Bible Strands
Psalms 104:3
laying the beams of His chambers in the waters above, making the clouds His chariot, walking on the wings of the wind.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The psalmist addresses God in a hymn of praise, positioned between the declaration that God stretches the heavens like a tent and the statement that He makes winds His messengers.
The words — מְקָרֶה (mekareh) means the one who makes beams, and עָבִים (avim) translates to clouds.
The thread — The motif of God establishing His upper dwelling in the heavens and riding the wind appears in Amos 9:6, 2 Samuel 22:11, and Psalms 18:10.
Why it lands — The text states that God uses atmospheric elements as His architectural foundation and transport; it asks the reader to acknowledge natural forces as direct instruments of divine command rather than independent powers.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:
Cross-references
- Amos 9:6 He builds His upper rooms in the heavens and founds His vault upon the earth. He summons the waters of the sea and pours them over the face of the earth. The LORD is His name.
- 2 Samuel 22:11 He mounted a cherub and flew; He soared on the wings of the wind.
- Psalms 18:10 He mounted a cherub and flew; He soared on the wings of the wind.
- Isaiah 19:1 This is the burden against Egypt: Behold, the LORD rides on a swift cloud; He is coming to Egypt. The idols of Egypt will tremble before Him, and the hearts of the Egyptians will melt within them.
- Nahum 1:3 The LORD is slow to anger and great in power; the LORD will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. His path is in the whirlwind and storm, and clouds are the dust beneath His feet.
- Psalms 139:9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle by the farthest sea,
- Matthew 26:64 “You have said it yourself,” Jesus answered. “But I say to all of you, from now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
- Revelation 1:7 Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him—even those who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. So shall it be! Amen.