Psalms 95:5

KJV

The sea [is] his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry [land].

KJV (with Strong's)

The sea {H3220} is his, and he made {H6213} it: and his hands {H3027} formed {H3335} the dry {H3006} land.

Complete Jewish Bible

The sea is his - he made it -and his hands shaped the dry land.

Berean Standard Bible

The sea is His, for He made it, and His hands formed the dry land.

American Standard Version

The sea is his, and he made it; And his hands formed the dry land.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalm 95:5 serves as a profound declaration of God's absolute sovereignty and unparalleled creative mastery over the cosmos. It asserts His inherent ownership and active involvement in the primordial formation of both the vast, deep oceans and the structured, solid continents. This verse firmly establishes God as the supreme Creator and rightful possessor of all existence, laying the foundational premise for the psalm's subsequent call to worship and solemn warning against disobedience, thereby grounding all reverence in God's identity as the ultimate Architect and Sustainer of the universe.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 95 is a masterful composition that seamlessly transitions from an fervent invitation to worship (verses 1-7a) to a stern, prophetic admonition against unbelief and hardened hearts (verses 7b-11). Verse 5 is strategically positioned within the initial call to praise, providing the irrefutable theological bedrock for such adoration. The preceding verses (3-4) have already established God's universal kingship and His meticulous control over the "deep places of the earth" and the "strength of the hills." Verse 5 expands this divine dominion to encompass the sea and dry land, completing a comprehensive portrait of God's cosmic authority. This powerful declaration of His creative power naturally culminates in the psalmist's urgent call in [Psalm 95:6](/psalms/95-6 "Psalm 95:6 - Let us worship and bow down") to "come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker." By grounding the imperative to worship in the undeniable reality of God's creative work, the psalmist presents reverence not merely as an option, but as a logical, necessary, and fitting acknowledgment of His unique identity and power.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, creation narratives often depicted a pantheon of gods engaged in chaotic battles or the emergence of order from primordial, unruly forces. In stark contrast, Psalm 95:5, consistent with other biblical accounts, presents a singular, sovereign God, Yahweh, who effortlessly and intentionally brings order into being, or shapes existing elements, without struggle, conflict, or rival. The emphatic declaration "The sea is his" directly challenges the widespread ancient perception of the sea as a chaotic, untamable, and often deified force, asserting Yahweh's absolute control over even the most formidable elements. Furthermore, the imagery of "His hands" forming the dry land resonates deeply with the familiar craft of a potter or master craftsman in ancient Israel, highlighting God's personal involvement, meticulous design, and purposeful shaping of the land, distinguishing Him from abstract or impersonal deities. This imagery underscores His unique power and deliberate artistry.

* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully articulates several core biblical themes that are foundational to understanding God's nature and humanity's place. Firstly, it underscores **Divine Sovereignty and Ownership**, declaring that the entire cosmos, from the deepest oceans to the highest peaks, belongs unequivocally to God because He is its ultimate origin. This theme is echoed throughout Scripture, from the foundational declaration in [Genesis 1:1](/genesis/1-1 "Genesis 1:1 - God Creates the Heavens and the Earth") that "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth" to later affirmations like [Psalm 24:1](/psalms/24-1 "Psalm 24:1 - The Earth is the Lord's and the Fullness Thereof"). Secondly, it highlights **God as Creator**, emphasizing His infinite power, wisdom, and intentionality in bringing forth and shaping the physical world. The use of both "made" and "formed" conveys not only the act of bringing into being but also the meticulous craftsmanship involved. This truth forms the basis for understanding God's relationship with humanity and His ongoing providential care. Finally, the verse establishes **Creation as the Foundation for Worship**. By presenting God's creative acts as the inherent reason for His dominion, the psalmist calls humanity to a posture of profound awe, reverence, and humble submission. Recognizing God as the "Maker" (as explicitly stated in [Psalm 95:6](/psalms/95-6 "Psalm 95:6 - Let us worship and bow down")) naturally leads to worship and trust in His unparalleled authority.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Sea (Hebrew, _yâm'_):** This term (H3220) refers to a large body of water, often associated with noisy surf, and in ancient thought, frequently symbolized chaotic or untamable forces. Here, its designation as "His" immediately asserts God's absolute dominion over even the most formidable and seemingly uncontrollable elements, directly contrasting with pagan mythologies where various deities might be associated with specific domains but not supreme control.
* **Made (Hebrew, _ʻâsâh'_):** This verb (H6213) is a primitive root meaning "to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application." It signifies the act of bringing something into existence through purposeful and effective action. In this context, it speaks to God's direct, powerful, and effectual origination of the oceans, emphasizing His omnipotence and the effortless nature of His creative decree.
* **Formed (Hebrew, _yâtsar'_):** This verb (H3335) is often used to describe a potter molding clay into a specific shape (e.g., [Genesis 2:7](/genesis/2-7 "Genesis 2:7 - God Forms Man from Dust")). It conveys a profound sense of deliberate craftsmanship, intricate design, and personal involvement. God didn't merely "make" the land; He "formed" it with intentionality and skill, suggesting the meticulous shaping of mountains, valleys, and plains, revealing His artistry, precision, and personal care in creation.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"The sea [is] his":** This declarative statement asserts God's absolute ownership and rightful possession of the vast oceans. It is not merely that He created them, but that they inherently belong to Him, implying His ongoing authority and sovereign control over their depths and expanse. This challenges any notion of independent forces or rival deities, firmly establishing divine dominion over all.
* **"and he made it":** This clause provides the irrefutable basis for the preceding declaration of ownership. God's direct act of creation is the foundational reason for His claim. The simple yet powerful verb "made" underscores His direct and effective agency in bringing the sea into existence, highlighting His omnipotence and the effortless nature of His creative decree, which brought order out of primordial waters.
* **"and his hands formed the dry [land]":** This clause parallels the previous one, extending God's creative dominion to the terrestrial realm. The specific imagery of "his hands" forming the land evokes a personal, intimate, and deliberate act of craftsmanship, akin to a master potter shaping clay. This suggests meticulous design, intricate structure, and purposeful arrangement of the continents, mountains, and landscapes, highlighting God's artistry, precision, and personal involvement in the detailed shaping of the earth's topography.

#### Literary Devices
Psalm 95:5 employs several potent literary devices to convey its profound message of divine sovereignty and creative power. **Parallelism** is prominently featured in the verse's structure, where the creation of the sea and the dry land are presented in complementary clauses, reinforcing the comprehensive nature of God's creative power over all domains. The phrase "his hands formed the dry land" utilizes **Anthropomorphism**, attributing human characteristics (hands) to God to make His creative involvement more relatable, vivid, and personal, emphasizing His deliberate and meticulous craftsmanship rather than a distant, abstract act. Furthermore, the verse uses **Merism** by mentioning "the sea" and "the dry land," which together represent the totality of the physical world. This comprehensive scope signifies God's absolute dominion over *everything* within creation, underscoring the all-encompassing nature of His creative work and ownership.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalm 95:5 profoundly establishes God's absolute sovereignty as the Creator and Owner of all things. This foundational truth lays the groundwork for understanding humanity's proper posture before Him: one of worship, humility, and obedience. It asserts that because God is the singular source of all existence, He alone is worthy of ultimate adoration, trust, and submission. This foundational theological premise permeates the entire biblical narrative, deeply informing our understanding of divine authority, human responsibility, and the very nature of reality itself. It challenges any worldview that posits a chaotic universe or an impersonal force, instead affirming a personal, intentional, and infinitely powerful Creator who remains intimately involved with His creation and justly demands our reverence and praise.

