TRV
Study This Verse
Commentary on Psalms 147 verses 12–20
Jerusalem, and Zion, the holy city, the holy hill, are here called upon to praise God, Psa 147:12. For where should praise be offered up to God but where his altar is? Where may we expect that glory should be given to him but in the beauty of holiness? Let the inhabitants of Jerusalem praise the Lord in their own houses; let the priests and Levites, who attend in Zion, the city of their solemnities, in a special manner praise the Lord. They have more cause to do it than others, and they lie under greater obligations to do it than others; for it is their business, it is their profession. "Praise thy God, O Zion! he is thine, and therefore thou art bound to praise him; his being thine includes all happiness, so that thou canst never want matter for praise." Jerusalem and Zion must praise God,
I. For the prosperity and flourishing state of their civil interests, Psa 147:13, Psa 147:14. 1. For their common safety. They had gates, and kept their gates barred in times of danger; but that would not have been an effectual security to them if God had not strengthened the bars of their gates and fortified their fortifications. The most probable means we can devise for our own preservation will not answer the end, unless God give his blessing with them; we must therefore in the careful and diligent use of those means, depend upon him for that blessing, and attribute the undisturbed repose of our land more to the wall of fire than to the wall of water round about us, Zac 2:5. 2. For the increase of their people. This strengthens the bars of the gates as much as any thing: He hath blessed thy children within thee, with that first and great blessing, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the land. It is a comfort to parents to see their children blessed of the Lord (Isa 61:9), and a comfort to the generation that is going off to see the rising generation numerous and hopeful, for which blessing God must be blessed. 3. For the public tranquillity, that they were delivered from the terrors and desolations of war: He makes peace in thy borders, by putting an end to the wars that were, and preventing the wars that were threatened and feared. He makes peace within thy borders, that is, in all parts of the country, by composing differences among neighbours, that there may be no intestine broils and animosities, and upon thy borders, that they may not be attacked by invasions from abroad. If there be trouble any where, it is in the borders, the marches of a country; the frontier-towns lie most exposed, so that, if there be peace in the borders, there is a universal peace, a mercy we can never be sufficiently thankful for. 4. For great plenty, the common effect of peace: He filleth thee with the finest of the wheat - wheat, the most valuable grain, the fat, the finest of that, and a fulness thereof. What would they more? Canaan abounded with the best wheat (Deu 32:14) and exported it to the countries abroad, as appears, Eze 27:17. The land of Israel was not enriched with precious stones nor spices, but with the finest of the wheat, with bread, which strengthens man's heart. This made it the glory of all lands, and for this God was praised in Zion.
II. For the wonderful instances of his power in the weather, particularly the winter-weather. He that protects Zion and Jerusalem is that God of power from whom all the powers of nature are derived and on whom they depend, and who produces all the changes of the seasons, which, if they were not common, would astonish us.
1.In general, whatever alterations there are in this lower world (and it is that world that is subject to continual changes) they are produced by the will, and power, and providence of God (Psa 147:15): He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth, as one that has an incontestable authority to give orders, and innumerable attendants ready to carry his orders and put them in execution. As the world was at first made, so it is still upheld and governed, by a word of almighty power. God speaks and it is done, for all are his servants. That word takes effect, not only surely, but speedily. His word runneth very swiftly, for nothing can oppose or retard it. As the lightning, which passes through the air in an instant, such is the word of God's providence, and such the word of his grace, when it is sent forth with commission, Luk 17:24. Angels, who carry his word and fulfil it, fly swiftly, Dan 9:21.
2.In particular, frosts and thaws are both of them wonderful changes, and in both we must acknowledge the word of his power.
