King James Version
What Does Psalms 36:6 Mean?
“Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast. the: Heb. the mountains of God”
Context
4
He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil. mischief: or, vanity
5
Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.
6
Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast. the: Heb. the mountains of God
7
How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. excellent: Heb. precious
8
They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures. abundantly: Heb. watered
Commentary
Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers(6) **Great mountains.**—See margin, and compare Psalm 80:10, “cedars of God.” So too the rain is called “God’s brook.” The epithet not only implies greatness and dignity, but also has reference to God as Creator.
**A great deep.**—The reference, as usual, with the words *deep, depth, *is to the great abyss of waters, of which the seas were regarded as the surface.
The twofold comparison in this verse recalls Wordsworth’s lines—
“Two voices are there: one is of the sea.
One of the mountains—each a mighty voice.”
but while to the modern poet the voice is *Liberty, *to the ancient Hebrew it is *Righteousness. *The majesty of the hills has often suggested the supremacy of right over wrong—
“Thou hast a voice, great mountain, to repeal
Large codes of fraud and woe.”
The calm of the infinite sea has often soothed agitated souls. Hebrew poetry connected both immediately with God. the uplifted strength of the hills became an emblem of His eternal truth; the depth and expanse of the infinite sea of His outspread goodness and inexhaustible justice.
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 36:6 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.
Cross-References
Verses related to Psalms 36:6
Cross-references from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge