Psalms 147:17

17 He hurls down his hail like pebbles. Who can withstand his icy blast?

Psalms 147:17 in Other Translations

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

17 He hurls down his crystals of ice like crumbs; who can stand before his cold?

17 He hurls the hail like stones. Who can stand against his freezing cold?

17 He broadcasts hail like birdseed - who can survive his winter?

17 He throws His hailstones like crumbs. Who can withstand His cold?

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 sends his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly.

16 He spreads the snow like wool and scatters the frost like ashes.

17 He hurls down his hail like pebbles. Who can withstand his icy blast?

18 He sends his word and melts them; he stirs up his breezes, and the waters flow.

19 He has revealed his word to Jacob, his laws and decrees to Israel.

Cross References

• 1. Exodus 9:22-23; S Job 38:22; S Psalms 78:47