Psalm 148:6 kjv
He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass.
Psalm 148:6 nkjv
He also established them forever and ever; He made a decree which shall not pass away.
Psalm 148:6 niv
and he established them for ever and ever? he issued a decree that will never pass away.
Psalm 148:6 esv
And he established them forever and ever; he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away.
Psalm 148:6 nlt
He set them in place forever and ever.
His decree will never be revoked.
Psalm 148 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 8:22 | "While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest...shall not cease." | God's enduring covenant and natural order. |
| Gen 9:16 | "...the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature..." | Perpetual covenant as an unchanging decree. |
| Ps 19:1-2 | "The heavens declare the glory of God...day to day pours out speech..." | Creation continuously speaks of God's order. |
| Ps 33:9 | "For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm." | God's word as the source of creation's stability. |
| Ps 89:2 | "Your faithfulness You will establish in the heavens themselves." | God's faithfulness mirroring the heavens' stability. |
| Ps 89:37 | "like the moon, established forever, a faithful witness in the skies." | Lunar cycle as a symbol of eternal establishment. |
| Ps 93:1 | "...indeed, the world is established; it cannot be moved." | The world's fixedness by God's decree. |
| Ps 104:5 | "He set the earth on its foundations, so that it should never be moved." | Earth's permanent foundation by divine design. |
| Ps 119:89 | "Forever, O LORD, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens." | God's word enduring as the heavens. |
| Ps 119:90-91 | "Your faithfulness endures to all generations...For all things are your servants." | Creation serving God's decree faithfully. |
| Prov 8:27-29 | "...he established the heavens...marked out the foundations of the earth..." | God's wisdom ordering the cosmos. |
| Job 38:4-7 | "Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth...?" | God as the sole architect of cosmic order. |
| Isa 40:8 | "The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever." | God's word contrasted with temporal creation. |
| Jer 31:35-36 | "...who gives the sun for light by day...These ordinances depart not..." | God's fixed laws for celestial bodies. |
| Jer 33:20-21 | "If you can break My covenant with the day and My covenant with the night..." | God's enduring covenant as sure as daily cycles. |
| Mat 5:18 | "For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota..." | The law's enduring validity tied to creation's end. |
| Lk 16:17 | "But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one dot..." | Emphasizes the permanence of God's written word. |
| Col 1:16-17 | "For by him all things were created...and in him all things hold together." | Christ as the sustainer of creation's order. |
| Heb 1:3 | "He upholds the universe by the word of his power." | Christ's active role in maintaining cosmic stability. |
| Heb 1:10-12 | "...The heavens are the work of your hands; they will perish..." | God's unchanging nature compared to created order. |
| Jam 1:17 | "...with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." | God's immutable nature reflected in His decrees. |
| 2 Pet 3:7 | "But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up..." | God's word maintaining creation until its destined end. |
Psalm 148 verses
Psalm 148 6 Meaning
Psalm 148:6 declares the eternal stability and unchanging order of the created celestial bodies—the heavens, sun, moon, stars, and the waters above the firmament—all established by God's immutable decree. It signifies that the Creator has not only brought these elements into existence but has also set their course and function permanently, sustained by His authoritative word. This verse emphasizes God's sovereign control and the perpetual nature of His cosmic laws.
Psalm 148 6 Context
Psalm 148 is a magnificent cosmic call to praise, invoking all of creation, from the highest heavens to the lowest earth, to laud the Lord. Verses 1-6 specifically summon the celestial realms: the heavens, sun, moon, stars, and the "waters above the heavens" to offer praise. This particular verse, Psalm 148:6, serves as the theological underpinning for why these celestial bodies are commanded to praise God—because He brought them into existence and maintains them in a stable, permanent order through His inviolable decree. It speaks to the ancient Near Eastern understanding of a structured cosmos, not one governed by chaotic or arbitrary deities, but by a single, sovereign God whose word establishes and sustains an enduring reality. The permanence highlighted here directly contrasts with pagan mythologies that often depicted the cosmos as volatile or created through conflict, emphasizing Yahweh's supreme and orderly power.
