Psalms 104:2

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

Who coverest {H5844} thyself with light {H216} as with a garment {H8008}: who stretchest out {H5186} the heavens {H8064} like a curtain {H3407}:

wrapped in light as with a robe. You spread out the heavens like a curtain,

He wraps Himself in light as with a garment; He stretches out the heavens like a tent,

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

Commentary

Psalm 104:2 vividly portrays the majestic and transcendent nature of God as the ultimate Creator. This verse opens a grand hymn of praise, focusing on the divine attributes revealed through the act of creation.

Context

Psalm 104 is a magnificent hymn of praise to God as the sovereign Creator and Sustainer of the universe. It draws parallels with the creation account in Genesis 1, but from a poetic and worshipful perspective. The psalm moves through various aspects of creation, from the heavens to the earth, the seas, and all living creatures, emphasizing God's wisdom and provision in every detail. Verse 2 specifically sets the stage by describing God's personal glory and the immensity of His initial creative act.

Key Themes

  • Divine Radiance and Glory: The imagery of God covering Himself "with light as with a garment" speaks to His inherent, unapproachable glory and brilliance. Light in scripture often symbolizes God's purity, truth, and self-existence. It is not something God acquires, but what He essentially is, as also noted in 1 John 1:5, "God is light, and in him is no darkness at all."
  • Sovereign Creator: The phrase "who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain" highlights God's immense power and effortless control over the cosmos. The vast expanse of the heavens is depicted as something God can unfurl with ease, like a tent or a drapery. This emphasizes His omnipotence and the intentionality behind the creation of the vast universe, not as a struggle but as a simple, powerful act.
  • Transcendence and Immanence: While God is transcendent, dwelling in unapproachable light, this verse also subtly hints at His immanence by describing Him as actively involved in shaping the world, preparing it for life, a theme further explored throughout Psalm 104.

Linguistic Insights

  • The Hebrew word for "light" here is 'or (ืื•ึนืจ), signifying fundamental, essential light, underscoring that light is intrinsic to God's being.
  • The verb "stretchest out" is natah (ื ึธื˜ึธื”), which is frequently used in the Old Testament for stretching out a tent or spreading a cloth. This vivid imagery suggests the ease, deliberateness, and ultimate control with which God fashioned the celestial sphere.

Practical Application

Psalm 104:2 invites us to stand in awe and worship of a God whose glory is beyond human comprehension and whose power is limitless. Recognizing God as the one who effortlessly "stretches out the heavens" can inspire profound trust and security, knowing that the same God who ordered the cosmos is attentive to the details of our lives. This verse encourages us to reflect on God's immense creative power and His ongoing sustenance of the world, fostering a deeper sense of wonder and gratitude for His majesty and provision. It reminds us that our Creator is indeed glorious, powerful, and worthy of all praise.

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Cross-References

  • Isaiah 40:22 (9 votes)

    [It is] he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof [are] as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:

  • Isaiah 45:12 (4 votes)

    I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, [even] my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded.

  • Daniel 7:9 (4 votes)

    ยถ I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment [was] white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne [was like] the fiery flame, [and] his wheels [as] burning fire.

  • 1 John 1:5 (3 votes)

    ยถ This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

  • Zechariah 12:1 (1 votes)

    ยถ The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.

  • 1 Timothy 6:16 (1 votes)

    Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom [be] honour and power everlasting. Amen.

  • Matthew 17:2 (1 votes)

    And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.