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‘I will establish your offspring forever, and build up your throne to all generations.’” Selah.
Psalms 89:4 · World English Bible
Parallel translations
  • KJV Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations. Selah.
  • BSB ‘I will establish your offspring forever and build up your throne for all generations.’” Selah
  • NKJV ‘Your seed I will establish forever, And build up your throne to all generations.’ ” Selah
  • NASB I will establish your descendants forever And build up your throne to all generations.” Selah
  • NLT ‘I will establish your descendants as kings forever; they will sit on your throne from now until eternity.’” 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

God promises to establish David's offspring forever and build up his throne to all generations. The Davidic dynasty is pledged to endure perpetually.

Overview

God's oath guarantees an everlasting line and throne for David, a promise that shapes messianic hope. The 'Selah' invites reflection on this stunning pledge. The everlasting throne is realized in Christ, the descendant of David who reigns forever and whose kingdom will have no end.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 19

  • 2 Sam 7:12–16When your days are fulfilled, and you sleep with your fathers, I will set up your offspring after you, who will proceed out of your body, and I will establish his kingdom.
  • Luke 1:32–33He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father, David,
  • Ps 132:12If your children will keep my covenant, my testimony that I will teach them, their children also will sit on your throne forever more.”
  • Isa 9:6–7For to us a child is born. To us a son is given; and the government will be on his shoulders. His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
  • 1 Kgs 9:5then I will establish the throne of your kingdom over Israel forever, as I promised to David your father, saying, ‘There shall not fail from you a man on the throne of Israel.’
  • Rom 1:3–4concerning his Son, who was born of the offspring of David according to the flesh,
  • 1 Chr 22:10He shall build a house for my name; and he will be my son, and I will be his father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel for ever.’
  • 1 Chr 17:10–14and from the day that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel. I will subdue all your enemies. Moreover I tell you that Yahweh will build you a house.
  • Rom 15:12Again, Isaiah says, “There will be the root of Jesse, he who arises to rule over the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles will hope.”
  • Acts 13:32–37We bring you good news of the promise made to the fathers,
  • Zech 12:8In that day Yahweh will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem. He who is feeble among them at that day will be like David, and David’s house will be like God, like Yahweh’s angel before them.
  • Luke 20:41–44He said to them, “Why do they say that the Christ is David’s son?
  • Phil 2:9–11Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the name which is above every name;
  • Ps 89:29I will also make his offspring endure forever, and his throne as the days of heaven.
  • Ps 72:17His name endures forever. His name continues as long as the sun. Men shall be blessed by him. All nations will call him blessed.
  • Ps 89:1A contemplation by Ethan, the Ezrahite. I will sing of the loving kindness of Yahweh forever. With my mouth, I will make known your faithfulness to all generations.
  • Ps 89:36His offspring will endure forever, his throne like the sun before me.
  • 2 Sam 7:29Now therefore let it please you to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever before you; for you, Lord Yahweh, have spoken it. Let the house of your servant be blessed forever with your blessing.”
  • Rev 22:16I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify these things to you for the assemblies. I am the root and the offspring of David; the Bright and Morning Star.”

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 89:4YouTube · 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 89:4 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.