Mazmur 24:2

24:2 For he set its foundation upon the seas,

and established ¹  it upon the ocean currents. ² 

Mazmur 33:9

33:9 For he spoke, and it ³  came into existence,

he issued the decree, ⁴  and it stood firm.

Mazmur 136:6

136:6 to the one who spread out the earth over the water,

for his loyal love endures,

[24:2]  ¹ tn The prefixed verbal form is understood as a preterite, referring to the creation of the world.

[24:2]  ² sn He…established it upon the ocean currents. The description reflects ancient Israelite prescientific cosmology, which is based on outward appearances. The language also suggests that God’s creative work involved the subjugation of chaos, symbolized by the sea.

[33:9]  ³ tn That is, “all the earth” in the first line of v. 8. The apparent antecedent of the masculine subject of the verbs in v. 9 (note וַיֶּהִי [vayyehiy] and וַיַּעֲמֹד [vayya’amod]) is “earth” or “world,” both of which are feminine nouns. However, כָּל (kol, “all”) may be the antecedent, or the apparent lack of agreement may be explained by the collective nature of the nouns involved here (see GKC 463 §145.e).

[33:9]  ⁴ tn Heb “he commanded.”