Psalms 104:16

16 The trees of Yahweh drink their fill, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted,

Psalms 104:16 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 104:16

The trees of the Lord are full of sap
Or "satiated" ^F19; that is, with rain; and through it are filled with fruits. This is to be understood not only of the tallest and largest trees; which are therefore called the trees of the Lord, as high mountains are called the mountains of the Lord, ( Psalms 36:6 ) and so other things excellent in their kind: but of trees of the field and forest; so the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, and Arabic versions; which are not planted and cultivated by man, as trees in gardens and orchards are; but are more especially under the care and cultivation of the Lord himself, and may design such as were produced by him at the creation.

The cedars of Lebanon which he hath planted;
a mountain on the borders of Judea, so called from its whiteness, through the snow on it, as the Alps are; and where grew great quantities of large and spreading cedars, which were not of man's, but of the Lord's planting: these were watered and made to grow with the rain of heaven. Rauwolff ^F20, who was upon this mountain in 1574, says,

``though this hill in former ages has been quite covered over with cedars, yet they are so decreased, that I could tell, says he, no more but twenty four, that stood round about in a circle; and two others, the branches whereof are quite decayed with age.''

But Thevenot ^F21, who has been there since, affirms there are no more nor less than twenty three, great and small; of the largeness, thickness, and height of these trees, (See Gill on Isaiah 37:24). Saints are often compared to trees, which are planted by the Lord in Christ, and in his churches; and particularly to cedars, for their height, strength, and durableness; see ( Psalms 92:13 Psalms 92:14 ) , and these, through the grace of God, are full of sap and spiritual life, and are filled with the fruits of righteousness, and are often represented as planted and growing by rivers of water; see ( Numbers 24:6 ) ( Psalms 1:3 ) ( Jeremiah 17:8 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F19 (webvy) "satiantur", Vatablus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Cocceius; so Musculus, Gejerus, Michaelis.
F20 Travels, par. 2. ch. 13. p. 191.
F21 Travels, par. 1. B. 2. ch. 60. p. 224.

Psalms 104:16 In-Context

14 [who] causes grass to grow for the cattle and herbs for the service of humankind, to bring forth food from the earth,

15 and wine [that] makes glad [the] heart of man, so that [their] faces shine from oil, and bread [that] strengthens the heart of man.

16 The trees of Yahweh drink their fill, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted,

17 where birds make [their] nest. [The] stork [has] its home in [the] fir trees.

18 The high mountains [are] for the wild goats; [the] cliffs [are] a refuge for the rock badgers.