Psalms 89:36 — Word Study
WLCזַ֭רְעוֹ לְעוֹלָ֣ם יִהְיֶ֑ה וְכִסְא֖וֹ כַשֶּׁ֣מֶשׁ נֶגְדִּֽי׃
BSAoneʼechâd to swearshâbaʻ Holy Placeqôdesh ifʼim DavidDâvid to liekâzab
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| זַ֭רְעוֹ | offspring his | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| לְעוֹלָ֣ם | for ever | Preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| יִהְיֶ֑ה | it will be | Verb, Qal, imperfect third person masculine singular |
| וְכִסְא֖וֹ | and throne his | Conjunction, noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| כַשֶּׁ֣מֶשׁ | like the sun | Preposition, noun common both singular absolute |
| נֶגְדִּֽי׃ | before me | Suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | his offspring shall endure forever, and his throne before Me like the sun, |
| KJV | His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me. |
| ASV | His seed shall endure for ever, And his throne as the sun before me. |
| YLT | His seed is to the age, And his throne [is] as the sun before Me, |
| WEB | His offspring will endure forever, his throne like the sun before me. |
| BBE | His seed will not come to an end for ever; the seat of his kingdom will be like the sun before me. |
Where they part company is כַשֶּׁ֣מֶשׁ — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence is structured around a main clause with two subordinate phrases, emphasizing the enduring nature of David's lineage and throne.
7 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbהוּא
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Psalms 89:36
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — God's Covenant with Davidgenerated
Psalm 89:36 speaks of God's unwavering promise to David, assuring that his offspring will endure forever. This verse is part of a larger reflection on God's faithfulness and the significance of David's lineage, which is central to the understanding of God's covenantal relationship with His people. The preceding verses highlight God's commitment to David, making this promise a cornerstone of hope for future generations.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 89:4–29 | ‘I will establish your offspring forever and build up your throne for all generations.’” Selah |
| 2 | 2 Samuel 7:16 | Your house and kingdom will endure forever before Me, and your throne will be established forever.” |
| 3 | Isaiah 53:10 | Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush Him and to cause Him to suffer; and when His soul is made a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, and the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand. |
| 4 | Isaiah 59:21 | “As for Me, this is My covenant with them,” says the LORD. “My Spirit will not depart from you, and My words that I have put in your mouth will not depart from your mouth or from the mouths of your children and grandchildren, from now on and forevermore,” says the LORD. |
| 5 | John 12:34 | The crowd replied, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ will remain forever. So how can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 9 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — זַ֭רְעוֹ, zar.'ogenerated
The word זַ֭רְעוֹ (zar.'o) is a construct form of זֶ֫רַע (zera`), meaning seed or offspring. It signifies not just biological descendants but also encompasses the broader concept of a lineage or royal line, crucial in biblical narratives regarding God's promises.
This noun is in the masculine singular construct form, indicating a close relationship with the subsequent word, לְעוֹלָ֣ם (le.'o.Lam), which means 'forever.' The phrase emphasizes the enduring nature of David's lineage as part of God's eternal plan.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The verse is rendered in the Berean Standard Bible as 'his offspring shall endure forever,' consistent with the KJV and ASV, which also use 'shall endure' to convey the permanence of David's descendants.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb of the verse is יִהְיֶ֑ה (yih.Yeh), meaning 'it will be.' This verb governs the subject 'his offspring' and the predicate 'his throne before Me like the sun.' The structure emphasizes the promise of continuity and presence.
The sentence is constructed with a noun phrase subject followed by a prepositional phrase and a clause that describes the throne's enduring nature, highlighting the relationship between David's lineage and God's eternal presence.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the Hebrew זַ֭רְעוֹ is rendered as ὤμοσα (ōmosa), indicating a promise or oath. This choice underscores the seriousness of God's commitment to David's lineage.
The Greek word for 'like the sun' is not directly translated in the Septuagint, which reflects a different emphasis in its wording but maintains the essence of the enduring nature of David's throne.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 89:36 states that David's offspring will last forever, and his throne will be like the sun before God. This emphasizes God's promise that David's line will endure, symbolizing stability and faithfulness.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It signifies God's promise that David's lineage will continue without end, representing hope for future generations.
The sun symbolizes constancy and reliability, indicating that David's throne will have a lasting presence in God's plan.
It underscores the eternal nature of God's covenant with David, assuring that His promises are unchanging and everlasting.
