Psalms 18:15

Old Testament Poetry/Hymns ASV (1901)

What does Psalms 18:15 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Then the channels of waters appeared, And the foundations of the world were laid bare, At thy rebuke, O Jehovah, At the blast of the breath of thy nostrils.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Then the channels of waters appeared, And the foundations of the world were laid bare, At thy rebuke, O Jehovah, At the blast of the breath of thy nostrils.
Psalms 18:15 — American Standard Version

Context — Psalms 18

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
15Then the channels of waters appeared, And the foundations of the world were laid bare, At thy rebuke, O Jehovah, At the blast of the breath of thy nostrils.

What do historical commentaries say?

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The tempest of the air is attended by appropriate results on earth. The language, though not expressive of any special physical changes, represents the utter subversion of the order of nature. Before such a God none can stand.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Then the channels of waters were seen - In 2 Samuel 22:16 this is, “And the channels of the sea appeared.” The idea is that, by the driving of the storm and tempest, the waters were driven on heaps, leaving the bottom bare. In the place before us the word used, “waters” - מים mayim - would denote waters of any kind - seas, lakes, rivers; in the corresponding place in 2 Samuel, the word used - ים yâm - denotes, properly, the sea or the ocean. The word rendered channels means a pipe or tube; then a channel, or bed of a brook or stream, Isaiah 8:7; Ezekiel 32:6; and then the bottom of the sea or of a river. The allusion is to the effect of a violent wind, driving the waters on heaps, and…”
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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
“Discovered - By mighty earthquakes, which overturned the earth, and made its lower parts visible. Psalms 18:18”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“channels: Psa 74:15, Psa 106:9; Exo 15:8; Jos 3:13-16; Sa2 22:16 foundations: Psa 104:5; Job 38:4-6; Jer 31:37; Jon 2:6; Mic 6:2 O Lord: Kg2 19:7; Job 4:9; Isa 11:4, Isa 30:27, Isa 30:28, Isa 30:33 Psalms 18:16”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification