Psalms 145:15

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

The eyes {H5869} of all wait {H7663} upon thee; and thou givest {H5414} them their meat {H400} in due season {H6256}.

Complete Jewish Bible

The eyes of all are looking to you; you give them their food at the right time.

Berean Standard Bible

The eyes of all look to You, and You give them their food in season.

American Standard Version

The eyes of all wait for thee; And thou givest them their food in due season.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalm 145:15 presents a profound and comforting truth about God's universal and timely provision for all living creatures. It vividly portrays the entirety of creation, from the smallest to the greatest, as instinctively looking to their Creator with expectant hope for sustenance. The verse then affirms God's unwavering faithfulness and benevolent character, declaring His active and precise response in supplying their needs exactly when required, thereby demonstrating His compassionate involvement in sustaining the intricate web of life He has brought into being.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 145 is a magnificent acrostic psalm, one of the few in the Psalter, where each verse (with a minor deviation in some versions for the Hebrew letter Nun) begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. This structural choice underscores its comprehensive nature, signifying a complete and exhaustive praise of God's attributes and deeds. Often regarded as the culminating psalm of David, it serves as a grand doxology, summarizing many of the profound themes found throughout the Psalter, such as God's kingship, goodness, mercy, and faithfulness. Psalms 145:15 is situated within a section (verses 13b-16) that specifically highlights God's benevolent rule and His active, sustaining involvement in all life. It flows naturally from earlier declarations of God's abundant goodness ([Psalm 145:7](/psalms/145-7 "Psalm 145:7 - God's Abundant Goodness")), compassion ([Psalm 145:8](/psalms/145-8 "Psalm 145:8 - God's Mercy and Compassion")), and justice ([Psalm 145:14](/psalms/145-14 "Psalm 145:14 - God Upholds the Falling")). The verse directly precedes the powerful imagery of God opening His hand to satisfy every living thing in [Psalm 145:16](/psalms/145-16 "Psalm 145:16 - God's Open Hand of Provision"), thus serving as a pivotal statement illustrating the practical outworking of God's character in the daily sustenance of creation.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Composed by King David, this psalm reflects an ancient Israelite worldview deeply rooted in an agricultural and pastoral society. In such a context, daily survival was intimately tied to the timely cycles of nature—the arrival of rain, the growth of crops, and the health of livestock. The concept of "meat in due season" would have resonated profoundly with a people whose very existence depended on God's faithful provision of these natural resources. While the immediate imagery evokes the physical sustenance of creation, the underlying theological principle of divine providence would have been understood broadly, extending to God's meticulous care for His covenant people, Israel. This care was exemplified in God's miraculous provision of manna and quail during their wilderness wanderings ([Exodus 16](/exodus/16 "Exodus 16 - Manna and Quail")) and His ongoing sustenance in the Promised Land. The psalm's universal scope, however, transcends the specific experience of Israel, affirming God's sovereign and benevolent care over all creation, a common theme found in wisdom literature and other psalms, such as [Psalm 104](/psalms/104 "Psalm 104 - A Psalm of Creation and Provision"), which similarly extols God as the sustainer of all life.
* **Key Themes:** Psalms 145:15 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the psalm and broader biblical theology. Foremost among these is **Divine Providence and Sustenance**, asserting God as the ultimate, active, and reliable source of all nourishment and life-sustaining provision for every creature. This highlights the **Universal Dependence** of creation on its Creator, where "the eyes of all wait upon thee" signifies an innate, instinctual, and necessary reliance on God for existence and well-being. The phrase "in due season" underscores God's **Timely and Appropriate Provision**, emphasizing His wisdom and perfect timing in meeting needs—never too early or too late, but precisely when and how they are required. Finally, this act of provision stems directly from God's inherent **Benevolence and Goodness**, portraying Him not as a distant or reluctant provider, but as a compassionate and generous Father who delights in caring for His creation, echoing themes found in passages like [Matthew 6:26-30](/matthew/6-26-30 "Matthew 6:26-30 - God's Care for Creation").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Eyes (Hebrew, _ʻayin'_):** This word (H5869), while literally referring to the organ of sight, is used here figuratively to denote attention, expectation, and reliance. When "the eyes of all wait upon thee," it implies a posture of looking to God with hope and dependence, as one would look to a master for instruction or a provider for sustenance. It suggests an active, expectant gaze, recognizing where help and provision truly originate, and often carries connotations of desire and longing.
* **Wait (Hebrew, _sâbar'_):** This verb (H7663) conveys more than passive waiting; it implies scrutinizing, looking intently, and by implication, expecting with hope and patience. It suggests a deep-seated trust and anticipation that God will indeed act. This is not a desperate, uncertain waiting, but a hopeful, confident expectation rooted in God's known character as a faithful and benevolent provider.
* **Givest (Hebrew, _nâthan'_):** This primitive root (H5414) has an extremely wide range of applications, meaning "to give," "put," "make," "bestow," "deliver," "grant," and more. In this context, it emphasizes God's active, intentional, and generous act of bestowing sustenance. It highlights God's initiative and sovereign power in meeting the needs of His creation, underscoring His role as the ultimate Giver who freely provides.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"The eyes of all wait upon thee;":** This initial clause paints a vivid picture of universal dependence and expectant longing. "The eyes of all" refers comprehensively to every living creature, from the smallest insect to the largest mammal, and implicitly, humanity. Their "waiting upon" God signifies an innate, instinctual, and necessary reliance on Him for their very existence and sustenance. It depicts a posture of active, hopeful looking, acknowledging God as the sole, ultimate source of life and provision, rather than a passive or desperate plea.
* **"and thou givest them their meat in due season.":** This second clause reveals God's faithful, personal, and timely response to the universal expectation. "Thou givest them" emphasizes God's active, direct, and benevolent involvement; He is not a distant deity but one who personally provides. "Their meat" (Hebrew: _ʼôkel_, H400) refers broadly to food or nourishment, encompassing all that sustains physical life. The crucial phrase "in due season" (Hebrew: _bəʿittō_, H6256) highlights God's perfect timing and wisdom. His provision is never too early or too late; it is always precisely when and how it is needed, demonstrating His meticulous care, sovereign control over the cycles of nature, and profound understanding of His creation's needs.

