Psalms 114:6
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
Psalms 114:6
6 Ye mountains, that ye skipped like rams; and ye little hills, like lambs?
Chapter Context
Psalms 114 is a poetic and liturgical chapter in the Old Testament that explores themes of righteousness, mercy, judgment. Written during various periods (c. 1000-400 BCE), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: Temple worship utilized these compositions across various periods of Israel's history.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-8: Development of key themes
This chapter is significant because it demonstrates God's faithfulness despite human unfaithfulness. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within Psalms and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
Psalms 114:6
6 Ye mountains, that ye skipped like rams; and ye little hills, like lambs?
Analysis
Ye mountains, that ye skipped like rams; and ye little hills, like lambs? The interrogation continues, now addressing the trembling at Mount Sinai when God descended to give the Law (Exodus 19:16-18). The verb raqad (רָקַד, to skip, dance, leap) depicts violent convulsions—not gentle hopping but the earth's terrified response to divine presence.
Mountains, symbols of permanence and stability, become like frightened rams (אֵילִים/eilim) and hills like lambs (בְּנֵי־צֹאן/benei-tson, literally 'sons of the flock'). This agricultural imagery, familiar to shepherds, depicts the incongruous: that which should be immovable becomes like panicked livestock. The comparison reduces earth's mightiest features to helpless creatures fleeing a predator.
The poetic parallelism (mountains/hills, rams/lambs) emphasizes totality—all creation, from greatest to least, trembles before Yahweh. This anticipates eschatological imagery where mountains melt like wax before the Lord (Psalm 97:5; Micah 1:4) and every knee bows (Isaiah 45:23; Romans 14:11).
Historical Context
The Sinai theophany (Exodus 19) was Israel's most terrifying encounter with God's holiness. Thunder, lightning, thick cloud, trumpet blast, fire, and earthquake accompanied God's descent. The mountain trembled violently (Exodus 19:18). Even Moses said, 'I exceedingly fear and quake' (Hebrews 12:21). This event established the covenant and revealed God's character—holy, powerful, yet graciously condescending to dwell among His people. The Hallel psalms celebrated not just political deliverance but covenant relationship with the Creator who makes mountains skip.
Reflection
- If mountains skip like lambs before God's presence, how should this affect your approach to worship?
- What does creation's involuntary response to God teach about the futility of human resistance to His will?
- How does the playful imagery (skipping like lambs) combine with the terrifying reality (mountains convulsing) to reveal both God's power and His approachability through covenant?