David's lineage is central to the narrative of God's covenant with Israel and is significant in the context of messianic expectations.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways do I see God's promises enduring in my own life?
- How can I reflect the stability and faithfulness of God's promises to others?
- What does the imagery of the sun teach me about God's presence in my life?
- How can I better understand the significance of lineage and heritage in my faith journey?
Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 89:36 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleHis seed shall endure for ever,.... This is a confirmation by his oath of what he had before said, Psalms 89:29 which may be understood either of the perseverance of particular believers, of everyone
Read John Gill on Psalms 89 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryThen thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 89 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleIn respect of perpetual duration, as appears both from the foregoing words, and from the following verse.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 89 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 89:36 His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me.Ver. 36. His seed shall endure for ever] Christ "shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days; and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hands," Isaiah 53:10 filiabitur nomine eius, Psalms 72:17. See there.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 89 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 36. His throne as the sun] Splendid and glorious! dispensing light, heat, life, and salvation to all mankind.
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 89 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges36. Cp. Psalms 89:4; Psalms 89:29; Psalms 72:5; Psalms 72:7; Psalms 72:17.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 89 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleHis seed shall endure forever ... - His posterity. See the notes at Psalms 89:29. There, the expression is, “his throne as the days of heaven.” Here it is, “his throne as the sun before me.” The meaning is the same.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 89 →The verse in English, compared — 16 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
his offspring shall endure forever, and his throne before Me like the sun,
His offspring will endure forever, his throne like the sun before me.
his offspring shall endure forever, and his throne before Me like the sun,
His dynasty will last forever. His throne will endure before me, like the sun,
Tyndale line
His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me.
His seed shall endure for ever, And his throne as the sun before me.
His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me.
His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me.
His seede shall endure for euer, and his throne shalbe as the sunne before me.
Strictly literal
His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me;
His seed is to the age, And his throne [is] as the sun before Me,
His seed is for all time, || And his throne [is] as the sun before Me,
(89:37) His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne shall be like the sun before me.
his descendants will continue forever and his throne as long as the sun before me.
Simplified
His royal line will last forever, and his dynasty will continue before me as long as the sun endures.
His seed will not come to an end for ever; the seat of his kingdom will be like the sun before me.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint largely agree in their representation of this verse, with five out of six words matching. This consistency highlights the importance of the promise regarding David's offspring and throne.
זַ֭רְעוֹ לְעוֹלָ֣ם יִהְיֶ֑ה וְכִסְא֖וֹ כַשֶּׁ֣מֶשׁ נֶגְדִּֽי׃
5 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Psalms 89:36
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
זֶ֫רַע (zera`) means seed, sowing, or offspring. It can refer to literal seed, such as in agriculture, or figuratively to descendants and moral qualities of individuals or communities. The term encompasses concepts like sowing time and can denote a practitioner of righteousness. There is a consistent emphasis on both physical and moral implications of the word.
זֶ֫רַע n.m. sowing, seed, offspring
lit.:
a sowing
sowing as regularly recurring at its season
seed
seed = semen virile
seed = offspring
seed as marked by moral quality = persons (or community) of such a quality
base
H2233 זֶ֫רַע sowing, seed, offspring . lit.: . a sowing
. sowing as regularly recurring at its season
. seed
. seed = semen virile
. seed = offspring
. seed as marked by moral quality = persons (or community) of such a quality
2233 zera` zeh'-rah
from 2232; seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time,
posterity:--X carnally, child, fruitful, seed(-time), sowing-
time.
see HEBREW for 02232
זֶ֫רַע (ze.ra) — seed.
: seed/sowing
1) seed, sowing, offspring
1a) a sowing
1b) seed
1c) semen virile
1d) offspring, descendants, posterity, children
1e) of moral quality
1e1) a practitioner of righteousness (fig.)
1f) sowing time (by meton)
זֶ֫רַע (ze.ra) — seed: children.
: children/descendants
1) seed, sowing, offspring
1a) a sowing
1b) seed
1c) semen virile
1d) offspring, descendants, posterity, children
1e) of moral quality
1e1) a practitioner of righteousness (fig.)
1f) sowing time (by meton)
זֶ֫רַע (ze.ra) — seed: semen.
: semen
1) seed, sowing, offspring
1a) a sowing
1b) seed
1c) semen virile
1d) offspring, descendants, posterity, children
1e) of moral quality
1e1) a practitioner of righteousness (fig.)
