Psalm 89 35

Psalm 89:35 kjv

Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David.

Psalm 89:35 nkjv

Once I have sworn by My holiness; I will not lie to David:

Psalm 89:35 niv

Once for all, I have sworn by my holiness? and I will not lie to David?

Psalm 89:35 esv

Once for all I have sworn by my holiness; I will not lie to David.

Psalm 89:35 nlt

I have sworn an oath to David,
and in my holiness I cannot lie:

Psalm 89 verses

Psalm 89 35 Meaning

Psalm 89:35 declares God's solemn and unchangeable oath concerning His covenant with David. It emphatically states that God has made an irrevocable vow, grounded in His very essence of holiness, to uphold His word and will never break His promise to David or lie to him regarding the established covenant and eternal dynasty. This verse serves as a foundational affirmation of God's absolute faithfulness amidst the psalmist's subsequent lament regarding the apparent failure of David's royal line.

Psalm 89 35 Context

Psalm 89 is a Maskil (instructive psalm) of Ethan the Ezrahite. It falls within Book 3 of the Psalms, often characterized by expressions of national distress and questions concerning God's faithfulness to the Davidic covenant in times of suffering and apparent abandonment. The first part of the psalm (vv. 1-37) celebrates God's unwavering faithfulness, His covenant with David, and His powerful character as the Creator and Ruler. Verse 35 is part of God's direct speech, reaffirming His covenant promise (vv. 19-37) to David, which guarantees an eternal dynasty. This divine declaration stands in stark contrast to the profound lament and questioning that immediately follows in the psalm (vv. 38-51), where the psalmist cries out about the catastrophic defeat and apparent rejection of David's line, struggling to reconcile God's mighty promises with the present reality of national ruin. Historically, this likely reflects the period of the Babylonian exile or a time when the Davidic monarchy was in severe decline, threatening its very existence. The verse is a crucial theological anchor, grounding faith in God's immutable character despite perceived temporal contradictions.

Psalm 89 35 Word analysis

• Once (פַּעַם֙ - pa'am): This Hebrew word means "footstep," "time," or "stroke." In this context, it denotes a single, decisive, and final act. It signifies the absolute and unrepeatable nature of God's oath; it was given fully and irrevocably, requiring no repetition or revalidation. This stands in contrast to the frequent unreliability of human promises.

• have I sworn (נִשְׁבַּ֤עְתִּי - nishba'ti): Derived from the verb shava (שָׁבַע), meaning "to swear, take an oath." In biblical Hebrew, swearing an oath is a profoundly serious act, invoking a divine being (or oneself, in God's case) as witness or guarantor. When God swears, it signifies an unalterable commitment, as there is no higher authority He can appeal to beyond His own divine nature. It indicates the strongest possible assurance, binding Himself to His word.

• by My holiness (בְּקָדְשִׁ֑י - beqodeshi): Qodesh (קֹדֶשׁ) refers to the attribute of being sacred, set apart, pure, and perfect. God's holiness is the sum of His moral perfection and transcendence. Swearing by His holiness means swearing by His very character, His inherent righteousness, truth, and immutability. It implies that for God to break this oath, He would have to cease to be holy, which is impossible. This is the strongest possible guarantee God can provide, emphasizing His inherent inability to lie or deceive, contrasting Him with capricious pagan deities.

• I will not lie (אִם־אֲכַזֵּ֖ב - 'im-'akhazzev): The אִם ('im) particle often introduces a negative oath clause in Hebrew, effectively meaning "if I lie, then (let disaster befall me, or may I not be God)," making the very possibility of Him lying utterly inconceivable. The verb kazav (כָּזָב) means "to lie," "to disappoint," or "to prove false." This absolute negation reinforces God's complete truthfulness and reliability; His word is truth itself, incapable of failing or deceiving.

• to David (לְדָוִֽד - leDavid): Specifies the direct recipient of this unbreakable oath. It refers to the covenant God made with King David, promising him an eternal dynasty and throne (2 Sam 7:12-16). This clarifies the subject of God's sworn promise, highlighting the specific, unconditional nature of the Davidic covenant.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "Once have I sworn by My holiness": This phrase underlines the profound nature of the divine commitment. The act of swearing is unique, complete, and needs no repetition, indicating a final and definitive declaration. Its guarantee lies not in an external power but in God's intrinsic and unchangeable holiness, which means His truthfulness and faithfulness are as certain as His own existence and perfect character.
  • "I will not lie to David": This segment emphatically assures the fulfillment of the specific promise made to David. The double negative implied by the construction "I will not lie" strengthens the assertion of absolute truth. It dispels any doubt that God might deceive, disappoint, or fail concerning the specific terms of the Davidic covenant. This covenant, foundational to Israel's messianic hope, is thus declared inviolable by the Creator Himself.

Psalm 89 35 Bonus section

The theological weight of God swearing by His own holiness is immense; since there is nothing greater than Himself, God invokes His very being as the ultimate pledge (Heb 6:13). This means His word is not just reliable but impossibly false. This divine oath ensures the "sure mercies of David" (Isa 55:3, Acts 13:34), pointing irrevocably to the Messiah whose kingdom will be everlasting (Lk 1:32-33). The placement of this absolute declaration of God's faithfulness before the psalm's profound lament (vv. 38ff.) creates a theological tension: human experience of distress contrasts with divine revelation of immutable truth. This highlights the crucial spiritual discipline of clinging to God's revealed character and promises even when present realities seem to contradict them, strengthening faith to look beyond immediate circumstances to the certain fulfillment in Christ.

Psalm 89 35 Commentary

Psalm 89:35 encapsulates the very nature of God's trustworthiness and covenant faithfulness. It asserts that God's promises are not contingent on human merit or changing circumstances, but are absolutely guaranteed by His immutable holiness. The "once" underscores the decisive and complete nature of this oath, a definitive declaration from the sovereign Lord. For God to swear by His "holiness" is the strongest possible oath, indicating that His purity, moral perfection, and distinctness from all creation necessitate His complete truthfulness. He cannot be unholy; therefore, He cannot lie or break His word. This divine attribute directly secures the promises made to David for an everlasting dynasty, a lineage culminating in the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Even when human failure seems to negate God's word, as hinted at later in the psalm, this verse reassures believers that God's character is the ultimate anchor of hope. It provides comfort, reminding us that God's character is eternally consistent, and His promises are utterly reliable, forming the bedrock for our faith in His salvific plan, particularly concerning the eternal reign of Christ.