תהלים, פרק ק״ד, פסוק ו׳

The relationship between the oceans and the dry land reveals a delicate balance of immense power and divine control. Water acts as a mighty force that either completely engulfed the ancient world or is currently held back by God's ongoing supervision. When considering the deep abyss, there are different ways to understand its nature. Some view it simply as a synonym for the sea or the water itself [רש״י, מאירי]. Others define it more specifically as the dark depths beneath the surface, or the deep layers of the earth that lie hidden beneath the waters [מלבי״ם, אבן עזרא].

The idea of the water acting as a covering garment can be traced back to the dawn of creation. Before the oceans were gathered into their current boundaries, water completely surrounded the globe, wrapping around the earth just as clothing covers a human body [רד״ק, מלבי״ם, מאירי]. However, this covering is also seen as a continuous, present reality. In this view, God constantly keeps the deep abyss covered and restrained, preventing it from rising up and washing away the world [מצודת דוד]. The earth itself serves as this protective garment, sealing the abyss beneath it to hold back its explosive force [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Another perspective suggests that the ocean acts as a garment that covers the vast majority of the planet, leaving only the dry land exposed, much like clothing covers a person while leaving their face visible [רד״ק, אבן עזרא].

The imagery of waters standing upon the mountains offers further insight into this balance. In the context of early creation, this highlights the sheer magnitude of the original waters, which enveloped all of existence and submerged even the highest peaks [רד״ק, מאירי, מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Yet, this is also understood as an ongoing miracle or a lingering threat. The waters of the ocean are actually higher than the land, standing above the mountains without spilling over, completely defying the natural behavior of water [רש״י, מצודת דוד]. This unnatural suspension serves as a built-in moral warning established at the beginning of time. Because the waters are positioned unnaturally above the earth, if humanity sins, God can simply allow nature to run its unrestrained course, causing the waters to wash over the mountains just as they did during the Flood [אלשיך].

Conversely, the mountains can be seen not as being submerged, but as the very structures holding the water back. God specifically placed mountains in the exact locations where the deep abyss attempted to rise, using the laws of nature to build a firm boundary against the oceans [חומת אנך]. Furthermore, the sight of sea water crashing and standing against high mountains and towering cliffs is a physical reality that can be observed directly in nature [אבן עזרא].