Why are mountains and hills personified as skipping like animals?

The personification of mountains and hills as skipping like rams and lambs is a powerful poetic device used by the psalmist to convey the immense and overwhelming power of God. Mountains do not literally skip; rather, this imagery vividly describes the earth's profound, almost volitional, reaction to the divine presence, particularly during the theophany at Mount Sinai. It suggests a violent trembling, quaking, or convulsion of the earth, but framed in a way that emphasizes the active, responsive nature of creation before its Creator. This artistic choice highlights God's absolute sovereignty, demonstrating that even the most formidable elements of the natural world are subservient to His will, responding with a mixture of awe, fear, and perhaps even joyful submission. It's a way of saying that the very ground beneath our feet testifies to God's unparalleled might, as seen in Psalm 97:4-5.

What is the significance of comparing mountains to rams and hills to lambs?

The comparison of mountains to "rams" and little hills to "lambs" is significant for two primary reasons. Firstly, it employs a striking

that underscores the comprehensive scope of God's power. Rams are known for their strength, vigor, and powerful leaping, symbolizing the robust, mighty elements of creation (the mountains). Lambs, on the other hand, are characterized by their agility, lightness, and playful skipping, representing the smaller, perhaps more delicate, yet equally responsive elements (the little hills). This dual imagery conveys that *all* of creation, from the most imposing to the seemingly insignificant, responds to God's presence and power. Secondly, it adds a layer of

vividness and relatability

to the abstract concept of divine power. By likening the earth's response to the movements of familiar animals, the psalmist makes the majestic and terrifying events of the Exodus more accessible and impactful for the audience, reinforcing the idea that God's power is so immense that even the very ground dances before Him, as also suggested in Isaiah 64:1-3.

114:5 114:5

Psalms 114:6

114:7 114:7

Bible Versions

Ye mountains, [that] ye skipped like rams; [and] ye little hills, like lambs?

Ye mountains {H2022}, that ye skipped {H7540} like rams {H352}; and ye little hills {H1389}, like lambs {H1121}{H6629}?

Why, mountains, do you skip like rams; and you hills like young sheep?

O mountains, that you skipped like rams, O hills, like lambs?

Ye mountains, that ye skip like rams; Ye little hills, like lambs?

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.

Bible Versions

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