent. 3He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters; he makes the clouds his chariot; he rides on the wings of the wind; he makes his messengers winds, his ministers a flaming fire. 5He set the earth on its foundations, so that it should never be moved. 6You covered it with the deep as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains.
Read all of Psalms 104Psalms 104:4 word by word
עֹשֶׂ֣ה מַלְאָכָ֣יו רוּח֑וֹת מְ֝שָׁרְתָ֗יו אֵ֣שׁ לֹהֵֽט׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Psalms 104:4
- Acts 23:8For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.
- Hebrews 1:7Of the angels he says, "He makes his angels winds, and his ministers a flame of fire."
- 2 Kings 2:11And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
- 2 Kings 6:17Then Elisha prayed and said, "O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see." So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
- Ezekiel 1:13As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches moving to and fro among the living creatures. And the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning.
Commentaries on Psalms 104:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4רחות מלאכיו עשה oseh rnalachaiv ruchoth, להט אש משרתיו mesharethaiv esh lohet . The elements are described as prompt and expedite to perform the Divine commands, like angels or ministers serving in the tabernacle; the Hebrew word משרתיו mesharethaiv being a word most common in the sacred ministrations.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4Who maketh his angels spirits - The meaning here literally would be, “Who makes the winds his messengers,” or “his angels;” that is, who employs them to execute his purpose; who sends them out as messengers or angels to do his will. His ministers a flaming fire - That is, Fire is employed by him - in lightnings - to accomplish his purpose as his ministers or his servants. They are entirely under his command. They are sent by him to do his will; to carry…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4Wind and lightning (flames of fire) are described as God’s messengers. The Lord controls the wind, rain, and storms and uses them as he desires (Psalm 77:17–18; 78:26; 135:7; 148:5–6). The psalmist refers to the third day of creation (Genesis 1:9–13). The Lord is master of water and earth.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. This is quoted by Paul (He 1:7) to denote the subordinate position of angels; that is, they are only messengers as other and material agencies. spirits--literally, "winds." flaming fire--(Psa 105:32) being here so called.Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 104:4
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
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Commentaries