Psalms 24:2

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

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

Complete Jewish Bible

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

Berean Standard Bible

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

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 24:2, building upon the declaration of divine ownership in the preceding verse, powerfully proclaims God's absolute sovereignty and creative might over the entire cosmos. It vividly portrays the earth's enduring stability, not as a precarious existence upon chaotic waters, but as a testament to the Lord's deliberate, foundational work, establishing the dry land firmly amidst the formidable seas and floods. This verse underscores God's unparalleled power to bring order, security, and permanence to creation, setting the stage for the subsequent inquiry into who is worthy to ascend His holy hill.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse serves as the theological bedrock for the entire psalm. Psalms 24 opens with a majestic declaration of God's universal ownership and creative power in [Psalms 24:1](/psalms/24-1 "Psalms 24:1 - The Earth is the Lord's"). Verse 2 then elaborates on *how* this ownership is manifest: through His foundational work in creation. This affirmation of divine sovereignty over all creation provides the necessary premise for the subsequent liturgical questions in [Psalms 24:3-6](/psalms/24-3 "Psalms 24:3-6 - Who May Ascend the Hill of the Lord?"), which inquire about the character required to approach such a holy and powerful God. The psalm then culminates in a triumphant call for the "ancient doors" to open, welcoming the "King of glory" into His sanctuary, reinforcing His ultimate dominion. The initial declaration of creation's foundation thus sets the stage for the worship of the Creator.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Ancient Israelite cosmology, like that of many ancient Near Eastern cultures, often depicted the earth as a solid landmass surrounded by or resting upon vast, often turbulent, waters. In various mythologies of the region, these primordial waters ("the deep" or "chaos-waters") were seen as powerful, unruly forces that even the gods struggled to subdue. However, the biblical worldview radically departs from this by presenting a singular, sovereign God who effortlessly brings order out of potential chaos. He is not a part of creation, nor does He struggle with its elements; rather, He is the supreme Architect who firmly establishes the dry land. This psalm is widely believed to be a processional liturgy, perhaps sung by pilgrims as they ascended to the Temple in Jerusalem, or during the ceremonial entry of the Ark of the Covenant. Acknowledging God's absolute dominion over all creation was a prerequisite for entering His holy presence and worshiping Him.

* **Key Themes:** Psalms 24:2 profoundly contributes to several overarching themes within the Psalter and broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it champions **Divine Sovereignty in Creation**, unequivocally attributing the earth's existence and stability to God alone. He is the ultimate architect and builder, demonstrating absolute control over all elements, even those perceived as powerful and uncontrollable, like the seas and floods. Secondly, the imagery vividly portrays **Order Out of Chaos**, reflecting a foundational biblical concept where God imposes structure and form upon what might otherwise be chaotic forces. This resonates deeply with the primordial creation account in [Genesis 1:2](/genesis/1-2 "Genesis 1:2 - Spirit Hovering Over Waters") where the Spirit of God hovers over the formless deep, and specifically with God's act of separating the waters to let the dry land appear in [Genesis 1:9-10](/genesis/1-9 "Genesis 1:9-10 - God Separates Waters and Land"). Finally, the verse emphasizes **Stability and Security**, highlighting God's power to make firm and secure what He has made. Despite the seemingly precarious foundation on water, the earth is "established," underscoring God's role as the ultimate sustainer, providing a stable environment for life and a secure dwelling for humanity.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **יָסַד (Hebrew, _yasad_):** This Hebrew verb means "to lay a foundation," "to establish," "to found," or "to appoint." It conveys the idea of a deliberate, intentional, and firm act of creation or setting in place. When applied to God's work, it speaks to His purposeful design and the enduring stability of what He has brought into being. It implies a permanent, unshakeable basis.
* **כּוּן (Hebrew, _kun_):** This verb signifies "to set up," "to prepare," "to make firm," "to establish," or "to be fixed." It often implies a state of being firmly in place, prepared, or made ready for a specific purpose. In conjunction with _yasad_, _kun_ reinforces the idea of God's active and ongoing work in not just initiating creation but also sustaining and making it secure. It speaks to the permanence and reliability of His creative act.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"For he hath founded it upon the seas":** This clause directly attributes the earth's very foundation to God. The "it" refers back to "the earth" mentioned in [Psalms 24:1](/psalms/24-1 "Psalms 24:1 - The Earth is the Lord's"). The imagery of founding "upon the seas" is striking, as ancient peoples often viewed the vast, deep waters as chaotic and unstable. Yet, the psalmist declares that God, in His supreme power, has not merely navigated these waters but has used them as the very substructure upon which the solid earth is securely placed. This is a powerful statement of God's dominion, turning a potential symbol of chaos into a testament to His ordering power.
* **"and established it upon the floods":** This second clause functions as a poetic parallel to the first, reinforcing and intensifying the declaration. "Floods" (Hebrew: _neharot_, referring to mighty rivers or currents) further emphasizes the vast, moving, and potentially destructive nature of the waters. By stating that God has "established" the earth upon these forces, the psalmist reiterates the divine act of making firm and secure what might otherwise be precarious. It highlights God's absolute control, not only in laying the initial foundation but also in ensuring its ongoing stability and permanence against any opposing forces.

#### Literary Devices
Psalms 24:2 employs several potent **Literary Devices** to convey its message. The most prominent is **Parallelism**, specifically synonymous parallelism, where the second clause ("and established it upon the floods") reiterates and amplifies the meaning of the first ("For he hath founded it upon the seas"). This repetition serves to emphasize God's comprehensive and undisputed power over the waters. **Imagery** is central, painting a vivid cosmological picture of the earth resting securely on what would naturally be unstable elements. This **Imagery** evokes a sense of awe at God's ability to bring order and stability out of the formless deep. Furthermore, the "seas" and "floods" function as **Symbolism**, representing not just literal bodies of water but also the primordial chaos and potentially destructive forces that God, as the sovereign Creator, effortlessly subdues and utilizes as the very foundation for His ordered world. The verse's concise yet powerful phrasing contributes to its memorable and impactful declaration of divine omnipotence.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 24:2 is a profound theological statement on God's omnipotence and His role as the ultimate Sustainer, not merely the initial Creator. The imagery of founding the earth upon the "seas" and "floods" speaks to God's absolute dominion over all forces, including those perceived as chaotic or uncontrollable. This is not merely a description of a past event but an ongoing reality of divine sustenance. If God is powerful enough to establish the very ground beneath our feet on such a seemingly precarious foundation, then His capacity to order and sustain all things—from the cosmos to the minutiae of human life—is boundless. This verse invites us to marvel at the divine wisdom and strength that undergirds all existence, fostering a deep sense of trust and security in His unfailing providence. It reminds us that our world, despite its apparent upheavals, rests securely on the foundation laid by an all-powerful, sovereign God.

* [Genesis 1:9-10](/genesis/1-9 "Genesis 1:9-10 - God Separates Water and Land")
* [Job 38:4-11](/job/38-4 "Job 38:4-11 - God's Questions About Creation")
* [Proverbs 8:27-29](/proverbs/8-27 "Proverbs 8:27-29 - Wisdom Present at Creation")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 24:2 offers profound comfort and a powerful call to worship for believers today. In a world often characterized by instability, uncertainty, and overwhelming challenges that can feel like "floods" threatening to engulf us, this verse anchors our hope in an unshakeable truth: God is the one who has founded and established all things. If His power is sufficient to bring order and stability to the vast, chaotic waters of creation, then He is certainly capable of bringing order, peace, and security into our personal lives, our communities, and our world. This truth encourages us to place our complete trust in His unwavering power and wisdom, knowing that our lives, like the earth itself, are securely held in His sovereign hands. Recognizing His creative might should inspire not only awe but also a deeper sense of responsibility as stewards of His established creation, living in a way that honors the One who sustains all.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does recognizing God's foundational power in creation impact our trust in Him during times of personal or global instability?**
* **In what ways can we, as stewards of God's established earth, reflect His ordering and sustaining character in our own spheres of influence?**
* **Considering God's dominion over even chaotic forces, what "seas" or "floods" in our lives do we need to surrender to His sovereign control?**

### FAQ

**How does this verse reconcile with modern scientific understanding of the earth's formation?**

Answer: It's crucial to understand that Psalms 24:2, like much of biblical cosmology, uses poetic and phenomenological language rather than attempting to provide a scientific treatise on the earth's geological formation. The ancient Israelites observed the world around them – the vastness of the seas, the power of rivers – and expressed God's creative power in terms familiar to their experience. The "founding upon the seas and floods" is a powerful metaphorical expression of God's absolute control over all elements, even those perceived as chaotic or formidable, ensuring the earth's stability. It highlights divine sovereignty and order, not a literal geological description. The Bible's primary purpose is theological: to reveal God's character and His relationship with humanity, not to detail the precise scientific mechanisms of creation.

**What is the symbolic significance of "seas" and "floods" in this context?**

Answer: In ancient Near Eastern thought, and often in biblical imagery, "seas" (_yammim_) and "floods" (_neharot_) can symbolize primordial chaos, untamed forces, and even the realm of evil or death. For example, the "deep" (_tehom_) in [Genesis 1:2](/genesis/1-2 "Genesis 1:2 - Spirit Hovering Over Waters") represents the formless, watery void before creation. By stating that God founded and established the earth "upon" these very elements, the psalmist emphasizes God's supreme power to not only subdue chaos but to use it as the very foundation for His ordered creation. It signifies His absolute dominion over all things, transforming potential disorder into a stable, life-sustaining environment. This imagery powerfully conveys that no force, however vast or threatening, is beyond the Creator's control.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 24:2 finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ, who is revealed in the New Testament as the active agent of creation and the ongoing sustainer of all things. The psalmist's declaration that God "founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods" points forward to Christ, through whom "all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible... all things were created through him and for him" ([Colossians 1:16](/colossians/1-16 "Colossians 1:16 - Christ as Creator")). Not only was the world brought into being through Him, but it is also "by him all things hold together" ([Colossians 1:17](/colossians/1-17 "Colossians 1:17 - Christ as Sustainer")), demonstrating His continuous power to establish and maintain order amidst any "seas" or "floods" of chaos. Jesus's miraculous calming of the storm on the Sea of Galilee ([Mark 4:39](/mark/4-39 "Mark 4:39 - Jesus Calms the Storm")) vividly illustrates His divine authority over the very elements mentioned in the psalm, proving that the One who established the world upon the waters is indeed present in Him. Ultimately, Christ is the "King of glory" ([Psalms 24:7](/psalms/24-7 "Psalms 24:7 - Lift Up Your Heads, O Gates")), who not only founded the physical earth but also establishes His spiritual kingdom, bringing order out of the chaos of sin and death, and securing an eternal dwelling for His people.

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

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.