Lectionary Calendar
Saturday, May 3rd, 2025
the Second Week after Easter
Attention!
For 10¢ a day you can enjoy StudyLight.org ads
free while helping to build churches and support pastors in Uganda.
Click here to learn more!

Read the Bible

New King James Version

Psalms 89:37

It shall be established forever like the moon, Even like the faithful witness in the sky."Selah

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Church;   Covenant;   David;   Government;   King;   The Topic Concordance - Government;   Throne;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Covenant, the;   Kings;   Moon, the;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Ethan;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Covenant;   David;   Psalms, book of;   Samuel, books of;   Type, typology;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Cloud, Cloud of the Lord;   Testimony;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Covenant;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Moon;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Ethan;   Ezrahite;   Lovingkindness;   Priests and Levites;   Psalms;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Psalms the book of;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Amon;   Sky;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Moon;   New Moon, Blessing of the;   Shemoneh 'Esreh;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
like the moon, established forever,a faithful witness in the sky.”Selah
Hebrew Names Version
It will be established forever like the moon, The faithful witness in the sky." Selah.
King James Version
It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah.
English Standard Version
Like the moon it shall be established forever, a faithful witness in the skies." Selah
New Century Version
It will continue forever, like the moon, like a dependable witness in the sky." Selah
New English Translation
it will remain stable, like the moon, his throne will endure like the skies." (Selah)
Amplified Bible
"It shall be established forever like the moon, And the witness in the heavens is ever faithful." Selah.
New American Standard Bible
"It shall be established forever like the moon, And a witness in the sky is faithful." Selah
World English Bible
It will be established forever like the moon, The faithful witness in the sky." Selah.
Geneva Bible (1587)
He shalbe established for euermore as the moone, and as a faythfull witnes in the heauen. Selah.
Legacy Standard Bible
It shall be established forever like the moon,And the witness in the sky is faithful." Selah.
Berean Standard Bible
like the moon, established forever, a faithful witness in the sky." Selah
Contemporary English Version
and moon appear in the sky."
Complete Jewish Bible
his dynasty will last forever, his throne like the sun before me.
Darby Translation
It shall be established for ever as the moon, and the witness in the sky is firm. Selah.
Easy-to-Read Version
Like the moon, it will continue forever. The sky is a witness to the agreement that can be trusted." Selah
George Lamsa Translation
It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven.
Good News Translation
It will be as permanent as the moon, that faithful witness in the sky."
Lexham English Bible
Like the moon it will be steadfast forever, and like an enduring witness in the sky.'" Selah
Literal Translation
Like the moon, it shall be forever; and a faithful witness in the sky. Selah.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
His sede shal endure for euer, and his seate also like as the Sonne before me.
American Standard Version
It shall be established for ever as the moon, And as the faithful witness in the sky. Selah
Bible in Basic English
It will be fixed for ever like the moon; and the witness in heaven is true. (Selah.)
JPS Old Testament (1917)
His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before Me.
King James Version (1611)
It shalbe established for euer as the Moone: and as a faithfull witnesse in heauen. Selah.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
[And] as the moone which shall continue for euermore: and shalbe a faithful witnesse in heauen. Selah.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
and as the moon that is established for ever, and as the faithful witness in heaven. Pause.
English Revised Version
It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as the faithful witness in the sky. Selah
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And his trone as sunne in my siyt, and as a perfit mone with outen ende; and a feithful witnesse in heuene.
Update Bible Version
It shall be established forever as the moon, And [as] the faithful witness in the sky. Selah.
Webster's Bible Translation
It shall be established for ever as the moon, and [as] a faithful witness in heaven. Selah.
New Living Translation
It will be as eternal as the moon, my faithful witness in the sky!" Interlude
New Life Bible
It will last forever like the moon, which may always be seen in the sky."
New Revised Standard
It shall be established forever like the moon, an enduring witness in the skies." Selah
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Like the moon, shall it be established unto times age-abiding, And, a witness, in the skies, hath been made sure. Selah.
Douay-Rheims Bible
(88-38) And his throne as the sun before me: and as the moon perfect for ever, and a faithful witness in heaven.
Revised Standard Version
Like the moon it shall be established for ever; it shall stand firm while the skies endure." [Selah]
Young's Literal Translation
As the moon it is established -- to the age, And the witness in the sky is stedfast. Selah.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"It shall be established forever like the moon, And the witness in the sky is faithful." Selah.

