Psalm 104

Psalm 104 is the 104th psalm of the Book of Psalms of the Hebrew Bible.[1] In the Greek Septuagint version of the Bible, and in its Latin translation in the Vulgate, this psalm is Psalm 103 in a slightly different numbering system.

Scroll of the Psalms

Psalm 104 in Fronhofen Parish window.

Ps104:24 in West Window, Hook Church

Content

One of the longer psalms, Psalm 104 is traditionally divided into 35 verses.[2] It begins by describing the glory of God ("Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment" v. 2).

Verse 5 asserts that God has "laid the foundations [מכון] of the Earth".

Verses 6 to 13 concern the ordering of the waters, verses 14-18 vegetation and animal life, and verses 19-24 the Sun and the Moon, and the cycle of day and night.

Verse 24 summarises: "O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches." (KJV)

Verse 26 mentions the Leviathan (sea monster).

Verses 27-30 emphasise how all creatures still depend on the ongoing attention and provision of the creator, and perish should he avert his attention.

Verse 30 reads "Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth." (KJV)

The concluding verses (31-35) reiterate the power and glory of YHWH, and the composer expresses his adoration, and, in the final verse, his wish that the sinners (חטא) and wicked (רשע) be "consumed out of the earth".

In the Masoretic text, the phrase Hallelujah is placed at the end of the final verse. This is lacking in the Septuagint and the Vulgate, but it is rendered by the KJV as "Praise ye the LORD".

The subject matter and its presentation are closely related both to the first Genesis creation narrative (Genesis 1, chronologically younger than the second version in Genesis 2) where likewise the waters are separated before the creation of Sun and Moon, and to older accounts of creation from the Ancient Near East, both Mesopotamian and Egyptian. In particular, the Egyptian Great Hymn to the Aten (14th century BC) is frequently cited as a predecessor.[3][4] Biblical scholar Mark S. Smith has commented that "Despite enduring support for the comparison of the two texts, enthusiasm for even indirect influence has been tempered in recent decades. In some quarters, the argument for any form of influence is simply rejected outright. Still some Egyptologists, such as Jan Assmann and Donald Redford, argue for Egyptian influence on both the Amarna correspondence (especially in EA 147) and on Psalm 104."[5]

Uses

Judaism

Observant Jews recite Psalm 104 in its entirety every day during morning services, and on certain occasions, such as the New Moon (Rosh Chodesh), though customs vary.[6]
Is recited following the Shabbat Mincha between Sukkot and Shabbat Hagadol.[7]
Verses 1-2 are recited upon donning the tallit during morning services.[8]
Verse 24 is part of Hameir La'aretz in the Blessings before the Shema during Shacharit[9] and is found in Pirkei Avot Chapter 6, no. 10.[10]
Verse 31 is the first verse of Yehi Kivod in Pesukei Dezimra,[11] is part of Baruch Hashem L'Olam during Maariv,[12] and is recited when opening the Hakafot on Simchat Torah.[13]

New Testament

Verse 4 is quoted in Hebrews 1:7[14]

Eastern Orthodox

Its main liturgical usage in the Eastern Orthodox Church is at the beginning of vespers (evening prayers) and the all-night vigil. While it is technically one of the elements of the vespers service prescribed for the senior reader (that is, the elder or abbot of a monastery, or in a parish the seniormost reader at the kliros), it is customarily read or chanted by a reader after the opening prayers of the service.

The psalm is meant to be read or chanted in a plain style at services of vespers which are not part of a vigil. When vespers is served as part of a vigil, an abbreviated musical version is usually sung by the choir. Several such musical arrangements of the psalm have been composed over the years; perhaps the most familiar is that found in the Obikhod, or common setting.

In the context of its vespers/vigil setting, this psalm is understood to be a hymn of creation, in all the fulness wherein God has created it - it speaks of animals, plants, waters, skies, etc. In the scope of the liturgical act, it is often taken to be Adam's song, sung outside the closed gates of Eden from which he has been expelled (cf. Genesis 3). While the reader chants the psalm, the priest stands outside the closed Royal Doors wearing only his epitrachilion, making this symbolism more evident.