Psalm 148 6 Word analysis
- He has established them (הֶעֱמִידֵם - he'emīdem): From the root עמד (amad), meaning "to stand, to cause to stand, to fix, to establish, to set up." This is a hiphil conjugation, indicating God caused them to stand or made them firm. It implies purposeful divine action, not just creating, but solidifying and securing. It highlights God's ongoing sustaining power over creation.
- forever and ever (לָעַד וָעֶד - la'ad va'ed): An emphatic Hebrew phrase indicating eternal duration, perpetuity, or unending time. "Ad" (עַד) means "eternity" or "perpetuity." The repetition intensifies the concept, meaning literally "for eternity and for eternity." This is not just a long time but implies an unending, unchanging state as long as God wills them to exist in their current form.
- he has given a decree (חָק־נָתַן - choq natan):
- Decree (חֹק - choq): This noun refers to a fixed ordinance, statute, appointed rule, boundary, or law. It signifies something etched, prescribed, or carved out, implying unalterable permanence. It is not a suggestion but an absolute, unchangeable command from God. This term is often used for moral and ceremonial laws, but here it applies to cosmic laws.
- Given (נָתַן - natan): To give, to place, to set. It denotes the act of divinely implanting this unchangeable law into the very fabric of creation. God is the one who initiates and ordains the fixed nature of things.
- which shall not pass away (וְלֹא יַעֲבוֹר - v'lo ya'avor):
- Pass away (עָבַר - avar): To pass over, to cross over, to transgress, to perish. In this context, it implies that the decree will not be broken, revoked, or come to an end. It denotes inviolability and unchangeability.
- V'lo (וְלֹא): "And not," emphasizing the absolute negative, reinforcing the idea of impossibility for the decree to fail or change.
- "He has established them forever and ever": This phrase underlines the permanence of the created order. It directly contradicts ancient pagan beliefs where cosmic order was often viewed as precarious, dependent on the whims of volatile gods, or prone to returning to chaos. It affirms God's unchanging and unwavering plan for the cosmos.
- "he has given a decree, which shall not pass away": This reinforces the divine authority and immutability behind the permanence. The decree is God's fixed law that governs creation, ensuring its predictable and reliable operation. This refers not merely to the existence of the celestial bodies but to their prescribed functions, orbits, and patterns, which operate consistently throughout history, reflecting God's faithfulness and wisdom. This order makes life possible and predictable on earth.
Psalm 148 6 Bonus section
The concept of God's "decree" in this verse profoundly resonates with what we understand today as natural laws (e.g., gravity, thermodynamics, celestial mechanics). These are not merely emergent properties but are seen as divinely instituted principles that uphold and govern the universe. The unchanging nature of these laws, essential for scientific inquiry and human existence, reflects the unchangeable character of God. This verse therefore also serves as a strong basis for affirming the divine origin of the cosmos' consistent and predictable operational laws. The reliability of these cosmic ordinances is an anchor for human life, underscoring God's consistent provision and ordering of His creation for the benefit of all living things, culminating in His praise.
Psalm 148 6 Commentary
Psalm 148:6 stands as a profound testament to the steadfast sovereignty of God. It declares that the entire cosmic order, particularly the celestial bodies invoked in the preceding verses, is not haphazard or temporary, but meticulously established and eternally sustained by the direct and unchangeable command of the Creator. This "decree" (חֹק - choq) encompasses the unchanging laws that govern the universe, ensuring the predictability of cycles, seasons, and cosmic movements. This divinely imprinted order guarantees the stability of creation and serves as a visible sign of God's unwavering faithfulness. The verse invites profound trust in a God whose word is as reliable and enduring as the very stars in the sky, assuring believers of His unchanging character amidst all worldly fluctuations. It shows that praise from creation is not optional but inherent to its divinely mandated function and very being.