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Selected Verse: Psalms 77:16 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Ps 77:16	Strong Concordance	The waters [04325] saw [07200] thee, O God [0430], the waters [04325] saw [07200] thee; they were afraid [02342]: the depths [08415] also were troubled [07264].
	King James	The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee; they were afraid: the depths also were troubled.

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Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
The waters saw thee ... - The waters of the Red Sea and the Jordan. There is great sublimity in this expression; in representing the waters as conscious of the presence of God, and as fleeing in consternation at his presence. Compare Rev 20:11; Hab 3:10-11. They were afraid - On the word used here - חול chûl - see Psa 10:5, note; Psa 55:4, note. It may mean here to tremble or quake, as in pain Deu 2:25; Joe 2:6. - Alarm, distress, anguish, came over the waters at the presence of God; and they trembled, and fled. The depths also were troubled - The deep waters, or the waters "in" the depths. It was not a ripple on the surface; but the very depths - the usually calm and undisturbed waters that lie below the surface - were heaved into commotion at the divine presence.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

The waters saw thee ... - The waters of the Red Sea and the Jordan. There is great sublimity in this expression; in representing the waters as conscious of the presence of God, and as fleeing in consternation at his presence. Compare Rev 20:11; Hab 3:10-11.

They were afraid - On the word used here - חול chûl - see Psa 10:5, note; Psa 55:4, note. It may mean here to tremble or quake, as in pain Deu 2:25; Joe 2:6. - Alarm, distress, anguish, came over the waters at the presence of God; and they trembled, and fled.

The depths also were troubled - The deep waters, or the waters "in" the depths. It was not a ripple on the surface; but the very depths - the usually calm and undisturbed waters that lie below the surface - were heaved into commotion at the divine presence.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]
When He directed His lance towards the Red Sea, which stood in the way of His redeemed, the waters immediately fell as it were into pangs of travail (יחילוּ, as in Hab 3:10, not ויּחילו), also the billows of the deep trembled; for before the omnipotence of God the Redeemer, which creates a new thing in the midst of the old creation, the rules of the ordinary course of nature become unhinged. There now follow in Psa 77:18, Psa 77:19 lines taken from the picture of a thunder-storm. The poet wishes to describe how all the powers of nature became the servants of the majestic revelation of Jahve, when He executed judgment on Egypt and delivered Israel. זרם, Poel of זרם (cognate זרב, זרף, Aethiopic זנם, to rain), signifies intensively: to stream forth in full torrents. Instead of this line, Habakkuk, with a change of the letters of the primary passage, which is usual in Jeremiah more especially, has זרם מים עבר. The rumbling which the שׁחקים (Note: We have indicated on Psa 18:12; Psa 36:6, that the שׁהקים are so called from their thinness, but passages like Psa 18:12 and the one before us do not favour this idea. One would think that we have more likely to go back to Arab. sḥq, to be distant (whence suḥḳ, distance; saḥı̂ḳ, distant), and that שׁהקים signifies the distances, like שׁמים, the heights, from שׁחק = suḥḳ, in distinction from שׁחק, an atom (Wetzstein). But the Hebrew affords no trace of this verbal stem, whereas שׁחק, Arab. sḥq, contundere, comminuere (Neshwn: to pound to dust, used e.g., of the apothecary's drugs), is just as much Hebrew as Arabic. And the word is actually associated with this verb by the Arabic mind, inasmuch as Arab. saḥâbun saḥqun (nubes tenues, nubila tenuia) is explained by Arab. sḥâb rqı̂q. Accordingly שׁהקים, according to its primary notion, signifies that which spreads itself out thin and fine over a wide surface, and according to the usage of the language, in contrast with the thick and heavy פני הארץ, the uppermost stratum of the atmosphere, and then the clouds, as also Arab. a‛nân, and the collective ‛anan and ‛anân (vid., Isaiah, at Isa 4:5, note), is not first of all the clouds, but the surface of the sky that is turned to us (Fleischer).) cause to sound forth (נתנוּ, cf. Psa 68:34) is the thunder. The arrows of God (חצציך, in Habakkuk חצּיך) are the lightnings. The Hithpa. (instead of which Habakkuk has יחלּכוּ) depicts their busy darting hither and thither in the service of the omnipotence that sends them forth. It is open to question whether גּלגּל denotes the roll of the thunder (Aben-Ezra, Maurer, Bttcher): the sound of Thy thunder went rolling forth (cf. Psa 29:4), - or the whirlwind accompanying the thunder-storm (Hitzig); the usage of the language (Psa 83:14, also Eze 10:13, Syriac golgolo) is in favour of the latter. On Psa 77:19 cf. the echo in Psa 97:4. Amidst such commotions in nature above and below Jahve strode along through the sea, and made a passage for His redeemed. His person and His working were invisible, but the result which attested His active presence was visible. He took His way through the sea, and cut His path (Chethb plural, שׁביליך, as in Jer 18:15) through great waters (or, according to Habakkuk, caused His horses to go through), without the footprints (עקּבות with Dag. dirimens) of Him who passes and passed through being left behind to show it.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]

