Psalms 104:32 Meaning and Explanation
“He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they smoke.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God's look makes the earth tremble, and His touch causes hills to smoke.
The Context of Psalms 104:32
The psalmist emphasizes God's transcendent power and creation's appropriate response of trembling before Him.
What Does Psalms 104:32 Mean?
God's gaze has power; the earth trembles at being observed by God. The image suggests that God's attention is not passive but potent. The trembling indicates fear or awe; the earth recognizes itself as subject to God's regard. This establishes the fundamental asymmetry between the all-powerful God and creation, which is responsive and vulnerable to divine action.
Hills smoking from God's touch evoke imagery of divine power and theophany—the manifestation of God's overwhelming presence. Smoke often accompanies God's appearance in Scripture. The hills themselves, represented as permanent and stable elsewhere in the psalm, respond to God's touch. Nothing in creation is so stable or mighty that it can resist God's direct action.
Frequently Asked Questions About Psalms 104:32
What does Psalms 104:32 mean?
God's look makes the earth tremble, and His touch causes hills to smoke.
What is the context of Psalms 104:32?
The psalmist emphasizes God's transcendent power and creation's appropriate response of trembling before Him.