The trees of the LORD are watered abundantly, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.
English Standard Version (ESV)
It's easy to see the "trees of the LORD" as simply impressive nature, but this verse contrasts them with trees planted by human hands. The truly striking part is that even the grandest, wild cedars of Lebanon, thriving without any gardener, are "satisfied" or saturated with life because God's provision reaches every corner of His creation.
The trees of the LORD are watered abundantly, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The psalm is celebrating God's incredible provision for all creation, moving from the majestic waters and clouds to the life they sustain. After describing how rain waters the earth, the focus shifts to the resulting bounty, highlighting how even the grandest trees, like the cedars of Lebanon, are "satisfied" and thrive because God Himself has planted and nurtured them. This emphasizes that all life, not just human needs, is intimately cared for by the Creator.
Ever felt like you're just growing somewhere, not planted? This verse distinguishes between trees we cultivate and those that belong entirely to God.
The phrase "trees of the LORD" highlights God's direct involvement and ownership. Unlike trees planted and tended by human hands, these are seen as sovereign creations, growing and thriving by His provision. The cedars of Lebanon, known for their grandeur and strength, are the prime example. They weren't cultivated in a garden but grew wild, sustained directly by God's rain and providence. This points to a lavishness in God's provision that extends beyond what humans can engineer or maintain.
Imagine trees so full of life they are 'satisfied.' This verse paints a picture of abundance, not mere survival.
The Hebrew word used for the trees being full of sap can also be translated as 'satisfied' or 'saturated.' This isn't just about basic needs being met; it speaks to a deep, abundant nourishment. The cedars of Lebanon, towering and majestic, are depicted as thoroughly quenched and thriving. This illustrates God's generous provision for His creation – not just enough to get by, but an overflowing supply that allows for flourishing and grandeur, even in seemingly harsh environments like the mountains of Lebanon.
Understand the original words
Ask a follow-up
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
A title indicating divine ownership, sovereignty, and creative providence. It highlights that the natural world exists not by chance, but as a result of God's intentional design and care.
'erez · Hebrew Noun
Majestic, durable trees often used in Scripture as symbols of strength, beauty, and God's planting. They represent the grandeur of creation under God's sustaining hand.
This verse describes God as the one who causes the earth to bring forth vegetation, directly connecting to the idea in Psalms that the trees of the Lord are planted and nourished by Him.
Isaiah 41:19This passage echoes the imagery of trees planted by God, listing cedars, acacias, and olive trees, highlighting God's role in the natural beauty and provision of the earth.
Ezekiel 31:3-9This extended metaphor uses the magnificent cedar of Lebanon as a symbol of power and beauty, detailing how God's hand made it flourish, paralleling the description in Psalms 104.
Matthew 6:28-30Jesus points to the lilies of the field, which God clothes so beautifully, as a lesson against worry, illustrating the same principle of God's abundant care for even the 'wild' or uncultivated parts of His creation.
bensonPsalms 104:16: "The trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted;"
Psalm 104:16 . The trees of the Lord — Trees which are not planted by the art, nor watered by the care of man, but by God’s almighty providence, are full of sap — Being sufficiently supplied therewith through the rain, of the good effects of which he is yet speaking; for “the moisture of the earth, rarefied by the heat of the sun, enters their roots, ascends their tubes, and, by due degrees, ex…
clarkePsalms 104:16: "The trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted;"
The trees of the Lord are full of sap - ישבעו yisbeu, "are saturated." The cedars of Lebanon - God's providence not only extends to then and cattle, but also to the trees of the field and forest. Many of these are not only sustained, but planted by his providence. Who ever planted the seeds of the cedars of Lebanon, or of the thousands of woods and forests on the globe? God himself sowed those…
It's easy to see the "trees of the LORD" as simply impressive nature, but this verse contrasts them with trees planted by human hands. The truly striking part is that even the grandest, wild cedars of Lebanon, thriving without any gardener, are "satisfied" or saturated with life because God's provision reaches every corner of His creation.
The psalm is celebrating God's incredible provision for all creation, moving from the majestic waters and clouds to the life they sustain. After describing how rain waters the earth, the focus shifts to the resulting bounty, highlighting how even the grandest trees, like the cedars of Lebanon, are "satisfied" and thrive because God Himself has planted and nurtured them. This emphasizes that all life, not just human needs, is intimately cared for by the Creator.
The psalm is celebrating God's incredible provision for all creation, moving from the majestic waters and clouds to the life they sustain. After describing how rain waters the earth, the focus shifts to the resulting bounty, highlighting how even the grandest trees, like the cedars of Lebanon, are "satisfied" and thrive because God Himself has planted and nurtured them. This emphasizes that all life, not just human needs, is intimately cared for by the Creator.
"The trees of the LORD are watered abundantly, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted." — It's easy to see the "trees of the LORD" as simply impressive nature, but this verse contrasts them with trees planted by human hands. The truly striking part is that even the grandest, wild cedars o…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026