Psalms 95:5
The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land.
Original Language Analysis
אֲשֶׁר
H834
אֲשֶׁר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
1 of 8
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
הַ֭יָּם
The sea
H3220
הַ֭יָּם
The sea
Strong's:
H3220
Word #:
3 of 8
a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the article), the mediterranean sea; sometimes a large river, or an artif
וְה֣וּא
H1931
וְה֣וּא
Strong's:
H1931
Word #:
4 of 8
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo
עָשָׂ֑הוּ
is his and he made
H6213
עָשָׂ֑הוּ
is his and he made
Strong's:
H6213
Word #:
5 of 8
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
Historical Context
Israel's salvation history was marked by God's control over sea and land: parting the Red Sea (Exodus 14), stopping the Jordan River (Joshua 3), calming storms (Jonah 1; Matthew 8:23-27). These acts demonstrated that the God who created sea and land continues to rule them for His people's deliverance. The psalm's liturgical context invited worshipers to remember these mighty acts and trust the same Creator-Redeemer. Greco-Roman mythology feared capricious sea gods; Israel worshiped the God who made the sea itself.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God's ownership by creation (He made it) affect how you view the natural world and environmental stewardship?
- What modern 'seas of chaos' (political turmoil, economic instability, personal crises) need to be surrendered to the God who made the sea?
- How does recognizing Christ as Creator deepen your understanding of His authority and worthiness to receive worship?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land. This verse grounds God's ownership in His creative work: the sea belongs to Him because He made it; the land is His because He formed it. The Hebrew structure emphasizes these twin claims: lo hayam ve-hu asahu (לוֹ הַיָּם וְהוּא עָשָׂהוּ, "His is the sea, and He made it") and veyabbashet yadav yatsaru (וְיַבֶּשֶׁת יָדָיו יָצָרוּ, "and the dry land, His hands formed").
The "sea" (yam, יָם) held deep significance for ancient Israel—both literal (Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, Sea of Galilee) and symbolic. In Ancient Near Eastern mythology, the sea represented chaos that gods struggled to control. In contrast, Israel's God effortlessly made (asah, עָשָׂה) the sea, demonstrating His supremacy over any supposed chaos. The verb yatsar (יָצַר), "formed," is the potter's word used in Genesis 2:7 for God forming Adam from dust—deliberate, skilled, purposeful creation.
"His hands" (yadav, יָדָיו) personalizes creation—not distant, impersonal force but intimate involvement. God's hands shaped the continents. This echoes Genesis 1:9-10, where God gathered waters and caused dry land to appear. The New Testament reveals Christ as the agent of creation: "All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made" (John 1:3). Worship, therefore, is the only fitting response to the Creator.