Psalms 104:27

KJV

These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give [them] their meat in due season.

KJV (with Strong's)

These wait {H7663} all upon thee; that thou mayest give {H5414} them their meat {H400} in due season {H6256}.

Complete Jewish Bible

All of them look to you to give them their food when they need it.

Berean Standard Bible

All creatures look to You to give them their food in due season.

American Standard Version

These wait all for thee, That thou mayest give them their food in due season.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 104:27 eloquently declares God's meticulous and universal providence, asserting that all living creatures, from the smallest to the largest, instinctively depend upon the Creator for their sustenance. This verse powerfully underscores the divine commitment to providing nourishment "in due season," highlighting God's active, timely, and benevolent care for every aspect of His created order, thereby revealing His sovereign and faithful involvement in sustaining all life.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 104 is a magnificent hymn of praise, often celebrated as "the Psalm of Creation," which intricately parallels the creation narrative found in [Genesis 1](/genesis/1 "Genesis 1 - The Creation Account"). The psalm systematically surveys God's creative and sustaining work, commencing with His majestic dwelling and the formation of the heavens and celestial bodies (verses 1-9). It then transitions to the terrestrial environment, detailing the provision of water sources, the flourishing of vegetation, and the establishment of diverse animal habitats (verses 10-24). Verses 25-26 specifically broaden the scope to the vastness and diversity of the sea, teeming with countless creatures, including the formidable Leviathan. It is within this grand panorama of a vibrant, divinely ordered world that verse 27 naturally follows, emphasizing the universal dependence of all these myriad forms of life on God for their continued existence and daily provision. The psalm culminates in a declaration of God's enduring glory and joy in His works, underscoring His ongoing and intimate involvement in His creation.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Composed likely during a period when the Israelites were deeply connected to the natural rhythms of an agrarian society, Psalm 104 reflects a profound appreciation for the cycles of nature—rain, seasons, growth, and harvest—all understood as direct expressions of God's faithful governance. Unlike surrounding pagan cultures that attributed natural phenomena to a pantheon of capricious deities, the psalm unequivocally attributes all creation and its sustenance to the one true God, Yahweh. This monotheistic perspective emphasizes God's absolute sovereignty and inherent benevolence, contrasting sharply with the fear and appeasement often associated with polytheistic nature worship. The imagery of animals "waiting" on God would have resonated deeply with a people intimately familiar with the dependence of both livestock and wild animals on natural resources, which were themselves perceived as direct gifts from God's hand.

* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several overarching themes within Psalm 104 and broader biblical theology. First, it powerfully articulates **Divine Providence**, showcasing God not merely as a distant Creator but as an immanent and active Sustainer who personally oversees the daily needs of every living thing. This theme is echoed throughout Scripture, such as in [Matthew 6:26](/matthew/6-26 "Matthew 6:26 - Consider the Birds of the Air"), where Jesus encourages trust in God's provision. Second, it underscores **Universal Dependence**, highlighting that all creation, from the smallest creature to the largest, exists in a state of absolute reliance on God for life, breath, and sustenance, as famously stated in [Acts 17:28](/acts/17-28 "Acts 17:28 - In Him we live and move and have our being"). Third, the phrase "in due season" emphasizes God's **Perfect Timing and Orderly Governance**, revealing His wisdom in providing resources precisely when and where they are needed, ensuring the flourishing of life within the established natural cycles. This resonates with the broader biblical principle that "for everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven," as articulated in [Ecclesiastes 3:1](/ecclesiastes/3-1 "Ecclesiastes 3:1 - A Time for Everything").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Wait (Hebrew, _sâbar'_):** This verb (H7663) signifies more than passive waiting; it implies an active, hopeful expectation and patient endurance. Derived from a root meaning "to scrutinize," it suggests a posture of looking intently to God with confidence, anticipating His provision. In the context of animals, it describes their instinctive reliance and dependence on the natural order established by God, which faithfully yields their sustenance. For humanity, it calls for a conscious, trusting anticipation of divine care and timing.
* **Meat (Hebrew, _ʼôkel'_):** While "meat" (H400) in modern English primarily refers to animal flesh, the Hebrew term _ʼôkel_ is a broad, general word for "food," "sustenance," or "nourishment." This is crucial for understanding the verse, as it encompasses all forms of sustenance necessary for the diverse diets of the creatures described throughout the psalm—from the grass for cattle in [Psalms 104:14](/psalms/104-14 "Psalms 104:14 - God Provides Grass for Cattle") to the fish in the sea. It highlights God's comprehensive and tailored provision for all dietary needs across His vast creation.
* **Due Season (Hebrew, _ʻêth'_):** This phrase (H6256), literally meaning "at its appointed time" or "in its time," speaks to God's perfect timing, wisdom, and orderly governance of the natural world. It implies that God's provision is not random or haphazard but is precisely calibrated to the needs and cycles of creation, ensuring that resources are available at the most opportune moment for the flourishing of life. This concept underscores God's meticulous attention to detail and His reliable faithfulness.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"These wait all upon thee;"**: The "these" refers to the vast array of living creatures described in the preceding verses of Psalm 104—from the wild donkeys and birds of the air to the marine life in the great sea. The phrase "wait all upon thee" emphasizes their universal and instinctive dependence on God. It portrays creation in a posture of expectant reliance, acknowledging God as the sole source of their existence and well-being. This is not a human act of conscious prayer, but an inherent, creaturely orientation toward their Creator, a natural inclination built into their very being.
* **"that thou mayest give [them] their meat"**: This clause reveals the purpose of their waiting: God's benevolent act of giving. "Meat," understood as general sustenance, signifies God's active role as the provider. He doesn't merely create life and then abandon it; He continuously and personally intervenes to supply the necessary nourishment for every creature. This highlights God's ongoing, immanent involvement in His creation, demonstrating His active care and generosity.
* **"in due season."**: This final phrase underscores God's wisdom and perfect timing in His acts of provision. His sustenance is not only abundant but also precisely calibrated to the needs of His creatures within the natural cycles of life. It speaks to the reliability and orderliness of God's sustaining power, ensuring that food is available at the appropriate time—whether it be the seasonal migration for feeding, the ripening of fruit, or the availability of prey—all according to His wise design.

#### Literary Devices
Psalm 104:27 employs several powerful literary devices that enhance its theological message. **Personification** is notably evident in the phrase "These wait all upon thee," attributing to animals a human-like posture of expectant reliance and hopeful anticipation on God. While animals do not consciously "wait" in the human sense, this device vividly conveys their absolute, instinctive dependence on their Creator for survival and flourishing. The use of "meat" functions as a **synecdoche** or **metonymy**, where a specific type of food (meat) stands for all forms of sustenance, encompassing the diverse diets of all living creatures mentioned throughout the psalm. The entire psalm, including this verse, functions as a **hymn of praise**, utilizing rich, descriptive, and evocative language to extol God's majesty, power, and benevolent character as both Creator and Sustainer. The rhythmic structure and poetic flow contribute to its overall impact as a celebratory ode to divine providence.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 104:27 stands as a powerful testament to God's active and benevolent providence, a doctrine central to biblical theology. It reveals a God who is not distant or disengaged from His creation but intimately involved in its daily sustenance. This verse underscores the universal dependence of all life on the Creator, demonstrating that existence itself is a continuous act of divine giving. It paints a picture of a meticulously ordered world where God's wisdom ensures that provision is made "in due season," reflecting His perfect timing and faithfulness. This divine care for the natural world serves as a profound assurance for humanity, who are made in God's image and are of infinitely greater value to Him. If God so faithfully provides for the birds of the air and the beasts of the field, how much more will He care for His children, inviting a posture of trust and patient expectation in His unfailing provision for all our needs, both physical and spiritual.

