Psalms 36:6 Meaning and Explanation
“Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →After describing the calculated evil of the wicked, David lifts his eyes to the LORD. The movement is important: the darkness of human conduct does not define the world or exhaust its meaning. God's righteousness is firm and visible, his judgments are profound, and his care reaches creatures great and small.
Psalm 36:6 praises the vastness of God's righteousness and the depth of his judgments, then celebrates his preserving care for human beings and animals. His moral rule and sustaining mercy extend beyond human measure.
The Context of Psalms 36:6
David's Psalm 36 begins with a portrait of the wicked person's fearlessness before God, self-flattery, deceitful speech, and planned mischief. In verse 5 the psalm changes into praise: the LORD's mercy is in the heavens and his faithfulness reaches unto the clouds. Verse 6 continues this upward and downward sweep through mountains and the great deep. Verse 7 responds with wonder at God's lovingkindness, under whose wings the children of men trust. Verses 8 and 9 speak of satisfaction, the fountain of life, and light. David concludes by praying for continued lovingkindness and protection from proud enemies.
What Does Psalms 36:6 Mean?
David uses the largest features of the created world to speak of God. His "righteousness is like the great mountains": it is lofty, stable, and plainly established. His "judgments are a great deep": God's decisions and governing wisdom have a depth people cannot sound fully. The two images belong together. God's righteousness is never fragile or shifting, and his judgments are never shallow. David then addresses the LORD directly: "thou preservest man and beast." The God whose righteousness is high and whose judgments are deep also sustains living creatures. The verse ends in care, giving the images of majesty a tender and practical force.
This verse stands near the center of the psalm's great turn from wickedness to God's character. The wicked person plots on his bed and sets himself in a harmful way; the LORD's righteousness stands like mountains. Human schemes can be secret and twisted; God's judgments reach depths beyond every scheme. David's praise also refuses to treat the nonhuman creation as irrelevant to God's care. Man and beast are both named as preserved by the LORD. Other psalms similarly celebrate God as the giver of food and life to his creatures. This does not answer every question about suffering or judgment, yet it gives a sure basis for reverence and gratitude.
Jesus teaches that the heavenly Father cares for the birds and knows the needs of his human children. That teaching harmonizes naturally with David's praise of the God who preserves man and beast. The verse also prepares for the language of life in Psalm 36:9, where David confesses that the fountain of life is with God. In the New Testament, Christ speaks of life in a way that draws people toward trust in him. The connection is grounded in the shared biblical witness that life is received from God, sustained by his care, and meant to lead us into thankful dependence rather than self-sufficiency.
Bible Verses Related to Psalms 36:6
“These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season.”
- Psalm 104:27
“In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.”
- Job 12:10
“Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.”
- Psalm 147:5
“Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?”
- Matthew 6:26
Where Psalms 36:6 Echoes in Scripture
Matthew 6:26 offers a strong later echo of Psalm 36:6. Jesus directs attention to the birds of the air and speaks of the Father's care for them, then draws his hearers toward trusting God's care for people. David's line, "thou preservest man and beast," gives the broad praise; Jesus applies the same confidence to the anxieties of daily provision. Together they encourage reverence for God's creatures and trust in his fatherly care.
How to Apply Psalms 36:6 Today
This verse can steady us when our understanding is small. We may acknowledge that God's judgments are deeper than our ability to map every event, while also noticing the daily signs of his preserving care: breath, food, shelter, seasons, animals, and the people entrusted to us. Such gratitude can shape practical stewardship. We can receive the material world as God's gift, care responsibly for living creatures within our reach, and resist treating strength or provision as self-made. In uncertainty, the mountain and deep images invite patient trust in God's righteous character.
Reflection & Prayer
Where do we need to remember both the height of God's righteousness and the nearness of his preserving care? Consider one creature, person, or provision that calls forth gratitude today. Suggested prayer: "O LORD, your judgments are deeper than I can measure. Preserve us in your mercy, teach us gratitude, and make us faithful in the care we give."