Contextual Overview

19 Then You spoke in a vision to Your holy one, [fn] And said: "I have given help to one who is mighty;I have exalted one chosen from the people. 20 I have found My servant David; With My holy oil I have anointed him, 21 With whom My hand shall be established; Also My arm shall strengthen him. 22 The enemy shall not outwit him, Nor the son of wickedness afflict him. 23 I will beat down his foes before his face, And plague those who hate him. 24 "But My faithfulness and My mercy shall be with him, And in My name his horn shall be exalted. 25 Also I will set his hand over the sea, And his right hand over the rivers. 26 He shall cry to Me, "You are my Father, My God, and the rock of my salvation.' 27 Also I will make him My firstborn, The highest of the kings of the earth. 28 My mercy I will keep for him forever, And My covenant shall stand firm with him.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

It shall: That is, as long as the sun and moon shall endure, as long as time shall last, his kingdom shall continue among men. The moon is probably termed a faithful witness, because by her, particularly, time is measured. Her decrease and increase are especially observed by every nation; and by these time is generally estimated, especially among eastern nations. - So many moons is a man old - so many moons since such an event happened; and even their years are reckoned by lunations. Or, the rainbow may be intended; that faithful sign which God has established in the clouds, that the earth shall no more be destroyed by water.

ever: Psalms 72:7, Psalms 104:19, Genesis 1:14-18, Jeremiah 31:35, Jeremiah 31:36

and as: Genesis 9:13-16, Isaiah 54:9, Isaiah 54:10

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 7:13 - I will stablish 2 Samuel 7:16 - General 1 Kings 2:12 - his kingdom 1 Kings 2:33 - his house 1 Chronicles 17:12 - I will 1 Chronicles 22:10 - I will establish Psalms 2:6 - Yet Psalms 21:4 - length Psalms 45:6 - throne Psalms 61:6 - many generations Psalms 72:5 - as long Psalms 89:2 - faithfulness Psalms 132:11 - sworn Psalms 136:9 - The moon and stars Psalms 148:3 - sun Psalms 148:6 - He hath also Ecclesiastes 1:5 - sun Jeremiah 33:20 - General John 12:34 - Christ Romans 1:3 - which Revelation 1:5 - who is

Gill's Notes on the Bible

It shall be established for ever as the moon,.... Either Christ's seed, or throne, which comes to much the same sense; for by both are meant his church and people, his kingdom and interest in the world; the moon is as perpetual as the sun, and is used as elsewhere to signify the continuance of the people, church, and interest of Christ,

Psalms 72:5, for though the moon has its spots, and is changeable, sometimes in the full, and sometimes in the decline, yet always is, and always continues, and ever will; and so though the people of God have their spots and imperfections, and are sometimes on the decline in the frames and dispositions of their minds, in the exercise of grace, in their spirituality, liveliness, and zeal, and in their walk and conversation in the church and world; yet they shall abide and persevere to the end; and though the church may be like the moon in the wane, be declining as to numbers, gifts, and graces, yet it shall continue and be established; it is sometimes indeed in a fluctuating state, and is not always in the same place, but is removed from one country to another; yet it always is somewhere, even though in the wilderness, and ere long will be established on the top of the mountains, and be no more a tabernacle that shall be taken down; see

Psalms 48:8

and as a faithful witness in heaven: or "in the sky or cloud" b; some understand this of the moon, others of both sun and moon; but it seems best to interpret it of something distinct from either, even of the rainbow, which though it does not always appear in the clouds, yet it has appeared at times, and does and will unto the end of the world; and be a faithful and an everlasting token and witness of the covenant of God made with all creatures, that he will no more destroy the world by a flood, Genesis 9:12, and is an emblem of the covenant of grace, and of the continuance, perpetuity, and immutability of it; see

Isaiah 54:9.

Selah. Isaiah 54:9- :.

b בשחק "in aethere", Montanus, Tigurine version, Vatablus; "in superiore nube", Junius Tremellius "in nubibus", Gejerus.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

It shall be established forever as the moon - As long as the moon shall endure. The heavenly bodies are the most permanent objects that we know of; and they, therefore, became the emblems of stability and perpetuity. Compare the notes at Psalms 72:7.

And as a faithful witness in heaven - As the witness in heaven, or in the sky, is sure. The reference is to the moon, regarded as a witness for God. What is said here of the moon as an index of his faithfulness, might be said also of the sun and the stars; but the beauty of the image is increased by the attention being fixed to a single object. As the moon is fixed, regular, enduring - so are the promises and purposes of God. Such were the promises made to David; such was the oath which had been taken by God; such the covenant which he had made. The psalmist now proceeds Psalms 89:38-45 to show that this oath and these promises seemed to be disregarded; that there were things occurring which appeared as if God had forgotten them; that there was not that manifest prosperity and favor which was implied in the promise; but that a series of calamities had occurred which it was difficult to reconcile with these solemn pledges. On the ground of this he prays Psalms 89:46-52 that God would return, and would remember his covenant, and would bless David and his people.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Psalms 89:37. As the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven. — That is, as long as the sun and moon shall endure, as long as time shall last, his kingdom shall last among men. The moon appears to be termed a faithful witness here, because by her particularly time is measured. Her decrease and increase are especially observed by every nation, and by these time is generally estimated, especially among the eastern nations. So many moons is a man old; so many moons since such an event happened; and even their years are reckoned by lunations. This is the case with the Mohammedans to the present day. Or the rainbow may be intended; that sign which God has established in the cloud; that faithful witness of his that the earth shall no more be destroyed by water. As long therefore as the sun, the moon, and the rainbow appear in the heavens, so long shall the spiritual David reign, and his seed prosper and increase.

Selah. — It is confirmed; it shall not fail.


 
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile