Psalms 147:9 · Bible study
Psalms 147:9 Commentary: Ravens Cry, God Provides
Hebrew · 9 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why ravens? This study explores Psalm 147:9's grammar, context, and cross-references to uncover God's care for the lowly and the importance of crying out
Research Summary
- Meaning: God provides food for all his creatures, especially the helpless who cry out.
- Key words: נוֹתֵן (gives), לֶחֶם (food), קָרָא (call out), each showing God as active provider and the ravens as dependent supplicants.
- Main debate: Whether the ravens' crying is instinctual or understood as a cry to God, the Septuagint and many fathers see it as prayer; modern commentators tend to see poetic personification.
- Theological theme: Providence, God sustains all life, even the despised and ceremonially unclean, teaching that His care is universal and stems from His character.
- Best use: Encouragement for those who feel forgotten; a model of persistent prayer; a reminder that God's provision is not limited to the worthy.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
He provides food for the animals, and for the young ravens when they call.
WEB World English Bible 2000
He provides food for the livestock, and for the young ravens when they call.
KJV King James Version 1769
He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
He giveth to the beast his food, Andto the young ravens which cry.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
Giving to the beast its food, To the young of the ravens that call.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
Who giveth to the cattle their food, to the young ravens which cry.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
He hath not done in like manner to every nation: and his judgments he hath not made manifest to them. Alleluia.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
El da á la bestia su mantenimiento, y á los hijos de los cuervos que claman.
Que dá ao gado seu pasto; e também aos filhos dos corvos, quando clamam.
Il donne la nourriture au bétail,
der dem Vieh sein Futter gibt, den jungen Raben, die ihn anrufen.
Die het vee zijn voeder geeft; aan de jonge raven, als zij roepen.
Egli dà la pastura al bestiame e ai piccini dei corvi che gridano.
Który daje bydłu pokarm ich, i kruczętom młodym, które wołają do niego.
Не сделал Он того никакому другому народу, и судов Его они не знают. Аллилуия.
他賜 食 給走獸 和啼叫 的 小 烏鴉。
He gives food to every beast, and to the young ravens in answer to their cry.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Psalms 147:9
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 highlights God's universal providence, with special focus on the lowliest. Barnes notes that God gives food even to wild beasts that cannot toil as man does. Gill and Wesley point out that ravens were considered unclean and contemptible, and the young ravens are those thought to be forsaken early by their dams. The Hebrew verb קרא conveys an intense cry, Keil & Delitzsch observe its link to the raven's croak as an importunate call. Calvin sees this as one instance of God's common goodness, also a lesson that God cares for the humble. The cross-references (Job 38:41, Luke 12:24) confirm this theme: God provides even for the despised. The consensus is that the verse illustrates God's provision for the helpless and a model of persistent, trusting prayer.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: God provides food for even the most helpless creatures, and their cry is heard by Him.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Direction of the ravens' cry | All agree the cry is a call for food, either instinctual or intentional. | Some (Septuagint, early church fathers) see it as a direct prayer to God; others see it as the natural sound of the raven which God responds to. |
| Historical basis of ravens abandoning young | The biblical authors treat the raven as a symbol of helplessness and neglect. | Tristram (naturalist) denies that ravens actually abandon their young early; the tradition (Wesley, Gill) assumes they do. The verse doesn't require a literal abandonment to make its point. |
| Scope of providence | God provides for all creatures, including wild animals. | Some see this as a general act of creation (common grace); others see it as a specific lesson for Israel about God's care for the lowly, pointing to the special care He has for His people. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Psalm 147 is a post-exilic psalm (likely from the time of Haggai and Zechariah, as Calvin notes). The people had returned from Babylon to a ruined Jerusalem, and the psalm calls them to praise God for restoring Jerusalem and gathering the exiles (vv.2, 3). Against this backdrop, verses 8, 9 paint a picture of God's providential care over all creation: clouds, rain, grass on the mountains, food for livestock, and for young ravens.
The raven (עֹרֵב) was ceremonially unclean (Leviticus 11:15) and associated with desolation. In popular belief, ravens were thought to abandon their young very soon after hatching, leaving them to starve, Wesley notes this tradition. While Tristram (cited by the Cambridge Bible) denies the biological basis, the psalmist uses the common perception to underscore divine care for the helpless. The young ravens 'cry' (קרא), the same verb used for calling on God in prayer (Psalm 50:15). Keil & Delitzsch note that the raven's croak struck the psalmist as an importunate cry directed to God. The Septuagint renders it 'that call upon him,' showing early Jewish interpretation saw this cry as prayer.
In a culture where ravens were despised, God's provision for them becomes a powerful symbol: if God hears the raven's call, how much more will He hear the cries of His people? This message would have given hope to the struggling post-exilic community, reminding them that God's care extends to the lowliest and that He responds to their cry.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for this verse. The Hebrew text is stable across ancient witnesses, including the Septuagint and the Masoretic tradition.
Reception History
In the early church, allegorical interpretation saw ravens as representing Gentiles (unclean yet called to God), and their young as Christians crying out for salvation (Gill cites this patristic view). Augustine referenced this verse when discussing God's care for all creation. In medieval theology, the verse featured in discussions of divine providence, often in hymns about God's sustenance of all creatures. Reformers like Calvin and Luther used it to argue against human self-reliance and for trusting God's provision. Modern commentators focus on the natural imagery and its connection to Job 38:41 and Luke 12:24, as well as the cultural background of ravens as unclean birds. The verse has been a comfort to those feeling overlooked, affirming that God hears the cry of the lowliest.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- God Provides for All Creatures, The livestock receive food from the grass God causes to grow (v.8). This shows God's daily, ordinary care over creation.
