Psalm 104:20
New International Version
You bring darkness, it becomes night, and all the beasts of the forest prowl.

New Living Translation
You send the darkness, and it becomes night, when all the forest animals prowl about.

English Standard Version
You make darkness, and it is night, when all the beasts of the forest creep about.

Berean Standard Bible
You bring darkness, and it becomes night, when all the beasts of the forest prowl.

King James Bible
Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth.

New King James Version
You make darkness, and it is night, In which all the beasts of the forest creep about.

New American Standard Bible
You appoint darkness and it becomes night, In which all the animals of the forest prowl about.

NASB 1995
You appoint darkness and it becomes night, In which all the beasts of the forest prowl about.

NASB 1977
Thou dost appoint darkness and it becomes night, In which all the beasts of the forest prowl about.

Legacy Standard Bible
You appoint darkness so that it becomes night, In which all the beasts of the forest creep about.

Amplified Bible
You [O LORD] make darkness and it becomes night, In which prowls about every wild beast of the forest.

Christian Standard Bible
You bring darkness, and it becomes night, when all the forest animals stir.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
You bring darkness, and it becomes night, when all the forest animals stir.

American Standard Version
Thou makest darkness, and it is night, Wherein all the beasts of the forest creep forth.

Contemporary English Version
and you made the darkness, so the animals in the forest could come out at night.

English Revised Version
Thou makest darkness, and it is night; Wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He brings darkness, and it is nighttime, when all the wild animals in the forest come out.

Good News Translation
You made the night, and in the darkness all the wild animals come out.

International Standard Version
You bring darkness and it becomes night; when every beast of the forest prowls.

Majority Standard Bible
You bring darkness, and it becomes night, when all the beasts of the forest prowl.

NET Bible
You make it dark and night comes, during which all the beasts of the forest prowl around.

New Heart English Bible
You make darkness, and it is night, in which all the animals of the forest prowl.

Webster's Bible Translation
Thou makest darkness, and it is night: in which all the beasts of the forest do creep forth.

World English Bible
You make darkness, and it is night, in which all the animals of the forest prowl.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
You set darkness, and it is night, "" Every beast of the forest creeps in it.

Young's Literal Translation
Thou settest darkness, and it is night, In it doth every beast of the forest creep.

Smith's Literal Translation
Thou didst set darkness and it will be night: in it all the beasts of the forest shall creep.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Thou hast appointed darkness, and it is night: in it shall all the beasts of the woods go about:

Catholic Public Domain Version
You appointed darkness, and it has become night; all the beasts of the forest will cross through it.

New American Bible
You bring darkness and night falls, then all the animals of the forest wander about.

New Revised Standard Version
You make darkness, and it is night, when all the animals of the forest come creeping out.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
He makes darkness and it is night, wherein all the beasts of the forest creep forth.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
He made the darkness and there was night and in it pass through all the wild beasts of the forest.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Thou makest darkness, and it is night, Wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Thou didst make darkness, and it was night; in it all the wild beasts of the forest will be abroad:

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
How Many Are Your Works, O LORD!
19He made the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows when to set. 20You bring darkness, and it becomes night, when all the beasts of the forest prowl. 21The young lions roar for their prey and seek their food from God.…

Cross References
Genesis 1:4-5
And God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness. / God called the light “day,” and the darkness He called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.

Genesis 1:14-19
And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to distinguish between the day and the night, and let them be signs to mark the seasons and days and years. / And let them serve as lights in the expanse of the sky to shine upon the earth.” And it was so. / God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night. And He made the stars as well. ...

Job 38:12-15
In your days, have you commanded the morning or assigned the dawn its place, / that it might spread to the ends of the earth and shake the wicked out of it? / The earth takes shape like clay under a seal; its hills stand out like the folds of a garment. ...

Job 24:13-17
Then there are those who rebel against the light, not knowing its ways or staying on its paths. / When daylight is gone, the murderer rises to kill the poor and needy; in the night he is like a thief. / The eye of the adulterer watches for twilight. Thinking, ‘No eye will see me,’ he covers his face. ...

Isaiah 45:7
I form the light and create the darkness; I bring prosperity and create calamity. I, the LORD, do all these things.

Jeremiah 33:20
“This is what the LORD says: If you can break My covenant with the day and My covenant with the night, so that day and night cease to occupy their appointed time,

Amos 5:8
He who made the Pleiades and Orion, who turns darkness into dawn and darkens day into night, who summons the waters of the sea and pours them over the face of the earth—the LORD is His name—

Micah 3:6
Therefore night will come over you without visions, and darkness without divination. The sun will set on these prophets, and the daylight will turn black over them.

Matthew 24:29
Immediately after the tribulation of those days: ‘The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.’

Mark 13:24
But in those days, after that tribulation: ‘The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light;

Luke 21:25
There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among the nations, bewildered by the roaring of the sea and the surging of the waves.

John 1:5
The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

John 3:19-21
And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil. / Everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come into the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. / But whoever practices the truth comes into the Light, so that it may be seen clearly that what he has done has been accomplished in God.”

