Psalms 104:22 — Word Study
WLCתִּזְרַ֣ח הַ֭שֶּׁמֶשׁ יֵאָסֵפ֑וּן וְאֶל־ מְ֝עוֹנֹתָ֗ם יִרְבָּצֽוּן׃
BSAThe sunshemesh [the sun; the east or the west] riseszârach▸ [to shine, comes up] and they withdrawʼâçaph▸ [gather themselves, get them away] they lie downrâbats▸ [stretch, rest] inʼêl their densmᵉʻôwnâh [habitations, secret places]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| תִּזְרַ֣ח | it rises | Verb, Qal, imperfect third person feminine singular |
| הַ֭שֶּׁמֶשׁ | the sun | Particle, noun common both singular absolute |
| יֵאָסֵפ֑וּן | they gather ! | Verb niphal imperfect third person masculine plural, suffix |
| וְאֶל־ | and into | Conjunction, preposition |
| מְ֝עוֹנֹתָ֗ם | dens their | Noun common feminine plural construct, suffix |
| יִרְבָּצֽוּן׃ | they lie down ! | Verb qal imperfect third person masculine plural, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | The sun rises, and they withdraw; they lie down in their dens. |
| KJV | The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens. |
| ASV | The sun ariseth, they get them away, And lay them down in their dens. |
| YLT | The sun riseth, they are gathered, And in their dens they crouch. |
| WEB | The sun rises, and they steal away, and lie down in their dens. |
| BBE | The sun comes up, and they come together, and go back to their secret places to take their rest. |
Where they part company is יֵאָסֵפ֑וּן — see How Translations Differ.
The main clause is followed by two actions of the animals, creating a clear sequence of events.







8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbזָרַח
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Psalms 104:22
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Order of Creationgenerated
Psalms 104:22 describes the daily cycle of the sun and its effect on the animal kingdom. As the sun rises, the creatures of the earth respond by retreating to their dens, illustrating the harmony and order established by God in creation. This verse emphasizes the relationship between the sun's movement and the behavior of wildlife, contributing to the overall theme of God's providence and care for His creation.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Job 24:13–17 | Then there are those who rebel against the light, not knowing its ways or staying on its paths. |
| 2 | Nahum 3:17 | |
| 3 | John 3:20 | Everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come into the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 3 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — זָרַח, tiz.Rachgenerated
The verb זָרַח (zarach) means to rise or shine, particularly in reference to the sun. It conveys the idea of something breaking forth, like light emerging at dawn. The parsing indicates that it is a third person feminine singular imperfect verb, suggesting an ongoing action — the sun is continually rising.
This word is used throughout the Hebrew Bible to depict not only the rising of the sun but also the appearance of symptoms in leprosy, highlighting its broader application. The choice of this verb in this context emphasizes the regular and reliable nature of the sun's rising, a metaphor for divine order.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
In this study, the verse is read in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses rises for זָרַח.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb תִּזְרַ֣ח (tizrach), it rises, governs the sentence, with two phrases following: a verb phrase describing the action of the animals and a prepositional phrase indicating where they go. The structure emphasizes the sequence of actions as the sun rises and the animals respond.
The order places the sun's action first, establishing it as the catalyst for the animals' behavior, which is a common structure in Hebrew poetry, highlighting the cause-and-effect relationship.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates זָרַח as ἀνέτειλεν (aneteilen), meaning 'to rise' or 'to shine'. This choice aligns closely with the Hebrew meaning, maintaining the focus on the sun's emergence.
The translation of יֵאָסֵפ֑וּן as συνήξθησαν (sunechthēsan) suggests a gathering together, which may imply a more communal aspect of the animals' retreat, differing slightly from the Hebrew's emphasis on individual withdrawal.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalms 104:22 tells us that when the sun rises, animals retreat to their dens to rest. This verse illustrates the natural order and the rhythm of life in God's creation, showing how the sun's movement influences the behavior of creatures.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The rising sun symbolizes the start of a new day, bringing light and signaling activity in the natural world.
Animals withdraw to their dens for safety and rest, indicating a natural instinct to seek shelter from the sun's heat and potential predators.
This verse reflects the order and harmony in God's creation, showing how the sun's rising affects the behavior of animals, illustrating the interconnectedness of life.
The dens represent safety and rest for the animals, highlighting the importance of having a secure place to retreat, which is part of God's provision for His creatures.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How do I see the rhythms of nature reflected in my own life?
- What are some ways I can appreciate the order in God's creation?
- In what areas of my life do I need to withdraw and find rest?
