Psalms 107:23 Made Simple

KJV ORIGINAL

They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;

Close to the original. Clear modern English.

✦ MADE SIMPLE

Those who sail out to sea in ships, who do their work on the vast oceans;

⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE

This verse describes sailors and merchants who make their living by traveling across the dangerous, wide-open seas.

📚 Historical Context

In ancient Israel, seafaring was primarily done by neighboring peoples like the Phoenicians, as the Israelites were not traditionally a maritime culture. The 'great waters' refers to the Mediterranean Sea and other large bodies of water where merchants would travel long distances to trade goods. This verse begins a section of Psalm 107 that celebrates how God protects and delivers people in various dangerous situations, including those who risk their lives at sea for commerce.

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Ezekiel 27:27

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