Psalms 145:15 · Bible study
Psalms 145:15 Commentary: Wait on God for Daily Food
Hebrew · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
All creation looks to God for food in due season. Learn the depth of this verse about God's providential care and what waiting on Him means.
Research Summary
- Meaning: God provides food at the right time for all who look to Him in expectant trust.
- Key words: wait (H7663 śabar, expectant hope, not passive), food (H0400 okhel, sustenance for living), due season (H6256 ‘et, appointed time, with possessive suffix “its”).
- Main debate: Whether “all” refers to every living creature (Barnes, Clarke, Cambridge) or only to the Lord’s people (Gill, who spiritualizes “food” as Christ and gospel doctrine).
- Theological theme: Divine providence and creation’s total dependence on God; the kingdom of God expressed through daily care.
- Best use: A verse for trust in daily provision, praying before meals, and finding peace when God’s timing doesn’t match our own.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
The eyes of all look to You, and You give them their food in season.
WEB World English Bible 2000
The eyes of all wait for you. You give them their food in due season.
KJV King James Version 1769
The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
The eyes of all wait for thee; And thou givest them their food in due season.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
The eyes of all unto Thee do look, And Thou art giving to them their food in its season,
Darby Darby Bible 1890
The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their food in its season.
Translations in other languages (9 available)
Los ojos de todos esperan en ti, y tú les das su comida en su tiempo.
Os olhos de todos esperam por ti, e tu lhes dás seu alimento ao seu tempo.
Les yeux de tous espèrent en toi,
Aller Augen warten auf dich, und du gibst ihnen ihre Speise zu seiner Zeit.
Ain. Aller ogen wachten op U; en Gij geeft hun hun spijs te zijner tijd.
Gli occhi di tutti sono intenti verso di te, e tu dài loro il loro cibo a suo tempo.
Oczy wszystkich w tobie nadzieję mają, a ty im dajesz pokarm ich czasu swojego.
萬民 都舉目 仰望 你；你 隨時 給 他們 食物。
The eyes of all men are waiting for you; and you give them their food in its time.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Psalms 145:15
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that this verse depicts God as the universal provider. Barnes notes that “all creatures, on the land, in the air, in the waters” direct their eyes to God, as if every moment of every day they look to Him for their needs. Clarke pictures the young of all animals looking up to their parents, and God as the “universal Father” who gives food suited to each creature at the right stage of life. Cambridge calls this “the picture of God as the great householder distributing their portions to all His household,” a scene repeated from Psalm 104:27. The phrase “in due season” (Hebrew be‘itto) underscores that the timing is perfect, God provides exactly when it is needed. Gill alone reads “all” as referring only to the Lord’s people, seeing spiritual food (the flesh of Christ, the doctrines of the gospel) given through faithful ministers. But the broader consensus, supported by the surrounding context and parallel passages, takes “all” as all living creatures. The Hebrew verb yesabberu (they wait) carries the sense of expectant hope, not passive resignation. This is a picture of a universe that daily, hourly trusts its Creator for sustenance.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Universal provision view: Barnes, Clarke, Cambridge, and Calvin read 'all' as every living creature, based on the parallel in Psalm 104:27 and the context of vv.14–16.
- Spiritual provision view: Gill argues 'all' refers to the Lord's people, and the 'food' is spiritual — the flesh of Christ, the doctrines of the gospel, given through faithful stewards (Luke 12:42).
