Psalms 104:21
Psalms 104:21 in Multiple Translations
The young lions roar for their prey and seek their food from God.
The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God.
The young lions roar after their prey, And seek their food from God.
The young lions go thundering after their food; searching for their meat from God.
The young lions roar as they seek their prey, looking for the food that God provides for them.
The lions roare after their praye, and seeke their meate at God.
The young lions are roaring for prey, And to seek from God their food.
The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their food from God.
The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their food from God.
He made him master of his house, and ruler of all his possession.
At night the young lions roar as they seek their prey, but they depend on you to give them food.
Berean Amplified Bible — Psalms 104:21
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 104:21 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
הַ֭/כְּפִירִים
שֹׁאֲגִ֣ים
לַ/טָּ֑רֶף
וּ/לְ/בַקֵּ֖שׁ
מֵ/אֵ֣ל
אָכְלָֽ/ם
הַ֭/כְּפִירִים
kᵉphîyr
H3715
lion
Art | N-mp
שֹׁאֲגִ֣ים
shâʼag
H7580
to roar
V-Qal
לַ/טָּ֑רֶף
ṭereph
H2964
prey
Prep | N-ms
וּ/לְ/בַקֵּ֖שׁ
bâqash
H1245
to seek
Conj | Prep | V-Piel-Inf-a
מֵ/אֵ֣ל
ʼêl
H410
god
Prep | N-ms
אָכְלָֽ/ם
ʼôkel
H400
food
N-ms | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — Psalms 104:21
הַ֭/כְּפִירִים
kᵉphîyr
H3715
"lion"
Art | N-mp
This word can mean either a village or a young lion. It is used in the Bible to describe a place or an animal, like a lion with a mane. The KJV translates it as lion or village.
Definition: young lion
Usage: Occurs in 32 OT verses. KJV: (young) lion, village. Compare H3723 (כָּפָר). See also: Judges 14:5; Jeremiah 2:15; Psalms 17:12.
שֹׁאֲגִ֣ים
shâʼag
H7580
"to roar"
V-Qal
This Hebrew word means to roar, like a lion or a conqueror, and is also used to describe God's powerful voice. It appears in the Bible to convey a sense of intense power or distress. In Psalm 104:21, it describes the roar of a lion.
Definition: 1) (Qal) to roar 1a) of lion, conqueror, Jehovah, cry of distress
Usage: Occurs in 17 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] mightily, roar. See also: Judges 14:5; Jeremiah 25:30; Psalms 22:14.
לַ/טָּ֑רֶף
ṭereph
H2964
"prey"
Prep | N-ms
This word refers to something that has been torn apart, like prey or food. In Genesis 49:27 and Isaiah 18:6, it describes the spoils of war or the leftovers of a predator's meal.
Definition: 1) prey, food, leaf 1a) prey 1b) food 1c) leaf
Usage: Occurs in 23 OT verses. KJV: leaf, meat, prey, spoil. See also: Genesis 49:9; Isaiah 5:29; Psalms 76:5.
וּ/לְ/בַקֵּ֖שׁ
bâqash
H1245
"to seek"
Conj | Prep | V-Piel-Inf-a
This Hebrew verb means to seek or search for something. In Psalm 105:4, it's used to encourage seeking God's face. It's also used in 1 Samuel 28:8 where Saul seeks a medium.
Definition: 1) to seek, require, desire, exact, request 1a) (Piel) 1a1) to seek to find 1a2) to seek to secure 1a3) to seek the face 1a4) to desire, demand 1a5) to require, exact 1a6) to ask, request 1b) (Pual) to be sought
Usage: Occurs in 215 OT verses. KJV: ask, beg, beseech, desire, enquire, get, make inquisition, procure, (make) request, require, seek (for). See also: Genesis 31:39; Esther 7:7; Psalms 4:3.
מֵ/אֵ֣ל
ʼêl
H410
"god"
Prep | N-ms
In the Bible, 'el means strength or power, and is often used to refer to God or false gods. It describes something or someone as mighty or powerful, like the Almighty. This concept is central to understanding the Bible's view of God.
Definition: : god 1) god, god-like one, mighty one 1a) mighty men, men of rank, mighty heroes 1b) angels 1c) god, false god, (demons, imaginations) 1d) God, the one true God, Jehovah 2) mighty things in nature 3) strength, power Also means: ": power" (el אֵל H0410L)
Usage: Occurs in 235 OT verses. KJV: God (god), [idiom] goodly, [idiom] great, idol, might(-y one), power, strong. Compare names in '-el.' See also: Genesis 14:18; Job 33:14; Psalms 5:5.
