Psalms 136:6

World English Bible (2000)

To him who spread out the earth above the waters; for his loving kindness endures forever:

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

לְרֹקַ֣ע הָ֭אָרֶץ עַל־הַמָּ֑יִם כִּ֖י לְעוֹלָ֣ם חַסְדּֽוֹ

Transliteration

to-rōqaʿ the-ʾāreṣ upon-the-māyim because to-ʿôlām ḥasdô

Grammar Details

• *rōqaʿ*: participle, masculine singular with prefixed preposition lamed - to/for the one spreading out/stretching
• *ʾāreṣ*: noun, feminine singular with definite article - the earth/land
• *māyim*: noun, masculine plural with definite article and prefixed preposition ʿal - upon the waters
• *ʿôlām*: noun, masculine singular with prefixed preposition lamed - to/for eternity/forever
• *ḥasdô*: noun, masculine singular with 3rd person masculine singular possessive suffix - his steadfast love/mercy/kindness

Word Meanings

• *rōqaʿ*: spreading out/stretching/extending/stamping
• *ʾāreṣ*: earth/land/ground
• *māyim*: waters/water
• *ʿôlām*: eternity/long duration/antiquity
• *ḥasdô*: his steadfast love/mercy/kindness/covenant faithfulness

Referenced Verses

• Ps 24:2 : 2 For he has founded it on the seas, and established it on the floods.
• Isa 44:24 : 24 Thus says Yahweh, your Redeemer, and he who formed you from the womb: "I am Yahweh, who makes all things; who alone stretches out the heavens; who spreads out the earth by myself;
• Jer 10:12 : 12 He has made the earth by his power, he has established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding has he stretched out the heavens:
• Gen 1:9 : 9 God said, "Let the waters under the sky be gathered together to one place, and let the dry land appear;" and it was so.
• Job 26:7 : 7 He stretches out the north over empty space, and hangs the earth on nothing.
• Job 37:18 : 18 Can you, with him, spread out the sky, which is strong as a cast metal mirror?
• Zech 12:1 : 1 An oracle. The word of Yahweh concerning Israel. Yahweh, who stretches out the heavens, and lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him says:
• 2 Pet 3:5-7 : 5 For this they willfully forget, that there were heavens from of old, and an earth formed out of water and amid water, by the word of God; 6 by which means the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished. 7 But the heavens that now are, and the earth, by the same word have been stored up for fire, being reserved against the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
• Ps 104:2-3 : 2 He covers himself with light as with a garment. He stretches out the heavens like a curtain. 3 He lays the beams of his rooms in the waters. He makes the clouds his chariot. He walks on the wings of the wind.
• Isa 40:22 : 22 It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in;
• Isa 42:5 : 5 Thus says God Yahweh, he who created the heavens and stretched them out, he who spread out the earth and that which comes out of it, he who gives breath to its people and spirit to those who walk in it.