Psalms 33:6 Meaning and Explanation
“By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God created the heavens and all they contain through His spoken word.
The Context of Psalms 33:6
The psalmist declares that God's word brought the heavens into existence.
What Does Psalms 33:6 Mean?
This verse attributes creation to God's word and breath, presenting creation as an act of divine speech. When God speaks, reality emerges. The heavens—the visible cosmos—exist because God commanded them into being. This reflects the ancient understanding that speech carries creative power and that the cosmos is fundamentally dependent on God's ongoing word.
The repetition of the idea (word in the first clause, breath of mouth in the second) emphasizes the ease and completeness of creation. God did not labor or struggle; creation flows from His speech as naturally as breath flows from the mouth. The "host of them" refers to all the celestial bodies—stars, planets, and cosmic structures—all existing by divine utterance. This establishes God's absolute authority over all that exists.
Psalms 33:6 in the Original Language
breath (רוּחַ, ruach) — can mean breath, wind, or spirit; here emphasizing the life-giving, creative force of God's utterance
Frequently Asked Questions About Psalms 33:6
What does Psalms 33:6 mean?
God created the heavens and all they contain through His spoken word.
What is the context of Psalms 33:6?
The psalmist declares that God's word brought the heavens into existence.