The Meaning of Psalms 104:8 Explained

Psalms 104:8

KJV: They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys unto the place which thou hast founded for them.

YLT: They go up hills -- they go down valleys, Unto a place Thou hast founded for them.

Darby: The mountains rose, the valleys sank, unto the place which thou hadst founded for them; --

ASV: (The mountains rose, the valleys sank down) Unto the place which thou hadst founded for them.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

They go up  by the mountains;  they go down  by the valleys  unto the place  which  thou hast founded  for them. 

What does Psalms 104:8 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 104:8 mean?

They went up over the mountains they went down into the valleys to the place which You founded for them
יַעֲל֣וּ הָ֭רִים יֵרְד֣וּ בְקָע֑וֹת אֶל־ מְ֝ק֗וֹם זֶ֤ה ׀ יָסַ֬דְתָּ לָהֶֽם

יַעֲל֣וּ  They  went  up 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: סָלַק 
Sense: to go up, ascend, climb.
הָ֭רִים  over  the  mountains 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: הַר  
Sense: hill, mountain, hill country, mount.
יֵרְד֣וּ  they  went  down 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: יָרַד  
Sense: to go down, descend, decline, march down, sink down.
בְקָע֑וֹת  into  the  valleys 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural
Root: בִּקְעָה  
Sense: valley.
מְ֝ק֗וֹם  the  place 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מָקֹום  
Sense: standing place, place.
יָסַ֬דְתָּ  You  founded 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: יָסַד 
Sense: to found, fix, establish, lay foundation.
לָהֶֽם  for  them 
Parse: Preposition-l, Pronoun, third person masculine plural
Root: הֵם 
Sense: they, these, the same, who.

What are the major concepts related to Psalms 104:8?

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