#### Literary Devices
Psalm 145:15 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its message. **Personification** is prominently featured in "The eyes of all wait upon thee," attributing human-like expectation, attention, and a conscious gaze to all living creatures. This device vividly emphasizes their collective, instinctual dependence on God, creating an image of the entire creation looking up to its Creator. **Metonymy** is also present, where "eyes" stands for the entire being's focused attention, desire, and reliance. The phrase "meat in due season" utilizes **Metaphor** to represent not just physical food, but all forms of sustenance and provision necessary for life, both physical and, by extension, spiritual. The overall structure of the verse presents a clear **Cause and Effect** or **Action and Response** dynamic: the creation waits (action), and God unfailingly gives (response), highlighting the direct and reliable nature of divine providence.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalm 145:15 articulates a foundational theological truth: God is the sovereign Provider and Sustainer of all life. This truth is not limited to physical sustenance but extends to every aspect of existence, affirming His meticulous and intimate care over His entire creation. It underscores the inherent dependence of all beings on their Creator, fostering a posture of humility and trust. This divine provision is deeply rooted in God's unchanging character of goodness, mercy, and faithfulness, assuring His people that He will always meet their needs according to His perfect timing and wisdom. This understanding cultivates profound gratitude and encourages believers to look to God in every circumstance, knowing that His hand is always open to satisfy the desires of every living thing, demonstrating His boundless love and power.