* [Psalm 24:1](/psalms/24-1 "Psalm 24:1 - The Earth is the Lord's")
* [Isaiah 40:28](/isaiah/40-28 "Isaiah 40:28 - God, the Everlasting Creator")
* [Revelation 4:11](/revelation/4-11 "Revelation 4:11 - Worthy are You, Our Lord and God")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalm 95:5 calls us to a renewed and profound sense of awe and wonder at the majestic power and meticulous artistry of God. In a world often consumed by human achievements, technological advancements, and the relentless pace of daily life, this verse serves to reorient our perspective, reminding us that the unfathomable vastness of the oceans and the unyielding solidity of the land are not mere natural phenomena, but the direct, intentional, and personal work of God's hands. This profound realization should inspire deep humility within us, recognizing our place as created beings utterly dependent on our Creator. It fosters a deep sense of trust, knowing that the very One who meticulously formed the earth and effortlessly controls the seas is also intimately involved in our individual lives, perfectly capable of sustaining us through any storm or uncertainty. Furthermore, understanding God's absolute ownership of all creation compels us towards responsible stewardship of the environment, prompting us to treat the earth not as our possession to exploit, but as His sacred trust to care for, reflecting His own meticulous design and care and anticipating the day when all creation will be fully redeemed and restored.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does contemplating God's creation of the sea and dry land deepen your worship and awe of Him?**
* **In what specific areas of your life do you need to surrender control, trusting the One whose "hands formed the dry land"?**
* **What practical steps can you take to honor God's ownership of creation through responsible stewardship of the environment and its resources?**

### FAQ
**What is the significance of "his hands formed the dry land" compared to "he made it" (the sea)?**

Answer: The distinction between "made" (Hebrew, _ʻâsâh'_, H6213) for the sea and "formed" (Hebrew, _yâtsar'_, H3335) with "his hands" (Hebrew, _yâd'_, H3027) for the dry land is highly significant and intentional. While _ʻâsâh'_ is a general term for creating or bringing into existence, _yâtsar'_ carries the specific connotation of a potter shaping clay, implying meticulous craftsmanship, intentional design, and personal involvement. The addition of "his hands" further emphasizes this intimate, deliberate, and skilled work. It suggests that while God brought the vast, often chaotic, sea into being with a powerful command, He intricately sculpted the land—its mountains, valleys, plains, and varied topography—with the precision and artistry of a master craftsman. This highlights God's detailed attention to every aspect of His creation, from the immense to the intricately designed, underscoring His profound wisdom and personal care, as vividly seen in [Genesis 2:7](/genesis/2-7 "Genesis 2:7 - God Forms Man from Dust") where God "formed" man from the dust of the ground.

**Does this verse imply God literally has hands?**

Answer: No, the phrase "his hands formed the dry land" is a classic example of **anthropomorphism**, a literary device where human characteristics or attributes are ascribed to God to help human beings comprehend His actions and involvement in a relatable way. God is Spirit ([John 4:24](/john/4-24 "John 4:24 - God is Spirit")) and does not possess a physical body or literal hands. This imagery is used to emphasize His personal agency, intentionality, and the meticulous care and precision with which He brought the dry land into being, much like a skilled craftsman uses their hands to shape a masterpiece. It conveys the idea of direct, purposeful, and detailed creative work, rather than a distant or impersonal act. It speaks to the intimate nature of God's creative engagement with His world.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalm 95:5, with its majestic declaration of God's creative ownership and active involvement in shaping the cosmos, finds its ultimate fulfillment and deepest meaning in the person of Jesus Christ. The New Testament unequivocally reveals that the pre-existent Son of God, the second person of the Trinity, was the active agent of creation. [John 1:3](/john/1-3 "John 1:3 - All things were made through Him") powerfully states, "All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made." Similarly, [Colossians 1:16](/colossians/1-16 "Colossians 1:16 - By Him all things were created") affirms, "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible... all things were created by him, and for him." Therefore, when Psalm 95:5 declares that "The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land," it is implicitly speaking of the creative power of the Word, who became flesh and dwelt among us ([John 1:14](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word became flesh")). Christ is not merely the one through whom creation happened, but the very purpose for which it exists. His resurrection and cosmic authority further underscore His dominion over all creation, demonstrating that the One who formed the world also has power over death, the forces of nature ([Mark 4:39](/mark/4-39 "Mark 4:39 - Jesus Calms the Storm")), and the ultimate destiny of all things ([Revelation 1:18](/revelation/1-18 "Revelation 1:18 - I am He that liveth, and was dead")). Thus, our worship of the Creator, as called for in Psalm 95, is ultimately directed to God in Christ, the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end of all creation.

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

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.

Proverbs 8:29

When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:

Proverbs 8:26

While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.

Jonah 1:9

And he said unto them, I [am] an Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry [land].

Job 38:10

And brake up for it my decreed [place], and set bars and doors,

Job 38:11

And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?