Psalm 89 9

Psalm 89:9 kjv

Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them.

Psalm 89:9 nkjv

You rule the raging of the sea; When its waves rise, You still them.

Psalm 89:9 niv

You rule over the surging sea; when its waves mount up, you still them.

Psalm 89:9 esv

You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, you still them.

Psalm 89:9 nlt

You rule the oceans.
You subdue their storm-tossed waves.

Psalm 89 verses

Psalm 89 9 Meaning

Psalm 89:9 proclaims God's absolute sovereignty and majestic power over the chaotic and formidable forces of creation. It specifically highlights His complete dominion over the sea, which often symbolized untamable and dangerous forces in the ancient world. God does not merely subdue the sea but rules it and instantaneously calms its fiercest waves, demonstrating His unique and unchallenged authority over all natural phenomena.

Psalm 89 9 Context

Psalm 89 is a "Maskil of Ethan the Ezrahite," a wisdom poem that begins with a passionate declaration of God's steadfast love and faithfulness (heṣed) and His eternal covenant with David. The psalmist starts by praising God's incomparable power and faithfulness, asserting His absolute dominion over all creation. Verse 9 is part of this initial eulogy, which extols God's cosmic authority. By establishing God as the supreme ruler of chaotic waters, the psalmist builds a foundation for trusting God's covenant promises, especially the Davidic covenant, which is then elaborated upon in subsequent verses. Historically, many ancient Near Eastern cultures feared or deified aspects of nature, especially the unpredictable sea, often personified as a chaotic, threatening entity. This verse asserts Yahweh's sole and ultimate control, positioning Him above any imagined rival deity or chaotic force.

Psalm 89 9 Word analysis

• You rule (מֹשֵׁל, moshel): This word signifies authority, dominion, and effective control. It implies more than mere suppression; it indicates sustained, inherent sovereignty. The direct address "You" emphasizes the personal, active power of Yahweh.
• the raging (גְּאֹ֣וֹן, ga'on): This term carries multiple meanings: "swelling," "pride," "majesty," "arrogance," and here, specifically the "roar" or "turbulent power" of the sea. It highlights the raw, potentially destructive power of the ocean in its untamed state, sometimes associated with divine pride or arrogance (cf. cosmic monster imagery). By ruling this, God conquers what might be considered uncontrollable or defiant.
• of the sea (יָ֑ם, yam): The sea in the ancient Near East was often seen as a symbol of chaos, mystery, and danger. In various mythologies, it represented a primordial, unorganized force that powerful gods had to contend with. By stating God rules the sea, it establishes His ultimate victory and perpetual control over all such forces.
• when its waves (בְּשׂוֹא֮ גַלָּ֫יו, b’śo gallav):
  • when its waves (גַלָּ֫יו, gallav): Refers to the specific manifestations of the sea's power—its mighty, towering billows. These are the visible and felt elements of its turbulence.
  • rise (בְּשׂוֹא֮, b’śo): Signifies an uprising or swelling, capturing the very moment of greatest power and threat as the waves swell up.
• you still them (תַּשְׁבִּיצֵֽם, tashbitzem): This powerful verb means "to make to cease," "to bring to rest," "to silence," or "to suppress completely." It denotes an instantaneous and total cessation of the disturbance. It implies that God doesn't just reduce the power but utterly extinguishes it at His command, demonstrating His supreme authority and the effectiveness of His will.

Words-group analysis:

• "You rule the raging of the sea": This phrase directly asserts Yahweh's unparalleled and ongoing dominion over the most potent symbol of primeval chaos. It presents God not as one who merely calms a storm but as the perpetual King whose very nature subordinates the wildest aspects of creation. This is a direct challenge to ancient polytheistic beliefs where deities might fight or pacify the sea but not truly rule its inherent power.
• "when its waves rise, you still them": This dynamic clause provides a specific, vivid example of God's dominion. It shows His immediate, decisive, and absolute control even at the peak of the sea's ferocity. The implication is that no force, no matter how great or chaotic, is beyond His power and command. This power serves as a foundational reason to trust His faithfulness in upholding His covenant.

Psalm 89 9 Bonus section

The concept of God "ruling the raging of the sea" has strong polemical undertones. In Canaanite mythology, for instance, Yam (Sea) was a defiant and chaotic deity who battled Baal, who only subdued him, not fully ruled him. By stating Yahweh rules the ga'on of the sea and stills it, the psalm unequivocally asserts His superiority and unique position as the true sovereign God, establishing order where there was primordial chaos. This highlights Yahweh as the sole bringer of order and ultimate protector, standing unmatched in cosmic authority. Furthermore, the term ga'on sometimes refers to God's own majesty or pride, making the phrase subtly paradoxical: God controls even the "proud swelling" which mirrors divine attributes, confirming His self-sufficiency and all-encompassing reign. This control extends beyond the physical ocean to all forms of chaos, disorder, and threats that humanity faces, offering deep theological comfort.

Psalm 89 9 Commentary

Psalm 89:9 encapsulates a fundamental truth about God's nature: His sovereign power over creation. The imagery of the sea's "raging" and its "rising waves" powerfully evokes cosmic chaos, unpredictability, and danger, aspects that in many ancient cultures were beyond complete control. However, the psalmist declares that Yahweh not only tames these forces but "rules" and "stills" them with absolute authority. This truth forms the bedrock for trust in God's covenant faithfulness, the central theme of Psalm 89. If God can master the untamable elements of the natural world, then He can certainly be trusted to fulfill His promises, specifically His enduring covenant with David, despite the apparent upheavals or failures in human experience. The New Testament profoundly connects this attribute to Jesus, who demonstrates this divine power by rebuking the wind and calming the sea, proving His inherent divinity and shared authority with God the Father. This means that followers of Christ can find assurance in the midst of life's chaotic storms, knowing the same Lord who calmed the raging sea has dominion over all their circumstances.