(1.)Frosts are from God. With him are the treasures of the snow and the hail (Job 38:22, Job 38:23), and out of these treasures he draws as he pleases. [1.] He giveth snow like wool. It is compared to wool for its whiteness (Isa 1:18), and its softness; it falls silently, and makes no more noise than the fall of a lock of wool; it covers the earth, and keeps it warm like a fleece of wool, and so promotes its fruitfulness. See how God can work by contraries, and bring meat out of the eater, can warm the earth with cold snow. [2.] He scatters the hoar-frost, which is dew congealed, as the snow and hail are rain congealed. This looks like ashes scattered upon the grass, and is sometimes prejudicial to the products of the earth and blasts them as if it were hot ashes, Psa 78:47. [3.] He casts forth his ice like morsels, which may be understood either of large hail-stones, which are as ice in the air, or of the ice which covers the face of the waters, and when it is broken, though naturally it was as drops of drink, it is as morsels of meat, or crusts of bread. [4.] When we see the frost, and snow, and ice, we feel it in the air: Who can stand before his cold? The beasts cannot; they retire into dens (Job 37:8); they are easily conquered then, Sa2 23:20. Men cannot, but are forced to protect themselves by fires, or furs, or both, and all little enough where and when the cold is in extremity. We see not the causes when we feel the effects; and therefore we must call it his cold; it is of his sending, and therefore we must bear it patiently, and be thankful for warm houses, and clothes, and beds, to relieve us against the rigour of the season, and must give him the glory of his wisdom and sovereignty, his power and faithfulness, which shall not cease any more than summer, Gen 8:22. And let us also infer from it, If we cannot stand before the cold of his frosts, how can we stand before the heat of his wrath?
(2.)Thaws are from God. When he pleases (Psa 147:18) he sends out his word and melts them; the frost, the snow, the ice, are all dissolved quickly, in order to which he causes the wind, the south wind, to blow, and the waters, which were frozen, flow again as they did before. We are soon sensible of the change, but we see not the causes of it, but must resolve it into the will of the First Cause. And in it we must take notice not only of the power of God, that he can so suddenly, so insensibly, make such a great and universal alteration in the temper of the air and the face of the earth (what cannot he do that does this every winter, perhaps often every winter?) but also of the goodness of God. Hard weather does not always continue; it would be sad if it should. He does not contend for ever, but renews the face of the earth. As he remembered Noah, and released him (Gen 8:1), so he remembers the earth, and his covenant with the earth, Sol 2:11, Sol 2:12. This thawing word may represent the gospel of Christ, and this thawing wind the Spirit of Christ (for the Spirit is compared to the wind, Joh 3:8); both are sent for the melting of frozen souls. Converting grace, like the thaw, softens the heart that was hard, moistens it, and melts it into tears of repentance; it warms good affections, and makes them to flow, which, before, were chilled and stopped up. The change which the thaw makes is universal and yet gradual; it is very evident, and yet how it is done is unaccountable: such is the change wrought in the conversion of a soul, when God's word and Spirit are sent to melt it and restore it to itself.
III. For his distinguishing favour to Israel, in giving them his word and ordinances, a much more valuable blessing than their peace and plenty (Psa 147:14), as much as the soul is more excellent than the body. Jacob and Israel had God's statutes and judgments among them. They were under his peculiar government; the municipal laws of their nation were of his framing and enacting, and their constitution was a theocracy. They had the benefit of divine revelation; the great things of God's law were written to them. They had a priesthood of divine institution for all things pertaining to God, and prophets for all extraordinary occasions. No people besides went upon sure grounds in their religion. Now this was, 1. A preventing mercy. They did not find out God's statutes and judgments of themselves, but God showed his word unto Jacob, and by that word he made known to them his statutes and judgments. It is a great mercy to any people to have the word of God among them; for faith comes by hearing and reading that word, that faith without which it is impossible to please God. 2. A distinguishing mercy, and upon that account the more obliging: "He hath not dealt so with every nation, not with any nation; and, as for his judgments, they have not known them, nor are likely to know them till the Messiah shall come and take down the partition-wall between Jew and Gentile, that the gospel may be preached to every creature." Other nations had plenty of outward good things; some nations were very rich, others had pompous powerful princes and polite literature, but none were blessed with God's statutes and judgments as Israel were. Let Israel therefore praise the Lord in the observance of these statutes. Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself to us, and not to the world! Even so, Father, because it seemed good in thy eyes.
