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Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

Psalms 104:32

He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth - There is great sublimity in this expression, as indicating the power and the majesty of God. He has only to “look” upon his works, and they stand in awe and tremble. The most mighty and fearful convulsions of nature occur as if they were the mere effect of God’s “looking” on the earth. Compare Habakkuk 3:10 - “The mountains saw thee, and they trembled.”

He toucheth the hills, and they smoke - That is, as Mount Sinai did when God came down upon it. Exodus 19:18. It is as if the hills were conscious of his presence, and were awed.

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See also Psalms 104:32 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Psalms 104:32. _HE LOOKETH ON THE EARTH_] Even the look of God terrifies all created nature! _HE TOUCHETH THE HILLS_] So easy is it for God to burn up the earth and the worlds thereof, that ev...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    Psalms 104 Creation's Praise _ 1. The Creator (Psalms 104:1)_ 2. The foundations of the earth (Psalms 104:5) 3. His works manifesting His kindness ...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    CIV. THE GLORY OF THE CREATOR. Psalms 104:1. Yahweh's power in the heavens. He is clothed in the light which God made first (Genesis 1:3) before the heavenly bodies. He lays the foundation of His dwel...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    PSALMS 104 DESCRIPTIVE TITLE A Creation Hymn. ANALYSIS It is difficult to frame an Analysis of this psalm. The course of thought and observation followed therein bears Some Resemblance to the Metho...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they smoke. HE LOOOKETH ON THE EARTH, AND IT TREMBLETH; HE TOUCHETH THE HILLS, AND THEY SMOKE - the ground of the confidence in...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    This is a Ps. of Nature, celebrating God's glory as seen in His works both inanimate and animate. It is an expansion of the closing vv. of Psalms 103, and like that Ps. begins and ends with the phrase...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    Psalms 90:106 _GORDON CHURCHYARD_ *CREATOR GOD, KEEPING EVERYTHING ALIVE! PSALMS 104 Jesus said, "Are not two *sparrows sold for a farthing? But not one of them falls to the ground without your F...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    TREMBLETH. — With the praise is united something of awe and fear, since the majesty and power of Him who made the world is so great. Its very existence is dependent on His will, and a glance, a touch...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    הַ מַּבִּ֣יט לָ֭ † אָרֶץ וַ תִּרְעָ֑ד...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    Psalms 104:1 LIKE the preceding psalm, this one begins and ends with the psalmist's call to his soul to bless Jehovah. The inference has been drawn that both psalms have the same author, but that is m...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    THE ALMIGHTY'S OPEN HAND Psalms 104:24 The psalmist says nothing of the operation of the great laws of nature, but passes behind and beyond to the Great Hand which opens to fill and satisfy all livin...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    Again we have a great song of praise commencing and closing with the same note of personal praise. While in the former the dominant note is that of the mercy of Jehovah, here it is that of His majesty...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they (r) smoke. (r) God's merciful face gives strength to the earth, but his severe countenance burns the mountains....

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Rain. Which fall in Egypt, though less frequently. (Calmet) (Wisdom xvi. 17.)_...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    The Psalmist having begun this song of sublime adoration and thanksgiving, knows not how to quit it. Again and again he dwells upon the blessed theme, and in these verses, celebrates afresh Jehovah's...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    Psalms 104, which celebrates Jehovah as Creator requires very few remarks. It will be noticed that it is occupied almost entirely with the earth. He is clothed with the glory of the heavens, which is...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    HE LOOKETH ON THE EARTH, AND IT TREMBLETH,.... As Sinai did when he descended on it, Psalms 68:8, to which the allusion seems to be; and a look from him, a severe one, a frowning one, will make the in...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they smoke. Ver. 32. _He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth_] This must be considered, that God may be as well feared as love...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth_, &c. Unable to bear his frown. This is a further illustration of God's powerful providence. As when he affords his favour to creatures, they live and thrive...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    PRAISE OF GOD FOR HIS WORK IN THE KINGDOM OF NATURE. The psalmist, probably David, as in the preceding psalm, celebrates the glory of God in the works of His creation and providence....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    He looketh on the earth, with a frown of anger, AND IT TREMBLETH, in fear of His punishment; HE TOUCHETH THE HILLS, AND THEY SMOKE, set on fire at His will. Thus God could glorify His power in destruc...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    31-35 Man's glory is fading; God's glory is everlasting: creatures change, but with the Creator there is no variableness. And if mediation on the glories of creation be so sweet to the soul, what gre...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    This is a further illustration of God's powerful providence over all the creatures, and their dependence upon him; as when he affords his favour to creatures, they live and thrive, so one the contrary...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Psalms 104:32 looks H5027 (H8688) earth H776 trembles H7460 (H8799) touches H5060 (H8799) hills H2022 smoke...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Psalms 104:31 I. In God, in the ever-blessed Trinity Father, Son, and Holy Ghost we and every living thing live, and move, and have our being. He is the Infinite, whom nothing, however huge, and vast,...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    I trust that we have already felt something of holy enjoyment while our hearts and voices have been praising the Lord our God. Perhaps this Psalm may help to keep us in a praising state of mind. First...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: God's greatness, majesty and sovereign dominion celebrated. CHARACTERS: God, Psalmist, David. CONCLUSION: It is the joy of the saints that He who is their God is a great God who may be see...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    This psalm has no title in the Hebrew, but it is ascribed to David by the LXX, and by most of the Versions. It celebrates the works of God in the creation of the world, and in strains worthy of the ro...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _O Lord my God, Thou art very great._ A HYMN OF PRAISE TO GOD IN NATURE I. The universality of God’s workings in Nature. 1. In the domain of dead matter. He is operating in the waters as they sail...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth._ GOD CAN SHAKE THE WORLD Earthquakes certainly teach us that human existence in this world is entirely dependent upon God. Probably no natural experience i...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    PSALM PSALM—NOTE ON PSALMS 104:1. The phrase “Bless the LORD, O my soul,” which opens and closes the psalm, shows that the psalm is about reasons for speaking well of God. This hymn of praise celebrat...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    PSALM—NOTE ON PSALMS 104:31 The key to the final section is the repeated “rejoice”: MAY THE LORD REJOICE IN HIS WORKS (what he does in caring for his creation), and I rejoice in the L

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    INTRODUCTION “This Psalm,” says Calvin, “differs from the last, in that it neither treats of God’s special mercies bestowed on His Church, nor lifts us to the hope of a heavenly life; but painting for...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION "THE psalmist, in a time of severe trouble, arising from the power of the heathen, seeks consolation in reflecting on the greatness of God in nature," So Hengstenberg, correctly. The main t...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    And thus he begins the hundred and fourth psalm, Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, you are very great; you are clothed with honor and majesty: You have covered yourself with light as with a g...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    Amos 8:8; Exodus 19:18; Habakkuk 3:10; Habakkuk 3:5; Habakkuk 3:6;...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    He looketh — This is a farther illustration of God's powerful providence: as when he affords his favour to creatures, they live and thrive, so on the contrary, one angry look or touch of his upon the...

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