Psalms 104:20 Meaning and Explanation
“Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God creates darkness and night, when forest creatures become active.
The Context of Psalms 104:20
The psalmist shifts to night as part of God's creation, introducing a different dimension of creation's life.
What Does Psalms 104:20 Mean?
Darkness is presented as God's creation, not as the mere absence of light but as an active creation. God makes darkness as deliberately as He creates light. This theological move prevents darkness from being viewed as evil or opposed to God's order; instead, it is part of the cosmic rhythm God has established. Night has its own purpose and place in creation.
The beasts creeping forth in night reveals that darkness serves the creatures of the forest. Many animals are nocturnal, active when humans rest and observe less. Their emergence in night is normal and fitted to creation's design. The psalmist observes that while humans order their lives around daylight, other creatures have their own natural rhythm, all woven into God's ordering.
Frequently Asked Questions About Psalms 104:20
What does Psalms 104:20 mean?
God creates darkness and night, when forest creatures become active.
What is the context of Psalms 104:20?
The psalmist shifts to night as part of God's creation, introducing a different dimension of creation's life.