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Psalms 104:29

Old Testament Poetry/Hymns ASV (1901)

What does Psalms 104:29 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled; Thou takest away their breath, they die, And return to their dust.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled; Thou takest away their breath, they die, And return to their dust.
Psalms 104:29 — American Standard Version

Context — Psalms 104

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
26There go the ships; There is leviathan, whom thou hast formed to play therein.
27These wait all for thee, That thou mayest give them their food in due season.
28Thou givest unto them, they gather; Thou openest thy hand, they are satisfied with good.
29Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled; Thou takest away their breath, they die, And return to their dust.
30Thou sendest forth thy Spirit, they are created; And thou renewest the face of the ground.
31Let the glory of Jehovah endure for ever; Let Jehovah rejoice in his works:
32Who looketh on the earth, and it trembleth; He toucheth the mountains, and they smoke.
← Psalms 104:28Psalms 104:30 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Thou hidest thy face - As if God turned away from them; as if he was displeased with them; as if he withdrew from them the tokens of his friendship and favor. They are troubled - They are confounded; they are overwhelmed with terror and amazement. The word “troubled” by no means conveys the sense of the original word - בהל bâhal - which means properly to tremble; to be in trepidation; to be filled with terror; to be amazed; to be confounded. It is that kind of consternation which one has when all support and protection are withdrawn, and when inevitable ruin stares one in the face. So when God turns away, all their support is gone; all their resources “fail, and they must die.” They are…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Hidest - Withdrawest the care of thy providence. Psalms 104:30”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“104:29-30 When you give them your breath: Life on earth is only possible as the Lord’s gift, symbolized by his breath (Hebrew ruakh, “breath, wind, spirit”). The Lord’s Spirit is the agent of renewal (Isa 32:15-20).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“hidest: Psa 30:7; Job 13:24, Job 34:29; Rom 8:20-22 thou takest: Psa 146:4; Job 34:14, Job 34:15; Ecc 12:7; Act 17:25 return: Psa 90:3; Gen 3:19 Psalms 104:30”
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Related study paths

Read Psalms 104 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification