Psalms 147:16-18
He gives snow like wool; he scatters frost like ashes. He hurls down his crystals of ice like crumbs; who can stand before his cold? He sends out his word, and melts them; he makes his wind blow and the waters flow.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The psalmist isn't just describing snow; he's comparing its texture and its ability to blanket the earth to soft wool. Even the seemingly harsh hoarfrost is compared to ashes, highlighting its fine particles and, surprisingly, its potential to "burn" or damage fragile new growth.
The psalmist is celebrating God's power and care, first by recounting His mighty acts in restoring Jerusalem and gathering His people. Now, the focus shifts to God's dominion over the natural world, detailing His control over weather phenomena like snow, frost, and ice. This imagery culminates in God sending His word to melt the ice, mirroring His power to bring healing and renewal to His people.
Ever looked at a fresh blanket of snow and seen more than just cold? God paints the world with winter's touch, and it's breathtakingly soft.
The Psalmist compares snow to wool. This isn't just about color (whiteness) and texture (softness), but also about how snow functions.
A Gentle Blanket
Like wool, snow can act as a gentle, insulating blanket. It covers the earth, protecting dormant seeds and roots from the harshest cold, preserving life for the spring.
Delicate Descent
When snow falls in large, soft flakes, it can resemble locks of wool drifting down. It's a quiet, almost tender way the elements are managed, showcasing God's control over even the most powerful natural forces.
Frost can look like a delicate dusting, but it's a powerful force. What does this 'ash-like' scattering reveal about God's might?
The image of frost scattered 'like ashes' is striking. Ashes can be gray, powdery, and sometimes represent destruction or what's left after a fire.
A Broad Reach
Just as ashes can spread widely, frost can cover vast areas, transforming landscapes overnight. This illustrates the expansive reach of God's commands over nature.
A Dual Nature
While frost can appear beautiful and delicate, it also has a 'burning quality,' capable of damaging delicate plants. This highlights that God's power, while capable of gentle provision (like snow), also wields a force that can bring desolation or judgment.
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.
dabar · Hebrew Noun
The divine command or utterance of God. In Scripture, God's word is creative, powerful, and life-giving, serving as the instrument through which He sustains the universe, executes judgment, and reveals His will to humanity.
This passage directly echoes Psalm 147:16 by asking if Job has entered the storehouses of snow and hail, highlighting God's sovereign control over these wintry elements.
Genesis 8:22While not about snow or frost specifically, this verse establishes the ongoing cycle of seasons and the ordered nature of creation under God, a foundational concept for understanding verses like Psalm 147:16 that describe specific natural phenomena.
Jeremiah 5:24This verse contrasts the predictable cycles of nature, like the appointed weeks for harvest, with humanity's failure to acknowledge God's hand. It draws a parallel by showing how God's ordering of natural events (like seasons and weather) should lead to reverence, just as Psalm 147:16 points to God's power in snow and frost.
Isaiah 55:10-11Just as God's word swiftly accomplishes His purpose in nature (sending snow and frost), this passage shows His word going forth to accomplish His will in redemption, bringing spiritual fruit.
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.
The psalmist isn't just describing snow; he's comparing its texture and its ability to blanket the earth to soft wool. Even the seemingly harsh hoarfrost is compared to ashes, highlighting its fine particles and, surprisingly, its potential to "burn" or damage fragile new growth.
The psalmist is celebrating God's power and care, first by recounting His mighty acts in restoring Jerusalem and gathering His people. Now, the focus shifts to God's dominion over the natural world, detailing His control over weather phenomena like snow, frost, and ice. This imagery culminates in God sending His word to melt the ice, mirroring His power to bring healing and renewal to His people.
The psalmist is celebrating God's power and care, first by recounting His mighty acts in restoring Jerusalem and gathering His people. Now, the focus shifts to God's dominion over the natural world, detailing His control over weather phenomena like snow, frost, and ice. This imagery culminates in God sending His word to melt the ice, mirroring His power to bring healing and renewal to His people.
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"He gives snow like wool; he scatters frost like ashes. He hurls down his crystals of ice like crumbs; who can stand before his cold? He sends out his word, and melts them; he makes his wind blow and the waters flow." — The psalmist isn't just describing snow; he's comparing its texture and its ability to blanket the earth to soft wool. Even the seemingly harsh hoarfrost is compared to ashes, highlighting its fine p…
