Psalm 146 10

Psalm 146:10 kjv

The LORD shall reign for ever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the LORD.

Psalm 146:10 nkjv

The LORD shall reign forever? Your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the LORD!

Psalm 146:10 niv

The LORD reigns forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the LORD.

Psalm 146:10 esv

The LORD will reign forever, your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the LORD!

Psalm 146:10 nlt

The LORD will reign forever.
He will be your God, O Jerusalem, throughout the generations.
Praise the LORD!

Psalm 146 verses

Psalm 146 10 Meaning

Psalm 146:10 culminates the entire Psalm by emphatically declaring the eternal sovereignty of the LORD, YHWH, who is specifically identified as the covenant God of Zion (His people). This unending reign spans all generations, contrasting sharply with the transient nature of human authority. Therefore, this unchanging, everlasting kingship of God is the ultimate reason and foundation for perpetual praise.

Psalm 146 10 Context

Psalm 146 is the first of the five concluding Hallelujah Psalms (146-150), which collectively bring the entire book of Psalms to a glorious close of praise. The Psalm opens with the psalmist committing his soul to praise the LORD throughout his life (verses 1-2). Crucially, verses 3-4 establish a direct contrast: do not trust in human princes or mortals, whose plans perish with their death. Instead, happiness belongs to those who trust in the God of Jacob (verse 5). The bulk of the Psalm (verses 6-9) then elaborates on God's mighty, benevolent, and righteous attributes – His role as Creator, His faithfulness, and His active compassion for the oppressed, the hungry, prisoners, the blind, the bowed down, strangers, widows, and orphans, while subverting the wicked. Psalm 146:10 serves as the powerful conclusion to this argument, stating that the God possessing all these dependable attributes is the eternal King, cementing the psalmist's initial call to trust and praise Him. This assertion stands in stark polemic opposition to the prevalent reliance on fallible human rulers and the transient, unreliable deities and empires of surrounding pagan nations, emphasizing that only YHWH offers true and enduring hope.

Psalm 146 10 Word analysis

• The LORD (יְהֹוָה, YHWH): This is God's personal covenant name, often transliterated as "Yahweh." It emphasizes His self-existence, eternal being ("I AM"), and His faithfulness to His covenant promises. The use of YHWH distinguishes Him from any lesser god or human authority, asserting His unique divine identity and sovereignty.
• shall reign (יִמְלֹךְ, yimloch): From the Hebrew root malak, meaning "to be king," "to reign." The imperfect (future) tense here carries a sense of continuous action—not merely that He will reign someday, but that He does reign, and will continue to reign, without end. It denotes active, present, and ongoing kingship.
• for ever (לְעוֹלָם, le'olam): Means "to eternity," "forever," "everlasting." It underscores the enduring, limitless duration of God's reign, without beginning or end. It establishes an infinite timeline that surpasses all mortal bounds.
• even thy God (אֱלֹהַיִךְ צִיּוֹן, Elohayich Tsiyon): The possessive pronoun "thy" (your) in "Elohayich" (your God) highlights a deeply personal, intimate, and covenantal relationship. This isn't just any generic deity; it's the specific God in whom Israel has placed its trust, distinguishing YHWH as Israel's unique God.
• O Zion (צִיּוֹן, Tsiyon): Originally one of the hills in Jerusalem, it expanded in meaning to refer to Jerusalem as God's chosen city, the spiritual center, and later, metaphorically, to God's people (Israel), and in the New Testament, to the heavenly Jerusalem or the Church. It represents the covenant community and the locus of God's presence and reign among His people.
• unto all generations (לְדֹר וָדֹר, le'dor vador): Literally "from generation and generation." This phrase reinforces the "forever" by specifying continuity through every successive age of humanity. It emphasizes that God's reign is not limited to a single era but spans the entire history of creation, encompassing past, present, and future generations.
• Praise ye the LORD (הַלְלוּ יָהּ, Halleluyah): This is an imperative command to praise God collectively. "Halleluyah" combines "hallel" (praise ye) and "Yah" (a short form of YHWH, the LORD). It functions as both a summary of the Psalm's message and an exhortation to action, ending the Psalm on a note of triumphant worship.

• "The LORD shall reign for ever": This phrase directly asserts the eternal and unchanging nature of God's kingship, a stark contrast to human monarchs (implied from earlier verses) whose reigns are fleeting and mortal. It undergirds the entire message of Psalm 146 that only God is ultimately trustworthy.
• "even thy God, O Zion": This specific address solidifies the covenant bond. It moves from a general declaration of divine sovereignty to a particular, intimate relationship with His chosen people, assuring them of His personal commitment and reign over them specifically. This is a source of immense comfort and security for the community of faith.
• "unto all generations. Praise ye the LORD.": The concluding part provides two powerful layers: (1) The expansive scope of His reign extends perpetually through history, demonstrating His enduring faithfulness and relevance; (2) The call to praise is not merely a suggestion but an essential, commanded response to this profound truth of God's eternal dominion. It frames the entire existence of God's people within the context of perpetual worship in light of His enduring sovereignty.

Psalm 146 10 Bonus section

The positioning of Psalm 146:10 within the Psalter, specifically as the first "Hallelujah" Psalm leading into a final collection (Psalms 146-150), signifies a theological trajectory towards the full and ultimate reign of God. This eschatological vision is picked up in the New Testament, where the eternal reign of God is explicitly linked to Christ's sovereignty, as seen in Revelation 11:15 ("The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever."). Thus, the Psalmist's declaration foreshadows the ultimate triumph of God's kingdom through His Messiah. "Zion," here, transitions from merely an earthly city to representing the spiritual community of believers, the "heavenly Jerusalem" (Heb 12:22), where God's eternal reign is fully realized in the presence of His people.

Psalm 146 10 Commentary

Psalm 146:10 is the doxological climax of the Psalm, profoundly asserting the LORD's eternal, unwavering, and active reign. It acts as the cornerstone of the Psalm's message: that trust in humanity is futile because human life and power are ephemeral, while trust in the Almighty God is infinitely wise and blessed, because His kingship endures "forever" and "unto all generations." The designation "thy God, O Zion" signifies the LORD's particular covenant relationship and unwavering commitment to His chosen people, guaranteeing His protective and guiding presence throughout their history. This verse stands as a powerful refutation against reliance on temporary earthly powers and an enduring call to place ultimate confidence and hope in the immutable sovereignty of God alone. It serves as an ultimate truth that provides foundational security and commands never-ending adoration, hence the culminating "Praise ye the LORD." Practically, it invites believers to abandon anxieties stemming from worldly instability and instead root their hope and joy in the eternal governance of the most high God.