Psalm 136:5

To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Cross-references

Psalm 33:6 Parallel

Psalm 33:6 says the heavens were made by God's word, complementing Psalm 136:5's attribution to understanding—both divine means of creation.

Psalm 104:24 says God made all things in wisdom, closely paralleling the 'by understanding' attribution in Psalm 136:5 for creation.

Psalm 146:6 Parallel

In Psalm 146:6, the maker of heaven and earth is praised in a direct parallel to the creative act celebrated in Psalm 136:5.

Genesis 1:1 Allusion

Genesis 1:1 is the foundational account of God creating the heavens, which Psalm 136:5 explicitly recalls with the added attribute of understanding.

Proverbs 3:19 states God by understanding established the heavens, a direct verbal parallel to Psalm 136:5's 'by understanding made the heavens'.

Proverbs 8:22-29 personifies Wisdom as present when God established the heavens, aligning with Psalm 136:5's attribution to understanding in creation.

Jeremiah 10:12 declares God stretched out the heavens by his understanding, a direct echo of Psalm 136:5's phrase connecting understanding to the heavens.

Genesis 2:1 Historical context

In Genesis 2:1, the summary 'the heavens and the earth were finished' directly echoes the completed creation that Psalm 136:5 credits to God's understanding.

Nehemiah 9:6 Related theme

In Nehemiah 9:6, the Levites proclaim God made 'the heaven of heavens' and preserves them, expanding on the heavens theme of Psalm 136:5.

In Proverbs 8:27, personified Wisdom is present when God establishes the heavens, directly connecting to the 'understanding' in Psalm 136:5.

In Jeremiah 10:12, God 'by his understanding stretched out the heavens' — a nearly identical phrasing to Psalm 136:5, reinforcing the same truth.

Genesis 1:6 Historical context

In Genesis 1:6, this same creative act is described as God forming the expanse to separate waters, detailing the 'heavens' made in Psalm 136:5.