TRV
Translation
King James Version
Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever:
Complete Jewish Bible
He made heaven and earth, the sea and everything in them; he keeps faith forever.
Berean Standard Bible
the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. He remains faithful forever.
American Standard Version
Who made heaven and earth, The sea, and all that in them is; Who keepeth truth for ever;
World English Bible Messianic
who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps truth forever;
Geneva Bible (1599)
Which made heauen and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth his fidelitie for euer:
Young's Literal Translation
Making the heavens and earth, The sea and all that is in them, Who is keeping truth to the age,
In the KJVVerse 16,348 of 31,102
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Commentary on Psalms 146 verses 5–10
5 ¶ Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:
6 Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever:
7 Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The LORD looseth the prisoners:
8 The LORD openeth the eyes of the blind: the LORD raiseth them that are bowed down: the LORD loveth the righteous:
9 The LORD preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.
10 The LORD shall reign for ever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the LORD.
The psalmist, having cautioned us not to trust in princes (because, if we do, we shall be miserably disappointed), here encourages us to put our confidence in God, because, if we do so, we shall be happily secured: Happy is he that has the God of Jacob for his help, that has an interest in his attributes and promises, and has them engaged for him, and whose hope is in the Lord his God.
I. Let us take a view of the character here given of those whom God will uphold. Those shall have God for their help, 1. Who take him for their God, and serve and worship him accordingly. 2. Who have their hope in him, and live a life of dependence upon him, who have good thoughts of him, and encourage themselves in him, when all other supports fail. Every believer may look upon him as the God of Jacob, of the church in general, and therefore may expect relief from him, in reference to public distresses, and as his God in particular, and therefore may depend upon him in all personal wants and straits. We must hope, (1.) In the providence of God for all the good things we need, which relate to the life that now is. (2.) In the grace of Christ for all the good things which relate to the life that is to come. To this especially the learned Dr. Hammond refers this and the following verses, looking upon the latter part of this psalm to have a most visible remarkable aspect towards the eternal Son of God in his incarnation. He quotes one of the rabbies, who says of Psa 146:10 that it belongs to the days of the Messiah. And that it does so he thinks will appear by comparing Psa 146:7, Psa 146:8, with the characters Christ gives of the Messiah (Mat 11:5, Mat 11:6), The blind receive their sight, the lame walk; and the closing words there, Blessed is he whosoever shall not be offended in me, he thinks may very well be supposed to refer to Psa 146:5. Happy is the man that hopes in the Lord his God, and who is not offended in him.
II. Let us take a view of the great encouragements here given us to hope in the Lord our God. 1. He is the Maker of the world, and therefore has all power in himself, and the command of the powers of all the creatures, which, being derived from him, depend upon him (Psa 146:6): He made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and therefore his arm is not shortened, that it cannot save. It is very applicable to Christ, by whom God made the world, and without whom was not any thing made that was made. It is a great support to faith that the Redeemer of the world is the same that was the Creator of it, and therefore has a good-will to it, a perfect knowledge of its case, and power to help it. 2. He is a God of inviolable fidelity. We may venture to take God's word, for he keepeth truth for ever, and therefore no word of his shall fall to the ground; it is true from the beginning, and therefore true to the end. Our Lord Jesus is the Amen, the faithful witness, as well as the beginning, the author and principle, of the creation of God, Rev 3:14. The keeping of God's truth for ever is committed to him, for all the promises are in him yea and amen. 3. He is the patron of injured innocency: He pleads the cause of the oppressed, and (as we read it) he executes judgment for them. He often does it in his providence, giving redress to those that suffer wrong and clearing up their integrity. He will do it in the judgment of the great day. The Messiah came to rescue the children of men out of the hands of Satan the great oppressor, and, all judgment being committed to him, the executing of judgment upon persecutors is so among the rest, Jde 1:15. 4. He is a bountiful benefactor to the necessitous: He gives food to the hungry; so God does in an ordinary way for the answering of the cravings of nature; so he has done sometimes in an extraordinary way, as when ravens fed Elijah; so Christ did more than once when he fed thousands miraculously with that which was intended but for one meal or two for his own family. This encourages us to hope in him as the nourisher of our souls with the bread of life. 5. He is the author of liberty to those that were bound: The Lord looseth the prisoners. He brought Israel out of the house of bondage in Egypt and afterwards in Babylon. The miracles Christ wrought, in making the dumb to speak and the deaf to hear with that one word, Ephphatha - Be opened, his cleansing lepers, and so discharging them from their confinements, and his raising the dead out of their graves, may all be included in this one of loosing the prisoners; and we may take encouragement from those to hope in him for that spiritual liberty which he came to proclaim, Isa 61:1, Isa 61:2. 