Psalm 24:2
New International Version
for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters.

New Living Translation
For he laid the earth’s foundation on the seas and built it on the ocean depths.

English Standard Version
for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.

Berean Standard Bible
For He has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.

King James Bible
For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.

New King James Version
For He has founded it upon the seas, And established it upon the waters.

New American Standard Bible
For He has founded it upon the seas And established it upon the rivers.

NASB 1995
For He has founded it upon the seas And established it upon the rivers.

NASB 1977
For He has founded it upon the seas, And established it upon the rivers.

Legacy Standard Bible
For He has founded it upon the seas And established it upon the rivers.

Amplified Bible
For He has founded it upon the seas And established it upon the streams and the rivers.

Christian Standard Bible
for he laid its foundation on the seas and established it on the rivers.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
for He laid its foundation on the seas and established it on the rivers.

American Standard Version
For he hath founded it upon the seas, And established it upon the floods.

Contemporary English Version
The LORD placed it all on the oceans and rivers.

English Revised Version
For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He laid its foundation on the seas and set it firmly on the rivers.

Good News Translation
He built it on the deep waters beneath the earth and laid its foundations in the ocean depths.

International Standard Version
Indeed, he founded it upon the seas, he established it upon deep waters.

Majority Standard Bible
For He has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.

NET Bible
For he set its foundation upon the seas, and established it upon the ocean currents.

New Heart English Bible
For he has founded it on the seas, and established it on the floods.

Webster's Bible Translation
For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.

World English Bible
For he has founded it on the seas, and established it on the floods.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
For He has founded it on the seas, "" And He establishes it on the floods.

Young's Literal Translation
For He on the seas hath founded it, And on the floods He doth establish it.

Smith's Literal Translation
For he founded it upon the seas, and upon the rivers he will prepare it.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
For he hath founded it upon the seas; and hath prepared it upon the rivers.

Catholic Public Domain Version
For he has founded it upon the seas, and he has prepared it upon the rivers.

New American Bible
For he founded it on the seas, established it over the rivers.

New Revised Standard Version
for he has founded it on the seas, and established it on the rivers.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
For he has set the foundation thereof in the sea, and has furnished it with rivers.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
For he set its foundations in the sea and it was prepared in the rivers.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
For He hath founded it upon the seas, And established it upon the floods.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
He has founded it upon the seas, and prepared it upon the rivers.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Earth is the LORD's
1A Psalm of David. The earth is the LORD’s, and the fullness thereof, the world and all who dwell therein. 2For He has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters. 3Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in His holy place?…

Cross References
Genesis 1:9-10
And God said, “Let the waters under the sky be gathered into one place, so that the dry land may appear.” And it was so. / God called the dry land “earth,” and the gathering of waters He called “seas.” And God saw that it was good.

Job 38:4-11
Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. / Who fixed its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched a measuring line across it? / On what were its foundations set, or who laid its cornerstone, ...

Proverbs 8:27-29
I was there when He established the heavens, when He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep, / when He established the clouds above, when the fountains of the deep gushed forth, / when He set a boundary for the sea, so that the waters would not surpass His command, when He marked out the foundations of the earth.

Isaiah 40:12
Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or marked off the heavens with the span of his hand? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on a scale and the hills with a balance?

Jeremiah 5:22
Do you not fear Me?” declares the LORD. “Do you not tremble before Me, the One who set the sand as the boundary for the sea, an enduring barrier it cannot cross? The waves surge, but they cannot prevail. They roar but cannot cross it.

Exodus 20:11
For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth and the sea and all that is in them, but on the seventh day He rested. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.

Nehemiah 9:6
You alone are the LORD. You created the heavens, the highest heavens with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to all things, and the host of heaven worships You.

Psalm 33:6-9
By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and all the stars by the breath of His mouth. / He piles up the waters of the sea; He puts the depths into storehouses. / Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere Him. ...

Psalm 104:5-9
He set the earth on its foundations, never to be moved. / You covered it with the deep like a garment; the waters stood above the mountains. / At Your rebuke the waters fled; at the sound of Your thunder they hurried away— ...

Jonah 1:9
“I am a Hebrew,” replied Jonah. “I worship the LORD, the God of the heavens, who made the sea and the dry land.”

Hebrews 11:3
By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

2 Peter 3:5
But they deliberately overlook the fact that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water,

Revelation 4:11
“Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things; by Your will they exist and were created.”

