He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his word runneth very swiftly.
Parallel translations
- WEB He sends out his commandment to the earth. His word runs very swiftly.
- BSB He sends forth His command to the earth; His word runs swiftly.
- NKJV He sends out His command to the earth; His word runs very swiftly.
- NASB He sends His command to the earth; His word runs very swiftly.
- NLT He sends his orders to the world— how swiftly his word flies!
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
God sends His command to the earth and His word runs swiftly. His word is powerful and accomplishes His purposes instantly.
Overview
God governs creation by His spoken command, which speeds to do His will without delay. His word is effective and sovereign over all things. This testifies to the power of God's word, the same word made flesh in Christ and active in His creation (John 1:1-3).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Job 37:12And it is turned round about by his counsels: that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world in the earth.
- 2 Th 3:1Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:
- Ps 107:20He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
- Job 34:29When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only:
- Matt 8:8–9The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.
- Matt 8:13And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.
- Ps 33:9For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.
- Ps 68:11The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.
- Ps 107:25For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.
- Jonah 1:4But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.
How Psalms 147:15 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.