The Meaning of Psalms 89:34 Explained

Psalms 89:34

KJV: My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.

YLT: I profane not My covenant, And that which is going forth from My lips I change not.

Darby: My covenant will I not profane, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.

ASV: My covenant will I not break, Nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

My covenant  will I not break,  nor alter  the thing that is gone out  of my lips. 

What does Psalms 89:34 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalm 89:19-37 - The Covenant With David
In this section the psalmist draws put, in detail, the fundamental prophecy by Nathan already mentioned; first, in the promises given to David, Psalms 89:19-27; and second, in those relating to his descendants, Psalms 89:28-37.
David's origin was very humble. His dignity and power were all of God. But our Father never sets a man in any position and fails to supply the gifts needed for it. When He chooses, He anoints, strengthens, and protects. Victory also is granted over the man's enemies, because God's faithfulness and mercy are beside him, Psalms 89:24. The relationship between the soul and God is very intimate; on the one hand you have Psalms 89:26; and on the other Psalms 89:27.
What a precious promise is Psalms 89:28! From this point the psalmist turns to expand the promises to David's line. They may be chastened, but not permanently rejected. In Psalms 89:33 the twin attributes of mercy and faithfulness are again blended as the ground of hope of sinful and unworthy men. God's word, once spoken, is inviolable. He is bound by His oath. Sin cannot alter His promise or the obligations under which He has laid Himself. His unchangeableness is a bed-rock upon which we may build with certitude. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalm 89

1  The psalmist praises God for his covenant
5  For his wonderful power
15  For the care of his church
19  For his favor to the kingdom of David
38  Then complaining of contrary events
46  He expostulates, prays, and blesses God

What do the individual words in Psalms 89:34 mean?

Not I will break My covenant and the utterance of My lips nor alter
לֹא־ אֲחַלֵּ֥ל בְּרִיתִ֑י וּמוֹצָ֥א שְׂ֝פָתַ֗י לֹ֣א אֲשַׁנֶּֽה

אֲחַלֵּ֥ל  I  will  break 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: חָלַל 
Sense: to profane, defile, pollute, desecrate, begin.
בְּרִיתִ֑י  My  covenant 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: בְּרִית  
Sense: covenant, alliance, pledge.
וּמוֹצָ֥א  and  the  utterance 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מֹוצָא  
Sense: act or place of going out or forth, issue, export, source, spring.
שְׂ֝פָתַ֗י  of  My  lips 
Parse: Noun, fdc, first person common singular
Root: שָׂפָה  
Sense: lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding.
לֹ֣א  nor 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
אֲשַׁנֶּֽה  alter 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: שָׁנָה  
Sense: to repeat, do again, change, alter.