Psalms 114:5
What ailed thee, O thou sea, that thou fleddest? thou Jordan, that thou wast driven back?
Main message
Psalm 114:5 asks why the sea fled and why the Jordan turned back.
Meaning in context
Psalm 114:3–6 · Creation responds to God's presence — Sea, river, mountains, and hills are personified as moving before the Lord.
The rhetorical question pauses the hymn and directs attention from the spectacular events toward their theological cause: the presence of the Lord named in verse 7.
Further teachings
Wonder can lead to theological reflection
The psalm does not merely narrate movement; it asks what it means.
Cross References: Psalm 114:5.
Applications in daily life
- 1
When an event produces awe or fear
Reflect carefully without rushing to claim certainty about God's specific intention.
Do not label disasters as punishment of particular victims without textual warrant.
Related Bible passages and resources
Common misreadings
The question licenses confident spiritual explanations for every natural event.
It belongs to this specific exodus poem and does not grant universal certainty about disasters.
How to Apply Psalms 114:5
Pray through Psalms 114:5 slowly, pausing at each phrase. Journal what God highlights regarding from Scripture. Commit to one concrete application over the next seven days, and revisit your notes at the end of the week to see how your perspective has shifted through the lens of this passage.
Sources & Method
Biblical text
Psalm 114:5 (en).
- Author:
- The Lord Will Editorial Team
- Reviewed by:
- Ugo Candido
- Last updated:
- Reviewed on: