Psalms 104:20
Psalms 104:20 in Multiple Translations
You bring darkness, and it becomes night, when all the beasts of the forest prowl.
Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth.
Thou makest darkness, and it is night, Wherein all the beasts of the forest creep forth.
When you make it dark, it is night, when all the beasts of the woods come quietly out of their secret places.
You make darkness fall and the night comes, the time when the forest animals come out to hunt.
Thou makest darkenesse, and it is night, wherein all the beastes of the forest creepe forth.
Thou settest darkness, and it is night, In it doth every beast of the forest creep.
You make darkness, and it is night, in which all the animals of the forest prowl.
Thou makest darkness, and it is night: in which all the beasts of the forest do creep forth .
The king sent, and he released him: the ruler of the people, and he set him at liberty.
You bring darkness, and it becomes night, when all the animals in the forest prowl around, looking for food.
Berean Amplified Bible — Psalms 104:20
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Psalms 104:20 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
תָּֽשֶׁת
חֹ֭שֶׁךְ
וִ֣/יהִי
לָ֑יְלָה
בּֽ/וֹ
תִ֝רְמֹ֗שׂ
כָּל
חַיְת/וֹ
יָֽעַר
תָּֽשֶׁת
shîyth
H7896
to set
V-Qal-Imperf-2ms
חֹ֭שֶׁךְ
chôshek
H2822
darkness
N-ms
וִ֣/יהִי
hâyâh
H1961
to be
Conj | V-Qal-Imperf-3ms
לָ֑יְלָה
layil
H3915
night
N-ms
בּֽ/וֹ
Prep | Suff
תִ֝רְמֹ֗שׂ
râmas
H7430
to creep
V-Qal-Imperf-3fs
כָּל
kôl
H3605
all
N-ms
חַיְת/וֹ
chay
H2416
alive
N-fs | Suff
יָֽעַר
yaʻar
H3293
Jaar
N-ms
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Psalms 104:20
תָּֽשֶׁת
shîyth
H7896
"to set"
V-Qal-Imperf-2ms
This Hebrew word means to place or set something, and it's used in many different ways, like appointing someone to a job or setting your mind to do something. It appears in books like Genesis and Exodus. It can also mean to lay hands on someone or make something happen.
Definition: : make/establish 1) to put, set 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to put, lay (hand upon) 1a2) to set, station, appoint, fix, set mind to 1a3) to constitute, make (one something), make like, perform 1a4) to take one's stand 1a5) to lay waste 1b) (Hophal) to be imposed, be set upon
Usage: Occurs in 80 OT verses. KJV: apply, appoint, array, bring, consider, lay (up), let alone, [idiom] look, make, mark, put (on), [phrase] regard, set, shew, be stayed, [idiom] take. See also: Genesis 3:15; Psalms 21:7; Psalms 3:7.
חֹ֭שֶׁךְ
chôshek
H2822
"darkness"
N-ms
This word refers to darkness, both physical and spiritual. It can also mean misery, destruction, or wickedness. In the Bible, it is often used to describe a state of being without light or hope.
Definition: 1) darkness, obscurity 1a) darkness 1b) secret place
Usage: Occurs in 77 OT verses. KJV: dark(-ness), night, obscurity. See also: Genesis 1:2; Psalms 35:6; Psalms 18:12.
וִ֣/יהִי
hâyâh
H1961
"to be"
Conj | V-Qal-Imperf-3ms
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Definition: 1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) --- 1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass 1a1b) to come about, come to pass 1a2) to come into being, become 1a2a) to arise, appear, come 1a2b) to become 1a2b1) to become 1a2b2) to become like 1a2b3) to be instituted, be established 1a3) to be 1a3a) to exist, be in existence 1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time) 1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality) 1a3d) to accompany, be with 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about 1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
Usage: Occurs in 3131 OT verses. KJV: beacon, [idiom] altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, [phrase] follow, happen, [idiom] have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, [idiom] use. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 17:4; Genesis 36:11.
לָ֑יְלָה
layil
H3915
"night"
N-ms
Night refers to the time of darkness, opposed to day, and can also symbolize adversity or hardship. It is a period of rest, but also of potential danger or uncertainty.
Definition: 1) night 1a) night (as opposed to day) 1b) of gloom, protective shadow (fig.)
Usage: Occurs in 223 OT verses. KJV: (mid-)night (season). See also: Genesis 1:5; 2 Samuel 17:16; Psalms 1:2.
בּֽ/וֹ
""
Prep | Suff
תִ֝רְמֹ֗שׂ
râmas
H7430
"to creep"
V-Qal-Imperf-3fs
This Hebrew word means to creep or move lightly, often used to describe the movement of animals. It appears in the Bible to describe the action of creeping things, such as insects or reptiles. In KJV translations, it is rendered as 'creep' or 'move'.
