Psalms 104:18

18 The high mountains are for ¹the wild goats; the rocks are a refuge for ²the rock badgers.

Psalms 104:18 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 104:18

The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats
Who have their name in Hebrew ^F4 from their climbing and ascending them. What we commonly call "a wild goose chase" should be expressed "a wild goat's chase"; for not geese, but goats, are chased; and when they are, they flee to the hills for refuge. Hence they are sometimes called the wild goats of the rocks, ( Job 39:1 ) , and sometimes the rocks are called from them the rocks of wild goats, ( 1 Samuel 24:2 ) . The Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, and Arabic versions, render it "for the harts", or deer; and so Apollinarius: but the word is not used of them.

And the rocks for the conies;
who being a feeble folk, make their houses in them, to protect them from creatures of superior power and strength, ( Proverbs 30:26 ) . Some interpret it of the "hedgehog", as the Septuagint and Vulgate Latin versions: others of "hares", as the Syriac and Arabic, and so Apollinarius; and others of "mountain mice". Now what the hills and rocks are to the above creatures, a refuge and a habitation for them, that Christ is to those that fly to him for refuge; though weak and feeble, sinful and unworthy, he is their rock, the rock of their refuge, their strong tower, and place of defence.

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FOOTNOTES:

F4 (Myley) ab (hle) Buxtorf. Lexic. fol. 322.

Psalms 104:18 In-Context

16 The trees of the LORD are watered abundantly, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.

17 In them the birds build their nests; the stork has her home in the fir trees.

18 The high mountains are for the wild goats; the rocks are a refuge for the rock badgers.

19 He made the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows its time for setting.

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

Cross References

• 1. See Job 39:1
• 2. Leviticus 11:5; Proverbs 30:26