What is clear: God gives sustenance in His timing, and creation's posture is one of expectant trust toward Him.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Scope of 'all' | All living creatures depend on God for sustenance. | Most commentators (Barnes, Clarke, Cambridge) apply it to every creature. Gill restricts it to believers, understanding 'food' as spiritual nourishment. |
| Nature of waiting | The Hebrew verb implies a hopeful, trusting expectation. | Some (Barnes, Calvin) emphasize the universal, moment-by-moment dependence. Others (Gill) see it as the patient waiting of the faithful for deliverance and spiritual food. |
| Meaning of 'due season' | God gives at the right time, appropriate to each creature's need. | Whether this refers to the natural rhythm of creation (Clarke, Keil & Delitzsch) or to God's sovereign timing in the lives of believers (Gill) remains a point of emphasis. |
| Relationship to God's kingdom | This provision is part of the reign of God celebrated in the psalm. | Some see it as a picture of general providence, while others (Gill, Matthew Henry) tie it to the covenant care of God for His people, a foretaste of the age to come. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Psalm 145 is the only psalm in the Hebrew Bible titled tehillah (“praise”), a word that came to designate the entire Psalter. It is an acrostic, each verse beginning with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Calvin notes that “it is certainly one of the most interesting and beautiful of the compositions of the sweet singer of Israel,” and that ancient Hebrews were accustomed to recite it three times daily, believing that whoever did so would enjoy the blessings of the world to come.
The verse sits in a section of the psalm celebrating God’s kingdom in action. Immediately before this (v.14), God “upholds all who fall and raises up all who are bowed down.” After our verse, v.16 adds, “You open your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.” The passage as a whole moves from general praise of God’s greatness (vv.1, 13) to a detailed description of His care for creation (vv.14, 20). The image of “eyes” looking to God is a frequent biblical metaphor for dependence, not only of humans but of animals (Job 38:39, 41; Psalm 104:21, 27).
Culturally, the psalm reflects a world where daily bread was never guaranteed. Harvests, rains, and the fertility of flocks were seen as direct gifts from God. The “due season” (be‘itto) combines the idea of appointed time with the suitability of the gift, each creature receives what it needs when it needs it. The phrase echoes Genesis 1:30, where God gives green herbs for food “to every animal of the earth.” This verse thus roots God’s provision in the original creation order.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Psalm 145:15. The verse is stable across Hebrew manuscripts, and the Septuagint follows the Masoretic Text closely. The only notable feature is the missing nun verse in the acrostic pattern (the line beginning with נ is absent in most Hebrew manuscripts but supplied in the Qumran scroll and some traditions), which does not affect this verse.
Reception History
Ancient Jewish tradition, as Calvin records, held that whoever recites this psalm (including v.15) three times daily with heart and tongue is assured of the blessings of the world to come. The verse was likely used as a grace before meals, a practice Ellicott notes. Early Christian writers saw it as a testimony to God’s care for all creation, linking it to Jesus’ teaching on the birds and the lilies (Matthew 6). In the medieval period, the psalm was sung in monastic offices as part of Lauds. The Reformers, especially Calvin, appealed to the verse to argue for God’s universal providence against notions of chance. In many traditions, the verse remains a staple of table prayers, reminding believers that every meal is a gift from a Father who provides in due season.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The expectant gaze of creation, “The eyes of all wait for you.” The verb yesabberu implies hopeful anticipation, not mere existence. All creatures look to God as their sole source.
- The generous hand of God, “You give them their food.” Giving is God’s characteristic action, personal and direct. He does not delegate the feeding of His creatures.
- The appointed season of provision, “In due season.” God’s timing is precise. What appears as delay is part of the perfect schedule of a wise provider.
Five-point outline
- God’s universal care extends beyond humans to every living thing.
- Waiting on God is an active posture of trust, not passive inaction.
- God’s giving is always in season, right on time.
- This provision is a sign of God’s kingdom (vv.11, 13).
- Believers are called to respond with praise, echoing the psalmist’s conclusion in v.21.
Illustration hooks
- Feeding time at a farm. Watch how cattle, chickens, and dogs all turn their heads toward the person bringing food. Instinctively they know where their meal comes from. Creation does the same with God.
- A parent waiting for a paycheck. The family needs groceries today, but the money comes on Friday. The wait teaches dependence. The “due season” may be Friday, not Wednesday.
- Farmers watching for rain. After planting, farmers can only wait for the weather. Their livelihood depends on factors they cannot control, a parable of trusting the Provider.
Questions your congregation is asking
- If God feeds all creatures, why do some starve? (Opens discussion of fallen world, human sin, and the eventual restoration of all things.)
- How can I wait on God when I need an answer now? (Trains the heart in patience and confidence.)
- Does this verse promise that I will never go hungry? (Leads to distinguishing God’s general provision from specific promises, and the hope of eternal satisfaction.)
Leading a Discussion
This verse invites us to see ourselves as part of a creation that depends entirely on God. The picture is simple: all eyes turn to Him, and He gives. Yet the simplicity holds profound truth for how we live each day. Read the verse aloud together and sit with the image before discussing.
Discussion questions
- What stands out to you from this verse? Try paraphrasing it in your own words.
- What does the phrase “the eyes of all wait for you” suggest about the relationship between Creator and creature?
- Why do you think the psalmist specifies “in due season”? How do you experience God’s timing in your own life, sometimes quick, sometimes slow?
- Compare this verse with Psalm 104:27. What is added here? What is the same?
- Gill interpreted “all” spiritually, as the people of God receiving spiritual food. Is that a valid reading, or does the context push us toward a universal meaning? Defend your view from the psalm’s flow (v.9, 16, 17).
- How does Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 6:25, 34 (the birds of the air, the lilies of the field) connect to this psalm? Does Jesus broaden or narrow the picture?
- What areas of your life feel like they are “out of season” right now? How might this verse help you wait with hope?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Genesis 1:30 | To every animal of the earth, and to every bird of the sky, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food;” and it was so. |
| Job 38:39 | “Can you hunt the prey for the lioness, or satisfy the appetite of the young lions, |
| Job 38:41 | Who provides for the raven his prey, when his young ones cry to God, and wander for lack of food? |
| Psalms 104:21 | The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their food from God. |
| Psalms 104:27 | These all wait for you, that you may give them their food in due season. |
| Psalms 136:25 | who gives food to every creature, for his loving kindness endures forever. |
| Psalms 145:9 | Yahweh is good to all. His tender mercies are over all his works. |
| Psalms 147:8 | who covers the sky with clouds, who prepares rain for the earth, who makes grass grow on the mountains. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke draws attention to the vivid image of young animals looking up to their parents for food, then expands it to all creation depending on God as the universal Father. He marvels at the mystery that God provides exactly the right food for every creature at every stage of life. All expect this from God, and not one is disappointed.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes pictures the entire universe – every creature on land, in air, and in water – as constantly lifting an imploring gaze toward God for daily needs. For him the scene is sublime: a universe that looks to its Creator every hour and moment, finding its supply from no other source.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge Bible notes that the image of God as a generous householder giving each person their portion is drawn from the Psalms and reappears in the teaching of Jesus. This same picture of divine provision carries into the following verse, which also echoes that earlier psalm.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Note draws attention to the universal dependence of every living creature on God's direct provision. All eyes wait on Him alone, and He alone gives them their food exactly when it is needed.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill draws a clear distinction: this verse is not about all creatures waiting on God for physical food, as in Psalm 104, but about God's people looking to Him for spiritual nourishment. He specifies this meat as Christ's flesh, the doctrines of the Gospel, given in due season by faithful ministers as stewards, at the time the Lord knows is best.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB interprets the phrase about eyes waiting on the Lord as describing expecting faith, not passive observation. This trustful anticipation is the same attitude seen in Psalm 104, where all creatures look to God for their daily provision, confident He will supply in His time.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil and Delitzsch highlight that God personally supports those who are falling, not those already fallen, and gives every living creature its desire in due season. They stress that fear and love of God belong together, for fear without love is servile and love without fear is presumptuous.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry draws a sharp distinction between two kinds of praise: all God's works praise him simply by existing and providing material for praise, but his saints actively bless him. They gather the tribute of praise from the rest of creation and present it to God, acting as priests of praise for the whole creation.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley specifies that "all" refers to every living creature, not just humans. He notes that "wait" expresses their complete dependence on God for provision, and this expectation is figuratively attributed to animals, which rely on God's bounty without conscious awareness.