Psalms 107:23

Others went out to sea in ships, conducting trade on the mighty waters.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The psalmist addresses the gathered community, shifting focus from those who fought on land to those who venture into maritime commerce. This moment introduces the merchants as a primary example of human activity operating under God's sovereign domain.

The words — The Hebrew יוֹרְדֵי הַיָּם (yordê hayyām) literally means "those who go down to the sea," stressing descent into a volatile environment. The phrase עֹשֵׂי מְלָאכָה (‘ōsê melā’â) translates to "doing business," specifying their commercial motive.

The thread — The connection between sailors, trade, and divine action appears in Isaiah 42:10 as a summons to praise God from the sea, while Revelation 18:17 and Psalm 48:7 record shipmasters and merchants witnessing God's judgment or destruction upon maritime wealth. These references show a consistent biblical pattern of commerce intersecting with divine intervention.

Why it lands — The verse requires the reader to observe that human enterprise functions within the waters God created and controls. It demands a clear-eyed acknowledgment that all trade, whether successful or wrecked, occurs under divine observation and authority.

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

יוֹרְדֵ֣יyor.Dei[those who] went down הַ֭יָּםHai./yom<of> the/ sea בָּאֳנִיּ֑וֹתbo./'o.ni.Yotin/ ships עֹשֵׂ֥י'o.Sei[those who] did מְ֝לָאכָ֗הme.la.Khah<of> business בְּמַ֣יִםbe./Ma.yimon/ [the] waters רַבִּֽים׃ra.Bimmany

King James Version

They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;

Cross-references

Psalms 48:7 With a wind from the east You wrecked the ships of Tarshish.
Revelation 18:17 For in a single hour such fabulous wealth has been destroyed!” Every shipmaster, passenger, and sailor, and all who make their living from the sea, will stand at a distance
Isaiah 42:10 Sing to the LORD a new song—His praise from the ends of the earth—you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, you islands, and all who dwell in them.
Ezekiel 27:26 Your oarsmen have brought you onto the high seas, but the east wind will shatter you in the heart of the sea.
Acts 27:9 By now much time had passed, and the voyage had already become dangerous because it was after the Fast. So Paul advised them,