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Psalm 104:4 He makes the winds His messengers, flames of fire His servants.
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Psalm 104:4 He makes the winds His messengers, flames of fire His servants.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/psalms/104-4.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/7/19_Psa_104_004.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Psalm 104:4 - How Many Are Your Works, O LORD!" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="He makes the winds His messengers, flames of fire His servants." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; 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flames of fire are your servants.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/psalms/104.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />he makes his messengers winds, his ministers a flaming fire.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/psalms/104.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />He makes the winds His messengers, flames of fire His servants.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/psalms/104.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/psalms/104.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Who makes His angels spirits, His ministers a flame of fire.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/psalms/104.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />He makes the winds His messengers, Flaming fire His ministers.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/psalms/104.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />He makes the winds His messengers, Flaming fire His ministers.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/psalms/104.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />He makes the winds His messengers, Flaming fire His ministers.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/psalms/104.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />He makes His angels the winds, His ministers flaming fire.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/psalms/104.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Who makes winds His messengers, Flames of fire His ministers.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/psalms/104.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />and making the winds his messengers, flames of fire his servants.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/psalms/104.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />and making the winds His messengers, flames of fire His servants. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/psalms/104.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Who maketh winds his messengers; Flames of fire his ministers;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/psalms/104.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />The winds are your messengers, and flames of fire are your servants. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/psalms/104.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Who maketh winds his messengers; his ministers a flaming fire:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/psalms/104.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />You make your angels winds and your servants flames of fire.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/psalms/104.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />You use the winds as your messengers and flashes of lightning as your servants. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/psalms/104.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />He makes the winds his messengers, blazing fires his servants.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/psalms/104.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />He makes the winds His messengers, flames of fire His servants.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/psalms/104.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />He makes the winds his messengers, and the flaming fire his attendant. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/psalms/104.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />He makes his angels winds, and his servants a flame of fire.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/psalms/104.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/psalms/104.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />He makes his messengers winds, and his servants flames of fire. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/psalms/104.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />Making His messengers—the winds, "" His ministers—the flaming fire.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/psalms/104.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> Making His messengers -- the winds, His ministers -- the flaming fire.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/psalms/104.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />Making his messengers spirits; his servants a fire of flame:<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/psalms/104.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Who makest thy angels spirits: and thy ministers a burning fire. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/psalms/104.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br /><V 103:4>You make your Angels a breath of life, and your ministers a burning fire.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/psalms/104.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />You make the winds your messengers; flaming fire, your ministers. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/psalms/104.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />you make the winds your messengers, fire and flame your ministers.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/psalms/104.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Who makest his angels spirits, his ministers a flaming fire,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/psalms/104.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />He makes his Angels the wind and his ministers burning fire.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/psalms/104.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Who makest winds Thy messengers, The flaming fire Thy ministers.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/psalms/104.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />Who makes his angels spirits, and his ministers a flaming fire.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/psalms/104-4.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nFaD2oDhKPc?start=12829" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/psalms/104.htm">How Many Are Your Works, O LORD!</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">3</span>laying the beams of His chambers in the waters above, making the clouds His chariot, walking on the wings of the wind. <span class="reftext">4</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/6213.htm" title="6213: ‘ō·śeh (V-Qal-Prtcpl-ms) -- To do, make. A primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application.">He makes</a> <a href="/hebrew/7307.htm" title="7307: rū·ḥō·wṯ (N-cp) -- Breath, wind, spirit. From ruwach; wind; by resemblance breath.">the winds</a> <a href="/hebrew/4397.htm" title="4397: mal·’ā·ḵāw (N-mpc:: 3ms) -- A messenger. From an unused root meaning to despatch as a deputy; a messenger; specifically, of God, i.e. An angel.">His messengers,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3857.htm" title="3857: lō·hêṭ (V-Qal-Prtcpl-ms) -- To blaze up, flame. A primitive root; properly, to lick, i.e. to blaze.">flames</a> <a href="/hebrew/784.htm" title="784: ’êš (N-cs) -- A fire. A primitive word; fire.">of fire</a> <a href="/hebrew/8334.htm" title="8334: mə·šā·rə·ṯāw (V-Piel-Prtcpl-mpc:: 3ms) -- To minister, serve. A primitive root; to attend as a menial or worshipper; figuratively, to contribute to.">His servants.</a> </span><span class="reftext">5</span>He set the earth on its foundations, never to be moved.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/1-7.htm">Hebrews 1:7</a></span><br />Now about the angels He says: “He makes His angels winds, His servants flames of fire.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/2-11.htm">2 Kings 2:11</a></span><br />As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire with horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up into heaven in a whirlwind.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/6-17.htm">2 Kings 6:17</a></span><br />Then Elisha prayed, “O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.” And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw that the hills were full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/3-2.htm">Exodus 3:2</a></span><br />There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from within a bush. Moses saw the bush ablaze with fire, but it was not consumed.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/judges/13-20.htm">Judges 13:20</a></span><br />When the flame went up from the altar to the sky, the angel of the LORD ascended in the flame. When Manoah and his wife saw this, they fell facedown to the ground.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/6-2.htm">Isaiah 6:2</a></span><br />Above Him stood seraphim, each having six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/1-13.htm">Ezekiel 1:13-14</a></span><br />In the midst of the living creatures was the appearance of glowing coals of fire, or of torches. Fire moved back and forth between the living creatures; it was bright, and lightning flashed out of it. / The creatures were darting back and forth as quickly as flashes of lightning.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/daniel/7-10.htm">Daniel 7:10</a></span><br />A river of fire was flowing, coming out from His presence. Thousands upon thousands attended Him, and myriads upon myriads stood before Him. The court was convened, and the books were opened.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/13-41.htm">Matthew 13:41</a></span><br />The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will weed out of His kingdom every cause of sin and all who practice lawlessness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/24-31.htm">Matthew 24:31</a></span><br />And He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/1-19.htm">Luke 1:19</a></span><br />“I am Gabriel,” replied the angel. “I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/2-13.htm">Luke 2:13</a></span><br />And suddenly there appeared with the angel a great multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/7-30.htm">Acts 7:30</a></span><br />After forty years had passed, an angel appeared to Moses in the flames of a burning bush in the desert near Mount Sinai.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/12-7.htm">Acts 12:7</a></span><br />Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him up, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his wrists.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/15-52.htm">1 Corinthians 15:52</a></span><br />in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Who makes his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:</p><p class="hdg">who maketh</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/acts/23-8.htm">Acts 23:8</a></b></br> For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/hebrews/1-7.htm">Hebrews 1:7,14</a></b></br> And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire… </p><p class="hdg">ministers</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_kings/2-11.htm">2 Kings 2:11</a></b></br> And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, <i>there appeared</i> a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_kings/6-17.htm">2 Kings 6:17</a></b></br> And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain <i>was</i> full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/ezekiel/1-13.htm">Ezekiel 1:13</a></b></br> As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance <i>was</i> like burning coals of fire, <i>and</i> like the appearance of lamps: it went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/psalms/103-20.htm">Angels</a> <a href="/psalms/102-3.htm">Fire</a> <a