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How is the Aton Hymn similar in imagery to Psalm 104?

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Sculpted head of Akhenaten, ancient Egyptian pharaoh, with elongated facial features and a tall, ornate headdress, displayed at the Alexandria National Museum. — Akhenaten Akhenaten, sculpture in the Alexandria National Museum, Egypt.

The Aton Hymn and Psalm 104 share notable similarities in their literary imagery, particularly in how they depict the natural world and the divine's role as a provider for all living things.12

Both texts focus on the relationship between a creator deity and the sustenance of life. The Aton Hymn describes the sun god as the prime mover whose rising rejuvenates the earth, causing birds to fly, fish to leap, and plants to bloom, while his setting brings sleep to all creatures. Similarly, these themes of nature and divine provision are reflected in the imagery of Psalm 104, which celebrates the Lord’s role in sustaining the world and its inhabitants.12

While these passages share thematic parallels within a wider literary tradition, it is important to note that the Aton's worship was not a direct precursor to later monotheistic religions like Judaism. The Aton Hymn specifically emphasizes the unique, privileged connection between the Aton and the king, Akhenaten, who was considered the only individual capable of fully comprehending the god.21