* [Matthew 6:26](/matthew/6-26 "Matthew 6:26 - Consider the Birds of the Air")
* [Luke 12:24](/luke/12-24 "Luke 12:24 - Consider the Ravens")
* [Psalm 145:15](/psalms/145-15 "Psalm 145:15 - The Eyes of All Look to You")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 104:27 offers a profound invitation to trust and wonder in the face of life's uncertainties. In a world often marked by anxiety over provision, this verse reminds us that the same God who faithfully feeds every creature "in due season" is intimately concerned with our well-being. It calls us to cultivate a deep sense of dependence on Him, recognizing that our lives, like all creation, are sustained by His gracious hand. This understanding should foster profound gratitude, alleviate worry, and encourage patient endurance, knowing that God's timing is perfect and His resources are limitless. If the natural world instinctively waits upon its Creator for its very existence, how much more should we, as His image-bearers and covenant children, consciously lean into His sovereign care, trusting that He knows our needs before we ask and delights to provide for us in His perfect way. This perspective transforms our daily struggles for provision into opportunities for worship and deeper reliance on our heavenly Father.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the universal dependence of creation on God for "meat in due season" challenge my personal anxieties about future provision and security?**
* **In what specific areas of my life am I struggling to "wait" on God's timing, and how can the consistent provision described in this verse encourage greater patience and trust?**
* **What practical steps can I take to cultivate a deeper, more conscious awareness of God's daily provision in my life, moving from a mindset of self-reliance to one of divine dependence and gratitude?**

### FAQ
**What does "meat" mean in Psalms 104:27?**

Answer: In the King James Version, "meat" (from the Old English _mete_) in Psalms 104:27 refers broadly to all forms of "food" or "sustenance," not exclusively animal flesh as the word commonly implies today. The Hebrew word used, _ʼôkel_ (H400), is a general term for nourishment. This understanding is crucial because Psalm 104 describes God's provision for a vast array of creatures with diverse diets, from herbivores that eat grass to carnivores that consume other animals, and marine life. Therefore, "their meat in due season" means their appropriate food or nourishment provided at the proper time, encompassing all the various diets of the creatures mentioned throughout the psalm.

**Who are "these" referring to in this verse?**

Answer: The "these" in Psalms 104:27 refers to all the living creatures that have been described throughout the preceding verses of Psalm 104. This includes the various animals of the land, such as wild donkeys, wild goats, and storks (verses 10-23), as well as the immense diversity of marine life, including "creeping things innumerable" and "great whales" (Leviathan) in the vast sea (verses 25-26). The verse emphasizes the universal and inherent dependence of all forms of life on God for their sustenance and survival, painting a picture of a world teeming with life, all sustained by the Creator's hand.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 104:27, with its declaration of God's universal provision for all creation, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. He is not only the divine agent through whom "all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities" ([Colossians 1:16](/colossians/1-16 "Colossians 1:16 - Christ as Creator")), but also the one by whom "all things hold together" ([Colossians 1:17](/colossians/1-17 "Colossians 1:17 - Christ as Sustainer")). The physical sustenance provided by God to all creation, as described in the psalm, points to the deeper spiritual nourishment that Christ offers to humanity. Jesus Himself declared, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst" ([John 6:35](/john/6-35 "John 6:35 - Jesus, the Bread of Life")). Just as creation instinctively waits for physical sustenance, humanity is called to wait upon Christ for eternal life and spiritual nourishment, which He provides "in due season" through His atoning sacrifice on the cross and the indwelling gift of the Holy Spirit. His teaching to "seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you" ([Matthew 6:33](/matthew/6-33 "Matthew 6:33 - Seek First the Kingdom")) echoes the psalmist's confidence in divine provision, now centered on the one through whom God's ultimate and perfect provision for humanity's greatest need—salvation and reconciliation—has been made.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Psalms 147:9

He giveth to the beast his food, [and] to the young ravens which cry.

Psalms 136:25

Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy [endureth] for ever.

Job 38:41

Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.

Luke 12:24

Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?

Luke 12:28

If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more [will he clothe] you, O ye of little faith?

Psalms 145:15

The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season.

Psalms 145:16

Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.