href="/psalms/83-14.htm">Flame</a> <a href="/psalms/97-4.htm">Flames</a> <a href="/psalms/77-18.htm">Flaming</a> <a href="/psalms/104-3.htm">Makes</a> <a href="/psalms/104-3.htm">Makest</a> <a href="/psalms/104-3.htm">Maketh</a> <a href="/psalms/104-3.htm">Making</a> <a href="/psalms/103-20.htm">Messengers</a> <a href="/psalms/103-21.htm">Ministers</a> <a href="/psalms/103-21.htm">Servants</a> <a href="/psalms/88-10.htm">Spirits</a> <a href="/job/38-24.htm">Winds</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/psalms/148-2.htm">Angels</a> <a href="/psalms/105-32.htm">Fire</a> <a href="/psalms/106-18.htm">Flame</a> <a href="/psalms/106-18.htm">Flames</a> <a href="/psalms/105-32.htm">Flaming</a> <a href="/psalms/104-10.htm">Makes</a> <a href="/psalms/104-10.htm">Makest</a> <a href="/psalms/104-14.htm">Maketh</a> <a href="/psalms/104-15.htm">Making</a> <a href="/psalms/148-2.htm">Messengers</a> <a href="/proverbs/29-12.htm">Ministers</a> <a href="/psalms/105-25.htm">Servants</a> <a href="/psalms/106-37.htm">Spirits</a> <a href="/psalms/135-7.htm">Winds</a><div class="vheading2">Psalm 104</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/104-1.htm">A meditation upon the mighty power</a></span><br><span class="reftext">7. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/104-7.htm">And wonderful providence of God</a></span><br><span class="reftext">31. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/104-31.htm">God's glory is eternal</a></span><br><span class="reftext">33. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/104-33.htm">The prophet vows perpetually to praise God</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF2 --> <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/psalms/104.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/psalms/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/psalms/104.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>He makes the winds His messengers</b><br>This phrase highlights God's sovereignty over creation, using natural elements to fulfill His purposes. In biblical context, winds often symbolize God's power and presence, as seen in the parting of the Red Sea (<a href="/exodus/14-21.htm">Exodus 14:21</a>) and the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (<a href="/acts/2-2.htm">Acts 2:2</a>). The Hebrew word for "wind" (ruach) can also mean "spirit," indicating a dual meaning that encompasses both physical and spiritual realms. This reflects God's ability to use both natural and supernatural means to communicate His will. The imagery of winds as messengers suggests swiftness and the far-reaching impact of God's commands.<p><b>flames of fire His servants</b><br>Fire in the Bible often represents God's holiness, judgment, and presence. Examples include the burning bush (<a href="/exodus/3-2.htm">Exodus 3:2</a>) and the pillar of fire guiding the Israelites (<a href="/exodus/13-21.htm">Exodus 13:21</a>). Fire as a servant of God indicates its role in executing divine judgment and purification, as seen in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (<a href="/genesis/19-24.htm">Genesis 19:24</a>) and the refining of believers' faith (<a href="/1_peter/1-7.htm">1 Peter 1:7</a>). This phrase also connects to angelic beings, as <a href="/hebrews/1-7.htm">Hebrews 1:7</a> quotes this verse to describe angels as spirits and flames of fire, emphasizing their role as God's ministers. The imagery underscores the idea that all elements of creation, including powerful forces like fire, are under God's command and serve His purposes.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/g/god.htm">God (Yahweh)</a></b><br>The Creator and Sustainer of the universe, who commands the elements of nature to serve His purposes.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/w/winds.htm">Winds</a></b><br>Often symbolic of God's spirit or presence, used here as messengers to carry out His will.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/f/flames_of_fire.htm">Flames of Fire</a></b><br>Representing God's power and purity, used as servants to execute His commands.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_over_creation.htm">God's Sovereignty Over Creation</a></b><br>God commands the elements of nature, demonstrating His ultimate authority and control over the universe.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/symbolism_of_wind_and_fire.htm">Symbolism of Wind and Fire</a></b><br>Wind and fire are powerful symbols of God's presence and action, reminding us of His ability to work in both gentle and mighty ways.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/a/angelic_ministry.htm">Angelic Ministry</a></b><br>Just as winds and flames serve God, so do angels, highlighting the unseen spiritual realm that operates under God's command.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_purifying_power.htm">God's Purifying Power</a></b><br>Fire often symbolizes purification; God uses trials and challenges to refine and purify our faith.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/o/our_role_as_servants.htm">Our Role as Servants</a></b><br>Like the winds and flames, we are called to be God's messengers and servants, carrying out His will in our lives.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_psalm_104.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Psalm 104</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/ministers'_role_as_a_flame.htm">What is the role of ministers as a flame?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_is_'kingdom_of_god'_beyond_food.htm">What is the role of ministers as a flame?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_jesus_superior_to_the_angels.htm">Is Jesus superior to the angels?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_the_bible_say_on_angelic_humans.htm">What does the Bible say about angelic humans?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/psalms/104.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(4) <span class= "bld">Who maketh . . .</span>--Rather,<p>Who maketh winds His messenger<p>A flaming fire His ministers.