Psalms 104:14

14 And thou bringest forth hay to beasts; and herb to the service of men. That thou bring forth bread (out) of the earth; (And thou bringest forth hay, or grass, for the beasts; and plants for service to people. So that thou bring forth food from the earth;)

Psalms 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.

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FOOTNOTES:

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

Psalms 104:14 In-Context

12 [The] Birds of the air shall dwell on those; from the midst of the stones they shall give voices. (The birds of the air shall live on trees nearby; from the midst of the leaves they shall give out their voices.)

13 And thou moistest [the] hills of their higher things; the earth shall be [ful]filled of the fruit of thy works. (And thou waterest the hills from thy high places; and the earth shall be filled full with the fruit of thy works.)

14 And thou bringest forth hay to beasts; and herb to the service of men. That thou bring forth bread (out) of the earth; (And thou bringest forth hay, or grass, for the beasts; and plants for service to people. So that thou bring forth food from the earth;)

15 and that wine make glad the heart of men. That he make glad the face with oil; and that bread make steadfast the heart of man. (and wine to make the hearts of people glad. And oil to make their faces shine; and bread to make their hearts strong.)

16 The trees of the field shall be [full-]filled, and the cedars of the Lebanon, which he planted; (The trees of the field be filled full with sap, and the cedars of Lebanon, which he planted;)