Psalms 77:16

The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee; they were afraid: the depths also were troubled.

The waters {H4325} saw {H7200}{H8804)} thee, O God {H430}, the waters {H4325} saw {H7200}{H8804)} thee; they were afraid {H2342}{H8799)}: the depths {H8415} also were troubled {H7264}{H8799)}.

The water saw you, God; the water saw you and writhed in anguish, agitated to its depths.

The waters saw You, O God; the waters saw You and swirled; even the depths were shaken.

The waters saw thee, O God; The waters saw thee, they were afraid: The depths also trembled.

Commentary

Context of Psalms 77:16

Psalm 77 is a deeply personal lament by Asaph, a Levitical choirmaster, who initially expresses profound distress and doubt. However, the psalm shifts from despair to hope as the psalmist consciously remembers God's mighty deeds in the past. Verse 16 marks a pivotal point in this shift, moving from personal anguish to a powerful recollection of God's miraculous intervention on behalf of Israel. Specifically, it vividly recalls the dramatic parting of the Red Sea during the Exodus, a foundational event in Israelite history that demonstrated God's unparalleled power and faithfulness.

Key Themes and Messages

  • God's Absolute Sovereignty over Creation: This verse powerfully illustrates God's complete control over the natural world. The "waters" and "depths" are personified as sentient beings that "saw" God and were "afraid" and "troubled," immediately obeying His command. This highlights that no force, natural or otherwise, can stand against the Creator.
  • Divine Power and Majesty: The imagery conveys God's overwhelming strength and majesty, so immense that even the vast and powerful waters are terrified by His presence. It speaks to a God who is not merely powerful but is the very source of all power, capable of defying the laws of nature for His purposes.
  • Remembrance as a Source of Hope: For the psalmist and for believers today, remembering God's past interventions and demonstrations of power provides a crucial anchor in times of trouble. If God could command the chaotic waters, He can surely handle personal difficulties.

Linguistic Insights

The repetition, "The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee," is a poetic device known as anadiplosis, which serves to emphasize the direct and immediate confrontation between God and the waters. It underscores the profound impact of God's presence. The Hebrew word for "waters" is mayim (ืžึทื™ึดื), and "depths" is t'homot (ืชึฐึผื”ื•ึนืžื•ึนืช), which can refer to primeval oceans or vast, deep bodies of water, often carrying connotations of chaos or immense, untamed power. The fact that these "depths" were "troubled" (or "agitated," "convulsed") indicates a violent, fearful reaction to God's appearing.

Practical Application

Psalms 77:16 offers profound encouragement for contemporary believers. When facing overwhelming challenges that feel like "waters" or "depths" threatening to engulf usโ€”whether they are financial crises, health struggles, emotional turmoil, or societal chaosโ€”this verse reminds us that our God is sovereign over all. The same God who commanded the Red Sea to part remains in control today. His power is not diminished, and His faithfulness endures. We are called to recall His past acts of deliverance, both in biblical history and in our own lives, to strengthen our faith. Just as the waters responded to God's presence, we too should respond with awe, reverence, and trust, knowing that He can calm any storm, as demonstrated by Jesus rebuking the wind and sea.

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Cross-References

  • Exodus 14:21

    ยถ And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go [back] by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry [land], and the waters were divided.

  • Habakkuk 3:15

    Thou didst walk through the sea with thine horses, [through] the heap of great waters.

  • Joshua 3:15

    And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,)

  • Joshua 3:16

    That the waters which came down from above stood [and] rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that [is] beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, [even] the salt sea, failed, [and] were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.

  • Psalms 114:3

    The sea saw [it], and fled: Jordan was driven back.

  • Psalms 114:6

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

  • Habakkuk 3:8

    Was the LORD displeased against the rivers? [was] thine anger against the rivers? [was] thy wrath against the sea, that thou didst ride upon thine horses [and] thy chariots of salvation?