6. He gives sight to those that have been long deprived of it; The Lord can open the eyes of the blind, and has often given to his afflicted people to see that comfort which before they were not aware of; witness Gen 21:19, and the prophet's servant, Kg2 6:17. But this has special reference to Christ; for since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind till Christ did it (Joh 9:32) and thereby encouraged us to hope in him for spiritual illumination. 7. He sets that straight which was crooked, and makes those easy that were pained and ready to sink: He raises those that are bowed down, by comforting and supporting them under their burdens, and, in due time, removing their burdens. This was literally performed by Christ when he made a poor woman straight that had been bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself (Luk 13:12); and he still does it by his grace, giving rest to those that were weary and heavily laden, and raising up with his comforts those that were humbled and cast down by convictions. 8. He has a constant kindness for all good people: The Lord loveth the righteous, and they may with the more confidence depend upon his power when they are sure of his good-will. Our Lord Jesus showed his love to the righteous by fulfilling all righteousness. 9. He has a tender concern for those that stand in special need of his care: The Lord preserves the strangers. It ought not to pass without remark that the name of Jehovah is repeated here five times in five lines, to intimate that it is an almighty power (that of Jehovah) that is engaged and exerted for the relief of the oppressed, and that it is as much the glory of God to succour those that are in misery as it is to ride on the heavens by his name Jah, Psa 68:4. (1.) Strangers are exposed, and are commonly destitute of friends, but the Lord preserves them, that they be not run down and ruined. Many a poor stranger has found the benefit of the divine protection and been kept alive by it. (2.) Widows and fatherless children, that have lost the head of the family, who took care of the affairs of it, often fall into the hands of those that make a prey of them, that will not do them justice, nay, that will do them injustice; but the Lord relieveth them, and raiseth up friends for them. See Exo 22:22, Exo 22:23. Our Lord Jesus came into the world to help the helpless, to receive Gentiles, strangers, into his kingdom, and that with him poor sinners, that are as fatherless, may find mercy, Hos 14:3. 10. He will appear for the destruction of all those that oppose his kingdom and oppress the faithful subjects of it: The way of the wicked he turns upside down, and therefore let us hope in him, and not be afraid of the fury of the oppressor, as though he were ready to destroy. It is the glory of the Messiah that he will subvert all the counsels of hell and earth that militate against his church, so that, having him for us, we need not fear any thing that can be done against us. 11. His kingdom shall continue through all the revolutions of time, to the utmost ages of eternity, v. 10. Let this encourage us to trust in God at all times that the Lord shall reign for ever, in spite of all the malignity of the powers of darkness, even thy God, O Zion! unto all generations. Christ is set King on the holy hill of Zion, and his kingdom shall continue in an endless glory. It cannot be destroyed by an invader; it shall not be left to a successor, either to a succeeding monarch or a succeeding monarchy, but it shall stand for ever. It is matter of unspeakable comfort that the Lord reigns as Zion's God, as Zion's king, that the Messiah is head over all things to the church, and will be so while the world stands.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 5–10. Public domain.
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Eusebius of CaesareaAD 339
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY 9:11
To these were added the sons of Maximin, with whom he had already shared imperial honors and whose features he had displayed publicly in portraits. Those who previously had boasted that they were related to the tyrant and tried to lord it over others endured the same sufferings and disgrace, for they did not accept correction or understand the precept in the sacred books:Put not your trust in princes,
In the sons of men who cannot save.
His breath shall depart and he shall return to his earth.
In that day all his thoughts shall perish.
When the impious were thus removed, the rule that belonged to them was preserved secure and undisputed for Constantine and Licinius alone. They had made it their priority to purge the world of hostility to God, and, acknowledging the blessings he had conferred on them, they showed their love of virtue and of God, their devotion and gratitude to the Deity, through their edict in behalf of the Christians.
Cyril of JerusalemAD 386
Catechetical Lecture 16:13
There are many uses of the word spirit in general in the sacred Scriptures, and a person could easily become confused from ignorance, if he did not know to what sort of spirit the particular text refers. Therefore, we must be sure of the nature of the Holy Spirit according to Scripture. For example Aaron is called Christ (anointed), and David also, and Saul and others are called Christs, yet there is only one true Christ; similarly since the name of spirit has been given to many things, we must determine what in particular is called the Holy Spirit. Many things are called spirits; our soul is called spirit; this wind that is blowing is called spirit; great valor is called spirit; impure action is called spirit; and a hostile devil is called spirit. Take care, therefore, when you hear such things, not to mistake one for another because of the similarity of name. Scripture says of the soul, “When his spirit departs he returns to the earth”; and again of the soul, “Who forms the spirit of a person within him.” It says in the Psalms of the angels, “Who make your angels spirits”;16 it says of the wind: “With a vehement spirit you shall break in pieces the ships of Tharsis”; and “As the trees of the woods are moved with the spirit”;18 and “Fire, hail, snow, ice, spirit of storm.” Our Lord says of his blessed teaching: “The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life,” that is, they are spiritual. The Holy Spirit is not an utterance of the tongue; he is living, granting wise speech, speaking and discoursing himself.
