Psalms 89:2

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Psalms 89:2 in Multiple Translations

Berean Standard Bible BSB

For I have said, “Loving devotion is built up forever; in the heavens You establish Your faithfulness.”

King James Version KJV

For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens.

American Standard Version ASV

For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever; Thy faithfulness wilt thou establish in the very heavens.

Bible in Basic English BBE

For you have said, Mercy will be made strong for ever; my faith will be unchanging in the heavens.

Free Bible Version FBV

For I have said, “Your unfailing love lasts forever; your faithfulness endures as long as the heavens.”

Geneva Bible 1599 GNV

For I said, Mercie shalbe set vp for euer: thy trueth shalt thou stablish in ye very heauens.

Young's Literal Translation YLT

For I said, 'To the age is kindness built, The heavens! Thou dost establish Thy faithfulness in them.'

World English Bible WEB

I indeed declare, “Love stands firm forever. You established the heavens. Your faithfulness is in them.”

Noah Webster Bible WBS

For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness wilt thou establish in the very heavens.

Douay-Rheims 1899 DRV

Before the mountains were made, or the earth and the world was formed; from eternity and to eternity thou art God.

Translation for Translators T4T

I will tell people that you will faithfully love us forever, and that your being faithful to do what you have promised is as permanent as the sky.

Study Highlights

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Berean Amplified Bible — Psalms 89:2

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Word Study

Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.

Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.

Psalms 89:2 Interlinear (Deep Study)

BIB

HEB חַֽסְדֵ֣י יְ֭הוָה עוֹלָ֣ם אָשִׁ֑ירָה לְ/דֹ֥ר וָ/דֹ֓ר אוֹדִ֖יעַ אֱמוּנָתְ/ךָ֣ בְּ/פִֽ/י

חַֽסְדֵ֣י chêçêd H2617 kindness N-mp

יְ֭הוָה Yᵉhôvâh H3068 The Lord N-proper

עוֹלָ֣ם ʻôwlâm H5769 forever N-ms

אָשִׁ֑ירָה shîyr H7891 to sing V-Qal-1cs

לְ/דֹ֥ר dôwr H1755 generation Prep | N-ms

וָ/דֹ֓ר dôwr H1755 generation Conj | N-ms

אוֹדִ֖יעַ yâdaʻ H3045 to know V-Hiphil-Imperf-1cs

אֱמוּנָתְ/ךָ֣ ʼĕmûwnâh H530 faithfulness N-fs | Suff

בְּ/פִֽ/י peh H6310 lip Prep | N-ms | Suff

Hebrew Word Study

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Hebrew Word Reference — Psalms 89:2

חַֽסְדֵ֣י chêçêd H2617 "kindness" N-mp

This word refers to kindness, mercy, or pity, often used to describe God's loving actions towards humanity. It is translated as 'favour', 'kindness', or 'mercy' in the KJV. It emphasizes God's loving character.

Definition: goodness, kindness, faithfulness

Usage: Occurs in 241 OT verses. KJV: favour, good deed(-liness, -ness), kindly, (loving-) kindness, merciful (kindness), mercy, pity, reproach, wicked thing. See also: Genesis 19:19; Psalms 51:3; Psalms 5:8.

יְ֭הוָה Yᵉhôvâh H3068 "The Lord" N-proper

Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.

Definition: Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)

Usage: Occurs in 5522 OT verses. KJV: Jehovah, the Lord. Compare H3050 (יָהּ), H3069 (יְהֹוִה). See also: Genesis 2:4; Genesis 24:42; Exodus 8:8.

עוֹלָ֣ם ʻôwlâm H5769 "forever" N-ms

This word means forever or always, describing something that lasts an eternity. It is used in the Bible to describe God's eternal nature and his lasting promises.

