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Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Psalms 104:4

Verse Psalms 104:4. עשה מלאכיו רחות oseh malachaiv ruchoth,

משרתיו אש להט mesharethaiv esh lohet.


The elements are described as prompt and expedite to perform the Divine commands, like angels or ministers serving in the tabernacle; the Hebrew word משרתיו mesharethaiv being a word most common in the sacred ministrations.

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See also Psalms 104:4 in other biblical comments:

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    WHO MAKETH HIS ANGELS SPIRITS - The meaning here literally would be, “Who makes the winds his messengers,” or “his angels;” that is, who employs them to execute his purpose; who sends them out as mess...

  • 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...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    WHO, &C. Quoted in Hebrews 1:7. SPIRITS. Angels are spirits (Hebrew. _ruach._ App-9), and are called so in Hebrews 1:7, Heb 1:14. 1 Peter 3:19 (compare...

  • 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

    Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire: WHO MAKETH HIS ANGELS SPIRITS; HIS MINISTERS A FLAMING FIRE - (Hebrews 1:7.) [ ho (G3588) poioon (G4160) tous ...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    104:4 maketh (g-2) i.e. he created them so....

  • 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...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    HIS ANGELS SPIRITS] read either, 'his angels winds,' or 'winds his messengers' (RV). The former rendering is the more natural, is parallel to that of the next clause, and is adopted in Hebrews 1:7, wh...

  • 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

    (1-4) First and second days of Creation. Instead, however, of describing the _creation_ of light, the poet makes a sublime approach to his theme by treating it as a symbol of the Divine majesty. It is...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    WHO MAKETH... — Rather, Who maketh winds His messenger A flaming fire His ministers. Or, keeping the order of the Hebrew, Who maketh His messengers of winds, And His ministers of flaming fire. This...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    עֹשֶׂ֣ה מַלְאָכָ֣יו רוּחֹ֑ות מְ֝שָׁרְתָ֗יו אֵ֣שׁ לֹהֵֽט׃...

  • 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 LORD'S WONDROUS HANDIWORK Psalms 104:1 The opening verses of this psalm appear to describe in sublime poetry the creation of the world. God is very great, because He created the heavens and the e...

  • 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

    Who (b) maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire: (b) As the prophet here shows that all visible powers are ready to serve God: so in (Hebrews 1:7) the angels also, are obedient to his...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Evermore. Be assiduous to obtain is favour, and present yourselves in his holy temple as often as you are able. (Calmet)_...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    Who can read this verse without being struck with the expressions? The apostle to the Hebrews throws a greater light upon the ministry of angels, as unceasingly engaged in the service of the church of...

  • 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

    WHO MAKETH HIS ANGELS SPIRITS,.... The angels are spirits, or spiritual substances, yet created ones; and so differ from God, who is a spirit, and from the Holy Spirit of God, who are Creators and not...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire: Ver. 4. _Who maketh his angels spirits_] Immaterial substances, fit to attend upon the Father of spirits, and with speed to move suddenly...

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

    _Who maketh his angels spirits_ That is, of a spiritual or incorporeal nature, that they might be more fit for their employments; or who maketh them _winds_, as the word רוחות, _ruchoth_, commonly sig...

  • 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

    who maketh His angels spirits, His own messengers being present in the blessing and destroying power of the winds; HIS MINISTERS A FLAMING FIRE, for they are active in and through the forces of nature...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1-9 Every object we behold calls on us to bless and praise the Lord, who is great. His eternal power and Godhead are clearly shown by the things which he hath made. God is light, and in him is no dark...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    WHO MAKETH HIS ANGELS SPIRITS, i.e. of a spiritual or incorporeal nature, that they might be fitter for their employments. Or, _who maketh his angels winds_, as this last word most commonly signifies,...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Psalms 104:4 makes H6213 (H8802) angels H4397 spirits H7307 ministers H8334 (H8764) flame H3857 (H8802) fire...

  • Scofield's Bible Commentary

    ANGELS (_ See Scofield) - (Hebrews 1:4). _...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Psalms 104:4 Consider what is implied in the text. I. What a number of beautiful and wonderful objects does nature present on every side of us, and how little we know concerning them! Why do rivers f...

  • 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 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 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

    2 Kings 2:11; 2 Kings 6:17; Acts 23:8; Ezekiel 1:13; Hebrews 1:14;...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Spirits — Of a spiritual or incorporeal nature, that they might be fitter for their employments. Fire — So called for their irresistible force and agility, and fervency in the execution of God's comma...

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