Psalms 114:4

4 The mountains skipped like rams, the hills like lambs.

Psalms 114:4 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 114:4

The mountains skipped like rams
The mountains of Sinai and Horeb quaked and moved at the presence of the Lord, when he descended thereon to give the law; these saw his glory and trembled, ( Exodus 19:18 ) ( Psalms 68:8 ) ( Habakkuk 3:6 Habakkuk 3:10 ) .

And the little hills like lambs;
very beautiful are the larger mountains of Sinai and Horeb compared to rams, and the motion of them to their skipping; and the little hills adjacent to them to lambs: these may represent the greater and lesser governors in the Roman empire at the time when such large conversions were made in it as before observed; and which skipped, and trembled, and fled, and were moved out of their places at the downfall of Paganism and progress of Christianity, ( Revelation 6:14 ) and also may be an emblem of the difficulties which lie like mountains and hills in the way of a sinner's conversion and effectual calling, which yet give way to and are surmounted by the efficacious grace of God; all mountains become a plain before him, and when he works none can let.

Psalms 114:4 In-Context

2 Judah became his sanctuary, Israel his dominion.
3 The sea looked and fled, Jordan turned back.
4 The mountains skipped like rams, the hills like lambs.
5 What ails you, O sea, that you flee? O Jordan, that you turn back?
6 O mountains, that you skip like rams? O hills, like lambs?
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.