Acts 2:20
The sun will be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the coming of the great and glorious Day of the Lord.

Romans 13:12
The night is nearly over; the day has drawn near. So let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.


Treasury of Scripture

You make darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth.

makest

Psalm 74:16
The day is thine, the night also is thine: thou hast prepared the light and the sun.

Psalm 139:10-12
Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me…

Genesis 1:4,5
And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness…

of the forest do creep forth.

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Animals Appoint Beast Beasts Creep Dark Darkness Forest Forth Makest Night Places Prowl Quietly Secret Settest Wherein Woods
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Animals Appoint Beast Beasts Creep Dark Darkness Forest Forth Makest Night Places Prowl Quietly Secret Settest Wherein Woods
Psalm 104
1. A meditation upon the mighty power
7. And wonderful providence of God
31. God's glory is eternal
33. The prophet vows perpetually to praise God














You bring darkness
This phrase acknowledges God's sovereignty over creation, emphasizing His control over the natural order. In the biblical context, darkness often symbolizes God's power and mystery (Genesis 1:2-5). The creation narrative in Genesis highlights God's command over light and darkness, establishing a rhythm of day and night. This control over darkness is also seen in Exodus 10:21-23, where God brings darkness over Egypt as a sign of His power. Theologically, darkness can represent both physical absence of light and spiritual mystery, where God’s presence is felt even when not seen.

and it becomes night
Nighttime in ancient Israel was a period of rest and reflection, but also of vulnerability and uncertainty. The transition from day to night is a daily reminder of God's provision and protection. In the cultural context, night was often associated with danger and the unknown, as seen in the parable of the ten virgins (Matthew 25:1-13), where preparedness for the coming of the bridegroom is emphasized. The night is also a time when God can reveal Himself, as He did to Jacob in a dream (Genesis 28:10-17).

when all the beasts of the forest prowl
This phrase highlights the natural behavior of animals, which are active during the night. It reflects the order of creation where each creature has its time and place. In the historical context, the forests of ancient Israel were home to various animals, including lions and bears, which were known to be nocturnal hunters. This imagery is used to convey the idea of God's provision for all creatures, as seen in Job 38:39-41, where God cares for the needs of the animals. The prowling of beasts can also symbolize the spiritual reality of evil seeking to devour, as seen in 1 Peter 5:8, where Satan is described as a prowling lion.

Persons / Places / Events
1. God
The Creator and Sustainer of the universe, who orchestrates the natural order, including the cycle of day and night.

2. Darkness/Night
A time created by God, signifying the transition from day, allowing for rest and the activities of nocturnal creatures.

3. Beasts of the Forest
Represents the wildlife that becomes active during the night, highlighting the natural order and balance in creation.
Teaching Points
God's Sovereignty Over Creation
Recognize that God is in control of the natural order, including the cycle of day and night. This should lead to trust in His provision and timing in our lives.

The Purpose of Darkness
Understand that darkness is not inherently evil but serves a purpose in God's creation. It allows for rest and the functioning of nocturnal creatures, reminding us of the balance in God's design.

Spiritual Lessons from Nature
Reflect on how the natural world, including the behavior of animals, can teach us about God's wisdom and the importance of living in harmony with His creation.

Trust in God's Presence
Even in times of darkness or uncertainty, trust that God is present and active. Just as He governs the night, He is with us in our darkest moments.(20) Creep forth.--The word "forth" is better omitted. The Hebrew verb is that especially used of crawling animals and reptiles, and here, no doubt, his chosen to express the stealthy motion of the beasts when on the track of their prey. (See Psalm 104:25; comp. Job 37:8; Job 38:40.)

Verses 20, 21. - Thou makest darkness, and it is night. The mention of the moon and sun introduces a picture of night (vers. 20, 21) and a picture of the day (vers. 22, 23). The day draws in - darkness descends - night is come. At once there is a stir in the animal world. Man has gone to his rest; but the time is arrived wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth. The primeval jungle is alive with motion and sound. All the animals are on the alert. seeking their prey. The young lions are heard above all; they roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God. The awful sound of their hungry roar drowns almost all other sounds, and shakes with terror the hearts of those that hear. Suddenly, however, night turns into day -

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
You bring
תָּֽשֶׁת־ (tā·šeṯ-)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 7896: To put, set

darkness,
חֹ֭שֶׁךְ (ḥō·šeḵ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2822: The dark, darkness, misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness

and it becomes
וִ֣יהִי (wî·hî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Jussive - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

night,
לָ֑יְלָה (lā·yə·lāh)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3915: A twist, night, adversity

when all
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the beasts
חַיְתוֹ־ (ḥay·ṯōw-)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 2416: Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life

of the forest
יָֽעַר׃ (yā·‘ar)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3293: A copse of bushes, a forest, honey in the comb

prowl.
תִ֝רְמֹ֗שׂ (ṯir·mōś)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 7430: To glide swiftly, to crawl, move with short steps, to swarm


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OT Poetry: Psalm 104:20 You make darkness and it is night (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 104:19
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