Psalm 119 152

Psalm 119:152 kjv

Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them for ever.

Psalm 119:152 nkjv

Concerning Your testimonies, I have known of old that You have founded them forever.

Psalm 119:152 niv

Long ago I learned from your statutes that you established them to last forever.

Psalm 119:152 esv

Long have I known from your testimonies that you have founded them forever.

Psalm 119:152 nlt

I have known from my earliest days
that your laws will last forever.

Psalm 119 verses

Psalm 119 152 Meaning

Psalm 119:152 declares the psalmist's long-standing, personal conviction that God's testimonies—His divine decrees, precepts, and moral laws—were established by God from eternity and will endure eternally. It is a profound affirmation of the immutable and timeless nature of God's Word, based on a deep, experiential knowledge rather than mere intellectual assent. The verse highlights the enduring reliability and divine origin of God's truth in contrast to the changing wisdom of the world.

Psalm 119 152 Context

Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible, a magnificent acrostic poem (with 22 stanzas, one for each letter of the Hebrew alphabet) celebrating the excellence and blessedness of God's Law. Each of its 176 verses focuses on various synonyms for God's Word, such as "statutes," "precepts," "decrees," "commandments," "ordinances," "judgments," "word," and "testimonies." The entire Psalm expresses an intense, fervent love for and meditation on the Torah (God's instruction).

Verse 152 falls within the "Qoph" (קוֹף) stanza (verses 153-160). Throughout Psalm 119, the psalmist repeatedly seeks to obey, understand, and be sustained by God's Word amidst trials and opposition. This verse specifically affirms that the "testimonies"—which act as divine witnesses to God's character and will—are not fleeting human constructs but are divinely established to last for all time. Historically and culturally, in a world often marked by shifting political powers, transient laws, and various pagan cults with changing decrees, the concept of a divinely revealed and eternally unchangeable law would have stood as a powerful counter-narrative and a source of profound security for the Israelite worshipper.

Psalm 119 152 Word analysis

• Concerning thy testimonies: The Hebrew word is עֵדֹת (‘edot), meaning "witnesses," "decrees," or "precepts." These are God’s pronouncements that bear witness to His nature, His will, and His covenant relationship with humanity. In Psalm 119, it often refers to solemn declarations of God, highlighting their authority and reliability as direct revelations from the Almighty.
• I have known: The Hebrew is יָדַעְתִּי (yadati), from the root יָדַע (yada'a), which signifies more than mere intellectual knowledge. It implies a deep, intimate, experiential understanding, often gained through relationship and observation. It’s a knowledge that has been tried, proven, and absorbed into the core of one's being.
• of old: The Hebrew is מֵעוֹלָם (me'olam), meaning "from antiquity," "from time immemorial," or "from eternity." This phrase emphasizes that the psalmist's understanding of God's Word isn't new or fleeting, but rather a deeply rooted, long-standing conviction, perhaps passed down through generations of faith or gleaned from a lifetime of observing God's faithfulness in history and in his own life. It signifies a truth that existed long before the psalmist himself.
• that thou hast founded them: The Hebrew is יְסַדְתָּם (yesadtam), from the root יָסַד (yasad), meaning "to found," "to establish," or "to lay a firm foundation." This metaphor highlights the divine origin and immovability of God’s testimonies. They are not human inventions or arbitrary rules but are firmly laid by God Himself, much like the foundation of a solid building or the earth itself.
• for ever: The Hebrew is לְעוֹלָם (le'olam), again using ‘olam but now in its forward-looking sense of "to eternity," "perpetually," or "without end." This confirms the timeless nature of God's testimonies, extending into the indefinite future, underlining their unchanging authority and relevance for all generations.

• "Concerning thy testimonies, I have known": This opening phrase asserts the personal and deeply experienced nature of the psalmist’s conviction. It is a confident declaration rooted in profound encounter with divine truth, affirming the active pursuit and apprehension of God's revealed will.
• "I have known of old that thou hast founded them for ever": The dual use of 'olam' ('me'olam' and 'le'olam') creates a powerful inclusio, emphasizing the eternal scope of God's testimonies—from eternity past (their foundation) to eternity future (their endurance). The psalmist’s "knowing" bridges this entire span, testifying to the unchanging nature of God's Word across all time. This long-standing knowledge empowers the psalmist's present confidence.
• "thou hast founded them for ever": This clause attributes the permanence of the testimonies directly to God's action. Their enduring quality is not inherent to the words themselves but derives solely from the unwavering nature and will of the divine Founder. It speaks to God's omnipotence and steadfastness, as He who creates also sustains His own truth.

Psalm 119 152 Bonus section

The immutability of God's Word as expressed in this verse serves as a powerful contrast to human pronouncements, which are by nature finite, fallible, and subject to change. This highlights a quiet polemic against any worldview that denies absolute truth or asserts that spiritual knowledge is merely a subjective human construct. The psalmist's deep-rooted knowledge reinforces that the authority and permanence of God's Word are derived from His eternal and unchanging character (Mal 3:6; Jas 1:17). This profound certainty provides the believer with an unwavering foundation for faith and practice, grounding their life in a truth that predates and will outlast all earthly things.

Psalm 119 152 Commentary

Psalm 119:152 encapsulates a foundational truth of biblical faith: the enduring and unchanging nature of God’s Word. The psalmist expresses a deep, experiential understanding (not mere intellectual assent) that has been cultivated over time ("of old"). He understands that God’s testimonies—His precepts and declarations—are not temporary or subject to decay, but rather are rooted in the very essence of God Himself. "Thou hast founded them for ever" speaks to God’s deliberate and powerful act of establishing His Word with eternal stability, akin to the unshakeable foundation of the earth. This brings immense comfort and security to the believer amidst the constant flux of human philosophies and transient societal norms. God's truth, because of its divine origin, stands firm for all time, providing a constant, reliable anchor.

Practical examples:

• In times of moral relativism, holding fast to the objective, eternal truths revealed in Scripture provides clarity and conviction.
• When facing personal challenges or despair, the unchanging promises and principles of God's Word offer unyielding hope and guidance.
• Understanding the eternal nature of God's testimonies fosters trust in His character, knowing He is faithful to His word throughout generations.