Augustine of HippoAD 430
SERMON 33A.4
There can be no doubt, of course, that the poor man being God-fearing, while trapped in his temporal miseries, was thinking how this life must end sometime and how eternal rest is to be gained. They both died, but that poor man's thoughts did not perish on that day. You see, it happened that the beggar died and was taken away by the angels to Abraham's bosom. On that day all his thoughts were healed. And because Lazarus translated into English means "Helped"—if you are called Lazarus in Hebrew, you are called "Helped" in English—this psalm has rightly advised us, "Blessed is he whose helper is the God of Jacob." When his spirit goes out and his flesh returns to its earth, his thoughts will not perish, because "his hope is in the Lord his God." This is the lesson learned in the school of Christ the teacher, this is what is hoped for by the heart of the faithful hearer, this is the reward of the only true savior."
Augustine of HippoAD 430
Exposition on Psalm 146
Who is this, "Lord his God"?..."To us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things." [1 Corinthians 8:6] Therefore let Him be your hope, even the Lord your God; in Him let your hope be. His hope too is in the lord his god, who worships Saturn; his hope is in the lord his god, who worships Neptune or Mercury; yea more, I add, who worships his belly, of whom is said, "whose god is their belly." [Philippians 3:19] The one is the god of the one, the other of the other. Who is this "blessed" one? For "his hope is in the Lord his God." But who is He? "Who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them" [Psalm 146:6]. My brethren, we have a great God; let us bless His holy Name, that He has deigned to make us His possession. As yet you see not God; you can not fully love what as yet you see not. All that you see, He has made. Thou admirest the world; why not the Maker of the world? Thou lookest up to the heavens, and art amazed: you consider the whole earth, and tremblest; when can you contain in your thought the vastness of the sea? Look at the countless number of the stars, look at all the many kind of seeds, all the different sorts of animals, all that swims in the water, creeps on the earth, flies in the sky, hovers in the air; how great are all these, how beautiful, how fair, how amazing! Behold, He who made all these, is your God. Put your hope in Him, that you may be happy. "His hope is in the Lord his God." Observe, my brethren, the mighty God, the good God, who makes all these things....If he mentioned these things only, perhaps you would answer me, "God, who made heaven and earth and sea, is a great God: but does He think of me?" It would be said to you, "He made you." How so? Am I heaven, or am I earth, or am I sea? Surely it is plain; I am neither heaven, nor earth, nor sea: yet I am on earth. At least you grant me this, that you are on earth. Hear then, that God made not only heaven and earth and sea: for He "made heaven and earth and sea, and all that is in them." If then He made all that is in them, He made you also. It is too little to say, you; the sparrow, the locust, the worm, none of these did He not make, and He cares for all. His care refers not to His commandment, for this commandment He gave to man alone....As regards then the tenor of the commandment, "God does not take care for oxen:" [1 Corinthians 9:9] as regards His providential care of the universe, whereby He created all things, and rules the world, "You, Lord, shall save both man and beast." Here perhaps some one may say to me, "God cares not for oxen," comes from the New Testament: "You, Lord, shall save both man and beast," is from the Old Testament. There are some who find fault and say, that these two Testaments agree not with one another....Let us hear the Lord Himself, the Chief and Master of the Apostles: "Consider," says He, "the fowls of the air; they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, and your heavenly Father feeds them." [Matthew 6:26] Therefore even beside men, these animals are objects of care to God, to be fed, not to receive a law. As far then as regards giving a law, "God cares not for oxen:" as regards creating, feeding, governing, ruling, all things have to do with God. "Are not two sparrows sold for one farthing?" says our Lord Jesus Christ, "and one of them shall not fall to the ground without the will of your Father: how much better are you than they." [Matthew 10:29] Perhaps you say, God counts me not in this great multitude. There follows here a wondrous passage in the Gospel: "the hairs of your head are all numbered." [Matthew 10:30]
Fulgentius of RuspeAD 533
TO PETER ON THE FAITH 4:51
Hold most firmly and never doubt that the holy Trinity, the only true God, is the Creator of all things, visible and invisible—concerning which it is said in the psalms, “Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God who made heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them.” Concerning this the apostle too says, “For from him and through him and in him are all things. To him be glory forever.”
