Psalms 104:3

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters; Who maketh the clouds his chariot; Who walketh upon the wings of the wind;

Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

הַ֥מְקָרֶֽה בַמַּ֗יִם עֲ‍ֽלִיּ֫וֹתָ֥יו הַשָּׂם־עָבִ֥ים רְכוּב֑וֹ הַֽ֝מְהַלֵּ֗ךְ עַל־כַּנְפֵי־רֽוּחַ׃

Transliteration

hamqāreh bammayim ʿaliyyôtāyw haśśām-ʿābîm rĕkûbô hamĕhallēk ʿal-kanphê-rûaḥ

Grammar Details

*hamqāreh*: definite article + participle, piel active, masculine singular - beaming, laying beams
*bammayim*: preposition *bě* + definite article + noun, masculine plural - in the waters
*ʿaliyyôtāyw*: noun, feminine plural construct with 3rd person masculine singular suffix - his upper chambers
*haśśām*: definite article + participle, qal active, masculine singular - making, placing
*ʿābîm*: noun, masculine plural - clouds, thick clouds
*rĕkûbô*: noun, masculine singular construct with 3rd person masculine singular suffix - his chariot
*hamĕhallēk*: definite article + participle, piel active, masculine singular - walking, going about
*ʿal*: preposition - upon, over
*kanphê*: noun, feminine plural construct - wings of
*rûaḥ*: noun, feminine singular - wind, spirit

Word Meanings

*mĕqāreh*: laying beams, roofing, framing
*mayim*: waters, body of water
*ʿaliyyôt*: upper chambers, roof chambers, upper stories
*śām*: placing, setting, appointing
*ʿābîm*: clouds, thick clouds, dark clouds
*rĕkûb*: chariot, vehicle, riding
*mĕhallēk*: walking, going, traveling
*kanphê*: wings, corners, edges
*rûaḥ*: wind, breath, spirit, air

ℹ️

About this Translation

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Formal EquivalenceSource: American Standard VersionBest for: Word studies and original-language research

🎯 Translation Approach

A highly literal, word-for-word translation (ASV, 1901) augmented with Strong's numbering to connect English words to underlying Hebrew and Greek terms for study.

Word-for-word

5/5

Readability

2/5

💎 Distinctive Features

Integrated Strong's numbering: Links English terms to underlying Hebrew and Greek words for deeper lexical study.
Formal equivalence: Prioritizes close alignment with source-language forms and structures.
Divine name rendering: Frequently renders the Tetragrammaton as Jehovah in the Old Testament, following ASV tradition.
Study-focused formatting: Optimized for reference and research rather than casual reading.

✅ Strengths

High fidelity to original languages
Includes Strong's numbers for precise word study
Consistent lexical choices aid exegesis
Stable, longstanding scholarly text

⚠️ Considerations

Archaic language reduces readability
Older textual basis compared to some modern translations
Strong's numbers are a concordance index, not full lexical definitions

👥 Who is this for?

Ideal for

Pastors and teachers
Seminary students
Serious Bible students
Readers conducting word studies
Those referencing Hebrew/Greek tools

Consider alternatives for

Casual readers
Children and early teens
ESL learners seeking simple English
Readers preferring contemporary language

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Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

Amos 9:6 : 6 [ it is] he that buildeth his chambers in the heavens, and hath founded his vault upon the earth; he that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth; Jehovah is his name.
Isa 19:1 : 1 The burden of Egypt. Behold, Jehovah rideth upon a swift cloud, and cometh unto Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall tremble at his presence; and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it.
2 Sam 22:11 : 11 And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly; Yea, he was seen upon the wings of the wind.
Ps 18:10-11 : 10 And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly; Yea, he soared upon the wings of the wind. 11 He made darkness his hiding-place, his pavilion round about him, Darkness of waters, thick clouds of the skies.
Ps 139:9 : 9 If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
Nah 1:3 : 3 Jehovah is slow to anger, and great in power, and will by no means clear [the guilty]: Jehovah hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
Matt 26:64 : 64 Jesus said unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Henceforth ye shall see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.
Rev 1:7 : 7 Behold, he cometh with the clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they that pierced him; and all the tribes of the earth shall mourn over him. Even so, Amen.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