We then are burdened by the sluggishness of this cold body, and the bonds of this earthly and corruptible life; have we no hope of receiving "the Word," which "runs even unto swiftness"? Or has abandoned us, though by the body we are depressed to the lowest depths? Did not He predestinate us, before we were born in this mortal and sluggish body? He then, who predestinated us, gave snow to the earth, even ourselves. For now let us come to those somewhat obscure verses of the Psalm, let those entanglements begin to be unrolled. Behold, we are sluggish on this earth, and are as it were frozen here. And just as happens to the flakes of snow, for they freeze above, then fall down; so as love grows cold, human nature falls down to this earth, and involved in a sluggish body becomes like snow. But in that snow are predestined sons of God. For, "He gives snow like wool" [Psalm 147:16]. What is "like wool"? It means, of the snow which He has given, of these, who are as yet slow in spirit and cold, whom He has predestinated, He is about to make somewhat. For wool is the material of a garment: when we see wool, we look on it as a sort of preparation for a garment. Therefore since He has predestinated these, who at present are cold and creep on earth, and as yet glow not with the spirit of love (for as yet He speaks of predestination), God has given these as a sort of wool: He is about to make of them a garment. Rightly did the "raiment" of Christ "shine" on the mountain, "like snow." [Matthew 17:2] The raiment of Christ did shine like snow, as though of that snow a garment had already been made: of which wool, that is, of the snow which He gave like wool, they being as yet predestined, were sluggish: but wait, see what follows. Since He gave them as wool, a garment is made of them. For as the Church is called the Body of Christ, so is the Church also called the garment of Christ: hence comes that which is said by the Apostle, "that He might present it to Himself a glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle." [Ephesians 5:27] Let Him then present unto Himself a glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle; let Him make Himself a garment of that wool, which He had predestinated in the snow. While men are yet unbelieving, and cold, and sluggish, let Him make a garment of this wool. That it may be washed from spots, let it be cleansed by faith: that it may have no wrinkle, let it be stretched out upon the cross....
Continue studying Psalms 147:16 across the web’s major study libraries — every link below opens this exact verse, chapter, or book on the destination site.
Read & Compare
BibleGatewayThis verse in more than 200 translations and 70 languages.
Bible.comThe YouVersion reader — hundreds of translations, reading plans, and highlights.
ESV.orgCrossway's official English Standard Version reader.
NET BibleThe NET translation with 60,000+ translators' notes on every rendering decision.
STEP BibleTyndale House's free study tool — original text, vocabulary, and scholarly resources.
BibliaLogos Bible Software's free web reader.
USCCBThe New American Bible (Revised Edition) with the U.S. bishops' study notes.
Commentaries
BibleHub CommentariesDozens of classic commentaries on this verse, gathered on one page.
StudyLightMore than 100 commentary sets — the largest collection on the web.
BibleRefPlain-English commentary on what this verse means, verse by verse.
Enduring WordDavid Guzik's free commentary on this chapter, widely used by Bible teachers.
Bible Study ToolsVerse commentary alongside Greek and Hebrew study aids.
Original Language & Research
- BibleHub InterlinearThe verse word by word — original language, transliteration, and English.
- BibleHub LexiconEvery word's original-language definition and Strong's entry.
Blue Letter BibleDeep-study tools — Strong's numbers, concordance, and word studies.
SefariaThe Hebrew text with Rashi and centuries of Jewish commentary.
Sermons, Hymns & Audio
TrulyRandomVerse is not affiliated with these sites and doesn’t control their content. They’re linked because they’re genuinely useful.
SUMMARY
Psalms 147:16 is a profound poetic declaration of God's absolute sovereignty and meticulous involvement in the natural world, particularly focusing on the phenomena of winter. Through vivid similes, the psalmist extols the Lord's immense power and benevolent care, demonstrating that even the seemingly random or harsh aspects of creation are orchestrated with divine precision and purpose, reflecting His continuous provision and majestic control over all things.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The verse is rich in Simile, the primary literary device, directly comparing "snow like wool" and "hoarfrost like ashes." These comparisons are not merely descriptive but carry profound implications. The "snow like wool" evokes images of purity, softness, and a protective, abundant covering, suggesting God's gentle yet pervasive provision. The "hoarfrost like ashes" highlights the fine, powdery, and widespread nature of the frost, covering the ground with a delicate, almost ethereal layer. Beyond simile, the verse employs striking Imagery, painting vivid pictures of winter landscapes under divine command. The use of verbs like "giveth" and "scattereth" personifies God, attributing to Him direct, active involvement, which can be seen as a form of Anthropomorphism, emphasizing His personal and immediate control over natural processes. The overall effect of these devices is to underscore God's Sovereignty and Omnipotence, demonstrating His mastery over creation down to its most intricate details, transforming potentially harsh elements into illustrations of His majestic power and meticulous care.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse powerfully articulates the biblical truth that God's dominion extends not only to the grand cosmic order but also to the minute details of meteorological phenomena. It challenges any notion of a deistic God who merely sets the world in motion and then withdraws. Instead, it portrays an actively engaged Creator who "giveth" and "scattereth," demonstrating His continuous, personal, and sovereign control over every aspect of creation. This divine oversight is not arbitrary but purposeful, reflecting His wisdom, power, and benevolent provision for the earth and its inhabitants. The beauty and order in these natural occurrences, even in the cold of winter, serve as a constant testament to God's presence and His meticulous care, inviting humanity to worship and trust in His unfailing governance.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 147:16 calls us to a deeper sense of awe and trust in God's pervasive sovereignty. In a world often perceived as chaotic or governed by random chance, this verse reminds us that the same God who orchestrates the vast forces of nature also attends to the delicate details of snow and hoarfrost. This truth should profoundly impact our perspective on life's circumstances. Just as He meticulously sends snow and scatters hoarfrost, He is intimately involved in the details of our lives, our challenges, and our provisions. We are invited to find peace in His control, knowing that His power is not only mighty but also purposeful and often nurturing, even when conditions seem harsh. This verse encourages us to look beyond immediate appearances and recognize the divine hand at work in all things, fostering a spirit of worship and unwavering confidence in His meticulous care.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why does the psalmist compare snow to wool and hoarfrost to ashes?
Answer: The comparisons are chosen for their evocative qualities and symbolic resonance. "Snow like wool" (H7950, sheleg and H6785, tsemer) highlights the snow's visual purity, its soft texture, and its ability to cover the ground like a protective, insulating blanket, suggesting abundance, gentleness, and provision. "Hoarfrost like ashes" (H3713, kᵉphôwr and H665, ʼêpher) emphasizes the hoarfrost's fine, powdery texture and its widespread, scattered distribution across the landscape. While "ashes" can sometimes symbolize mourning or desolation in other contexts, here it likely refers to the light, almost ethereal quality of the frost, which blankets surfaces in a delicate, widespread layer, showcasing God's intricate artistry and pervasive reach in creation. Both similes underscore God's complete and detailed control over these natural phenomena.
Does this verse imply God controls all weather events, or just winter ones?
Answer: While this verse specifically mentions snow and hoarfrost, it is part of a larger psalm (Psalms 147) that celebrates God's comprehensive control over all aspects of nature. Psalm 147:18 speaks of God sending out His word and melting ice, and Psalm 147:15 states that "He sends out his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly." The broader biblical narrative consistently affirms God's absolute sovereignty over all weather patterns, including rain (Deuteronomy 11:14), wind (Psalm 107:25), and storms (Nahum 1:3). Therefore, this verse serves as a specific illustration of a broader theological truth: God is the ultimate orchestrator of all natural phenomena.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Psalms 147:16 speaks of God the Father's sovereign control over creation, its themes find their ultimate fulfillment and deepest meaning in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The New Testament reveals Jesus as the active agent of creation, for "all things were created through him and for him" (Colossians 1:16). The very power that "giveth snow like wool" and "scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes" is resident in Christ, who demonstrated His mastery over nature by calming the raging storm with a mere word, causing His disciples to marvel, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?" (Mark 4:39-41). Just as snow covers the earth in purity, Christ's sacrifice provides a covering for sin, cleansing us and making us "whiter than snow" (Psalm 51:7, echoed in Isaiah 1:18). Furthermore, the meticulous care God shows in scattering hoarfrost like ashes reflects the precise and personal care Christ extends to His people, knowing even the number of hairs on our heads (Matthew 10:30). Thus, the psalmist's praise for God's dominion over winter's elements becomes a profound testament to the cosmic authority and intimate care of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom all creation holds together (Colossians 1:17).