<p>Or, keeping the order of the Hebrew,<p>Who maketh His messengers of winds,<p>And His ministers of flaming fire.<p>This is plainly the meaning required by the context, which deals with the use made by the Divine King of the various forms and forces of Nature. Just as He makes the clouds serve as a chariot and the sky as a tent, so he employs the winds as messengers and the lightnings as servants.<p>Taken quite alone, the construction and arrangement of the verse favours the interpretation of the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews (<a href="/hebrews/1-7.htm" title="And of the angels he said, Who makes his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.">Hebrews 1:7</a>, Note, <span class= "ital">New Testament Commentary</span>)<span class= "ital">. </span>This was the traditional Jewish interpretation, and on it were founded various theories of angelic agency.<p>But not only do the exigencies of the context set aside this interpretation, but Hebrew literature offers enough instances to show that the order in which a poet arranged his words was comparatively immaterial. Indeed, Dean Perowne has adduced two instances (<a href="/isaiah/37-26.htm" title="Have you not heard long ago, how I have done it; and of ancient times, that I have formed it? now have I brought it to pass, that you should be to lay waste defended cities into ruinous heaps.">Isaiah 37:26</a>; <a href="/isaiah/60-18.htm" title="Violence shall no more be heard in your land, wasting nor destruction within your borders; but you shall call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise.">Isaiah 60:18</a>) of precisely similar inversion of the natural order of immediate object and predicate. (See <span class= "ital">Expositor, </span>December, 1878.) And no difficulty need be made about the change of number in <span class= "ital">flame of fire </span>and <span class= "ital">ministers, </span>since even if the former were not synonymous with <span class= "ital">lightnings, </span>its predicate might be plural. (See <a href="/proverbs/16-14.htm" title="The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it.">Proverbs 16:14</a>, "The <span class= "ital">wrath </span>of a king is <span class= "ital">messengers </span>of death.") . . . <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/psalms/104.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 4.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Who maketh his angels</span> <span class="cmt_word">spirits.</span> Professor Cheyne renders, "Who maketh his messengers of winds;" and so (in substance) Jarchi, Aben. Ezra, Rosenmuller, Professor Alexander, and even Hengstenberg. The difficulty in adopting this rendering is that furnished by the application of the passage in <a href="/hebrews/1-7.htm">Hebrews 1:7</a>; but the arguments of Hengstenberg go far to meet that difficulty. It is to be noted that our Revisers, while admitting either rendering, have preferred that of Professor Cheyne. <span class="cmt_word">And his ministers a flaming fire;</span> or, "his ministers of flame and fire." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/psalms/104-4.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">He makes</span><br /><span class="heb">עֹשֶׂ֣ה</span> <span class="translit">(‘ō·śeh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6213.htm">Strong's 6213: </a> </span><span class="str2">To do, make</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the winds</span><br /><span class="heb">רוּח֑וֹת</span> <span class="translit">(rū·ḥō·wṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7307.htm">Strong's 7307: </a> </span><span class="str2">Wind, breath, exhalation, life, anger, unsubstantiality, a region of the sky, spirit</span><br /><br /><span class="word">His messengers,</span><br /><span class="heb">מַלְאָכָ֣יו</span> <span class="translit">(mal·’ā·ḵāw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4397.htm">Strong's 4397: </a> </span><span class="str2">A messenger, of God, an angel</span><br /><br /><span class="word">flames</span><br /><span class="heb">לֹהֵֽט׃</span> <span class="translit">(lō·hêṭ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3857.htm">Strong's 3857: </a> </span><span class="str2">To blaze up, flame</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of fire</span><br /><span class="heb">אֵ֣שׁ</span> <span class="translit">(’êš)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_784.htm">Strong's 784: </a> </span><span class="str2">A fire</span><br /><br /><span class="word">His servants.</span><br /><span class="heb">מְ֝שָׁרְתָ֗יו</span> <span class="translit">(mə·šā·rə·ṯāw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8334.htm">Strong's 8334: </a> </span><span class="str2">To attend as a, menial, worshipper, to contribute to</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/psalms/104-4.htm">Psalm 104:4 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/psalms/104-4.htm">Psalm 104:4 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/psalms/104-4.htm">Psalm 104:4 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/psalms/104-4.htm">Psalm 104:4 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/psalms/104-4.htm">Psalm 104:4 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/psalms/104-4.htm">Psalm 104:4 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/psalms/104-4.htm">Psalm 104:4 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/psalms/104-4.htm">Psalm 104:4 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/psalms/104-4.htm">Psalm 104:4 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/psalms/104-4.htm">Psalm 104:4 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/psalms/104-4.htm">OT Poetry: Psalm 104:4 He makes his messengers winds (Psalm Ps Psa.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/psalms/104-3.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Psalm 104:3"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Psalm 104:3" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/psalms/104-5.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Psalm 104:5"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Psalm 104:5" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>