Ps 18:9-12
4 verses
82%
9He bowed the heavens also, and came down; And thick darkness was under his feet.
10And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly; Yea, he soared upon the wings of the wind.
11He made darkness his hiding-place, his pavilion round about him, Darkness of waters, thick clouds of the skies.
12At the brightness before him his thick clouds passed, Hailstones and coals of fire.
Ps 104:2
82%
2Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment; Who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain;
2 Sam 22:10-12
3 verses
81%
10He bowed the heavens also, and came down; And thick darkness was under his feet.
11And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly; Yea, he was seen upon the wings of the wind.
12And he made darkness pavilions round about him, Gathering of waters, thick clouds of the skies.
Ps 104:4
80%
4Who maketh winds his messengers; Flames of fire his ministers;
Ps 135:7
79%
7Who causeth the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth; Who maketh lightnings for the rain; Who bringeth forth the wind out of his treasuries;
Job 9:8
77%
8That alone stretcheth out the heavens, And treadeth upon the waves of the sea;
Jer 51:15-16
2 verses
77%
15He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding hath he stretched out the heavens:
16when he uttereth his voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasuries.
Jer 10:12-13
2 verses
76%
12He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding hath he stretched out the heavens:
13when he uttereth his voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasuries.
Job 22:14
76%
14Thick clouds are a covering to him, so that he seeth not; And he walketh on the vault of heaven.
Amos 9:6
75%
6[ it is] he that buildeth his chambers in the heavens, and hath founded his vault upon the earth; he that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth; Jehovah is his name.
Job 37:11
75%
11Yea, he ladeth the thick cloud with moisture; He spreadeth abroad the cloud of his lightning:
Job 36:29-30
2 verses
75%
29Yea, can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, The thunderings of his pavilion?
30Behold, he spreadeth his light around him; And he covereth the bottom of the sea.
Job 26:8-9
2 verses
75%
8He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds; And the cloud is not rent under them.
9He incloseth the face of his throne, And spreadeth his cloud upon it.
Job 37:15-16
2 verses
74%
15Dost thou know how God layeth [his charge] upon them, And causeth the lightning of his cloud to shine?
16Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, The wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge?
Ps 147:8
74%
8Who covereth the heavens with clouds, Who prepareth rain for the earth, Who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains.
Job 28:25
73%
25To make a weight for the wind: Yea, he meteth out the waters by measure.
Ps 107:25
73%
25For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, Which lifteth up the waves thereof.
Amos 4:13
73%
13For, lo, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth unto man what is his thought; that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth upon the high places of the earth— Jehovah, the God of hosts, is his name.
Ps 148:8
73%
8Fire and hail, snow and vapor; Stormy wind, fulfilling his word;
Ps 104:12-13
2 verses
73%
12By them the birds of the heavens have their habitation; They sing among the branches.
13He watereth the mountains from his chambers: The earth is filled with the fruit of thy works.
Job 38:34
73%
34Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, That abundance of waters may cover thee?
Job 38:25
72%
25Who hath cleft a channel for the waterflood, Or the way for the lightning of the thunder;
Job 38:37
72%
37Who can number the clouds by wisdom? Or who can pour out the bottles of heaven,
Job 37:3
72%
3He sendeth it forth under the whole heaven, And his lightning unto the ends of the earth.
Ps 139:9
72%
9If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
Ps 147:18
72%
18He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: He causeth his wind to blow, and the waters flow.
Ps 33:6
72%
6By the word of Jehovah were the heavens made, And all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.
Nah 1:3
72%
3Jehovah is slow to anger, and great in power, and will by no means clear [the guilty]: Jehovah hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
Prov 30:4
72%
4Who hath ascended up into heaven, and descended? Who hath gathered the wind in his fists? Who hath bound the waters in his garment? Who hath established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou knowest?
Ps 148:4
72%
4Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, And ye waters that are above the heavens.
Ps 8:8
72%
8The birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, Whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.
Ps 68:33
72%
33To him that rideth upon the heaven of heavens, which are of old; Lo, he uttereth his voice, a mighty voice.
Ps 77:17-18
2 verses
72%
17The clouds poured out water; The skies sent out a sound: Thine arrows also went abroad.
18The voice of thy thunder was in the whirlwind; The lightnings lightened the world: The earth trembled and shook.
Ps 78:26
71%
26He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens; And by his power he guided the south wind.
Job 36:27
71%
27For he draweth up the drops of water, Which distil in rain from his vapor,
Ezek 1:25
71%
25And there was a voice above the firmament that was over their heads: when they stood, they let down their wings.
Job 38:9
71%
9When I made clouds the garment thereof, And thick darkness a swaddling-band for it,
Job 36:32
71%
32He covereth his hands with the lightning, And giveth it a charge that it strike the mark.