Psalms 19:4

Line. Heb. qaw, “measuring line,” used to determine boundaries. The LXX has phthoggos, “sound,” or “speech,” perhaps reading qol instead of qaw; hence the RSV translation “voice.” If the first meaning is accepted, the line designates only the worldwide extent of the message of God’s creation. If the second meaning is accepted, as the parallelism of qaw with the Hebrew word translated “words” in the second part of the verse suggests, the inarticulate but clearly understood voice of v. 3 is emphasized. “To the Hebrew the world seemed filled with the music of a mighty orchestra, whose music was a kind of inarticulate Te Deum of praise to the Creator and Preserver of its life” (Baldwin). Paul quotes this verse in part to illustrate the worldwide progress of the gospel (Rom. 10:18).

Through. Heb. be, translated “to” in the following phrase. In both instances it should probably be rendered “from” in harmony with Ugaritic usage (see pp. 618, 619). The entire passage may be translated, “From all the earth comes forth their cry, from the end of the world their words.”

In them. In the heavens.

Tabernacle. Heb. ’ohel, “tent.” The psalmist here introduces the sun into his splendid picture of the heavens, not as an object of worship but as one of the things God has made. Figuratively, he personifies the sun as a splendid being passing the day in the tent in the sky that his Creator has provided. The last clause of v. 4 really belongs with v. 5. Compare Hab. 3:11.