* [Psalm 104:27-28](/psalms/104-27-28 "Creation's Dependence on God for Sustenance")
* [Matthew 6:26](/matthew/6-26 "God Feeds the Birds")
* [Philippians 4:19](/philippians/4-19 "God Supplies All Your Needs According to His Riches")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
This verse serves as a profound anchor for faith in a world often marked by anxiety, scarcity, and uncertainty about the future. It calls us to remember that just as God meticulously cares for every sparrow and clothes the lilies of the field with splendor, He is intimately aware of our needs and profoundly faithful to provide for us "in due season." This truth invites us to cultivate a posture of active trust and hopeful expectation, recognizing that our ultimate source of provision is not our own efforts, the economy, or any human institution, but the benevolent and powerful hand of our Heavenly Father. Embracing this dependence fosters deep humility, transforms our anxieties into peace, and deepens our gratitude for every blessing, freeing us from the burden of self-sufficiency. Furthermore, as recipients of such generous divine provision, we are called to reflect God's character by becoming channels of His care to others, sharing our resources and extending compassion to those in need, thereby participating in His ongoing work of sustenance and love in the world, especially for the vulnerable.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what specific areas of your life do you find it most challenging to truly "wait upon" God for provision, rather than striving in your own strength?**
* **How does understanding God's "due season" provision impact your patience and trust during prolonged periods of waiting or perceived lack?**
* **What practical steps can you take this week to intentionally acknowledge your dependence on God and express gratitude for His daily, often unseen, provision?**
* **How can you be an instrument of God's provision for others, reflecting His generosity and compassion in your family, church, or broader community?**

### FAQ
**Does "all" in this verse include humans, or only animals?**

Answer: While the immediate context of "meat" (food) might initially suggest a primary focus on the animal kingdom, the broader theological implications and the universal nature of God's providence certainly extend to humanity. The psalmist often uses "all" to encompass the entirety of creation, including humans, as beings utterly dependent on God for their sustenance and well-being. Passages like [Psalm 104:27-28](/psalms/104-27-28 "Psalm 104:27-28 - Creation's Dependence") explicitly state that all creatures, including humans, look to God for their food. Therefore, "the eyes of all" can be understood as a comprehensive reference to all living things, acknowledging humanity's shared dependence with the rest of creation on the Creator's benevolent hand. This universal scope emphasizes God's comprehensive care for everything He has made.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalm 145:15 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who is the very embodiment of God's provision and sustenance, both physically and spiritually. He declared Himself to be the [Bread of Life](/john/6-35 "John 6:35 - Jesus, the Bread of Life"), stating that those who come to Him will never hunger and those who believe in Him will never thirst. Just as the psalmist describes God giving "meat in due season," Jesus miraculously fed thousands with a few loaves and fish, demonstrating God's immediate and abundant provision for physical needs ([Matthew 14:13-21](/matthew/14-13-21 "Matthew 14:13-21 - Feeding of the Five Thousand")). More significantly, Christ offers spiritual sustenance that transcends physical nourishment, providing eternal life and true satisfaction that the world cannot give, as He promised in [John 6:51](/john/6-51 "John 6:51 - Jesus, the Living Bread"). He is the Good Shepherd who leads His sheep to [green pastures and still waters](/psalms/23-2 "Psalm 23:2 - The Lord is My Shepherd"), ensuring their spiritual nourishment, protection, and rest. Through His atoning work on the cross, Jesus provides the ultimate "meat" for our souls—reconciliation with God, forgiveness of sins, and the promise of everlasting life, a provision given "in due season" at the perfect time in history according to God's sovereign plan ([Galatians 4:4](/galatians/4-4 "Galatians 4:4 - God Sent His Son in the Fullness of Time")). Thus, the universal waiting of all creation for sustenance points forward to the one through whom all things were made and by whom all things are sustained ([Colossians 1:16-17](/colossians/1-16-17 "Colossians 1:16-17 - Christ, Creator and Sustainer")), Jesus Christ, our ultimate Provider.

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 136:25

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

Psalms 104:27

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

Acts 17:25

Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;

Matthew 6:26

Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

Psalms 147:8

Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains.

Psalms 147:9

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

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?