Psalms 114:4

Old Testament Poetry/Hymns ASV (1901)

What does Psalms 114:4 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “The mountains skipped like rams, The little hills like lambs.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

The mountains skipped like rams, The little hills like lambs.
Psalms 114:4 — American Standard Version

Context — Psalms 114

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
4The mountains skipped like rams, The little hills like lambs.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“The mountains skipped like rams, etc.] The mountains of Sinai and Horeb quaked and moved at the presence of the Lord, when he descended thereon to give the law; these saw his glory and trembled, (<021918>Exodus 19:18 <196808>Psalm 68:8 <350306>Habakkuk 3:6,10). And the little hills like lambs; very beautiful are the larger mountains of Sinai and Horeb compared to rams, and the motion of them to their skipping; and the little hills adjacent to them to lambs: these may represent the greater and lesser governors in the Roman empire at the time when such large conversions were made in it as before observed; and which skipped, and trembled, and fled, and were moved out of their places at the…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The mountains skipped like rams - As flocks in their gambols. They seemed to move from place to place; everything seemed to be unsettled, and acknowledged the presence of the Omnipotent One. The word rendered “skipped” means to leap for joy; to dance. See the notes at Psalms 29:6. The reference here is to the agitations and commotions of the peaks of Sinai, when God came down to deliver the law. Exodus 19:16-18. And the little hills like lambs - Hebrew, Like the sons of the flock. The reference here is to the less prominent eminences of Sinai. The lofty hills, and the smaller hills surrounding, seemed to be all in a state of commotion. return to 'Top of Page'”
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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
“The mountains - Horeb and Sinai, two tops of one mountain, and other neighbouring mountains. Psalms 114:7”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Psa 39:6, Psa 68:16; Exo 19:18, Exo 20:18; Jdg 5:4, Jdg 5:5; Jer 4:23, Jer 4:24; Mic 1:3, Mic 1:4; Nah 1:5; Hab 3:6, Hab 3:8; Pe2 3:7-11; Rev 20:11 Psalms 114:5”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification