Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures and all deeps,
English Standard Version (ESV)
The call for praise doesn't just include gentle creatures, but the most colossal and fearsome "dragons" of the sea. This highlights that all of creation, even its most powerful and untamed elements, are subject to God and part of His grand design for worship.
Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures and all deeps,
English Standard Version (ESV)
The psalm transitions from heavenly beings to earthly ones, calling out the vast and awe-inspiring creatures of the deep ocean, along with the waters themselves, to join in God's praise. This call encompasses everything from mighty sea monsters, often depicted as powerful and untamable, to the very depths of the sea, highlighting that even the most immense and mysterious parts of creation are subject to their Creator.
When the psalm calls for 'dragons' to praise the Lord, who or what is it talking about? It's not just about ancient myths!
The word translated as 'dragons' (Hebrew: 'tanninim') in this verse doesn't necessarily refer to mythical beasts. Instead, it's a general term for large, powerful creatures, particularly those found in the sea.
Sea Monsters and Whales
Scholars widely interpret 'tanninim' here to mean great sea creatures like whales, crocodiles, or other formidable inhabitants of the ocean depths. Think of the immense power and scale these animals represent.
God's Sovereignty Over the Wild
By calling upon these creatures, the psalm emphasizes that God's sovereignty extends even to the wildest, most untamed parts of His creation. These powerful beings, often seen as fearsome or uncontrollable, are in fact subject to the Creator's decree.
Beyond just creatures, the psalm calls upon the 'deeps' themselves to praise God. What does this mean for inanimate parts of creation?
The 'deeps' (Hebrew: 'tehomot') refers to the vast, unfathomable depths of the oceans and possibly underground waters. It represents the sheer immensity and mystery of the waters that cover much of our planet.
A Universal Call
This phrase expands the call to praise beyond living creatures to the very elements and bodies of water. It suggests that the vast oceans, the profound abyss, and all the great waters are part of God's dominion and participate in His ongoing declaration of glory.
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Echoes of Creation
This echoes the creation account in Genesis, where God separated the waters and brought forth life from them. The depths, having played a crucial role in creation, are now called to acknowledge their Maker.
Why does the psalm call upon these specific, often fearsome, elements of the earth? What's the underlying message about God's control?
Psalm 148 systematically moves through creation, calling everything to praise God. This verse focuses on the earth's lower regions, specifically the seas and their inhabitants.
Demonstrating God's Power
By highlighting 'great sea creatures' and the 'deeps,' the psalm emphasizes that God's power is absolute. These are often the most mysterious and seemingly uncontrollable aspects of the natural world. Their inclusion in the call to praise demonstrates that they, too, are subject to God's command and order.
Fulfilling God's Word
The larger context of Psalm 148 suggests that all these elements—from the highest heavens to the deepest seas—are fulfilling God's purpose and decree simply by existing and acting according to His design. The very existence and nature of these powerful creatures and vast waters are a testament to God's might.
Understand the original words
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal, covenantal name of God in the Old Testament, representing His self-existence, holiness, and faithfulness to His people.
tehomot · Hebrew Noun
The subterranean or vast waters, often symbolizing the untamed, mysterious, or chaotic aspects of creation that are nonetheless under God's command.
This passage describes the Leviathan, a powerful sea creature often associated with the 'dragon' mentioned here, highlighting its immense power as a testament to its Creator.
Psalm 104:25-26Here, the vast sea and its creatures, including what can be understood as sea monsters, are explicitly mentioned as part of God's creation, calling for His praise.
Isaiah 27:1This prophetic verse speaks of God's ultimate sovereignty over the sea monster Rahab and the dragon, a powerful image echoing Psalm 148's call for all creation, including the deeps, to praise Him.
Genesis 1:20-21This creation account directly names the great creatures of the sea (often translated 'dragons' or 'sea monsters') as part of God's initial creative work, setting the stage for their inclusion in praise.
bensonPsalms 148:7: "Praise the LORD from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps:"
Psalm 148:7 . Praise the Lord from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps — “From heaven above the psalmist descends to the deep beneath, which, while it proclaims the power, observes the laws and decrees of him who made it, and poured it abroad. And the same may be said of its enormous inhabitants, which are under the command of Jehovah, and of none but him.” By dragons here, we may either understand serpents, which abide…
jfbPsalms 148:7: "Praise the LORD from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps:"
7-10. The call on the earth, as opposed to heaven, includes seas or depths, whose inhabitants the dragon, as one of the largest (on leviathan, see on [636]Ps 104:26), is selected to represent. The most destructive and ungovernable agents of inanimate nature are introduced.
The call for praise doesn't just include gentle creatures, but the most colossal and fearsome "dragons" of the sea. This highlights that all of creation, even its most powerful and untamed elements, are subject to God and part of His grand design for worship.
The psalm transitions from heavenly beings to earthly ones, calling out the vast and awe-inspiring creatures of the deep ocean, along with the waters themselves, to join in God's praise. This call encompasses everything from mighty sea monsters, often depicted as powerful and untamable, to the very depths of the sea, highlighting that even the most immense and mysterious parts of creation are subject to their Creator.
The psalm transitions from heavenly beings to earthly ones, calling out the vast and awe-inspiring creatures of the deep ocean, along with the waters themselves, to join in God's praise. This call encompasses everything from mighty sea monsters, often depicted as powerful and untamable, to the very depths of the sea, highlighting that even the most immense and mysterious parts of creation are subject to their Creator.
"Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures and all deeps," — The call for praise doesn't just include gentle creatures, but the most colossal and fearsome "dragons" of the sea. This highlights that all of creation, even its most powerful and untamed elements…
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Last reviewed October 2026