King James Version

What Does Psalms 104:14 Mean?

“He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth;”

Context

By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches. sing: Heb. give a voice

He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works.

He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth;

And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart. oil: Heb. to make his face shine with oil, or, more than oil

The trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted;

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Commentary

Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(14) **For the service of man**—*i.e., *for his use (so Gesenius). But some deny this meaning to the Hebrew, which properly means “labour” or “office.” (In 1Chronicles 27:26; Nehemiah 10:37, it means “agriculture,” “tillage.”) Hence they render, “And herbs for man’s labour in bringing them forth from the earth,” alluding to his task of cultivating the soil. Standing by itself the clause would indeed naturally require this sense, but the parallelism is against it, and in 1Chronicles 26:30, “service of a king,” we have a near approach to the meaning “use.” **That he may.**—Better, *bringing food out of the earth, *taking the verb as gerund instead of infinitive absolute.

Charles John Ellicott (1819–1905). Public Domain.

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Psalms. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Psalms 104:14 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.