אָכְלָֽ/ם
ʼôkel
H400
"food"
N-ms | Suff
This Hebrew word refers to food or a meal, including cereal, meat, and other supplies. It is used in stories about everyday life, like eating and sharing meals.
Definition: 1) food 1a) cereal 1b) meat 2) food supply 3) meal, dinner
Usage: Occurs in 41 OT verses. KJV: eating, food, meal(-time), meat, prey, victuals. See also: Genesis 14:11; Deuteronomy 2:28; Psalms 78:18.
Study Notes — Psalms 104:21
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Psalms 104:21 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Psalms 104:21
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 104:21
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 104:21
- Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 104:21
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 104:21
- Cambridge Bible on Psalms 104:21
- Barnes' Notes on Psalms 104:21
- Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 104:21
- Sermons on Psalms 104:21
Context — How Many Are Your Works, O LORD!
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. 23Man goes forth to his work and to his labor until evening.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Job 38:39 | Can you hunt the prey for a lioness or satisfy the hunger of young lions |
| 2 | Joel 1:20 | Even the beasts of the field pant for You, for the streams of water have dried up, and fire has consumed the open pastures. |
| 3 | Psalms 34:10 | Young lions go lacking and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. |
| 4 | Ezekiel 19:2–14 | and say: ‘What was your mother? A lioness among the lions! She lay down among the young lions; she reared her cubs. She brought up one of her cubs, and he became a young lion. After learning to tear his prey, he devoured men. When the nations heard of him, he was trapped in their pit. With hooks they led him away to the land of Egypt. When she saw that she had waited in vain, that her hope was lost, she took another of her cubs and made him a young lion. He prowled among the lions, and became a young lion. After learning to tear his prey, he devoured men. He broke down their strongholds and devastated their cities. The land and everything in it shuddered at the sound of his roaring. Then the nations set out against him from the provinces on every side. They spread their net over him; he was trapped in their pit. With hooks they caged him and brought him to the king of Babylon. They brought him into captivity so that his roar was heard no longer on the mountains of Israel. Your mother was like a vine in your vineyard, planted by the water; it was fruitful and full of branches because of the abundant waters. It had strong branches, fit for a ruler’s scepter. It towered high above the thick branches, conspicuous for its height and for its dense foliage. But it was uprooted in fury, cast down to the ground, and the east wind dried up its fruit. Its strong branches were stripped off and they withered; the fire consumed them. Now it is planted in the wilderness, in a dry and thirsty land. Fire has gone out from its main branch and devoured its fruit; on it no strong branch remains fit for a ruler’s scepter.’ This is a lament and shall be used as a lament.” |
| 5 | Joel 2:22 | Do not be afraid, O beasts of the field, for the open pastures have turned green, the trees bear their fruit, and the fig tree and vine yield their best. |
| 6 | Joel 1:18 | How the cattle groan! The herds wander in confusion because they have no pasture. Even the flocks of sheep are suffering. |
| 7 | Psalms 145:15 | The eyes of all look to You, and You give them their food in season. |
| 8 | Amos 3:4 | Does a lion roar in the forest when he has no prey? Does a young lion growl in his den if he has caught nothing? |
| 9 | Job 38:41 | Who provides food for the raven when its young cry out to God as they wander about for lack of food? |
| 10 | Isaiah 31:4 | For this is what the LORD has said to me: “Like a lion roaring or a young lion over its prey— and though a band of shepherds is called out against it, it is not terrified by their shouting or subdued by their clamor— so the LORD of Hosts will come down to do battle on Mount Zion and its heights. |
Psalms 104:21 Summary
This verse, Psalms 104:21, reminds us that even the youngest and most vulnerable creatures, like the young lions, are completely dependent on God for their survival. Just as the lions roar with hunger and seek their food from God, we can trust that God will provide for our needs, as promised in Matthew 6:33, where we are told to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. This verse encourages us to have faith in God's provision and to trust that He will give us what we need, just as He gives food to the birds of the air, as seen in Matthew 6:26.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean that the young lions seek their food from God?
This verse highlights God's provision for all creatures, as seen in Psalms 104:21, where even the young lions rely on Him for their sustenance, echoing the sentiment in Matthew 6:26 that God feeds the birds of the air.
Is this verse suggesting that lions are somehow more spiritual than other animals?
No, this verse is not implying that lions have a spiritual awareness, but rather that God is the ultimate provider for all of creation, as stated in Psalms 145:15-16, where God gives food to all creatures.
How does this verse relate to our own needs and provision?
This verse reminds us that, just like the young lions, we can trust in God's provision for our needs, as promised in Philippians 4:19, where God supplies all our needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
What can we learn from the contrast between the lions' nighttime activity and human daytime work?
The contrast between the lions' nocturnal habits and human daytime work, as seen in Psalms 104:20-23, highlights the diversity and complexity of God's creation, as mentioned in Genesis 1:25, where God made each creature according to its kind.
Reflection Questions
- In what ways do I, like the young lions, rely on God for my daily provision and sustenance?
- How can I cultivate a deeper trust in God's provision, just as the lions seem to instinctively know where to find their food?
- What are some ways that I can acknowledge and give thanks for God's provision in my life, just as the lions seem to be dependent on Him?
- In what ways can I balance my own needs and desires with the knowledge that God is the ultimate provider for all of creation?
Gill's Exposition on Psalms 104:21
The young lions roar after their prey,.... Or, "at the prey" (f); for, according to the Scriptures, it seems as if their time of roaring was when they have got their prey, and are tearing it and
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 104:21
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 104:21
The young lions; which can no more subsist without Divine Providence than those which are most old and decrepit. Roar after their prey; they roar when they come within sight and reach of their prey, as naturalists observe; whereby this place may be reconciled with . Seek their meat from God: this is a figurative and poetical expression: their roaring is a kind of natural prayer to God for relief, as the cries of infants are a kind of prayers to their mothers for the breast. And this is justly noted as an act of God’ s special providence, because the lions are very ravenous, and need much prey, and also are dull in their scent, and so difficultly find it, and slow in their motion, and unable to reach it; and therefore God hath provided another creature, of quicker sense and motion, which is usually confederate with them, and procures prey for them, partaking of it with or after them.
Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 104:21
Psalms 104:21 The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God.Ver. 21. The young lions roar] Rousing themselves out of their dens by night, and then usually seizing upon what prey God sendeth them in; for they are at his, and not at their own, finding. And seek] Like as the young ravens cry to him, Psalms 147:9. by implication only. See Joe 1:18; Joe 1:20.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 104:21
Verse 21. The young lions roar after their prey] It is said of the lion, that his roaring is so terrible as to astonish and quite unnerve the beast which he pursues; so that, though fleeter than himself, it falls down and becomes an easy prey.
Cambridge Bible on Psalms 104:21
21. The dreaded beasts of prey are part of God’s creation, depending on His bounty. Cp. Psalms 147:9.
Barnes' Notes on Psalms 104:21
The young lions roar after their prey - This is a continuation of the description in the previous verse. At night the beasts which had been hidden in the daytime crawl forth and seek their food.
Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 104:21
21. Young lions—The word denotes one in the vigour of life, as distinguished from the “old lion” which “perishes for lack of prey.” Job 4:11. Roar—Thus startling and bewildering their prey.
Sermons on Psalms 104:21
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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1 Peter 5:8 by John Gill | John Gill emphasizes the importance of sobriety and vigilance in the Christian life, reiterating that these qualities are essential for resisting the temptations and snares posed b |
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2006 Heart-Cry - Journal Reading and Message by Paul Washer | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the goodness of God and His plans for believers. He encourages young men to seek and avail themselves of God's promises through prayer and pe |
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Life of Elijah - Part 3 by Major Ian Thomas | In this sermon, the speaker shares stories of individuals who were at the end of their rope and on the verge of quitting. However, in these moments of despair, God showed His kindn |
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Fri. Evening Service (2002 C&ma Council) by Jim Cymbala | The video showcases the work of South Hills Church Community in Las Vegas, a city known for its excesses and struggles. It highlights the impact of these struggles on children grow |
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Hunger for God by George Verwer | In this sermon, the speaker recounts a powerful experience he had in Madras, India. He describes waking up early in the morning to attend a worship service led by Brother Buck Sing |
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No Good Thing Did the Lord Withhold From the Sons of Korah by James Jennings by James Malachi Jennings | This sermon delves into Psalms 84, focusing on the truth that no good thing does the Lord withhold from those who walk uprightly. The message emphasizes the importance of trusting |
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God Wants to Give by Basilea Schlink | In this sermon, Basilia Schlink emphasizes that it is not the rich, but the poor who have always experienced and testified to the presence and love of God. She highlights that God' |