The high mountains are for the wild goats; the rocks are a refuge for the rock badgers.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse isn't just about animals finding shelter; it reveals a profound design where even the most seemingly harsh and inaccessible places on earth are perfectly suited for specific creatures. God's provision isn't limited to fertile valleys but extends to the wild goats scaling dizzying heights and the "hiders" finding safety in rocky crevices, showing His care for every living thing.
The high mountains are for the wild goats; the rocks are a refuge for the rock badgers.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The psalm is celebrating God's creation and provision, moving from the trees and birds to the high mountains. This verse points out how even the seemingly barren and inaccessible heights are perfectly suited as homes and safe havens for specific creatures, like the wild goats and rock badgers. It highlights God's intricate design where every part of the natural world, no matter how rugged, serves a purpose and sustains life.
Think about the highest, most inaccessible mountains and the roughest, most rugged rocks. Do they seem like places that could support life? This verse reveals they are more than just terrain; they're intentional sanctuaries.
The psalmist highlights that even the seemingly desolate and difficult parts of creation have a specific purpose.
Divine Design
The high hills aren't just tall; they are specifically suited to be a refuge for wild goats. Similarly, the rocks aren't merely inert stone; they are designed to be a safe haven for smaller, more vulnerable creatures like the rock badger (or hyrax).
Universal Provision
This shows God's incredible attention to detail. He doesn't just provide for creatures in lush valleys or fertile plains. His provision extends to the wild, the rugged, and the remote, ensuring that all his creatures have a place to live and find safety according to their needs.
How do wild goats scale sheer cliffs? How do rock badgers find safety in stony landscapes? This verse hints at a deeper truth about God's creation: perfect design for perfect inhabitants.
This verse points to the remarkable way God equips creatures with instincts and physical attributes perfectly suited to their environment.
Built for the Heights
The 'wild goats' are often translated with words meaning 'climbers' or 'those adapted to the rocks.' Their very nature allows them to navigate the treacherous high mountains, finding safety where few other animals can go.
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Seekers of Shelter
The 'rock badgers' (or conies) are aptly named 'hiders.' They are smaller and more vulnerable, relying on the nooks and crannies of rocks for protection from predators and harsh weather. Their instinct drives them to these safe havens.
A Connected Ecosystem
Together, these examples illustrate how God has woven together habitats and inhabitants, ensuring that each has a role and a place within His creation. The 'barren' rocks and mountains are not empty; they are full of life specifically designed to thrive there.
Understand the original words
machseh · Hebrew Noun
A place of safety or protection, often used metaphorically for God Himself as the protector of His people. Here, it denotes the natural security provided to creatures within the created order.
This passage lists the rock badger (or hyrax) among the unclean animals, directly referencing the same creature mentioned in Psalms as finding refuge in the rocks. It highlights the ancient awareness of this animal's habitat and behavior.
Proverbs 30:26Solomon also describes the 'rock badger' as a 'feeble folk' that makes its home in the rocks. This offers a parallel, reinforcing the idea of these creatures finding safety in seemingly inhospitable terrain due to their specific design.
Matthew 6:26Jesus uses the example of birds being fed by God, who does not sow or reap, to encourage trust in His provision. This connects to the Psalm's broader theme that God cares for and provides for even the smallest and seemingly most vulnerable creatures in creation.
Job 39:1This passage directly references the 'wild goats' and their ability to live in rugged, rocky places, similar to Psalms 104:18. It emphasizes God's knowledge and involvement in the lives of these creatures and their specific adaptations.
pulpitPsalms 104:18: "The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the conies."
Verse 18. - The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats. Even the desolate ranges of the higher mountains are designed by God for the good of his creatures. They furnish a refuge for the ibex, or wild goat, when the hunter presses ca him; and, if they cannot give him food, give him safety. And the rocks for the conies; rather, for the marmots. Marmots still inhabit Palestine, though they are rarely…
clarkePsalms 104:18: "The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the conies."
The high hills are a refuge - The barren tops of the highest hills, and the craggy abrupt precipices of the most stupendous rocks, are not without their uses: they afford protection, refuge, and food, for creatures whose dispositions and habits are suited to such places; and thus no part of the creation is useless. The creatures who are their inhabitants are necessary links in the great chain of anima…
This verse isn't just about animals finding shelter; it reveals a profound design where even the most seemingly harsh and inaccessible places on earth are perfectly suited for specific creatures. God's provision isn't limited to fertile valleys but extends to the wild goats scaling dizzying heights and the "hiders" finding safety in rocky crevices, showing His care for every living thing.
The psalm is celebrating God's creation and provision, moving from the trees and birds to the high mountains. This verse points out how even the seemingly barren and inaccessible heights are perfectly suited as homes and safe havens for specific creatures, like the wild goats and rock badgers. It highlights God's intricate design where every part of the natural world, no matter how rugged, serves a purpose and sustains life.
The psalm is celebrating God's creation and provision, moving from the trees and birds to the high mountains. This verse points out how even the seemingly barren and inaccessible heights are perfectly suited as homes and safe havens for specific creatures, like the wild goats and rock badgers. It highlights God's intricate design where every part of the natural world, no matter how rugged, serves a purpose and sustains life.
"The high mountains are for the wild goats; the rocks are a refuge for the rock badgers." — This verse isn't just about animals finding shelter; it reveals a profound design where even the most seemingly harsh and inaccessible places on earth are perfectly suited for specific creatures. God…
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Last reviewed October 2026