- How can I be more aware of the natural world around me and its connection to God's design?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
The early Church Fathers, such as Augustine of Hippo, referenced this verse to discuss the order of creation and the behavior of animals in relation to the sun's rising.
"The Sun has arisen, and they get them away together, and lay them down in their dens" [Psalms 104:22].Early Church Fathers on Psalms 104 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 104:22 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThe sun ariseth, they gather themselves together,.... Having gone some one way, some another, seeking their prey; but upon the sun's rising gather together in order to return from whence they came,
Read John Gill on Psalms 104 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryThe sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens. The sun ariseth, they ... lay them down in their dens. Man goeth forth unto his work ... until the evening.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 104 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleOr rather, they retire or betake themselves; for the lions do not commonly go in companies to one place, but severally, each to his own den.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 104 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 104:22 The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens.Ver. 22. They yather themselves toyether] viz. Into their dens and lurking holes, smitten with fear of light and of men. A sweet providence, but little considered.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 104 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(22) Lay them down.—With sunrise all is changed. The Wild animals, with their savage instincts, give way to man with his orderly habits and arranged duties. The curse of labour, on which the account in Genesis dwells, is here entirely out of sight, and instead there appears the “poetry of labour.” And if all sense of the primal curse has disappeared, the later curse, which lies so heavy on the modern generations of overworked men, “Who make perpetual moan, Still from one labour to another thrown,” has not appeared. The day brings only healthy toil, and the evening happy rest.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 104 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 22. The sun ariseth] The dawn of day is the warning for man to arise and betake himself to his work; and is the warning to them to retire to their dens.
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 104 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges22. they gather themselves together] Better as R.V., they get them away.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 104 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleThe sun ariseth - A new scene in this endless variety of incidents in a world full of life and beauty. The psalmist sees the light break in the east, and the sun appear above the horizon - and the whole scene is changed.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 104 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
The sun rises, and they withdraw; they lie down in their dens.
The sun rises, and they steal away, and lie down in their dens.
The sun rises, and they withdraw; they lie down in their dens.
When the sun rises, they withdraw and sleep in their dens.
Tyndale line
The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens.
The sun ariseth, they get them away, And lay them down in their dens.
The sun ariseth, they get them away, and lay them down in their dens.
The sun ariseth, they collect, and lay themselves down in their dens.
When the sunne riseth, they retire, and couche in their dennes.
Strictly literal
The sun ariseth, they retreat, and lay them down in their dens.
The sun riseth, they are gathered, And in their dens they crouch.
The sun rises, they are gathered, || And they crouch in their dens.
The sun ariseth, they withdraw [to their lairs], and lie down in their dens.
When the sun rises, they retreat and sleep in their dens.
From the Latin
That he might instruct his princes as himself, and teach his ancients wisdom.
Simplified
When the sun rises they return to their dens to rest.
The sun comes up, and they come together, and go back to their secret places to take their rest.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text states, "תִּזְרַ֣ח הַ֭שֶּׁמֶשׁ יֵאָסֵפ֑וּן וְאֶל־ מְ֝עוֹנֹתָ֗ם יִרְבָּצֽוּן," which translates to, "The sun rises, and they withdraw; they lie down in their dens." The Septuagint aligns closely with the Masoretic Text, matching five of the six words, although the word order and articles differ due to its own grammatical structure. The Dead Sea Scrolls provide various readings, with 4Q86 and 11Q5 containing partial restorations and editorial supplies, while 4Q87 has a similar situation with more extensive restoration. Overall, the primary agreement is in the core phrases, though some words are partially restored or supplied by editors in the Dead Sea Scrolls, indicating minor textual variations but a consistent thematic message across the witnesses.
תִּזְרַ֣ח הַ֭שֶּׁמֶשׁ יֵאָסֵפ֑וּן וְאֶל־ מְ֝עוֹנֹתָ֗ם יִרְבָּצֽוּן׃
5 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
[תזרח] [השמש] ויאספו [ואל] מעונ ירבצו
2 words on the leather — 1 partly restored, 3 supplied entire by an editor.
[תזרח] [השמש] [ויאספו׳ן] [ואל] מעונותי׳הם ירבצו׳ן
nothing on the leather here — 2 partly restored, 4 supplied entire by an editor.
[תזרח] השמש ויאספו׳ן ואל מעונותי׳הם [ירבצו׳ן]
4 words on the leather — 2 supplied entire by an editor.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Psalms 104:22
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
זָרַח (zarach) is a Hebrew verb meaning to rise or come forth. It conveys the idea of something breaking out or shining, often associated with the rising of the sun. The entries highlight its use in various contexts, including the appearance of symptoms in leprosy.