Definition: : old/ancient 1) long duration, antiquity, futurity, for ever, ever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient, world 1a) ancient time, long time (of past) 1b) (of future) 1b1) for ever, always 1b2) continuous existence, perpetual 1b3) everlasting, indefinite or unending future, eternity

Usage: Occurs in 413 OT verses. KJV: alway(-s), ancient (time), any more, continuance, eternal, (for, (n-)) ever(-lasting, -more, of old), lasting, long (time), (of) old (time), perpetual, at any time, (beginning of the) world ([phrase] without end). Compare H5331 (נֶצַח), H5703 (עַד). See also: Genesis 3:22; 1 Kings 8:13; Psalms 5:12.

אָשִׁ֑ירָה shîyr H7891 "to sing" V-Qal-1cs

This Hebrew word means to sing, and it is used in the Bible to describe the act of singing, like when the Israelites sang after crossing the Red Sea in Exodus 15. It can also refer to a singer or songstress. The Bible often mentions singing as a way to praise God.

Definition: 1) to sing 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to sing 1a2) singer, songstresses (participle) 1b) (Polel) 1b1) to sing 1b2) singer, songstress (participle) 1c) (Hophal) to be sung

Usage: Occurs in 79 OT verses. KJV: behold (by mistake for H7789 (שׁוּר)), sing(-er, -ing man, -ing woman). See also: Exodus 15:1; Nehemiah 12:45; Psalms 7:1.

לְ/דֹ֥ר dôwr H1755 "generation" Prep | N-ms

This word refers to a period of time or a generation of people. It is used in the Bible to describe a group of people living at the same time. In the book of Psalms, it describes a generation of people who follow God.

Definition: 1) period, generation, habitation, dwelling 1a) period, age, generation (period of time) 1b) generation (those living during a period) 1c) generation (characterised by quality, condition, class of men) 1d) dwelling-place, habitation Aramaic equivalent: dar (דָּר "generation" H1859)

Usage: Occurs in 127 OT verses. KJV: age, [idiom] evermore, generation, (n-) ever, posterity. See also: Genesis 6:9; Esther 9:28; Psalms 10:6.

וָ/דֹ֓ר dôwr H1755 "generation" Conj | N-ms

Usage: Occurs in 127 OT verses. KJV: age, [idiom] evermore, generation, (n-) ever, posterity. See also: Genesis 6:9; Esther 9:28; Psalms 10:6.

אוֹדִ֖יעַ yâdaʻ H3045 "to know" V-Hiphil-Imperf-1cs

The Hebrew word for to know means to ascertain by seeing, and is used in many senses, including to learn, perceive, and recognize, as seen in various KJV translations.

Definition: 1) to know 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to know 1a1a) to know, learn to know 1a1b) to perceive 1a1c) to perceive and see, find out and discern 1a1d) to discriminate, distinguish 1a1e) to know by experience 1a1f) to recognise, admit, acknowledge, confess 1a1g) to consider 1a2) to know, be acquainted with 1a3) to know (a person carnally) 1a4) to know how, be skilful in 1a5) to have knowledge, be wise 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be made known, be or become known, be revealed 1b2) to make oneself known 1b3) to be perceived 1b4) to be instructed 1c) (Piel) to cause to know 1d) (Poal) to cause to know 1e) (Pual) 1e1) to be known 1e2) known, one known, acquaintance (participle) 1f) (Hiphil) to make known, declare 1g) (Hophal) to be made known 1h) (Hithpael) to make oneself known, reveal oneself Aramaic equivalent: ye.da (יְדַע "to know" H3046)

Usage: Occurs in 874 OT verses. KJV: acknowledge, acquaintance(-ted with), advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware, (un-) awares, can(-not), certainly, comprehend, consider, [idiom] could they, cunning, declare, be diligent, (can, cause to) discern, discover, endued with, familiar friend, famous, feel, can have, be (ig-) norant, instruct, kinsfolk, kinsman, (cause to let, make) know, (come to give, have, take) knowledge, have (knowledge), (be, make, make to be, make self) known, [phrase] be learned, [phrase] lie by man, mark, perceive, privy to, [idiom] prognosticator, regard, have respect, skilful, shew, can (man of) skill, be sure, of a surety, teach, (can) tell, understand, have (understanding), [idiom] will be, wist, wit, wot. See also: Genesis 3:5; Leviticus 5:4; Judges 21:12.

אֱמוּנָתְ/ךָ֣ ʼĕmûwnâh H530 "faithfulness" N-fs | Suff

The Hebrew word for faithfulness, meaning firmness, security, or fidelity. It describes being steady and trustworthy, as seen in the KJV translations of faith, stability, and truth. This concept is essential in the Bible, particularly in relationships and commitments.

Definition: firmness, fidelity, steadfastness, steadiness

Usage: Occurs in 49 OT verses. KJV: faith(-ful, -ly, -ness, (man)), set office, stability, steady, truly, truth, verily. See also: Exodus 17:12; Psalms 89:50; Psalms 33:4.

בְּ/פִֽ/י peh H6310 "lip" Prep | N-ms | Suff

In the Bible, this Hebrew word refers to the mouth, lips, or edge of something, and can also mean a portion or side of something. It is often used to describe speech or the act of speaking. This word appears in various forms, such as mouth, lip, or edge.

Definition: : lip/mouth peh 1) mouth 1a) mouth (of man) 1b) mouth (as organ of speech) 1c) mouth (of animals) 1d) mouth, opening, orifice (of a well, river, etc) 1e) extremity, end pim 2) a weight equal to one third of a shekel, occurs only in 1Sa 13:21

Usage: Occurs in 460 OT verses. KJV: accord(-ing as, -ing to), after, appointment, assent, collar, command(-ment), [idiom] eat, edge, end, entry, [phrase] file, hole, [idiom] in, mind, mouth, part, portion, [idiom] (should) say(-ing), sentence, skirt, sound, speech, [idiom] spoken, talk, tenor, [idiom] to, [phrase] two-edged, wish, word. See also: Genesis 4:11; Deuteronomy 21:17; Ezra 9:11.

Study Notes — Psalms 89:2

Show Verse Quote Highlights

Context
Cross References
Psalms 89:2 Summary
Frequently Asked Questions
Reflection Questions
Gill's Exposition on Psalms 89:2
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 89:2
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 89:2
Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 89:2
Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 89:2
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 89:2
Cambridge Bible on Psalms 89:2
Barnes' Notes on Psalms 89:2
Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 89:2
Sermons on Psalms 89:2

Context — I Will Sing of His Love Forever

1I will sing of the loving devotion of the LORD forever; with my mouth I will proclaim Your faithfulness to all generations.

2For I have said, “Loving devotion is built up forever; in the heavens You establish Your faithfulness.”

3You said, “I have made a covenant with My chosen one, I have sworn to David My servant: 4‘I will establish your offspring forever and build up your throne for all generations.’” Selah

Cross References

	Reference	Text (BSB)
1	Psalms 36:5	Your loving devotion, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, Your faithfulness to the clouds.
2	Nehemiah 9:31	But in Your great compassion, You did not put an end to them; nor did You forsake them, for You are a gracious and compassionate God.
3	Psalms 89:5	The heavens praise Your wonders, O LORD— Your faithfulness as well— in the assembly of the holy ones.
4	Psalms 103:17	But from everlasting to everlasting the loving devotion of the LORD extends to those who fear Him, and His righteousness to their children’s children—
5	Numbers 23:19	God is not a man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?
6	Nehemiah 9:17	They refused to listen and failed to remember the wonders You performed among them. They stiffened their necks and appointed a leader to return them to their bondage in Egypt. But You are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in loving devotion, and You did not forsake them.
7	Psalms 89:37	like the moon, established forever, a faithful witness in the sky.” Selah
8	Nehemiah 1:5	Then I said: “O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps His covenant of loving devotion with those who love Him and keep His commandments,
9	Psalms 119:89	Your word, O LORD, is everlasting; it is firmly fixed in the heavens.
10	Psalms 42:1	As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul longs after You, O God.

Psalms 89:2 Summary

[Psalms 89:2 tells us that God's loving devotion is built up forever, which means that His love for us is not just a feeling, but a choice that He makes every day, as seen in Jeremiah 31:3, where He says 'I have loved you with an everlasting love.' This verse also says that God establishes His faithfulness in the heavens, which means that His faithfulness is a fundamental part of who He is, like in Psalms 119:89-90, where His word is established in heaven. This is important because it means that we can trust God to always be faithful to His promises, even when things seem uncertain or difficult, as promised in Hebrews 13:8, where Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.]

Frequently Asked Questions

What does 'loving devotion' mean in Psalms 89:2?

Loving devotion, or 'hesed' in Hebrew, refers to God's loyal love and faithfulness, as seen in Deuteronomy 7:9 and Psalms 136:1-3, where it is often paired with His faithfulness and covenant love.

How does God establish His faithfulness in the heavens?

According to Psalms 89:2, God establishes His faithfulness in the heavens, indicating that His faithfulness is a fundamental aspect of His character, much like in Psalms 119:89-90, where His word is established in heaven, showing His unchanging nature.

What does it mean that loving devotion is 'built up forever'?

This phrase, as seen in Psalms 89:2, means that God's loving devotion is not just a temporary feeling, but an enduring and increasing aspect of His character, as emphasized in Lamentations 3:22-23, where His mercies are new every morning and His faithfulness is great.

How does this verse relate to God's covenant with David?

Psalms 89:2 sets the stage for God's covenant with David in Psalms 89:3-4, where He promises to establish David's throne forever, demonstrating God's faithfulness to His promises, much like in 2 Samuel 7:12-16, where God establishes the Davidic covenant.

Reflection Questions

What does it mean to you that God's loving devotion is built up forever, and how can you apply this truth to your life?
How does the fact that God establishes His faithfulness in the heavens affect your understanding of His character and promises?
In what ways can you proclaim God's faithfulness to all generations, as mentioned in Psalms 89:1, and how can you live out this verse in your daily life?
What are some ways you have experienced God's loving devotion in your life, and how can you share these experiences with others to encourage them in their faith?

Gill's Exposition on Psalms 89:2

For I have said,.... That is, in his heart he had said, he had thought of it, was assured of it, strongly concluded it, from the Spirit and word of God; he believed it, and therefore he spoke it;

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 89:2

For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens.

Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 89:2

I have said within myself. I have been assured in my own mind. Mercy shall be built up for ever: as thou hast laid a sure foundation of mercy to David’ s family, by that everlasting covenant which thou hast made and established with it; so I concluded that thou wouldst carry on the same project of mercy towards it; that thou wouldst build it up, and not destroy it. Thy faithfuless shalt thou establish in the very heavens: so the sense may be this. Thou sittest in the heavens, and there thou didst make this everlasting and unchangeable decree and covenant concerning David and his house, and from thence thou beholdest and orderest all the affairs of this lower world, and therefore, I doubt not, thou wilt so order these matters as to accomplish thine own counsel and word. But thee Hebrew words are by some others, and may very well be, translated thus, with (as the Hebrew prefix beth is oft rendered) the very heavens, i.e. as firmly and durably as the heavens themselves; as with the sun, in the Hebrew text, , is by most interpreters rendered, as long as the sun endureth, as our translation hath it. And so this phrase in the last branch of this verse answers to for ever in the former; as it is also in the foregoing verse, and so in ; in both which verses for ever in the first clause is explained thus in the latter, to all generations.

Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 89:2

Psalms 89:2 For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens.Ver. 2. For I have said] I believed, therefore have I spoken it; I dare say it shall be so, because thou hast said it (so the Greek here hath it). What God saith we may write upon it, because all the words of his mouth are in righteousness, neither is there anything froward or perverse in them, Proverbs 8:8. Mercy shall be built up for ever] Till the topstone be laid, and judgment be brought forth into victory, Matthew 12:20; the sure mercies of David fail not. Thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the heavens] Or, with the very heavens; that is, so sure as they are established. If that martyr could say, The heavens shall sooner fall than I will forsake the truth I have learned; how much more may we say so of God’ s unfailable faithfulness! See Psalms 89:33.

Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 89:2

(2) Mercy . . . faithfulness.—These words, so often combined, express here, as commonly in the psalms, the attitude of the covenant God towards His people. The art of the poet is shown in this exordium. He strikes so strongly this note of the inviolability of the Divine promise only to make the deprecation of present neglect on God’s part presently more striking. Shall be built up for ever—Better, is for ever being built up. Elsewhere figured as a “place of shelter,” a “tower of refuge,” God’s faithfulness is here presented as an edifice for ever rising on foundations laid in the heavens. (Comp. Psalms 119:89.) The heavens are at once the type of unchangeableness and of splendour and height. Mant’s paraphrase brings out the power of the verse:— “For I have said, Thy mercies rise, A deathless structure, to the skies; The heavens were planted by Thy hand, And as the heavens Thy truth shall stand.” And Wordsworth has sung of Him:— “Who fixed immovably the frame Of the round world, and built by laws as strong The solid refuge for distress, The towers of righteousness.” (Comp. Psalms 36:6.)

Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 89:2

Verse 2. Mercy shall be built up for ever] God's goodness is the foundation on which his mercy rests; and from that source, and on that foundation, acts of mercy shall flow and be built up for ever and ever. Thy faithfulness shalt thou establish] What thou hast promised to do to the children of men on earth, thou dost register in heaven, and thy promise shall never fail.

Cambridge Bible on Psalms 89:2

2. For I have said] ‘I have deliberately come to this conclusion.’ Thus emphatically the poet introduces the motive for his song. He is persuaded that one stone after another will continue to be laid in the building of God’s lovingkindness till it reaches to heaven itself, even though it may now seem to be a deserted ruin. Though for rhythmical reasons the verse is divided into two lines, its sense must be taken as a whole: ‘Lovingkindness and faithfulness shall be built up and established for ever in the heavens.’ For the metaphorical use of ‘build’ cp. Job 22:23; Jeremiah 12:16; Malachi 3:15. The choice of the word, as well as of ‘establish’ in the next line, is suggested by their use in Psalms 89:4. in the very heavens] High as the heavens (Psalms 36:5); or in the region where it is beyond the reach of earthly vicissitudes (Psalms 119:89-90). Many editors would read, Thou hast said … My faithfulness shall be established &c., a change partly supported by the LXX and Jer. But the structure of the Psalm is against the change, for the verses run in pairs, and Psalms 89:2 is clearly to be connected with Psalms 89:1 : moreover the emphatic ‘I have said’ is by no means superfluous.

Barnes' Notes on Psalms 89:2

For I have said - The Septuagint and the Latin Vulgate render this, “Thou hast said,” which is more in accordance with what the connection seems to demand; but the Hebrew will not admit of this construction.

Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 89:2

2. For I… said—Faith said, on the authority of the word of promise.

Sermons on Psalms 89:2

	Sermon	Description
	Useful for the Master - Part 3 by Jackie Pullinger	This sermon emphasizes God's love and faithfulness towards His people, highlighting the sacrificial nature of Jesus' love and the call for believers to reciprocate that love by sur
	Position to Stand by Jim Cymbala	In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of maintaining a stance of joyful praise in our lives. He encourages listeners to have a fixed heart and to sing and praise Go
	(Worship) Session 5: The How of Worship by Joseph Carroll	Joseph Carroll emphasizes the importance of worshiping God in spirit and truth, highlighting that true worship comes from a pure heart and clean hands. He explains that worship is
	Thy Mercy, 0 Lord, Is in the Heavens by John Calvin	John Calvin preaches about the contrast between the depravity of men and the faithfulness and mercy of God, emphasizing the importance of not being influenced by the wickedness aro
	Belief in God and His Goodness by K.P. Yohannan	K.P. Yohannan emphasizes the critical importance of maintaining belief in God and His goodness, likening it to a safety rope that helps us navigate through life's challenges. He re
	Unlimited Resources but Limited Receptacles by A.W. Tozer	A.W. Tozer emphasizes that God's infinite nature means His goodness, mercy, love, and grace are boundless, and that to think of Him as limited is to misunderstand His true essence.
	Psalm 36 by Henry Law	Henry Law preaches about the stark contrast between the wicked, who are consumed by sin and deceit, and the glory of God, whose mercy, faithfulness, righteousness, and lovingkindne