There go the ships, and Leviathan, which you formed to play in it.
English Standard Version (ESV)
While we might see ships as human achievements and Leviathan as a terrifying force, the psalmist places them side-by-side as creations within God's vast ocean playground. The verse suggests that both the marvel of human navigation and the mightiest sea creature exist by God's design, intended to "play" in the very depths He formed. This perspective invites us to see the world not just as a stage for human endeavors, but as a vibrant realm where God's power and provision extend even to the most formidable inhabitants.
There go the ships, and Leviathan, which you formed to play in it.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This psalm is a grand meditation on God’s creation, moving from the heavens to the earth and then to the sea. After marveling at the vastness and diversity of sea life, the psalmist points to two contrasting spectacles on the ocean: human ships navigating its surface and the mighty creature Leviathan, which God formed to play in its depths. The mention of ships, a marvel of human ingenuity, alongside this primordial sea monster highlights the fullness of God's dominion over both human endeavors and the untamed wildness of the deep.
Look at the ocean – it's vast, mysterious, and full of power. But did you know it's also a testament to God's careful planning, even for human endeavors like shipping?
Psalm 104 is a breathtaking poem celebrating God's creative power and wisdom. When the psalmist mentions 'ships' here, it's not just a random observation.
God's Foresight
What comes to mind when you hear 'Leviathan'? Terror? Chaos? The Bible presents a surprisingly different picture – a creature that 'plays' in the sea God made.
The mention of 'Leviathan' alongside ships is striking. While often associated with immense power and even terror (as in Job 41), here it serves a different purpose in Psalm 104.
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Divine Dominion Over Monsters
Understand the original words
'oniyyah · Hebrew Noun
Large, seagoing vessels used for trade and transport, representing human ingenuity and movement upon the vast, often mysterious waters.
liwyathan · Hebrew Noun
A formidable, legendary sea monster often used in Scripture to symbolize chaos, evil, or the untamable forces of creation that God alone controls and subdues.
yatsar · Hebrew Verb
The act of divine creation by which God brought the universe and its inhabitants into existence, demonstrating His sovereign authority and power.
The mention of ships and the sea monster Leviathan in Psalm 104 reflects an Israelite perspective that had increasing exposure to maritime trade and understood the vastness and power of the sea, even from their homeland or during exile.
~1400 BC
Development of Early Seafaring
The Minoan civilization on Crete and other early Mediterranean cultures developed sophisticated shipbuilding and seafaring, showcasing early human mastery of the seas.
c. 1100 BC - 300 BC
Phoenician Maritime Dominance
The Phoenicians, based in coastal cities like Tyre and Sidon, became renowned seafarers and traders, establishing extensive trade routes across the Mediterranean.
c. 8th Century BC
Exile and Babylonian Captivity
The Kingdom of Judah faced repeated invasions and exiles by the Neo-Babylonian Empire, disrupting life and forcing many into foreign lands.
c. 6th Century BC
Exile in Babylon
Many Judeans were exiled to Babylon, experiencing life far from their homeland and the sea, though they would have encountered large river creatures and heard tales of sea monsters.
c. 5th Century BC
Post-Exilic Period and Return
Following the Persian conquest of Babylon, many Jews returned to Judah, rebuilding their society and Temple, likely with renewed awareness of the wider world through trade and travel.
c. 4th Century BC
Hellenistic Period Begins
The conquests of Alexander the Great ushered in the Hellenistic Age, increasing cultural exchange and maritime activity throughout the Mediterranean world.
Unknown, likely during Second Temple Period— this verse
Psalms of Asaph (Temple Musicians)
Psalms like 104 are attributed to the Levitical musicians, like those of Asaph, serving in the Jerusalem Temple, likely composed and used during the Second Temple period.
This passage provides a detailed, awe-inspiring description of Leviathan, emphasizing its immense power and God's sovereign control over it, which directly amplifies the wonder of God 'forming' such a creature to 'play' in the sea.
Proverbs 30:19This verse highlights 'the way of a ship on the sea' as one of the 'wonderful things' in creation, echoing Psalm 104:26's inclusion of ships and underscoring the marvel of human endeavors interacting with God's vast ocean.
Isaiah 27:1This prophecy refers to 'Leviathan the fleeing serpent, Leviathan the twisting serpent,' linking the creature to destructive forces that God will ultimately judge, adding a layer of divine authority and eschatological significance to the creature mentioned in the Psalm.
Matthew 8:27The disciples' amazement at Jesus calming the storm reveals a similar awe towards the immense power of nature, paralleling the psalmist's wonder at God's creation and control over the sea and its mighty inhabitants.
pulpitPsalms 104:26: "There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein."
Verse 26. - There go the ships. These may seem out of place among the works of God. But are they not his, in a certain sense? Did he not contemplate them when he made the sea, and make it to some extent for them? And did he not give men wisdom to invent and perfect them? There is that leviathan. "Leviathan" is here probably the whale, which may in early times have frequented the Mediterranean. Whi…
clarkePsalms 104:26: "There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein."
There go the ships - By means of navigation, countries the most remote are connected, and all the inhabitants of the earth become known to each other. He appears at this time to have seen the ships under sail. That leviathan - This may mean the whale, or any of the large marine animals. The Septuagint and Vulgate call it dragon. Sometimes the crocodile is intended by the original word. To play the…
While we might see ships as human achievements and Leviathan as a terrifying force, the psalmist places them side-by-side as creations within God's vast ocean playground. The verse suggests that both the marvel of human navigation and the mightiest sea creature exist by God's design, intended to "play" in the very depths He formed. This perspective invites us to see the world not just as a stage for human endeavors, but as a vibrant realm where God's power and provision extend even to the most formidable inhabitants.
This psalm is a grand meditation on God’s creation, moving from the heavens to the earth and then to the sea. After marveling at the vastness and diversity of sea life, the psalmist points to two contrasting spectacles on the ocean: human ships navigating its surface and the mighty creature Leviathan, which God formed to play in its depths. The mention of ships, a marvel of human ingenuity, alongside this primordial sea monster highlights the fullness of God's dominion over both human endeavors and the untamed wildness of the deep.
This psalm is a grand meditation on God’s creation, moving from the heavens to the earth and then to the sea. After marveling at the vastness and diversity of sea life, the psalmist points to two contrasting spectacles on the ocean: human ships navigating its surface and the mighty creature Leviathan, which God formed to play in its depths. The mention of ships, a marvel of human ingenuity, alongside this primordial sea monster highlights the fullness of God's dominion over both human endeavors and the untamed wildness of the deep.
"There go the ships, and Leviathan, which you formed to play in it." — While we might see ships as human achievements and Leviathan as a terrifying force, the psalmist places them side-by-side as creations within God's vast ocean playground. The verse suggests that both…
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Last reviewed October 2026