Definition: 1) to creep, move lightly, move about, walk on all fours 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to creep, teem (of all creeping things) 1a2) to creep (of animals) 1a3) to move lightly, glide about (of water animals) 1a4) to move about (of all land animals generally)
Usage: Occurs in 17 OT verses. KJV: creep, move. See also: Genesis 1:21; Genesis 8:19; Psalms 69:35.
כָּל
kôl
H3605
"all"
N-ms
The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.
Definition: 1) all, the whole 1a) all, the whole of 1b) any, each, every, anything 1c) totality, everything Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)
Usage: Occurs in 4242 OT verses. KJV: (in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any (manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as many as, (no-) thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole, whoso(-ever). See also: Genesis 1:21; Genesis 17:10; Genesis 41:40.
חַיְת/וֹ
chay
H2416
"alive"
N-fs | Suff
In the Bible, this word means life or being alive. It can refer to physical life, like in Genesis 1:20, or spiritual life, like in Psalm 30:5.
Definition: adj 1) living, alive 1a) green (of vegetation) 1b) flowing, fresh (of water) 1c) lively, active (of man) 1d) reviving (of the springtime) Aramaic equivalent: chay (חַי "living" H2417)
Usage: Occurs in 450 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] age, alive, appetite, (wild) beast, company, congregation, life(-time), live(-ly), living (creature, thing), maintenance, [phrase] merry, multitude, [phrase] (be) old, quick, raw, running, springing, troop. See also: Genesis 1:20; Deuteronomy 4:9; 2 Kings 5:16.
יָֽעַר
yaʻar
H3293
"Jaar"
N-ms
The Hebrew word Yaar refers to a forest or a copse of bushes, and also to a honeycomb. It is associated with Kiriath-jearim, a place name in the Bible. This word is used to describe natural environments.
Definition: honeycomb Another name of qir.yat ye.a.rim (קִרְיַת יְעָרִים "Kiriath-jearim" H7157)
Usage: Occurs in 59 OT verses. KJV: (honey-) comb, forest, wood. See also: Deuteronomy 19:5; Isaiah 10:18; Psalms 29:9.
Study Notes — Psalms 104:20
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Psalms 104:20 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Psalms 104:20
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 104:20
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 104:20
- Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 104:20
- Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 104:20
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 104:20
- Cambridge Bible on Psalms 104:20
- Barnes' Notes on Psalms 104:20
- Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 104:20
- Sermons on Psalms 104:20
Context — How Many Are Your Works, O LORD!
18The high mountains are for the wild goats, the cliffs a refuge for the rock badgers.
19He made the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows when to set.
20You bring darkness, and it becomes night, when all the beasts of the forest prowl.
21The young lions roar for their prey and seek their food from God. 22The sun rises, and they withdraw; they lie down in their dens.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Isaiah 45:7 | I form the light and create the darkness; I bring prosperity and create calamity. I, the LORD, do all these things. |
| 2 | Psalms 74:16 | The day is Yours, and also the night; You established the moon and the sun. |
| 3 | Amos 1:13 | This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of the Ammonites, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because they ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead in order to enlarge their territory. |
| 4 | Psalms 139:10–12 | even there Your hand will guide me; Your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me, and the light become night around me”— even the darkness is not dark to You, but the night shines like the day, for darkness is as light to You. |
| 5 | Genesis 8:22 | As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night shall never cease.” |
| 6 | Genesis 1:4–5 | And God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day,” and the darkness He called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day. |
| 7 | Psalms 50:10 | for every beast of the forest is Mine— the cattle on a thousand hills. |
Psalms 104:20 Summary
This verse, Psalms 104:20, shows us that God is in control of everything, even the changing from day to night. When God brings darkness, it becomes night, and this is when many animals, like the beasts of the forest, become active and start to prowl. This reminds us that God takes care of all creatures, big and small, as seen in Psalms 104:21 where young lions seek their food from God. Just like the sun and moon have their times, as mentioned in Psalms 104:19, God has a plan for everything and everyone, and we can trust in His goodness and wisdom.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean for God to 'bring darkness' in Psalms 104:20?
This phrase signifies God's sovereign control over the natural world, as seen in Psalms 104:20, where He brings darkness to signal the transition from day to night, allowing nocturnal creatures to emerge and hunt, much like He separates day and night in Genesis 1:4-5.
Why do the beasts of the forest prowl at night?
According to Psalms 104:20, the beasts of the forest prowl at night because that is when God has ordained for them to be most active, much like the young lions in Psalms 104:21 who roar for their prey and seek their food from God, illustrating God's provision for all creatures.