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Psalms 146:6 extols the unparalleled greatness and unwavering faithfulness of God by declaring Him as the sovereign Creator of the entire cosmos—heaven, earth, and sea—and the eternal preserver of truth. This verse serves as the foundational premise for the psalmist's call to trust exclusively in the Lord, contrasting His immutable power and integrity with the inherent transience and unreliability of human rulers and earthly might. It establishes God's character as the ultimate source of all existence and the steadfast anchor of all dependable reality.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The psalmist employs several potent literary devices in Psalms 146:6 to underscore God's supreme attributes. The most prominent is Merism, seen in the phrase "heaven, and earth, the sea." This technique uses a pair or series of contrasting parts to represent the totality, effectively conveying that God created everything—from the highest heavens to the deepest parts of the earth and sea. This emphasizes His comprehensive sovereignty and omnipotence. Furthermore, there is a clear Juxtaposition between God's eternal nature and the transient nature of human beings (as established in the preceding verses). While human "thoughts perish" (Psalms 146:4), God "keepeth truth for ever," highlighting His unchanging reliability. The use of the active verb "keepeth" (shâmar) for truth also implies Personification or Anthropomorphism, attributing to God the active role of guarding and preserving an abstract concept, thereby emphasizing His dynamic and personal engagement with His own character and promises. The entire verse functions as a powerful Affirmation or Declaration, serving as a theological anchor for the psalm's overarching message of trust and praise in God alone.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 146:6 serves as a profound theological statement, anchoring the believer's hope in the immutable character of God. It seamlessly weaves together the doctrine of creation with the doctrine of God's faithfulness, presenting a God who is not only powerful enough to bring all things into existence but also righteous enough to remain eternally true to His word and nature. This dual emphasis provides a robust foundation for trust, contrasting sharply with the fleeting reliability of human institutions and leaders. The verse proclaims that the very same God who spoke the universe into being is the one whose promises never fail, whose character is unblemished, and whose covenant love endures through all generations. This truth forms the bedrock of biblical faith, assuring believers that their ultimate security rests not in temporal power but in the eternal, trustworthy Creator.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
In a world characterized by constant change, broken promises, and shifting allegiances, Psalms 146:6 offers an unwavering anchor for the soul. It calls us to re-evaluate where we place our ultimate trust and hope. When human systems fail, leaders disappoint, and circumstances become unstable, this verse reminds us that there is one constant: the God who created everything and whose truth endures forever. This truth should inspire profound confidence and peace, knowing that the Designer of the cosmos is also the Guardian of integrity. Our worship is deepened when we contemplate His boundless power in creation and His perfect faithfulness in keeping His word. Practically, this means we are called to align our lives with His eternal truth, to build our foundations on His unchanging character, and to find our security not in what we can control or what others promise, but in the unshakeable reality of who God is. It encourages us to live with a perspective that transcends the immediate, recognizing that the Creator of all is eternally sovereign and utterly dependable.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What does it mean that God "made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is"?
Answer: This phrase is a powerful declaration of God's absolute sovereignty and omnipotence as the Creator of the entire universe. "Heaven, and earth, the sea" is a comprehensive way of saying "everything," from the celestial bodies to all life on land and in the oceans. It signifies that God is the ultimate source and sustainer of all existence, and therefore, He possesses ultimate authority over all things. This foundational truth is echoed throughout Scripture, from the opening words of Genesis 1:1 to the New Testament's affirmation that all things were created through Him and for Him.
Why is it significant that God "keepeth truth for ever"?
Answer: This statement highlights God's eternal faithfulness, reliability, and integrity. Unlike human beings whose promises can be broken and whose character can waver, God's truth is an unchanging attribute of His very being. The Hebrew word for "truth" (ʼemeth) encompasses concepts of steadfastness and trustworthiness. Thus, God "keeping truth for ever" means He is eternally consistent with His own character, His covenant promises, and His divine word. This provides an unshakeable foundation for faith and hope, assuring believers that God's word is utterly dependable and His nature is eternally constant, as affirmed in Numbers 23:19.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 146:6, in its declaration of God as the Creator and eternal Keeper of truth, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The New Testament reveals that Jesus is not merely an agent of creation but the very means by which all things were made. John 1:3 states, "All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made," and Colossians 1:16 further clarifies that "by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible... all things were created by him, and for him." Thus, the psalm's assertion that God "made heaven, and earth, the sea" points directly to the pre-existent Christ as the active, divine Creator. Furthermore, the truth that God "keepeth truth for ever" is perfectly embodied in Jesus, who is Himself "the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). He is the faithful and true witness (Revelation 3:14), the living Word of God who never changes (Hebrews 13:8). In Christ, God's creative power is fully displayed, and His eternal truth is not just preserved but perfectly revealed and enacted, offering humanity the ultimate object of trust and the very embodiment of divine faithfulness.