Colossians 1:16-17
For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him. / He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

John 1:1-3
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. / He was with God in the beginning. / Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made.


Treasury of Scripture

For he has founded it on the seas, and established it on the floods.

For

Psalm 33:6
By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.

Psalm 95:4
In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also.

Psalm 104:5,6
Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever…

and

Psalm 93:1
The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved.

Psalm 96:10
Say among the heathen that the LORD reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously.

Genesis 8:22
While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.

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Psalm 24
1. God's Lordship in the world
3. The citizens of his spiritual kingdom
7. An exhortation to receive him














For He has founded it upon the seas
For He
This phrase emphasizes the sovereignty and omnipotence of God. In the Hebrew text, the word used is "כִּי" (ki), which often introduces a reason or explanation. Here, it underscores that God is the ultimate authority and creator. The use of "He" points directly to God, affirming His role as the divine architect of the world. This reflects the conservative Christian belief in God's supreme power and intentionality in creation.

has founded
The Hebrew root for "founded" is "יָסַד" (yasad), which means to establish or lay a foundation. This word conveys the idea of stability and intentionality. In the ancient Near Eastern context, founding something upon the seas would have been seen as a demonstration of immense power, as the sea was often associated with chaos. This phrase reassures believers of God's control over all creation, including the chaotic and unpredictable elements of the world.

it
The pronoun "it" refers to the earth, as mentioned in the previous verse. This highlights the object of God's creative act. The earth is not a random occurrence but a deliberate creation by God. This aligns with the conservative Christian view that the earth is purposefully designed and maintained by God.

upon the seas
The phrase "upon the seas" uses the Hebrew word "עַל" (al), meaning "upon" or "over," and "יַמִּים" (yamim), meaning "seas." In ancient Hebrew cosmology, the seas were often seen as chaotic and untamed. By stating that God founded the earth upon the seas, the psalmist is illustrating God's mastery over chaos and His ability to bring order and stability. This imagery would have resonated deeply with the original audience, who viewed the sea as a symbol of uncertainty and danger. For conservative Christians, this serves as a reminder of God's power to bring order to the chaos in our lives.

and established it upon the waters
and established
The Hebrew word for "established" is "כוּן" (kun), which means to make firm or secure. This word reinforces the idea of God's intentional and powerful act of creation. It suggests not only the initial act of creation but also the ongoing sustenance and maintenance of the earth. This reflects the belief that God is not a distant creator but actively involved in His creation.

it
Again, "it" refers to the earth, emphasizing the focus of God's creative and sustaining work. The repetition of this pronoun in the verse highlights the earth's significance in God's plan and His ongoing care for it.

upon the waters
The phrase "upon the waters" uses the Hebrew word "מַיִם" (mayim), meaning "waters." Similar to "upon the seas," this phrase underscores God's control over the primordial waters, which were often seen as chaotic and threatening. In the biblical narrative, water is a powerful symbol, representing both life and chaos. By establishing the earth upon the waters, God demonstrates His authority over all elements of creation. For conservative Christians, this serves as a powerful reminder of God's sovereignty and His ability to bring order and purpose to the world.

(2) Upon the seas.--For the idea of the earth resting on water, comp. Psalm 136:6; Proverbs 8:25-29. In Genesis the dry land emerges from the water, but is not said to be founded on it. In Job 26:7 the earth is said to be hung upon nothing. The idea of a water foundation for the earth naturally grew out of the phenomenon of springs, before it was scientifically explained.

Verse 2. - For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods (comp. Genesis 1:9). God has established the earth above the seas and floods, causing it to "appear," and thus making it a fitting habitation for man. Hence his right of property in the earth and in all the dwellers on it. They exist through his providential care (comp. Psalm 104:6-9).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
For
כִּי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

He
ה֭וּא (hū)
Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

has founded it
יְסָדָ֑הּ (yə·sā·ḏāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 3245: To set, to found, to sit down together, settle, consult

upon
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the seas
יַמִּ֣ים (yam·mîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3220: A sea, the Mediterranean Sea, large river, an artifical basin

and established it
יְכוֹנְנֶֽהָ׃ (yə·ḵō·wn·ne·hā)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 3559: To be erect

upon
וְעַל־ (wə·‘al-)
Conjunctive waw | Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the waters.
נְ֝הָר֗וֹת (nə·hā·rō·wṯ)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5104: A stream, prosperity


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OT Poetry: Psalm 24:2 For he has founded it (Psalm Ps Psa.)
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