He gives snow like wool; he scatters frost like ashes.
English Standard Version (ESV)
God's power over the elements is showcased not just in grand storms, but in the delicate way He covers the earth with snow like soft wool, and scatters frost like fine ashes. These seemingly small, almost mundane, natural occurrences are direct acts of His will, demonstrating that even the gentlest touch of weather is a command carried out swiftly.
He gives snow like wool; he scatters frost like ashes.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This psalm is a vibrant song of praise to God for His powerful acts in creation and for His specific care for Israel. Following verses that celebrate God's rebuilding of Jerusalem and provision for its people, this section shifts to marvel at His dominion over the elements, describing how He controls the snow, frost, and ice with a divine word. The psalm concludes by contrasting this universal power with God's unique covenant relationship, through which He reveals His laws and judgments specifically to His chosen people.
Have you ever looked at freshly fallen snow and just felt a sense of peace? It's more than just pretty.
The Psalmist compares snow to wool, and this isn't just about its color and softness. Think about wool: it's insulating, keeping things warm and protected. New-fallen snow does the same for the earth, blanketing it and shielding the dormant life beneath from the harshest cold. It's a gentle provision from God, covering the land and preserving its potential for future life. It’s a reminder that even in the cold, God is providing for His creation.
Frost can look delicate, like fine dust on a window pane, but it holds immense power.
The imagery of frost scattered 'like ashes' paints a picture of its color and widespread nature. But ashes can also represent destruction or remnants of something burned. This comparison hints at the dual nature of frost: while it might appear delicate, it can also be destructive to plant life, symbolizing a more severe aspect of God's power over the elements. It’s a stark reminder that the same God who provides gently can also bring powerful, even harsh, natural forces.
The transition from snow and frost to God's command is incredibly fast. Why is this important?
The verses around this one emphasize that God's 'word runneth very swiftly.' Whether He is sending snow like wool or scattering frost like ashes, it's not a random occurrence. It's a direct result of His spoken command, executed immediately. This highlights God's absolute sovereignty over nature. He doesn't just set the rules; He actively governs and directs every element. The rapid changes in weather—from snow to thaw, from frost to flow—are all under His precise control, reminding us that His power is both pervasive and instantaneous.
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Understand the original words
sheleg · Hebrew Noun
A term often used in poetic and theological contexts to describe the physical manifestation of God's power in nature. Snow is characterized by its whiteness, purity, and the covering of the earth, symbolizing God's sovereign control over the elements and His ability to cleanse or cover.
epher · Hebrew Noun
Often associated with the imagery of destruction, judgment, or the remnants of fire. In this context, it is used as a simile for God's power over the natural order, suggesting that just as ashes are scattered by the wind, God directs the frost with ease and purpose.
This verse directly parallels Psalm 147:16 by describing God's power over the weather, stating that He commands the snow and the rain to fall.
Job 38:22-23Here, God challenges Job by asking if he controls the storehouses of snow and hail, underscoring that these powerful forces are entirely at God's command, just as the Psalmist notes.
Isaiah 55:10-11This passage speaks of God's word going forth like rain and snow to bring forth fruit, echoing the life-giving aspect of snow mentioned in Psalm 147:16 and linking natural phenomena to God's active purpose.
John 3:8Jesus likens the Spirit to the wind, which blows where it wills, and connects this unseen force to the visible effects of God's work, similar to how Psalm 147:16 uses natural imagery to point to God's sovereign hand.
bensonPsalms 147:16: "He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes."
Psalm 147:16-18 . He giveth snow like wool — Not only in colour, and shape, and softness, and its falling silently like a lock of wool; but in its covering the earth and keeping it warm, and so promoting its fruitfulness. He scattereth the hoar-frost — Which is dew congealed, as the snow and hail are rain congealed; like ashes — Which it resembles in colour and smallness of parts, and has the appearance of ashes…
clarkePsalms 147:16: "He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes."
He giveth snow like wool - Falling down in large flakes; and in this state nothing in nature has a nearer resemblance to fine white wool. Scattereth the hoar frost like ashes - Spreading it over the whole face of nature.
God's power over the elements is showcased not just in grand storms, but in the delicate way He covers the earth with snow like soft wool, and scatters frost like fine ashes. These seemingly small, almost mundane, natural occurrences are direct acts of His will, demonstrating that even the gentlest touch of weather is a command carried out swiftly.
This psalm is a vibrant song of praise to God for His powerful acts in creation and for His specific care for Israel. Following verses that celebrate God's rebuilding of Jerusalem and provision for its people, this section shifts to marvel at His dominion over the elements, describing how He controls the snow, frost, and ice with a divine word. The psalm concludes by contrasting this universal power with God's unique covenant relationship, through which He reveals His laws and judgments specifically to His chosen people.
This psalm is a vibrant song of praise to God for His powerful acts in creation and for His specific care for Israel. Following verses that celebrate God's rebuilding of Jerusalem and provision for its people, this section shifts to marvel at His dominion over the elements, describing how He controls the snow, frost, and ice with a divine word. The psalm concludes by contrasting this universal power with God's unique covenant relationship, through which He reveals His laws and judgments specifically to His chosen people.
"He gives snow like wool; he scatters frost like ashes." — God's power over the elements is showcased not just in grand storms, but in the delicate way He covers the earth with snow like soft wool, and scatters frost like fine ashes. These seemingly small, a…
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Last reviewed October 2026