Psalms 147:17

17 He casteth forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold?

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Psalms 147:17 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 147:17

He casteth forth his ice like morsels
Divided like morsels, as the Targum; cut into pieces, like morsels of bread. This seems to have respect to hail stones, which sometimes fall like pieces of ice, and are very prejudicial to the fruits of the earth: this was one of the ten plagues of Egypt; and whereby also many of the Canaanites were destroyed in the times of Joshua, ( Exodus 9:23 ) ( Joshua 10:11 ) ; and there is an exceeding great storm of hail yet to come, very dreadful; see ( Revelation 16:21 ) . This is expressive of the wrath, vengeance, and judgments of God upon men, by which he is known in various perfections of his nature; as his power, justice, and holiness, for which he is celebrated, ( Isaiah 30:30 ) ;

who can stand before his cold?
which he has purposed and promised shall be; for he has said, that "cold and heat [shall not] cease, [as long as] the earth remains"; and which he appoints and orders to be, for "by the breath of God frost is given", ( Genesis 8:22 ) ( Job 37:10 ) ; and this is sometimes and in some places so very vehement, that it is intolerable; men are obliged to keep within doors, to make them fires, and put on more clothes; and the "hands" of every man are sealed up from business; even "the beasts go into [their] dens, [and] remain in their places", or get what shelter they can; see ( Job 37:7 Job 37:8 ) . And if there is no standing before his cold, who can stand before the heat of his anger, or his furious wrath and indignation, when it is poured out like fire? see ( Psalms 76:7 ) ( Nahum 1:5 Nahum 1:6 ) ( Revelation 6:15-17 ) .

Psalms 147:17 In-Context

15 He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his word runneth very swiftly.
16 He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes.
17 He casteth forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold?
18 He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: he causeth his wind to blow, and the waters flow.
19 He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel.
The King James Version is in the public domain.