Proverbs 3:20

By his knowledge the primordial sea ¹  was broken open, ²  and the clouds drip down dew. ³ 

by his knowledge the deeps were divided, and the clouds let drop the dew.

By His knowledge the deeps were broken up And the skies drip with dew.

By his knowledge the deep fountains of the earth burst forth, and the clouds poured down rain.

They knew when to signal rivers and springs to the surface, and dew to descend from the night skies.

By his knowledge the deep was parted, and dew came dropping from the skies.

by his knowledge the deeps broke open, and the clouds drop down the dew.

By His knowledge the depths were broken up, And clouds drop down the dew.

By his knowledge the primordial sea ¹  was broken open, ²  and the clouds drip down dew. ³ 

¹ sn The word תְּהוֹמוֹת (tÿhomot, “primordial sea”) alludes to the chaotic “deep” in Gen 1:2 (BDB 1063 s.v. תְּהוֹם 3). This was viewed in the ancient world as a force to be reckoned with. However, God not only formed it but controls it (see J. Emerton, “Spring and Torrent in Ps 74:15,” VT 15 [1965]: 125).

² sn This might refer to God’s action of dividing the waters to form the dry ground on the third day (Gen 1:9-10) or, less likely, to the breaking up of the fountains of the deep at the flood (Gen 7:11).

³ sn The two colons form a merism: The wisdom of God is behind all forces of nature, whether the violent breaking forth of its watery forces at creation or the provision of the gentle rain and dew throughout history (T. T. Perowne, Proverbs, 55).