New English Translation
Psalms 104:4
4He makes the winds his messengers, and the flaming fire his attendant.
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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)he makes his messengers winds, his ministers a flaming fire.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Who makes His angels spirits, His ministers a flame of fire.
Context of Psalms 104:4
2He covers himself with light as if it were a garment. He stretches out the skies like a tent curtain, 3and lays the beams of the upper rooms of his palace on the rain clouds. He makes the clouds his chariot, and travels along on the wings of the wind. He makes the winds his messengers, and the flaming fire his attendant. 5He established the earth on its foundations; it will never be upended. 6The watery deep covered it like a garment; the waters reached 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 23:8(For the Sadducees say there is no resurrection, or angel, or spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.)
- Hebrews 1:7And he says of the angels, “He makes his angels spirits and his ministers a flame of fire,”
- 2 Kings 2:11As they were walking along and talking, suddenly a fiery chariot pulled by fiery horses appeared. They went between Elijah and Elisha, and Elijah went up to heaven in a windstorm.
- 2 Kings 6:17Then Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes so he can see.” The Lord opened the servant’s eyes and he saw that the hill was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
- Ezekiel 1:13In the middle of the living beings was something like burning coals of fire or like torches. It moved back and forth among the living beings. It was bright, and lightning was flashing out of the fire.
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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