1f) sowing time (by meton)
HNcmsc/Sp3ms — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp3ms
עוֹלָם (owlam) refers to concepts of long duration, antiquity, and futurity, encompassing meanings like eternity and perpetual existence. It is derived from a root meaning 'concealed' or 'the vanishing point.' The term is used to describe both ancient times and an indefinite future, indicating continuity and everlastingness.
עוֹלָם 439 n.m. long duration, antiquity, futurity
base
H5769 עוֹלָם long duration, antiquity, futurity
5769 `owlam o-lawm'
or lolam {o-lawm'}; from 5956; properly, concealed, i.e. the
vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or future),
i.e. (practically) eternity; frequentatively, adverbial
(especially with prepositional prefix) always:--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
(+ without end). Compare 5331, 5703.
see HEBREW for 05956
see HEBREW for 05331
see HEBREW for 05703
עוֹלָם (o.lam) — forever: enduring.
: enduring/eternal
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
עוֹלָם (o.lam) — Everlasting.
This name means long duration, everlasting, perpetual
Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)
עוֹלָם (o.lam) — forever: any time.
: any_time
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
עוֹלָם (o.lam) — forever: antiquity.
: old/ancient
HR/Ncmsa — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHR/Ncmsa
The Hebrew word הָיָה (hayah) is a primitive root meaning to exist or become, and it encompasses a range of meanings including to happen, occur, and come to pass. It is often used in narrative contexts, particularly in phrases like "and it came to pass." The word can also denote a state of being or existence, and it appears frequently in various forms throughout the Old Testament.
הָיָה 3570 vb. fall out, come to pass, become, be
Qal
Fall out, happen
occur, take place, come about, come to pass
esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass
וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)
rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה
less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)
Come into being, become
abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come
sq. prep.
become
sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)
sq. pred. adj.
become like
sq. pred. לְ pers.
sq. לְ pred.
oft. c. לְ pred. לְ pers.
with עַל and לְ
sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of
Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming)
exist, be in existence
abide, remain, continue
with word of locality, be in or at a place, be situated, stand, lie
as copula, joining subj. & pred.
H1961 הָיָה fall out, come to pass, become, be .. . . Fall out, happen
. occur, take place, come about, come to pass
. esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass . . וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)
. rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה
. less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)
. Come into being, become . . abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come
. sq. prep.
. become . sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)
. sq. pred. adj.
. become like
. sq. pred. + לְ pers.
. sq. לְ pred.
. oft. c. לְ pred. + לְ pers.
. with עַל and לְ
. sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of
. Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming) . exist, be in existence
. abide, remain, continue
1961 hayah haw-yaw
a primitive root (compare 1933); to exist, i.e. be or become,
come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or
auxiliary):--beacon, X altogether, be(-come), accomplished,
committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint,
fall, + follow, happen, X have, last, pertain, quit
(one-)self, require, X use.
see HEBREW for 01933
הָיָה (ha.yah) — to be.
1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out
1a) (Qal)
1a1) ---
1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass
1a1b) to come about, come to pass
1a2) to come into being, become
1a2a) to arise, appear, come
1a2b) to become
1a2b1) to become
1a2b2) to become like
1a2b3) to be instituted, be established
1a3) to be
1a3a) to exist, be in existence
1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time)
1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality)
1a3d) to accompany, be with
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about
1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
HVqi3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singularHVqi3ms
כִּסֵּא (kis.se) refers to a seat of honour or throne, often associated with royal dignity and authority. It is derived from a root meaning 'covered' and encompasses meanings like stool and seat. The entries consistently highlight its significance in both literal and figurative contexts.
כִּסֵּא, כִּסֵּה 133 n.m. seat of honour, throne
base
H3678 כִּסֵּא, כִּסֵּה seat of honour, throne
3678 kicce' kis-say'
or kicceh {kis-say'}; from 3680; properly, covered, i.e. a
throne (as canopied):--seat, stool, throne.
see HEBREW for 03680
כִּסֵּא (kis.se) — throne.
1) seat (of honour), throne, seat, stool
1a) seat (of honour), throne
1b) royal dignity, authority, power (fig.)
כִּסֵּא (kis.se) — (Hall of) the Throne.
Combined with u.lam (אוּלָם "Hall" H0197I)
This name means throne, seat
כִּסֵּא (kis.se) — throne: seat.
