Psalm - 104:16



16 Yahweh's trees are well watered, the cedars of Lebanon, which he has planted;

Verse In-Depth

Explanation and meaning of Psalm 104:16.

Differing Translations

Compare verses for better understanding.
The trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted;
The trees of Jehovah are filled with moisture , The cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted;
The trees of the field shall be filled, and the cedars of Libanus which he hath planted:
The trees of Jehovah are satisfied, the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted,
The trees of the Lord are full of growth, the cedars of Lebanon of his planting;
The trees of the LORD have their fill, The cedars of Lebanon, which He hath planted;

*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.


Historical Commentaries

Scholarly Analysis and Interpretation.

The trees of Jehovah shall be satiated The Psalmist again treats of God's general providence in cherishing all the parts of the world. In the first place, he asserts, that by the watering of which he had spoken the trees are satiated, or filled with sap, that thus flourishing they may be a place of abode to the birds. He next declares, that the wild deer and conies have also their places of shelter, to show that no part of the world is forgotten by Him, who is the best of fathers, and that no creature is excluded from his care. The transition which the prophet makes from men to trees is as if he had said, It is not to be wondered at, if God so bountifully nourishes men who are created after his own image, since he does not grudge to extend his care even to trees. By the trees of the Lord, is meant those which are high and of surpassing beauty; for God's blessing is more conspicuous in them. It seems scarcely possible for any juice of the earth to reach so great a height, and yet they renew their foliage every year.

The trees of the Lord - From the grass, from the herb, from the vine, and from bread, as adapted to sustain the living beings upon the earth, the psalmist passes to the more lofty and grand productions of the vegetable world - to those which display more manifestly the power of God, and which furnish abodes and retreats for the various orders of living beings. The phrase "the trees of the Lord" means great and magnificent trees - as the expression "mountains of God" means great and lofty mountains - as if they seemed to "approach" God, or as if no appellation would so well describe their nature as that which was derived from the Infinite One. See Psalm 36:6, note; Psalm 65:9, note; Psalm 80:10, note.
Are full of sap - The word so rendered means merely to be full, to be saturated - the words "of sap" being supplied by the translators. The idea is, that, lofty as they are, they are abundantly supplied with that which is necessary to their growth. There is no want - no lack - of that which is needful to supply them. They flourish, sustained abundantly by that which is derived from the earth and the waters.
The cedars of Lebanon - As among the loftiest and most magnificent productions of the earth. See Psalm 29:5, note; Psalm 92:12, note; Isaiah 2:13, note.
Which he hath planted - So lofty and large, that it would seem as if none could plant them but the Almighty.

The trees of the Lord are full of sap - ישבעו yisbeu, "are saturated."
The cedars of Lebanon - God's providence not only extends to then and cattle, but also to the trees of the field and forest. Many of these are not only sustained, but planted by his providence. Who ever planted the seeds of the cedars of Lebanon, or of the thousands of woods and forests on the globe? God himself sowed those seeds, and they have sprung up and flourished without the care of man.

The trees of the Lord are full of sap,.... Or "satiated" (s); that is, with rain; and through it are filled with fruits. This is to be understood not only of the tallest and largest trees; which are therefore called the trees of the Lord, as high mountains are called the mountains of the Lord, Psalm 36:6 and so other things excellent in their kind: but of trees of the field and forest; so the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, and Arabic versions; which are not planted and cultivated by man, as trees in gardens and orchards are; but are more especially under the care and cultivation of the Lord himself, and may design such as were produced by him at the creation.
The cedars of Lebanon which he hath planted; a mountain on the borders of Judea, so called from its whiteness, through the snow on it, as the Alps are; and where grew great quantities of large and spreading cedars, which were not of man's, but of the Lord's planting: these were watered and made to grow with the rain of heaven. Rauwolff (t), who was upon this mountain in 1574, says,
"though this hill in former ages has been quite covered over with cedars, yet they are so decreased, that I could tell, says he, no more but twenty four, that stood round about in a circle; and two others, the branches whereof are quite decayed with age.''
But Thevenot (u), who has been there since, affirms there are no more nor less than twenty three, great and small; of the largeness, thickness, and height of these trees; see Gill on Isaiah 37:24. Saints are often compared to trees, which are planted by the Lord in Christ, and in his churches; and particularly to cedars, for their height, strength, and durableness; see Psalm 92:13, and these, through the grace of God, are full of sap and spiritual life, and are filled with the fruits of righteousness, and are often represented as planted and growing by rivers of water; see Numbers 24:6.
(s) "satiantur", Vatablus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Cocceius; so Musculus, Gejerus, Michaelis. (t) Travels, par. 2. ch. 13. p. 191. (u) Travels, par. 1. B. 2. ch. 60. p. 224.

God's care of even wild animals and uncultivated parts of the earth.

Trees - Which come up, and thrive not by man's industry, but merely by the care of God's providence.

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