זָרַח vb. rise, come forth
base
H2224 זָרַח rise, come forth
2224 zarach zaw-rakh'
a primitive root; properly, to irradiate (or shoot forth
beams), i.e. to rise (as the sun); specifically, to appear (as
a symptom of leprosy):--arise, rise (up), as soon as it is up.
זָרַח (za.rach) — to rise.
1) to rise, come forth, break out, arise, rise up, shine
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to rise
1a2) to come out, appear
V-Qal-Imperf-3fs — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person feminine singularHVqi3fs
שֶׁ֫מֶשׁ (shemesh) means 'sun' and is derived from a root meaning 'to be brilliant.' It encompasses various meanings, including directions like east and west, and can refer to the sun as an object of worship. Additionally, it can denote shining pinnacles or battlements.
שֶׁ֫מֶשׁ 133 n.f. et m. sun
sun
of direction: toward sun-rise, = East
obj. of worship
other phr.
pinnacle, as glittering, shining
base
H8121 שֶׁ֫מֶשׁ sun
8121 shemesh sheh'-mesh
from an unused root meaning to be brilliant; the sun; by
implication, the east; figuratively, a ray, i.e. (arch.) a
notched battlement:--+ east side(-ward), sun ((rising)), +
west(-ward), window. See also 1053.
see HEBREW for 01053
שֶׁ֫מֶשׁ (she.mesh) — sun.
1) sun
1a) sun
1b) sunrise, sun-rising, east, sun-setting, west (of direction)
1c) sun (as object of illicit worship)
1d) openly, publicly (in other phrases)
1e) pinnacles, battlements, shields (as glittering or shining)
Art | N-cs — Particle · noun common both singular absoluteHTd/Ncbsa
Sun
(Heb. shemesh), first mentioned along with the moon as the two great luminaries of heaven (Gen. 1:14-18). By their motions and influence they were intended to mark and divide times and seasons. The worship of the sun was one of the oldest forms of false religion (Job 31:26,27), and was common among the Egyptians and Chaldeans and other pagan nations. The Jews were warned against this form of idolatry (Deut. 4:19; 17:3; comp. 2 Kings 23:11; Jer. 19:13).
In the history of "greater light," of the creation the sun is described as "greater light," in contradistinction to the moon, the "lesser light," in conjunction with which it was to serve "for signs and for seasons, and for days, and for years," while its special office was "to rule the day." (Genesis 1:14-16) The "signs" referred to were probably such extraordinary phenomena as eclipses, which were regarded as conveying premonitions of coming events. (Jeremiah 10:2; Matthew 24:29) with Luke 21:25 The joint influence assigned to the sun and moon in deciding the "seasons," both for agricultural operations and for religious festivals, and also in regulating the length and…
→ Created Ge 1:14-18; Ps 74:16; 136:7; Jer 31:35
→ Rising and setting of Ec 1:5
→ Diurnal motion of Ps 19:4,6
→ Worship of, forbidden De 4:19; 17:3
→ Worshiped Job 31:26-28; Jer 8:2; Eze 6:4,6; 8:16
→ Kings of Judah dedicate horses to 2Ki 23:11
→ Miracles concerning
אָסַף (acaph) is a Hebrew verb meaning to gather or remove. It encompasses a range of actions including collecting, assembling, and withdrawing. The verb appears in various forms, such as Qal, Niphal, Piel, and Hithpael, indicating different nuances like gathering individuals or being gathered. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.
אָסַף 209 vb. gather, remove
Qal
gather, collect
gather an individual into company of others
bring up the rear of
gather and take away, remove, withdraw
Niph.
assemble, be gathered, reflex.
pass. of Qal 2
Pass. of Qal 4; be taken away, removed, perish
Pi.
gather harvest
take in, receive into
as subst. rearguard, rearward
Pu. be gathered, of men
Hithp. gather themselves
base
H622 אָסַף gather, remove
622 'acaph aw-saf'
a primitive root; to gather for any purpose; hence, to
receive, take away, i.e. remove (destroy, leave behind, put
up, restore, etc.):--assemble, bring, consume, destroy,
felch, gather (in, together, up again), X generally, get
(him), lose, put all together, receive, recover (another from
leprosy), (be) rereward, X surely, take (away, into, up), X
utterly, withdraw.
אָסַף (a.saph) — to gather.