1) seat (of honour), throne, seat, stool
1a) seat (of honour), throne
1b) royal dignity, authority, power (fig.)
HC/Ncmsc/Sp3ms — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHC/Ncmsc/Sp3ms
שֶׁ֫מֶשׁ (shemesh) means 'sun' and is derived from a root meaning 'to be brilliant.' It encompasses various meanings, including directions like east and west, and can refer to the sun as an object of worship. Additionally, it can denote shining pinnacles or battlements.
שֶׁ֫מֶשׁ 133 n.f. et m. sun
sun
of direction: toward sun-rise, = East
obj. of worship
other phr.
pinnacle, as glittering, shining
base
H8121 שֶׁ֫מֶשׁ sun
8121 shemesh sheh'-mesh
from an unused root meaning to be brilliant; the sun; by
implication, the east; figuratively, a ray, i.e. (arch.) a
notched battlement:--+ east side(-ward), sun ((rising)), +
west(-ward), window. See also 1053.
see HEBREW for 01053
שֶׁ֫מֶשׁ (she.mesh) — sun.
1) sun
1a) sun
1b) sunrise, sun-rising, east, sun-setting, west (of direction)
1c) sun (as object of illicit worship)
1d) openly, publicly (in other phrases)
1e) pinnacles, battlements, shields (as glittering or shining)
HRd/Ncbsa — Preposition · noun common both singular absoluteHRd/Ncbsa
Sun
(Heb. shemesh), first mentioned along with the moon as the two great luminaries of heaven (Gen. 1:14-18). By their motions and influence they were intended to mark and divide times and seasons. The worship of the sun was one of the oldest forms of false religion (Job 31:26,27), and was common among the Egyptians and Chaldeans and other pagan nations. The Jews were warned against this form of idolatry (Deut. 4:19; 17:3; comp. 2 Kings 23:11; Jer. 19:13).
In the history of "greater light," of the creation the sun is described as "greater light," in contradistinction to the moon, the "lesser light," in conjunction with which it was to serve "for signs and for seasons, and for days, and for years," while its special office was "to rule the day." (Genesis 1:14-16) The "signs" referred to were probably such extraordinary phenomena as eclipses, which were regarded as conveying premonitions of coming events. (Jeremiah 10:2; Matthew 24:29) with Luke 21:25 The joint influence assigned to the sun and moon in deciding the "seasons," both for agricultural operations and for religious festivals, and also in regulating the length and…
→ Created Ge 1:14-18; Ps 74:16; 136:7; Jer 31:35
→ Rising and setting of Ec 1:5
→ Diurnal motion of Ps 19:4,6
→ Worship of, forbidden De 4:19; 17:3
→ Worshiped Job 31:26-28; Jer 8:2; Eze 6:4,6; 8:16
→ Kings of Judah dedicate horses to 2Ki 23:11
→ Miracles concerning
נֶ֫גֶד (neged) refers to something that is conspicuous or in front, functioning as both a noun and an adverb. It denotes a position opposite or before someone, often used to indicate presence or visibility. The word can imply a counterpart or mate, and it appears in contexts emphasizing sight or proximity.
נֶ֫גֶד 151 subst. what is conspicuous or in front, always as adv. or prep. in front of, in sight of, opposite to
base
H5048 נֶ֫גֶד subst. what is conspicuous or in front, always as adv. or prep. in front of, in sight of, opposite to
5048 neged neh'-ghed
from 5046; a front, i.e. part opposite; specifically a
counterpart, or mate; usually (adverbial, especially with
preposition) over against or before:--about, (over) against,
X aloof, X far (off), X from, over, presence, X other side,
sight, X to view.
see HEBREW for 05046
נֶ֫גֶד (ne.ged) — before.
subst
1) what is conspicuous, what is in front of
adv
2) in front of, straight forward, before, in sight of
3) in front of oneself, straightforward
4) before your face, in your view or purpose
with prep
5) what is in front of, corresponding to
6) in front of, before
7) in the sight or presence of
8) parallel to
9) over, for
10) in front, opposite
11) at a distance
prep
12) from the front of, away from
13) from before the eyes of, opposite to, at a distance from
14) from before, in front of
15) as far as the front of
Aramaic equivalent: ne.ged (נֶ֫גֶד "before" H5049)
HAcmsc/Sp1bs — SuffixHAcmsc/Sp1bs