Roman Catholic Church

This psalm is used during the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday night (the Vigil being the inauguration of the fifty-day Easter season, the end of Holy Week- and by extension Lent- and the ending of the three-day Easter Triduum of Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter). In the Liturgy of the Word, the first reading is the Creation story of the Book of Genesis, and Psalm 104, which deals with the same material, is the responsorial psalm. It is used again during Pentecost, at the end of the Easter season, as the responsorial psalm for the Vigil and the Sunday Mass.[15][16]

Popular culture

German philosopher Johann Gottfried Herder remarked, "It is worth studying the Hebrew language for ten years in order to read Psalm 104 in the original".[17]

Musician Bob Marley believed that cannabis use was prevalent in the Bible, reading passages such as the 14th verse of Psalm 104 as showing approval of its usage.[18]

References

Eckhard von Nordheim, Die Selbstbehauptung Israels in der Welt des Alten Orients: religionsgeschichtlicher Vergleich anhand von Gen 15/22/28, dem Aufenthalt Israels in Ägypten, 2 Sam 7, 1 Kön 19 und Psalm 104, Vandenhoeck&Ruprecht Göttingen, 1992,
Hermann Gunkel, Die Psalmen (1986), 442f.
See e.g. James B. Pritchard, "The Ancient Near East, An anthology of Texts and Pictures", Princeton University Press, 1958, p. 227. Eckhard von Nordheim, Die Selbstbehauptung Israels in der Welt des Alten Orients (1992), p. 155.
vgl. das Kapitel Der Große Hymnus des Echnaton und Psalm 104 in Eckhard von Nordheim, Die Selbstbehauptung Israels in der Welt des Alten Orients (1992), 155.
Smith, Mark S. (2010). God in Translation: Deities in Cross-Cultural Discourse in the Biblical World. William B Eerdmans Publishing. p. 70. ISBN 978-0802864338. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
Daily Prayer Book, Philip Birnbaum, 1949, p. 465
Scherman (1985:530)
Scherman (1985:2)
Scherman (1985:87)
Scherman (1985:587)
Scherman (1985:64)
Scherman (1985:265)
Scherman (1985:759)
Kirkpatrick, A. F. (1901). The Book of Psalms: with Introduction and Notes. The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges. Book IV and V: Psalms XC-CL. Cambridge: At the University Press. p. 839. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
"Pentecost Sunday". usccb.org.
"Holy Saturday – Vigil in the Holy Night of Easter". Usccb.org. Retrieved 2014-02-08.
Baron, Joseph L. (June 1, 1996). A Treasury of Jewish Quotations (Revised, Subsequent ed.). Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield. p. 176. ISBN 1568219482. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
Sherry Paprocki, Sean Dolan. Bob Marley: Musician. p. 51.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)

Sources

Nosson Scherman, The Complete Artscroll Siddur, Artscroll Mesorah Series (1985).
Hermann Gunkel, Die Psalmen (1925, 6th ed. 1986), pp. 447ff.; English translation T. M. Horner, The Psalms: a form-critical introduction (1926, reprint 1967).

External links

Tehillim - Psalm 104 (Judaica Press) translation with Rashi's commentary at Chabad.org
Psalms 104 at Mechon-Mamre Hebrew/English Bible.

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[1] Eckhard von Nordheim, Die Selbstbehauptung Israels in der Welt des Alten Orients: religionsgeschichtlicher Vergleich anhand von Gen 15/22/28, dem Aufenthalt Israels in Ägypten, 2 Sam 7, 1 Kön 19 und Psalm 104, Vandenhoeck&Ruprecht Göttingen, 1992,

[2] Hermann Gunkel, Die Psalmen (1986), 442f.

[3] See e.g. James B. Pritchard, "The Ancient Near East, An anthology of Texts and Pictures", Princeton University Press, 1958, p. 227. Eckhard von Nordheim, Die Selbstbehauptung Israels in der Welt des Alten Orients (1992), p. 155.

[4] vgl. das Kapitel Der Große Hymnus des Echnaton und Psalm 104 in Eckhard von Nordheim, Die Selbstbehauptung Israels in der Welt des Alten Orients (1992), 155.

[Smith-5] Smith, Mark S. (2010). God in Translation: Deities in Cross-Cultural Discourse in the Biblical World. William B Eerdmans Publishing. p. 70. ISBN 978-0802864338. Retrieved 8 July 2017.

[6] Daily Prayer Book, Philip Birnbaum, 1949, p. 465

[7] Scherman (1985:530)

[8] Scherman (1985:2)

[9] Scherman (1985:87)

[10] Scherman (1985:587)

[11] Scherman (1985:64)

[12] Scherman (1985:265)

[13] Scherman (1985:759)

[14] Kirkpatrick, A. F. (1901). The Book of Psalms: with Introduction and Notes. The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges. Book IV and V: Psalms XC-CL. Cambridge: At the University Press. p. 839. Retrieved February 28, 2019.

[15] "Pentecost Sunday". usccb.org.

[16] "Holy Saturday – Vigil in the Holy Night of Easter". Usccb.org. Retrieved 2014-02-08.

[Jewish_Quotations-17] Baron, Joseph L. (June 1, 1996). A Treasury of Jewish Quotations (Revised, Subsequent ed.). Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield. p. 176. ISBN 1568219482. Retrieved 2 May 2020.

[Bob_Marley:_Musician-18] Sherry Paprocki, Sean Dolan. Bob Marley: Musician. p. 51.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)