The Meaning of Psalms 104:12 Explained

Psalms 104:12

KJV: By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches.

YLT: By them the fowl of the heavens doth dwell, From between the branches They give forth the voice.

Darby: The birds of heaven dwell by them; they give forth their voice from among the branches.

ASV: By them the birds of the heavens have their habitation; They sing among the branches.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

By them shall the fowls  of the heaven  have their habitation,  [which] sing  among  the branches. 

What does Psalms 104:12 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalm 104:1-12 - The Lord's Wondrous Handiwork
The opening verses of this psalm appear to describe in sublime poetry the creation of the world. God is very great, because He created the heavens and the earth. He is clothed with honor and majesty, and yet He stooped to brood over the chaos and darkness which preceded the order and beauty of our earth. When He said, "Let there be light," He robed Himself in its texture. The firmament of Genesis 1:8 was the curtain of his tent. The clouds above and the seas beneath yielded his chariot and hid for Him the joists of His palace. See Genesis 1:9-10. Compare Psalms 103:4 and Hebrews 1:7.
The psalmist in Psalms 104:6 seems to see the process which is described briefly and graphically in Genesis 1:10. The waters had covered the world with their storm and welter; but at God's command they poured down the mountain slopes to the ocean bed, there to be retained by banks of sand. What exquisite thoughtfulness is disclosed in God's provision of the springs! He thinks for the wild asses and the fowls, and how much more will He care for you, O ye of little faith! [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalm 104

1  A meditation upon the mighty power
7  And wonderful providence of God
31  God's glory is eternal
33  The prophet vows perpetually to praise God

What do the individual words in Psalms 104:12 mean?

By them the birds of the heavens have their home among the branches they sing
עֲ֭לֵיהֶם עוֹף־ הַשָּׁמַ֣יִם יִשְׁכּ֑וֹן מִבֵּ֥ין עֳ֝פָאיִ֗ם יִתְּנוּ־ קֽוֹל

עֲ֭לֵיהֶם  By  them 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
עוֹף־  the  birds 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: עֹוף  
Sense: flying creatures, fowl, insects, birds.
הַשָּׁמַ֣יִם  of  the  heavens 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: שָׁמַיִם  
Sense: heaven, heavens, sky.
יִשְׁכּ֑וֹן  have  their  home 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁכַן  
Sense: to settle down, abide, dwell, tabernacle, reside.
עֳ֝פָאיִ֗ם  the  branches 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: עֳפִי  
Sense: branch, foliage.
קֽוֹל  sing 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: קֹול 
Sense: voice, sound, noise.