Psalms 104:20

Authorized King James Version

Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth.

Word-by-Word Analysis

תָּֽשֶׁת

H7896

Thou makest

to place (in a very wide application)

חֹ֭שֶׁךְ

H2822

darkness

the dark; hence (literally) darkness; figuratively, misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness

וִ֣יהִי

H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

לָ֑יְלָה

H3915

and it is night

properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e., night; figuratively, adversity

בּֽוֹ

תִ֝רְמֹ֗שׂ

H7430

do creep

properly, to glide swiftly, i.e., to crawl or move with short steps; by analogy to swarm

כָּל

H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

חַיְתוֹ

H2416

wherein all the beasts

alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or livin

יָֽעַר׃

H3293

of the forest

a copse of bushes; hence, a forest; hence, honey in the comb (as hived in trees)

Analysis

The worship and praise theme here intersects with the broader canonical witness to God's character and purposes. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of progressive revelation that finds its culmination in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine revelation contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's consistent character and purposes.

Historical Context

This passage must be understood within the Israelite monarchy with its court politics and military conflicts. The author writes to address worshipers in the temple and those seeking God in times of distress, making the emphasis on worship and praise particularly relevant. Historical documents from this period show cultural practices and social structures that would have been familiar to the original readers, illuminating the verse's original impact.

Questions for Reflection

What practical applications emerge from understanding worship and praise as presented in this verse, particularly in light of contemporary challenges facing the church and individual believers?
What systematic theological implications arise from this verse's treatment of worship and praise, and how does it contribute to a biblical theology of fundamental Christian doctrine?
How does this verse's literary context within Psalms chapter 104 illuminate its theological significance, and what does this teach us about biblical interpretation?