Psalms 114:3-5

114:3 The sea looked and fled;

the Jordan River turned back.

114:4 The mountains skipped like rams,

the hills like lambs.

114:5 Why do you flee, O sea?

Why do you turn back, O Jordan River?


sn The psalmist recalls the crossing of the Red Sea (Exod 14:21).

tn Heb “the Jordan” (also in v. 5). The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied in the translation for clarity.

sn The psalmist recalls the crossing of the Jordan River (Josh 3:13, 16).

sn The mountains skipped like rams, the hills like lambs. This may recall the theophany at Sinai when the mountain shook before God’s presence (Exod 19:18).