Is this verse suggesting that God is responsible for evil or darkness?
No, this verse is not implying that God is the author of evil; rather, it highlights His power and authority over all creation, including the cycles of day and night, as stated in Psalms 104:19, where the moon marks the seasons and the sun knows when to set.
How does this verse relate to the broader theme of God's creation?
Psalms 104:20 fits into the larger narrative of God's creation, as seen in Genesis 1:1-31, where God separates light from darkness and establishes the rhythms of nature, demonstrating His wisdom and care for all living things.
Reflection Questions
- What does the image of beasts prowling in the darkness reveal about God's character and His relationship with creation?
- How does this verse encourage me to trust in God's sovereignty over the world, even when things seem uncertain or frightening?
- In what ways can I, like the creatures in this verse, learn to thrive and find my place within the rhythms and patterns that God has established?
- What does the contrast between light and darkness in this verse teach me about the nature of God's wisdom and provision?
Gill's Exposition on Psalms 104:20
Thou makest darkness, and it is night,.... The darkness was before the light, and the night before the day, Genesis 1:2 and now the darkness and night are made by the setting of the sun before mentioned; see Isaiah 45:7.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 104:20
Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth. Thou makest darkness ... wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 104:20
Darkness; which succeeds the light by virtue of thy decree and established order. Creep forth, to look out for prey, which in the day time they dare not do for fear of men. So by this vicissitude of day and night God hath wisely and mercifully provided both for men, that they may follow their day labours without danger from wild beasts, and for the beasts, that they may procure a subsistence.
Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 104:20
Psalms 104:20 Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep [forth].Ver. 20. Thou makest darkness] Which, though it be dreadful, yet is it useful, and in the vicissitude of light and darkness much of God’ s wisdom and goodness is to be seen. We must see that we turn not the day into night, nor night into day, without some special and urgent occasion.
Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 104:20
(20) Creep forth.—The word “forth” is better omitted. The Hebrew verb is that especially used of crawling animals and reptiles, and here, no doubt, his chosen to express the stealthy motion of the beasts when on the track of their prey. (See Psalms 104:25; comp. Job 37:8; Job 38:40.)
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 104:20
Verse 20. Thou makest darkness] It is not the design of God that there should be either constant darkness or constant light. That man may labour, he gives him, by means of the sun, the light of the day; and that he may rest from his labour, and get his strength recruited, he gives him night, and comparative darkness. And as it would not be convenient for man and the wild beasts of the forest to collect their food at the same time, he has given the night to them as the proper time to procure their prey, and the day to rest in. When MAN labours, THEY rest; when MAN rests, THEY labour.
Cambridge Bible on Psalms 104:20
19–23. Moon and sun mark the seasons and the alternations of day and night. The work of the fourth day, Genesis 1:14.
Barnes' Notes on Psalms 104:20
Thou makest darkness, and it is night - Thou hast made arrangements for the return of night - for the alternations of day and night.
Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 104:20
20. Night—To Psalms 104:23 he restricts his note of time to day and night.Creep—Here used for the stealthy movement of beasts of prey.
Sermons on Psalms 104:20
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
The Night-Hawk by Harriet N. Cook | Harriet N. Cook discusses the unique characteristics of the night-hawk, the only animal mentioned in the Bible starting with the letter 'N'. This bird, similar to the owl, is noctu |
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Behold, Thou Art There by Bob Jones Sr. | In this sermon, Dr. Bob Jones Sr. emphasizes the limited understanding of human beings compared to God's infinite knowledge. He highlights the comforting fact that even though we m |
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The Supremacy of Christ in an Age of Terror by John Piper | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes that the reason for the existence of a troubled and terrorized world is not because God is not in control. The Bible clearly states that God |
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Studies in Esther-02 Esther 4 by William MacDonald | In this sermon, the speaker reflects on the darkest moment in the book of Esther, where the people of God were sentenced to death. Despite the silence of God and unanswered prayers |
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Dualism and Gnosticism by Robert Wurtz II | Robert Wurtz II addresses the Gnostic Dualism philosophy that presents a false belief in a great struggle between equal and opposite forces of good and evil, contrary to biblical t |
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From Confusion to Clarity by Norman Grubb | Norman Grubb delves into the profound mystery of God's seemingly contradictory actions, emphasizing the unity in God's purposes amidst the duality we perceive in the world. He expl |
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The Moral Nature and Fitness of Things Considered by John Gill | John Gill addresses the sermon 'The Moral Nature and Fitness of Things Considered' by Samuel Chandler, critiquing the notion that moral good and evil exist independently of God's w |