Psalm 104:3
◄  Psalm 104:3  ►
New International Version (©2011)
and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters. He makes the clouds his chariot and rides on the wings of the wind.

New Living Translation (©2007)
you lay out the rafters of your home in the rain clouds. You make the clouds your chariot; you ride upon the wings of the wind.

English Standard Version (©2001)
He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters; he makes the clouds his chariot; he rides on the wings of the wind;

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
He lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters; He makes the clouds His chariot; He walks upon the wings of the wind;

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
laying the beams of His palace on the waters above, making the clouds His chariot, walking on the wings of the wind,

International Standard Version (©2012)
He lays the beams of his roof loft on the water above, making clouds his chariot, walking on the wings of the wind.

NET Bible (©2006)
and lays the beams of the upper rooms of his palace on the rain clouds. He makes the clouds his chariot, and travels along on the wings of the wind.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English (©2010)
He makes his lofty dwellings in the waters and sets his chariot above the clouds and walks upon the wings of the wind.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
You lay the beams of your home in the water. You use the clouds for your chariot. You move on the wings of the wind.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
Who lays the beams of his chambers in the waters: who makes the clouds his chariot: who walks upon the wings of the wind:

American King James Version
Who lays the beams of his chambers in the waters: who makes the clouds his chariot: who walks on the wings of the wind:

American Standard Version
Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters; Who maketh the clouds his chariot; Who walketh upon the wings of the wind;

Douay-Rheims Bible
who coverest the higher rooms thereof with water. Who makest the clouds thy chariot: who walkest upon the wings of the winds.

Darby Bible Translation
Who layeth the beams of his upper chambers in the waters, who maketh clouds his chariot, who walketh upon the wings of the wind;

English Revised Version
Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters; who maketh the clouds his chariot; who walketh upon the wings of the wind:

Webster's Bible Translation
Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:

World English Bible
He lays the beams of his rooms in the waters. He makes the clouds his chariot. He walks on the wings of the wind.

Young's Literal Translation
Who is laying the beam of His upper chambers in the waters, Who is making thick clouds His chariot, Who is walking on wings of wind,

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

104:1-9 Every object we behold calls on us to bless and praise the Lord, who is great. His eternal power and Godhead are clearly shown by the things which he hath made. God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. The Lord Jesus, the Son of his love, is the Light of the world.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 3. - Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters. God forms himself an upper chamber, as a dwelling place, in "the waters that are above the firmament" (Genesis 1:7), as a man builds himself an upper chamber with beams and rafters. Who maketh the clouds his chariot (comp. Isaiah 19:1, "Behold, the Lord rideth upon a thick cloud"). Who walketh upon the wings of the wind (comp. Psalm 18:10). The anthropomorphism will be pardoned for the sake of the beauty of the imagery.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters,.... Or "his upper rooms" (i); one story over another being built by him in the heavens, Amos 9:6, the chambers where he resides; his courts, as the Targum; his palace and apartments, his presence chamber particularly, the floor and beams of them are the waters bound up in the thick clouds; or the region of the air, from whence the rain descends to water the hills, as in Psalm 104:13.

Who maketh the clouds his chariot; to ride in; in these sometimes Jehovah rides to execute judgment on his enemies, Isaiah 19:1 and in these sometimes he appears in a way of grace and mercy to his people, Exodus 13:21, in these, as in chariots, Christ went up to heaven; and in these will he come a second time; and into these will the saints be caught up to meet the Lord in the air at his coming, Acts 1:9.

Who walketh upon the wings of the wind; see Psalm 18:10 which is expressive of his swiftness in coming to help and assist his people in time of need; who helps, and that right early; and may very well be applied both to the first and second coming of Christ, who came leaping upon the mountains, and skipping upon the hills, when he first came; and, when he comes a second time, will be as a roe or a young hart upon the mountains of spices, Sol 2:8. The Targum is,

"upon the swift clouds, like the wings of an eagle;''

hence, perhaps, it is, the Heathens have a notion of Jupiter's being carried in a chariot through the air, when it thunders and lightens (k).

(i) Sept. "coenacula sua superiora", Gejerus; so Michaelis. (k) Vid. Horat. Camin. l. 1. Ode 34. v. 5. "Namque diespiter", &c. Et. Ode 12. v. 58. "Tu gravi curru quaties Olympum".

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

3. in the waters—or, it may be "with"; using this fluid for the beams, or frames, of His residence accords with the figure of clouds for chariots, and wind as a means of conveyance.

walketh—or, "moveth" (compare Ps 18:10, 11; Am 9:6).

Psalm 104:3 Parallel Commentaries

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Bible Hub: Online Parallel Bible


O Lord, My God, You are Very Great
1Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, you are very great; you are clothed with honor and majesty. 2Who cover yourself with light as with a garment: who stretch out the heavens like a curtain: 3Who lays the beams of his chambers in the waters: who makes the clouds his chariot: who walks on the wings of the wind: …

Deuteronomy 33:26 "There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, who rides across the heavens to help you and on the clouds in his majesty.
2 Samuel 22:11 He mounted the cherubim and flew; he soared on the wings of the wind.
Psalm 18:10 He mounted the cherubim and flew; he soared on the wings of the wind.
Psalm 24:2 for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters.
Psalm 68:33 to him who rides across the highest heavens, the ancient heavens, who thunders with mighty voice.
Isaiah 19:1 A prophecy against Egypt: See, the LORD rides on a swift cloud and is coming to Egypt. The idols of Egypt tremble before him, and the hearts of the Egyptians melt with fear.
Amos 9:6 he builds his lofty palace in the heavens and sets its foundation on the earth; he calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out over the face of the land-- the LORD is his name.
Nahum 1:3 The LORD is slow to anger but great in power; the LORD will not leave the guilty unpunished. His way is in the whirlwind and the storm, and clouds are the dust of his feet.