Psalm 102 25

Psalm 102:25 kjv

Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands.

Psalm 102:25 nkjv

Of old You laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands.

Psalm 102:25 niv

In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.

Psalm 102:25 esv

Of old you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.

Psalm 102:25 nlt

Long ago you laid the foundation of the earth
and made the heavens with your hands.

Psalm 102 verses

Psalm 102 25 Meaning

Psalm 102:25 powerfully declares God's pre-existent and eternal nature as the sovereign Creator of the entire cosmos. It asserts that God, from eternity past, meticulously established the earth as its foundation and personally crafted the heavens. This statement stands as a foundational truth affirming His infinite power, wisdom, and supremacy, especially when contrasted with the temporary and fleeting nature of creation and the psalmist's own suffering.

Psalm 102 25 Context

Psalm 102 is a "prayer of an afflicted person who has grown weak and pours out a lament before the Lord." The initial verses (1-11) describe intense suffering, personal affliction, isolation, and a sense of God's displeasure. The psalmist feels his life is fading away like a shadow, withering like grass. There is a deep contrast drawn between the psalmist's transient, suffering existence and God's eternal nature. Verses 12-28 pivot, focusing on God's enduring character, His compassionate nature towards Zion, and His eternal reign. Verse 25-27 represent the theological crescendo, shifting from a plea to an affirmation of God's unchangeable, pre-existent, and creative power, forming the bedrock for hope. This passage becomes a powerful statement not only for Israel's restoration but also for understanding the immutable character of God, which the New Testament further illuminates, specifically in Hebrews 1, where these verses are directly quoted and applied to Jesus Christ to establish His divinity and superiority over angels, highlighting His role as Creator.

Psalm 102 25 Word analysis

• Of old (לְפָנִים - ləp̄ānîm): This Hebrew adverb means "before," "formerly," "in ancient times," or "of old." It carries the connotation of an immemorial past, emphasizing that God's act of creation was not recent but preceded everything known. It implies God's existence prior to and independent of creation, asserting His eternity and sovereignty over time itself.
• You laid the foundation (יָסַדְתָּ - yāsaḏtā): This verb comes from the root יָסַד (yāsadh), meaning "to found," "to establish," or "to lay a foundation." The imagery is of an architect or builder meticulously setting down the cornerstone for a stable and enduring structure. It speaks to God's deliberate, wise, and powerful action in establishing the earth not chaotically, but with order, stability, and purpose. It refutes any ancient Near Eastern notions of creation arising from chaotic struggles among multiple deities.
• of the earth (אָרֶץ - ʼarets): This common Hebrew word refers to the land, the ground, or the entire planet Earth. In this context, it signifies the tangible, material part of creation that serves as the dwelling place for humanity. Its mention immediately after "laid the foundation" stresses the solidity and intended stability of this divine act.
• And the heavens (וְשָׁמַיִם - wəšāmáyim): The Hebrew word shamayim is dual in form, encompassing both the visible sky (atmosphere, clouds) and the celestial realm (stars, planets, and often metaphorically, the dwelling place of God). The conjunction "And" connects it to "the earth," indicating that God's creative reach is total and encompasses the entire cosmos, both terrestrial and celestial.
• are the work of Your hands (מַעֲשֵׂה יָדֶיךָ - maʿaśēh yāḏeyḵā):
  • Work (מַעֲשֵׂה - maʿaśēh): Denotes a completed act or a product of labor, skill, or creation. It speaks of a deliberate, artistic, and skilled undertaking.
  • Your hands (יָדֶיךָ - yāḏeyḵā): An anthropomorphism, attributing human characteristics (hands) to God. This is not meant literally but powerfully conveys God's personal involvement, intimate craftsmanship, direct agency, and supreme power in creating the universe. It suggests that creation is not a detached act but flows from His very being and active will.
• Words-Group analysis:
  • "Of old You laid the foundation of the earth": This phrase emphasizes God's eternal pre-existence before any created thing. It speaks to the ancient and absolute nature of His creative act, highlighting His omnipotent power to establish something as massive and stable as the earth itself. It asserts that creation has a singular, deliberate origin point in the unchanging will of God.
  • "And the heavens are the work of Your hands": This extends God's creative mastery beyond the terrestrial to the celestial, indicating that the vast expanse and intricate celestial bodies are also His direct, personal, and powerful artistry. The "work of Your hands" personalizes creation, demonstrating a craftsman-like dedication and intimate involvement that extends to every part of the cosmos.

Psalm 102 25 Bonus section

The strong imagery of "laying the foundation" in Psalm 102:25 counters ancient Near Eastern cosmogonies which often depicted creation as arising from chaos, conflict among deities, or primordial matter without a singular, sovereign, pre-existent creator. The biblical account, encapsulated here, portrays an orderly, purposeful, and deliberate act of foundation-laying by a God who exists outside and before creation, distinct from it, yet intimately involved as its personal Author. This sets a significant theological boundary, establishing God's absolute uniqueness and His independent existence as the source of all being. The unchanging nature of God, who remains when His creation perishes and transforms, provides immense comfort, highlighting that God’s steadfast character is a greater truth than the temporal nature of even the heavens and earth. It’s a call to look beyond the immediate circumstances to the immutable rock of God's being.

Psalm 102 25 Commentary

Psalm 102:25-27 offers profound theological anchors within a psalm of deep human suffering. Amidst the psalmist's fleeting life and affliction, this verse bursts forth as a declaration of God's unassailable, eternal reality as the sole Creator. It states that "of old," from a timeless eternity, God purposefully "laid the foundation of the earth" – implying a deliberate, stable, and mighty act of creation, not a random emergence. The heavens too, the entire cosmos beyond earth, are emphatically declared the "work of Your hands," underscoring His direct, personal, and complete authorship over all that exists. This divine authorship assures that despite the fragility and transient nature of creation itself, the Creator is unchanging, reliable, and forever powerful. The later application in Hebrews 1 confirms that this powerful statement about the Creator points directly to the pre-existent, eternal Son, Jesus Christ, solidifying His divine nature and His essential role in both creation and its ultimate transformation, thereby providing immense hope in His immutable sovereignty amidst any human crisis or change.