1) to gather, receive, remove, gather in
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to gather, collect
1a2) to gather (an individual into company of others)
1a3) to bring up the rear
1a4) to gather and take away, remove, withdraw
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to assemble, be gathered
1b2) (pass of Qal 1a2)
1b2a) to be gathered to one's fathers
1b2b) to be brought in or into (association with others)
1b3) (pass of Qal 1a4)
1b3a) to be taken away, removed, perish
1c) (Piel)
1c1) to gather (harvest)
1c2) to take in, receive into
1c3) rearguard, rearward (subst)
1d) (Pual) to be gathered
1e) (Hithpael) to gather oneself or themselves
V-Niphal-Imperf-3mp | Suff — Verb niphal imperfect third person masculine plural · suffixHVNi3mp/Sn
gath'-er ('acaph, qabhats; sullego, sunago):
"Gather," transitive "to bring together," "collect," etc., and intransitive "to come together," "assemble," etc., occurs frequently and represents many Hebrew and Greek words. It is the translation of 'acaph, "to bring together," in Jos 6:9, the King James Version margin "gathering host"; Ps 27:10, the King James Version margin "The Lord will gather me"; compare Nu 12:14,15; Isa 52:12 King James Version margin. The phrases "gather thee unto thy fathers," "gathered unto his fathers," "gathered into the grave," etc., are frequently used for "to die" and "death" (Ge 25:8,17…
The Hebrew word אֶל (el) is primarily a preposition indicating motion towards or direction to a person or place. It can also imply entering a limit, presence at a location, or a hostile direction (against). Additionally, it may express concepts such as concerning, in addition to, or according to. The entries highlight its versatility in both physical and metaphorical contexts.
אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph),
prep. denoting motion to or direction towards (whether physical or mental).of motion to or unto a person or place
Where the limit is actually entered, into
Of direction towards anything
Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against
Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to
Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of
Of rule or standard according to (rare)
Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion
Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to
base
H413 אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph), . of motion to or unto a person or place
. Where the limit is actually entered, into
. Of direction towards anything
. Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against
. Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to
. Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of
. Of rule or standard according to (rare)
. Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion
. Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to
413 'el ale
(but only used in the shortened constructive form sel {el});
a primitive particle; properly, denoting motion towards, but
occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e. near, with or
among; often in general, to:--about, according to ,after,
against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and,
by, concerning, for, from, X hath, in(- to), near, (out) of,
over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether,
with(-in).
אֶל (el) — to(wards).
1) to, toward, unto (of motion)
2) into (limit is actually entered)
2a) in among
3) toward (of direction, not necessarily physical motion)
4) against (motion or direction of a hostile character)
5) in addition to, to
6) concerning, in regard to, in reference to, on account of
7) according to (rule or standard)
8) at, by, against (of one's presence)
9) in between, in within, to within, unto (idea of motion to)
Conj | Prep — Conjunction · prepositionHC/R
מְעֹנָה (meonah) refers to a den or lair, particularly of wild beasts, and can also signify a dwelling or habitation, including a figurative sense of God as a refuge for His people. It is derived from the related word מָעוֹן (maon), which shares similar meanings.
מְעֹנָה n.f. id.
[p.bj.ac]den, lair of wild beasts
fig. the ancient God is a dwelling-place (for his people)
base
H4585 מְעֹנָה id. . den, lair of wild beasts
. fig. the ancient God is a dwelling-place (for his people)
4585 m`ownah meh-o-naw'
or msonah {meh-o-naw'}; feminine of 4583, and meaning the
same:--den, habitation, (dwelling) place, refuge.
see HEBREW for 04583
מְעֹנָה (me.o.nah) — habitation.
1) dwelling, habitation, refuge
1a) den, lair (of animals)
1b) dwelling-place (of God) (fig.)
N-cp | Suff — Noun common feminine plural construct · suffixHNcfpc/Sp3mp
רָבַץ (rabats) is a Hebrew verb meaning to stretch out or lie down. It encompasses actions like reclining, brooding, or lurking, and can imply causing something to lie down as well. The entries indicate its use in various forms, including Qal and Hiphil, but do not provide specific verse references.
רָבַץ vb. stretch oneself out, lie down, lie stretched out
Qal lie down, lie
Hiph. cause to lie down, or lie
base
H7257 רָבַץ stretch oneself out, lie down, lie stretched out
7257 rabats raw-bats'
a primitive root; to crouch (on all four legs folded, like a
recumbent animal); be implication, to recline, repose, brood,
lurk, imbed:--crouch (down), fall down, make a fold, lay,
(cause to, make to) lie (down), make to rest, sit.
רָבַץ (ra.vats) — to stretch.
1) to stretch oneself out, lie down, lie stretched out
1a) (Qal) to lie down, lie
1b)(Hiphil) to cause to lie down
1b1) laying (stones)
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp | Suff — Verb qal imperfect third person masculine plural · suffixHVqi3mp/Sn
