Here is the sea, great and wide, which teems with creatures innumerable, living things both small and great.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The phrase "great and wide" doesn't just describe the sea's size, but its expansive reach, like "arms" encompassing the entire earth. This vastness is filled with "innumerable" creatures, a reminder that God’s creative power overflows, filling every corner of His creation with life, both grand and minuscule.
Here is the sea, great and wide, which teems with creatures innumerable, living things both small and great.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The psalmist, in awe of God’s creation, marvels at the earth's bounty and then turns his gaze to the vast sea. He describes its immense size and the teeming, countless creatures—both tiny and colossal—that inhabit its depths, a testament to God's power and wisdom. This contemplation flows directly from his praise for God's magnificent works filling the earth.
Ever looked at the ocean and felt overwhelmed by its sheer size and mystery? The Psalmist did too, but with a different perspective.
The Psalmist marvels at the "great and wide sea," not just for its immensity, but for the sheer abundance of life it holds. The original language paints a picture of a sea that is "extensive of hands," like arms embracing the globe, teeming with "moving things" that are "innumerable, both small and great beasts." This isn't just a description; it's a testament to God's overflowing provision and creative power.
God's Generosity on Display
When you consider the ocean's depth and mystery, what thoughts come to mind about the Creator?
The immensity and diversity of life in the sea serve as a powerful reminder of God's profound wisdom. The ancient commentators highlight that the intricate design and sheer variety of sea creatures point to a divine intelligence at work. It's not just random chance; it's a deliberate, masterful creation.
The Sea as a Mirror of Divine Intelligence
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Understand the original words
yam · Hebrew Noun
A Hebrew term often associated with the expanse of the ocean or the chaotic waters that God, in His sovereignty, has contained and ordered as part of His creation.
While the specific date of Psalm 104 is uncertain, its vivid imagery of the sea suggests the author may have been familiar with the Mediterranean, a vast and life-filled body of water central to the region's geography and economy during the time of Israel's monarchy.
c. 1000 BC— this verse
Reign of King David
The Psalms are traditionally attributed to various authors, but many are associated with the Davidic kingdom, a period of relative stability and flourishing in ancient Israel. This era likely provided the backdrop for much of the Psalter's composition.
c. 500 BC
Post-Exilic Period
Following the Babylonian Exile, the Jewish people began to rebuild their community and religious life. Many Psalms were likely compiled and edited during this period, reflecting their experiences and continued praise of God's creation.
This passage directly echoes the creation account, highlighting God's command for the waters to teem with living creatures, both great and small, just as Psalm 104:25 observes.
Job 41:1-34While Psalm 104:25 broadly mentions creatures, Job 41 delves into the awe-inspiring and fearsome power of one specific, massive sea creature (Leviathan), showcasing the incredible diversity and might within God's creation.
Matthew 13:47-48Jesus uses a parable about a fishing net gathering all kinds of fish, both good and bad, illustrating the concept of a vast and varied multitude, much like the innumerable creatures in the sea described in the Psalm.
Daniel 7:2-3The prophet Daniel sees four great beasts rising from a chaotic sea, a vision that uses the sea and its creatures metaphorically to represent nations and powers on earth, reflecting the vastness and sometimes unruly nature of the world's inhabitants.
pulpitPsalms 104:25: "So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts."
Verse 25. - So is this great and wide sea; rather, yonder sea too (is thy work), so great and wide stretching. Wherein are things creeping (rather, moving things) innumerable. The abundant life of the sea, even in its depths, is the admiration of all naturalists. Tens of thousands of microscopic shells have been brought to light by the dredger's labours almost everywhere. Both s…
clarkePsalms 104:25: "So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts."
This great and wide sea - The original is very emphatic: זה הים גדול ורחב ידים zeh haiyam gadol urechab yadayim, "This very sea, great and extensive of hands." Its waters, like arms, encompassing all the terrene parts of the globe. I suppose the psalmist was within sight of the Mediterranean when he wrote these words.
The phrase "great and wide" doesn't just describe the sea's size, but its expansive reach, like "arms" encompassing the entire earth. This vastness is filled with "innumerable" creatures, a reminder that God’s creative power overflows, filling every corner of His creation with life, both grand and minuscule.
The psalmist, in awe of God’s creation, marvels at the earth's bounty and then turns his gaze to the vast sea. He describes its immense size and the teeming, countless creatures—both tiny and colossal—that inhabit its depths, a testament to God's power and wisdom. This contemplation flows directly from his praise for God's magnificent works filling the earth.
The psalmist, in awe of God’s creation, marvels at the earth's bounty and then turns his gaze to the vast sea. He describes its immense size and the teeming, countless creatures—both tiny and colossal—that inhabit its depths, a testament to God's power and wisdom. This contemplation flows directly from his praise for God's magnificent works filling the earth.
"Here is the sea, great and wide, which teems with creatures innumerable, living things both small and great." — The phrase "great and wide" doesn't just describe the sea's size, but its expansive reach, like "arms" encompassing the entire earth. This vastness is filled with "innumerable" creatures, a reminder…
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Last reviewed October 2026