Salmi 104:14

14 Egli fa germogliar l’erba per il bestiame e le piante per il servizio dell’uomo, facendo uscir dalla terra il nutrimento,

Salmi 104:14 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 104:14

He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle
By means of rain falling upon the tender herb, and upon the mown grass, whereby provision of food is made for those creatures that live upon grass.

And herb for the service of man:
some herbs being for physic for him, and others for food, and all more or less for his use. Herbs were the original food of man, ( Genesis 1:29 ) and still a dinner of herbs, where love is, is better than a stalled ox, and hatred therewith, ( Proverbs 15:17 ) . Some render it, "and herb at the tillage of man" ^F15: grass grows of itself for the use of the cattle; but the herb, as wheat and the like, which is for the use of man, is caused to grow when man has taken some pains with the earth, and has tilled and manured it: but the former sense seems best.

That he may bring forth food out of the earth;
either that man may do it by his tillage; or rather that the Lord may do it, by sending rain, and causing the grass and herbs to grow. However, man's food, as well as the food of beasts, comes out of the earth, as he himself does, and to which he must return.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F15 (tdbel) "ad culturam", Cocceius, some in Vatablus, and Michaelis; so Gussetius, p. 572.

Salmi 104:14 In-Context

12 Presso a quelle si riparano gli uccelli del cielo; di mezzo alle fronde fanno udir la loro voce.

13 Egli adacqua i monti dall’alto delle sue stanze, la terra è saziata col frutto delle tue opere.

14 Egli fa germogliar l’erba per il bestiame e le piante per il servizio dell’uomo, facendo uscir dalla terra il nutrimento,

15 e il vino che rallegra il cuor dell’uomo, e l’olio che gli fa risplender la faccia, e il pane che sostenta il cuore dei mortali.

16 Gli alberi dell’Eterno sono saziati, i cedri del Libano, ch’egli ha piantati.