Psalms 104:28

28 When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are satisfied with good things.

Psalms 104:28 in Other Translations

KJV
28 That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good.
ESV
28 When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are filled with good things.
NLT
28 When you supply it, they gather it. You open your hand to feed them, and they are richly satisfied.
MSG
28 You come, and they gather around; you open your hand and they eat from it.
CSB
28 When You give it to them, they gather it; when You open Your hand, they are satisfied with good things.

Psalms 104:28 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 104:28

That thou givest them they gather
What God bestows upon them as a bounty of Providence they take and make use of, and in their way thankfully, and without repining; some gather it up for immediate use and service, and not into barns; others gather it up for time to come, as the ant, ( Matthew 6:26 ) ( Proverbs 6:8 ) . Kimchi understands this of a time of scarcity, when they gather here a little and there a little; as he does the following clause of a time of plenty.

Thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good;
God, in whose hand all things are, and from whence all things come, opens his hand of providence, and liberally and bountifully gives, as this phrase signifies, ( Deuteronomy 15:11 ) and all his creatures are filled with his good things to their satisfaction: and thus the spiritual food which he gives his people, they gather it by the hand of faith, as the Israelites gathered the manna in the wilderness every morning, and according to their eating, what was sufficient for them; and to whom he gives liberally, even all things richly to enjoy; all things pertaining to life and godliness; Christ, and all things along with him; abundance of grace here, and glory hereafter; and they are satisfied with his good things as with marrow and fatness.

Psalms 104:28 In-Context

26 There the ships go to and fro, and Leviathan, which you formed to frolic there.
27 All creatures look to you to give them their food at the proper time.
28 When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are satisfied with good things.
29 When you hide your face, they are terrified; when you take away their breath, they die and return to the dust.
30 When you send your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the ground.

Cross References 1

  • 1. Psalms 103:5; Psalms 145:16; Isaiah 58:11
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