Grow With MeBible
Grow With Me

Psalms 89:1–2

Ethan promises to sing of God's faithfulness from generation to generation

1A maskil of Ethan the Ezrahite. The loyal loves of YHWH forever I will sing; from generation to generation I will make known your faithfulness with my mouth.

2For I said, “Forever loyal love will be built up; in the very heavens you will establish your faithfulness.”

Study it word by word

In its context

…

3I have made a covenant with my chosen one; I have sworn to David my servant:

4Forever I will establish your offspring, and I will build from generation to generation your throne. Selah.

Read all of Psalms 89

Its words in the original

  • מַשְׂכִּילmaskil· maskil

    Maskil: a word in the title of thirteen psalms. It comes from "understand" and probably names a skillful or teaching poem. Its exact sense is not known.

  • אֵיתָןetan· Ethan

    Ethan: the name of several men: Ethan the Ezrahite, a famous wise man (1 Kings 4:31; title of Psalm 89), and several Levites, among them one of David's singers (1 Chronicles 15:17). The name means "firm, lasting."

  • אֶזְרָחִיezrachi· Ezrahite

    Ezrahite: of the family of Zerah. The wise men Ethan and Heman are called this (1 Kings 4:31; titles of Psalms 88 and 89).

  • חַסְדֵיchasde· loyal love

    "Chesed": love that stays faithful to a commitment. It is kindness that does not remain a feeling: it acts in favor of the other and does not abandon him. The Bible says it above all of God's love for his people.

  • יְהוָהyehva· YHWH

    The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.

  • עוֹלָםolam· forever, eternal

    A very long time whose end cannot be seen: looking forward, "forever"; looking back, "of old", "ancient".

  • אָשִׁירָהashira· sing

    Sing; singer.

  • דֹרdor· generation

    Generation: the people who live in the same period; also an age, "all generations".

  • אוֹדִיעַodia· know

    Know. Not only having a fact: it is knowing by experience and closely; also recognize, care for, make known. So Hebrew also uses it for the intimate union of a man and his wife ("he knew his wife").

  • אֱמוּנָתְemunat· faithfulness, steadiness

    Steadiness; from there faithfulness, being trustworthy.

  • פִfi· mouth

    Mouth. Also what someone says or commands ("by the mouth of" = by the word of); the edge of a sword; "according to".

  • אָמַרְתִּיamarti· say

    Say, speak. The most common verb for bringing in what someone says; sometimes "think" (say to oneself) or "command".

  • יִבָּנֶהyibane· build

    Build, construct; also rebuild. Figuratively, build up a family (give it children).

  • שָׁמַיִםshamayim· heavens, sky

    The heavens: what is above, where the clouds, the sun and the stars are seen; also the dwelling of God. In Hebrew it is always plural. With birds, "the sky".

  • תָּכִןtachin· be firm, prepare

    Be firm, be set, be ready; in the causative form, set up, establish, prepare, make ready.

Faithfulness