He set the earth on its foundations, so that it should never be moved.
English Standard Version (ESV)
What's easy to miss is that the "foundations" aren't necessarily a physical structure beneath the earth, but rather the divinely ordained principles and forces that keep it balanced and stable. The verse emphasizes God's deliberate setup, ensuring the earth's profound immobility and enduring place in the cosmos.
He set the earth on its foundations, so that it should never be moved.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse bursts forth as the psalmist begins to describe God's incredible work of creation, starting with the solid ground beneath our feet. He's praising the Lord for His magnificent power, moving from the general majesty of God to the specific, awe-inspiring act of establishing the earth. This foundation is presented not just as a physical grounding, but as a promise of stability that endures, setting the stage for everything else God created upon it.
Ever wondered how our planet stays put? This verse points to a deep stability, not just physically, but as a testament to God's intentional design.
The psalmist uses the imagery of "foundations" to describe the earth's stability. This isn't about literal concrete footings, but about God's powerful act of establishing the earth in its place.
A Stable Dwelling
The phrase "laid the foundations" speaks to a deliberate and powerful act of creation. It implies that the earth wasn't haphazardly thrown into existence but was purposefully secured.
Unshakable Purpose
The assurance that it "should never be moved" highlights God's reliability. Even when we face earthquakes or feel the world shift beneath us, this verse reminds us of the ultimate stability rooted in God's sovereign power.
The Bible isn't a science textbook, yet it speaks profound truths about God and His creation. How should we read verses that describe the physical world?
The language of "foundations" and the earth "never being moved" is poetic, not a scientific explanation. Ancient readers, like us, understood that the earth's stability was a marvel of God's making.
Poetic Imagery
Commentaries note that the "foundations" are not literal supports but a poetic way to express the earth's secure placement and permanence. This language aims to inspire awe and trust in the Creator.
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Faith Over Fact
While science explains the physical mechanics of the earth's orbit and stability, the psalmist focuses on the divine Hand behind it all. The truth here is theological: God established it, and God sustains it.
Understand the original words
makon · Hebrew Noun
The solid, immovable basis upon which God established the creation. It symbolizes God’s faithfulness, permanence, and the unshakeable order He established for the physical world.
This passage directly echoes Psalm 104:5, with God asking Job where he was when God 'laid the foundations of the earth' and set its 'cornerstone,' emphasizing God's foundational role in creation.
Proverbs 8:29Wisdom, personified as being present with God at creation, recounts how God established 'His decree for the sea, that the waters might not transgress His command,' which relates to the stable order of the earth and its foundations.
Psalm 93:1This Psalm proclaims, 'The LORD reigns; he is robed in majesty... the world is firmly established; it cannot be moved,' reinforcing the idea of the earth's immovable stability as a testament to God's reign.
Isaiah 40:12This verse describes God measuring the waters in the hollow of His hand and marking off the heavens with a span, showing His sovereign control over the elements that establish the earth's stability.
Hebrews 1:3This New Testament passage states that Christ 'upholds the universe by his word of power,' providing a Christological perspective on the sustaining force that keeps the earth and all creation in its place.
ellicottPsalms 104:5: "Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever."
(5–18) The work of the third day of Creation in its two great divisions. (1) The separation of the land and water ( Psalm 104:5-9 ); (2) the clothing of the earth with grass, herbs, and trees ( Psalm 104:10-18 ). The poet, however, ranges beyond the Mosaic account, and already peoples the earth with the living creatures of the fifth day. “It is not a picture of still life like that of Genesis, but a l…
bensonPsalms 104:5: "Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever."
Psalm 104:5 . Who laid the foundations of the earth — Hebrew, יסד ארצ על מכוניה , jasad eretz gnal mechoneah, who hath founded the earth upon its own bases, or foundations, that is, upon itself, or its own centre of gravity, by which it is self-balanced, and by which it stands as fast and immoveable as if it were built upon the strongest foundation imaginable, which is a most stupendous work of divine…
What's easy to miss is that the "foundations" aren't necessarily a physical structure beneath the earth, but rather the divinely ordained principles and forces that keep it balanced and stable. The verse emphasizes God's deliberate setup, ensuring the earth's profound immobility and enduring place in the cosmos.
This verse bursts forth as the psalmist begins to describe God's incredible work of creation, starting with the solid ground beneath our feet. He's praising the Lord for His magnificent power, moving from the general majesty of God to the specific, awe-inspiring act of establishing the earth. This foundation is presented not just as a physical grounding, but as a promise of stability that endures, setting the stage for everything else God created upon it.
This verse bursts forth as the psalmist begins to describe God's incredible work of creation, starting with the solid ground beneath our feet. He's praising the Lord for His magnificent power, moving from the general majesty of God to the specific, awe-inspiring act of establishing the earth. This foundation is presented not just as a physical grounding, but as a promise of stability that endures, setting the stage for everything else God created upon it.
"He set the earth on its foundations, so that it should never be moved." — What's easy to miss is that the "foundations" aren't necessarily a physical structure beneath the earth, but rather the divinely ordained principles and forces that keep it balanced and stable. The v…
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Last reviewed October 2026