Psalms 104:19 Meaning and Explanation
“He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God appointed the moon to mark seasons and the sun to know its daily course.
The Context of Psalms 104:19
The cosmic bodies—sun and moon—receive their roles from God and serve to order time for creation.
What Does Psalms 104:19 Mean?
The moon and sun are described as appointed by God for specific purposes. The moon's primary function is to mark seasons, the recurring cycles of time. This is not merely descriptive but theological: the moon's cycles are God's calendar for creation. The appointing emphasizes divine intentionality and order; the heavenly bodies exist in service to creation's ordering.
The sun's knowledge of its going down is poetic language for the sun's predictable course. The sun follows an appointed path, rising and setting with regularity. This reliability is not accidental but designed. The psalmist emphasizes that the heavens operate according to God's order, providing creation with the temporal framework necessary for life's rhythms.
Frequently Asked Questions About Psalms 104:19
What does Psalms 104:19 mean?
God appointed the moon to mark seasons and the sun to know its daily course.
What is the context of Psalms 104:19?
The cosmic bodies—sun and moon—receive their roles from God and serve to order time for creation.