The Meaning of Psalms 89:5 Explained

Psalms 89:5

KJV: And the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O LORD: thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints.

YLT: and the heavens confess Thy wonders, O Jehovah, Thy faithfulness also is in an assembly of holy ones.

Darby: And the heavens shall celebrate thy wonders, O Jehovah, and thy faithfulness in the congregation of the saints.

ASV: And the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O Jehovah; Thy faithfulness also in the assembly of the holy ones.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And the heavens  shall praise  thy wonders,  O LORD:  thy faithfulness  also in the congregation  of the saints. 

What does Psalms 89:5 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 89:1-18 - No God Like Our God
To understand this psalm we must turn to 2 Samuel 7:1-29, where God guaranteed that David's kingdom should be continued to his descendants. Nathan's words are quoted in Psalms 89:3-4. But in contrast with these promises, which were conditional upon the faithful obedience of David's descendants, the psalmist sorrowfully recites the disobedience of the Chosen People. There could be no doubt as to the divine faithfulness to Covenant engagements. See Psalms 89:1-2; Psalms 89:5; Psalms 89:8; Psalms 89:14. And the object of this psalm is to inquire whether that faithfulness does not include the recall and restoration of a sinful nation, as it most certainly does include the continued blessing of an obedient one.
In the first division, Psalms 89:1-18, the singer enumerates the divine attributes. God's mercy is conceived as a stately mansion, which is being reared, story by story, throughout the centuries. The enduring heavens, the mightiest natural forces, such as the tides, the glorious mountains, are emblems of qualities in God's nature. He is described as going forth in a triumphal procession, preceded by Mercy and Truth; and we are invited to accompany Him, and to walk in the light of His countenance. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 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 89:5 mean?

And will praise the heavens Your wonders Yahweh also Your faithfulness in the assembly of the saints
וְי֘וֹד֤וּ שָׁמַ֣יִם פִּלְאֲךָ֣ יְהוָ֑ה אַף־ אֱ֝מֽוּנָתְךָ֗ בִּקְהַ֥ל קְדֹשִֽׁים

וְי֘וֹד֤וּ  And  will  praise 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: יָדָה 
Sense: to throw, shoot, cast.
שָׁמַ֣יִם  the  heavens 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: שָׁמַיִם  
Sense: heaven, heavens, sky.
פִּלְאֲךָ֣  Your  wonders 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: פֶּלֶא  
Sense: wonder, marvel.
יְהוָ֑ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אַף־  also 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: אַף  
Sense: also, yea, though, so much the more adv.
אֱ֝מֽוּנָתְךָ֗  Your  faithfulness 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: אֱמוּנָה  
Sense: firmness, fidelity, steadfastness, steadiness.
בִּקְהַ֥ל  in  the  assembly 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: קָהָל  
Sense: assembly, company, congregation, convocation.
קְדֹשִֽׁים  of  the  saints 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: קָדֹושׁ  
Sense: sacred, holy, Holy One, saint, set apart.