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“It shall be established forever like the moon, And a witness in the sky is faithful.” Selah
Psalms 89:37 · New American Standard Bible
Parallel translations
  • WEB It will be established forever like the moon, the faithful witness in the sky.” Selah.
  • KJV It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah.
  • BSB like the moon, established forever, a faithful witness in the sky.” Selah
  • NKJV It shall be established forever like the moon, Even like the faithful witness in the sky.” Selah
  • NLT It will be as eternal as the moon, my faithful witness in the sky!” Interlude

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

The Davidic throne will be as established and faithful as the moon, an enduring witness in the sky.

Overview

Like the moon, a reliable, God-ordained "faithful witness," the dynasty is promised lasting establishment. Creation's constancy testifies to the certainty of God's covenant word. The "Selah" invites reflection on this firm promise, ultimately anchored in the unending kingdom of Christ.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 6

  • Jer 31:35–36Yahweh, who gives the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, who stirs up the sea, so that its waves roar; Yahweh of Armies is his name, says:
  • Ps 104:19He appointed the moon for seasons. The sun knows when to set.
  • Gen 1:14–18God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs to mark seasons, days, and years;
  • Gen 9:13–16I set my rainbow in the cloud, and it will be a sign of a covenant between me and the earth.
  • Isa 54:9–10“For this is like the waters of Noah to me; for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah will no more go over the earth, so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you, nor rebuke you.
  • Ps 72:7In his days, the righteous shall flourish, and abundance of peace, until the moon is no more.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (3)

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 89:37YouTube · 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 89:37 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.