- God Hears the Cry of the Lowliest, The young ravens, unclean and helpless, cry and God provides. Their cry is a picture of prayer: urgent and directed to God.
- God Delights in Trust, Not Human Might, Verses 10, 11 contrast horse and man's strength with those who fear and hope in God's lovingkindness. Provision teaches dependence.
Five-point outline
- The Creator Feeds His Creatures, God is the source of all food, from clouds to grass to grain.
- The Unclean Are Not Beyond His Care, Ravens were unclean (Lev. 11:15), yet God feeds them. No one is too dirty or despised for God's attention.
- The Helpless Cry and Are Heard, Young ravens have no other resource; their cry is their only action. God responds.
- Human Strength Does Not Impress God, Horse and legs represent military might and human ability (v.10). God is not swayed by power.
- True Delight Is in Those Who Fear Him, The real pleasure of God is in the humble who hope in His mercy (v.11).
Illustration hooks
- A parent watching a bird feed its young day after day, regular provision points to a Provider.
- The stray animal in the neighborhood that somehow survives harsh winters, humans may ignore it, but God sends food in unexpected ways.
- The farmer who plants seed but knows that rain and growth are ultimately God's work. Provision is a daily gift.
Questions your congregation is asking
- “If God provides for ravens, why do I sometimes go without?”, A chance to discuss God's timing and the difference between wants and needs.
- “Does my prayer sound like the ravens’ cry, desperate and trusting, or just routine?”, The raven's importunity teaches persistence.
- “How do I balance trust in God with my own efforts to provide?”, We work but don't trust in our work; we trust in God who provides through means.
Leading a Discussion
This short verse invites us to see God's care in the most overlooked creatures. The young ravens, dirty and noisy, picture helplessness. Yet they cry, and God answers. Discuss what this reveals about God's character and what it means for your own life.
Discussion questions
- Observation: What does the verse say about what God gives, and to whom?
- Observation: Read Psalm 147:7, 11. How do clouds, rain, grass, and animals fit together in this picture of God's provision?
- Interpretation: Why do you think the psalmist specifically mentions ravens? What cultural and religious significance did ravens have in ancient Israel?
- Interpretation: The ravens “cry”, the Hebrew word can mean a loud call for help. How does this connect to prayer? Look at Job 38:41 and Psalm 145:15, 16.
- Application: When have you felt like a “young raven”, helpless, overlooked, or unclean? How does this verse speak to that situation?
- Application: How does this verse challenge the way you view daily provision? Does it change how you pray for your needs?
- Application: What does it mean that God delights in those who hope in His mercy (v.11), rather than in human strength? How can you cultivate that hope this week?
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)
| Job 38:41 | Who provides for the raven his prey, when his young ones cry to God, and wander for lack of food? |
| Psalms 104:27 | These all wait for you, that you may give them their food in due season. |
| Psalms 104:28 | You give to them; they gather. You open your hand; they are satisfied with good. |
| Psalms 136:25 | who gives food to every creature, for his loving kindness endures forever. |
| Psalms 145:15 | The eyes of all wait for you. You give them their food in due season. |
| Psalms 145:16 | You open your hand, and satisfy the desire of every living thing. |
| Matthew 6:26 | See the birds of the sky, that they don’t sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns. Your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you of much more value than they? |
| Luke 12:24 | Consider the ravens: they don’t sow, they don’t reap, they have no warehouse or barn, and God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than birds! |
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
7 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes draws a contrast between humans, who work for their food, and wild animals, which cannot toil and depend entirely on God's direct care. His point is that God provides even for creatures that cannot help themselves, like the young ravens that cry.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge Bible commentators see the raven's croak as an urgent, pleading cry that the Psalmist presents as a call to praise God's provision. They reject the common notion that ravens abandon their young too early to fend for themselves, citing natural history as showing no foundation for that idea.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note highlights God's care for even the lowliest creatures, specifically ravens that cry out. Ravens were considered unclean animals, so the point is that God provides for all, including those others might overlook or disdain. His goodness extends beyond human needs.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill highlights that God feeds even the lowliest and most despised creatures—young ravens, which are unclean and abandoned by their parents. He then notes that ancient interpreters saw this figuratively: the ravens represent Gentiles, and their young represent Gentile Christians who cry out to the true God.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch sees the psalm contrasting two kinds of trust. God takes no pleasure in what humans rely on for self-confidence, like a warrior's horse or an athlete's legs. What delights Him is the humble, dependent trust of those who hope in His mercy rather than their own strength.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Matthew Henry stresses that praising God is both a duty and a privilege. It is inherently good because it fulfills our purpose as creatures, and it is personally pleasant, bringing holy joy. For him, this act of worship is its own reward, a foretaste of heaven itself.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Ravens - Which he mentions because they were most contemptible, especially to the Jews, to whom they were unclean: and because they are not only neglected by men, but also forsaken by their dams as soon as ever they can fly, and so are wholly left to the care of Divine providence.