Psalms 24:2

For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.

For he hath founded {H3245} it upon the seas {H3220}, and established {H3559} it upon the floods {H5104}.

for he set its foundations on the seas and established it on the rivers.

For He has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.

For he hath founded it upon the seas, And established it upon the floods.

Psalms 24:2 declares God's immense power and sovereignty over the created world, elaborating on the declaration in Psalms 24:1 that the earth and its fullness belong to the Lord. This verse paints a vivid picture of the stability of the world, not despite, but because of God's foundational work over the vast, often formidable, bodies of water.

Historical and Cultural Context

The Book of Psalms often reflects ancient Israelite understanding of the cosmos, where the earth was perceived as a solid landmass surrounded by or resting upon great waters. In many ancient Near Eastern mythologies, the sea or "deep" represented chaos and primordial disorder. However, in the biblical worldview, God is not merely a part of creation; He is the sovereign Creator who brings order out of potential chaos, establishing the dry land firmly. This psalm is often associated with processional worship, perhaps as pilgrims ascended to the temple in Jerusalem, acknowledging God's dominion over all creation before entering His holy presence.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Sovereignty in Creation: The verse unequivocally attributes the earth's existence and stability to God alone. He is the architect and builder, demonstrating His absolute control over all elements, even those perceived as powerful and uncontrollable, like the seas and floods.
  • Order Out of Chaos: The imagery of founding the earth "upon the seas" and "upon the floods" speaks to God's ability to impose order and structure on what might otherwise be chaotic forces. This resonates with the creation account in Genesis 1:9-10 where God separates the waters to let the dry land appear.
  • Stability and Security: Despite the seemingly precarious foundation on water, the earth is "established." This emphasizes God's power to make firm and secure what He has made. It underscores His role as the ultimate sustainer, providing a stable environment for life.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "founded" is yasad (יָסַד), meaning to lay a foundation, establish, or appoint. It conveys the idea of a deliberate and firm act of creation. "Established" comes from kun (כּוּן), which means to set up, prepare, make firm, or be fixed. Both words emphasize the intentionality and permanence of God's creative work. The terms "seas" (yammim - יַמִּים) and "floods" (neharot - נְהָרוֹת) refer to large bodies of water, often symbolizing the deep or mighty rivers. The poetic language here highlights God's dominion over even the most powerful natural phenomena.

Practical Application

For believers today, Psalms 24:2 offers profound comfort and a call to worship. If God is powerful enough to found and establish the entire earth upon the chaotic waters, He is certainly capable of bringing order and stability into our lives and circumstances. This verse encourages us to place our trust in His unwavering power and wisdom. It reminds us that our world, despite its apparent upheavals, rests securely on the foundation laid by an all-powerful, sovereign God. Recognizing His creative might should inspire awe and a deeper sense of responsibility as stewards of His creation, knowing that "by him all things consist" as mentioned in Colossians 1:17.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Jeremiah 5:22

    Fear ye not me? saith the LORD: will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand [for] the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it?

  • Psalms 104:5

    [Who] laid the foundations of the earth, [that] it should not be removed for ever.

  • Psalms 104:6

    Thou coveredst it with the deep as [with] a garment: the waters stood above the mountains.

  • Psalms 136:6

    To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy [endureth] for ever.

  • Genesis 1:9

    ¶ And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry [land] appear: and it was so.

  • Genesis 1:10

    And God called the dry [land] Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that [it was] good.

  • Jeremiah 10:11

    Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, [even] they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens.

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