When He directed His lance towards the Red Sea, which stood in the way of His redeemed, the waters immediately fell as it were into pangs of travail (יחילוּ, as in Hab 3:10, not ויּחילו), also the billows of the deep trembled; for before the omnipotence of God the Redeemer, which creates a new thing in the midst of the old creation, the rules of the ordinary course of nature become unhinged. There now follow in Psa 77:18, Psa 77:19 lines taken from the picture of a thunder-storm. The poet wishes to describe how all the powers of nature became the servants of the majestic revelation of Jahve, when He executed judgment on Egypt and delivered Israel. זרם, Poel of זרם (cognate זרב, זרף, Aethiopic זנם, to rain), signifies intensively: to stream forth in full torrents. Instead of this line, Habakkuk, with a change of the letters of the primary passage, which is usual in Jeremiah more especially, has זרם מים עבר. The rumbling which the שׁחקים

(Note: We have indicated on Psa 18:12; Psa 36:6, that the שׁהקים are so called from their thinness, but passages like Psa 18:12 and the one before us do not favour this idea. One would think that we have more likely to go back to Arab. sḥq, to be distant (whence suḥḳ, distance; saḥı̂ḳ, distant), and that שׁהקים signifies the distances, like שׁמים, the heights, from שׁחק = suḥḳ, in distinction from שׁחק, an atom (Wetzstein). But the Hebrew affords no trace of this verbal stem, whereas שׁחק, Arab. sḥq, contundere, comminuere (Neshwn: to pound to dust, used e.g., of the apothecary's drugs), is just as much Hebrew as Arabic. And the word is actually associated with this verb by the Arabic mind, inasmuch as Arab. saḥâbun saḥqun (nubes tenues, nubila tenuia) is explained by Arab. sḥâb rqı̂q. Accordingly שׁהקים, according to its primary notion, signifies that which spreads itself out thin and fine over a wide surface, and according to the usage of the language, in contrast with the thick and heavy פני הארץ, the uppermost stratum of the atmosphere, and then the clouds, as also Arab. a‛nân, and the collective ‛anan and ‛anân (vid., Isaiah, at Isa 4:5, note), is not first of all the clouds, but the surface of the sky that is turned to us (Fleischer).)

cause to sound forth (נתנוּ, cf. Psa 68:34) is the thunder. The arrows of God (חצציך, in Habakkuk חצּיך) are the lightnings. The Hithpa. (instead of which Habakkuk has יחלּכוּ) depicts their busy darting hither and thither in the service of the omnipotence that sends them forth. It is open to question whether גּלגּל denotes the roll of the thunder (Aben-Ezra, Maurer, Bttcher): the sound of Thy thunder went rolling forth (cf. Psa 29:4), - or the whirlwind accompanying the thunder-storm (Hitzig); the usage of the language (Psa 83:14, also Eze 10:13, Syriac golgolo) is in favour of the latter. On Psa 77:19 cf. the echo in Psa 97:4. Amidst such commotions in nature above and below Jahve strode along through the sea, and made a passage for His redeemed. His person and His working were invisible, but the result which attested His active presence was visible. He took His way through the sea, and cut His path (Chethb plural, שׁביליך, as in Jer 18:15) through great waters (or, according to Habakkuk, caused His horses to go through), without the footprints (עקּבות with Dag. dirimens) of Him who passes and passed through being left behind to show it.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
Afraid - And stood still, as men astonished, do.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
The waters saw thee - What a fine image! He represents God approaching the Red Sea; and the waters, seeing him, took fright, and ran off before him, dividing to the right and left to let him pass. I have not found any thing more majestic than this. The depths also were troubled - Every thing appears here to have life and perception. The waters see the Almighty, do not wait his coming, but in terror flee away! The deeps, uncovered, are astonished at the circumstance; and as they cannot fly, they are filled with trouble and dismay. Under the hand of such a poet, inanimate nature springs into life; all thinks, speaks, acts; all is in motion, and the dismay is general.

