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I will extend his rule over the sea, his dominion over the rivers.
Psalms 89:25 · New Living Translation
Parallel translations
  • WEB I will set his hand also on the sea, and his right hand on the rivers.
  • KJV I will set his hand also in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers.
  • BSB I will set his hand over the sea, and his right hand upon the rivers.
  • NKJV Also I will set his hand over the sea, And his right hand over the rivers.
  • NASB “I will also place his hand on the sea, And his right hand on the rivers.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

God promises the king dominion reaching from sea to rivers, a vast and secure realm.

Overview

"The sea" and "the rivers" picture wide borders and comprehensive rule, language of universal dominion. The promise far exceeds the historical extent of David's reign. It anticipates the worldwide reign of the Messiah, whose dominion stretches "from sea to sea" (Ps. 72:8; Zech. 9:10).

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 5

  • Ps 80:11It sent out its branches to the sea, Its shoots to the River.
  • 1 Kgs 4:21Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the River to the land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt. They brought tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life.
  • Rev 11:15The seventh angel sounded, and great voices in heaven followed, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ. He will reign forever and ever!”
  • Ps 2:8Ask of me, and I will give the nations for your inheritance, the uttermost parts of the earth for your possession.
  • Ps 72:8–11He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, from the River to the ends of the earth.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (2)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Psalms videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Psalms 89:25YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on PsalmsMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.

How Psalms 89:25 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.