The Meaning of Psalms 104:5 Explained

Psalms 104:5

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

YLT: He hath founded earth on its bases, It is not moved to the age and for ever.

Darby: He laid the earth upon its foundations: it shall not be removed for ever.

ASV: Who laid the foundations of the earth, That it should not be moved for ever.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Psalms 104:5 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 104:1-12 - The Lord's Wondrous Handiwork
The opening verses of this psalm appear to describe in sublime poetry the creation of the world. God is very great, because He created the heavens and the earth. He is clothed with honor and majesty, and yet He stooped to brood over the chaos and darkness which preceded the order and beauty of our earth. When He said, "Let there be light," He robed Himself in its texture. The firmament of Genesis 1:8 was the curtain of his tent. The clouds above and the seas beneath yielded his chariot and hid for Him the joists of His palace. See Genesis 1:9-10. Compare Psalms 103:4 and Hebrews 1:7.
The psalmist in Psalms 104:6 seems to see the process which is described briefly and graphically in Genesis 1:10. The waters had covered the world with their storm and welter; but at God's command they poured down the mountain slopes to the ocean bed, there to be retained by banks of sand. What exquisite thoughtfulness is disclosed in God's provision of the springs! He thinks for the wild asses and the fowls, and how much more will He care for you, O ye of little faith! [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 104

1  A meditation upon the mighty power
7  And wonderful providence of God
31  God's glory is eternal
33  The prophet vows perpetually to praise God

What do the individual words in Psalms 104:5 mean?

[You who] laid the earth upon the foundations of so [that] not it should be moved forever and forever
יָֽסַד־ אֶ֭רֶץ עַל־ מְכוֹנֶ֑יהָ בַּל־ תִּ֝מּ֗וֹט עוֹלָ֥ם וָעֶֽד

יָֽסַד־  [You  who]  laid 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָסַף 
Sense: to add, increase, do again.
אֶ֭רֶץ  the  earth 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
עַל־  upon 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
מְכוֹנֶ֑יהָ  the  foundations 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person feminine singular
Root: מָכֹון  
Sense: fixed or established place, foundation.
בַּל־  of  so  [that]  not 
Parse: Adverb
Root: בַּל 
Sense: not, hardly, else.
תִּ֝מּ֗וֹט  it  should  be  moved 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: מֹוט  
Sense: to totter, shake, slip.
עוֹלָ֥ם  forever 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֹולָם  
Sense: long duration, antiquity, futurity, for ever, ever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient, world.
וָעֶֽד  and  forever 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַד  
Sense: perpetuity, for ever, continuing future.