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⁶ Before their face [06440] the people [05971] shall be much pained [02342]: all faces [06440] shall gather [06908] blackness [06289].

²⁵ This day [03117] will I begin [02490] to put [05414] the dread [06343] of thee and the fear [03374] of thee upon the nations [06440] [05971] that are under the whole heaven [08064], who shall hear [08085] report [08088] of thee, and shall tremble [07264], and be in anguish [02342] because of thee [06440].

⁴ My heart [03820] is sore pained [02342] within [07130] me: and the terrors [0367] of death [04194] are fallen [05307] upon me.

⁵ His ways [01870] are always [06256] grievous [02342]; thy judgments [04941] are far above [04791] out of his sight: as for all his enemies [06887], he puffeth [06315] at them.

¹⁰ The mountains [02022] saw [07200] thee, and they trembled [02342]: the overflowing [02230] of the water [04325] passed by [05674]: the deep [08415] uttered [05414] his voice [06963], and lifted up [05375] his hands [03027] on high [07315].
¹¹ The sun [08121] and moon [03394] stood still [05975] in their habitation [02073]: at the light [0216] of thine arrows [02671] they went [01980], and at the shining [05051] of thy glittering [01300] spear [02595].

¹¹ And [2532] I saw [1492] a great [3173] white [3022] throne [2362], and [2532] him that sat [2521] on [1909] it [846], from [575] whose [3739] face [4383] the earth [1093] and [2532] the heaven [3772] fled away [5343]; and [2532] there was found [2147] no [3756] place [5117] for them [846].

¹⁵ Because my people [05971] hath forgotten [07911] me, they have burned incense [06999] to vanity [07723], and they have caused them to stumble [03782] in their ways [01870] from the ancient [05769] paths [07635] [07635], to walk [03212] in paths [05410], in a way [01870] not cast up [05549];

⁴ His lightnings [01300] enlightened [0215] the world [08398]: the earth [0776] saw [07200], and trembled [02342].

¹⁹ Thy way [01870] is in the sea [03220], and thy path [07635] in the great [07227] waters [04325], and thy footsteps [06119] are not known [03045].

¹³ As for the wheels [0212], it was cried [07121] unto them in my hearing [0241], O wheel [01534].

¹⁴ As the fire [0784] burneth [01197] a wood [03293], and as the flame [03852] setteth [03857] the mountains [02022] on fire [03857];

⁴ The voice [06963] of the LORD [03068] is powerful [03581]; the voice [06963] of the LORD [03068] is full of majesty [01926].

³⁴ Ascribe [05414] ye strength [05797] unto God [0430]: his excellency [01346] is over Israel [03478], and his strength [05797] is in the clouds [07834].

⁵ And the LORD [03068] will create [01254] upon every dwelling place [04349] of mount [02022] Zion [06726], and upon her assemblies [04744], a cloud [06051] and smoke [06227] by day [03119], and the shining [05051] of a flaming [03852] fire [0784] by night [03915]: for upon all the glory [03519] shall be a defence [02646].

¹² At the brightness [05051] that was before him his thick clouds [05645] passed [05674], hail [01259] stones and coals [01513] of fire [0784].

⁶ Thy righteousness [06666] is like the great [0410] mountains [02042]; thy judgments [04941] are a great [07227] deep [08415]: O LORD [03068], thou preservest [03467] man [0120] and beast [0929].

¹² At the brightness [05051] that was before him his thick clouds [05645] passed [05674], hail [01259] stones and coals [01513] of fire [0784].

¹⁹ Thy way [01870] is in the sea [03220], and thy path [07635] in the great [07227] waters [04325], and thy footsteps [06119] are not known [03045].

¹⁸ The voice [06963] of thy thunder [07482] was in the heaven [01534]: the lightnings [01300] lightened [0215] the world [08398]: the earth [0776] trembled [07264] and shook [07493].