Psalms 89:11

KJV

The heavens [are] thine, the earth also [is] thine: [as for] the world and the fulness thereof, thou hast founded them.

KJV (with Strong's)

The heavens {H8064} are thine, the earth {H776} also is thine: as for the world {H8398} and the fulness {H4393} thereof, thou hast founded {H3245}{H8804)} them.

Complete Jewish Bible

The heavens are yours, and the earth is yours; you founded the world and everything in it.

Berean Standard Bible

The heavens are Yours, and also the earth. The earth and its fullness You founded.

American Standard Version

The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: The world and the fulness thereof, thou hast founded them.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 89:11 is a profound declaration of God's absolute sovereignty, ownership, and creative power over all existence. Within a psalm that navigates the tension between God's steadfast covenant faithfulness and the psalmist's lament over perceived national crisis, this verse serves as an unshakeable theological anchor, reminding the reader that the God who made promises is the same omnipotent Creator and Sustainer of the entire cosmos. It asserts that His dominion is comprehensive, encompassing all of heaven and earth and everything that fills them, grounding His right to rule in His foundational act of bringing all things into being.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 89 is a *maskil*, or contemplative psalm, attributed to Ethan the Ezrahite. It opens with an exuberant celebration of God's covenant love and faithfulness, particularly focusing on the [Davidic covenant](/2_samuel/7 "2 Samuel 7 - The Davidic Covenant") (verses 1-37). However, the psalm takes a dramatic turn in its latter half (verses 38-51), shifting to a lament where the psalmist questions God's apparent abandonment of His promises in the face of a severe national defeat or crisis. Verse 11, strategically placed within the initial section of praise, serves as a crucial theological bedrock. It establishes God's undeniable power and absolute authority over creation *before* the psalmist voices his profound doubts, thereby setting the stage for the argument that the God who created all is surely capable of upholding His covenant, despite present circumstances. This declaration of cosmic dominion provides the necessary foundation for the psalmist's subsequent appeals to God's character and promises.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Ethan the Ezrahite is identified in [1 Kings 4:31](/1_kings/4-31 "1 Kings 4:31 - Ethan's Wisdom") as a wise man, possibly a contemporary of Solomon. The psalm reflects the ancient Near Eastern understanding of divine kingship and cosmic order, where deities were often associated with creation and dominion. However, Psalm 89 uniquely attributes ultimate, absolute creation and ownership to Yahweh, the one true God, distinguishing Him from the limited and often warring pagan deities. The "crisis" that prompts the lament in the latter part of the psalm is not explicitly named but is often interpreted as a significant national catastrophe, such as the Babylonian exile or a major military defeat, where the Davidic monarchy seemed to be utterly broken. In such a dire context, the assertion of God's universal and foundational dominion in [Psalms 89:11](/psalms/89-11 "Psalms 89:11 - God's Ownership of Creation") becomes an even more poignant and vital theological anchor, reminding a despairing people of God's enduring power despite their perceived abandonment.
* **Key Themes:**
* **Divine Sovereignty and Ownership:** The verse unequivocally declares God's complete proprietorship and authority over all creation. "The heavens [are] thine, the earth also [is] thine" asserts that everything that exists, from the celestial bodies to the ground beneath our feet, belongs inherently to Him. This theme is powerfully echoed in [Psalm 24:1](/psalms/24-1 "Psalm 24:1 - The Earth is the Lord's"), which states, "The earth is the LORD's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein."
* **God as Creator and Sustainer:** The latter part, "as for the world and the fulness thereof, thou hast founded them," emphasizes God's active role as the ultimate architect and builder of the universe. He didn't merely claim it; He brought it into existence through a deliberate and purposeful act of laying its foundations. This foundational act of creation is the very basis for His ownership and His right to rule, a truth central to biblical theology, beginning with [Genesis 1:1](/genesis/1-1 "Genesis 1:1 - God Creates Heaven and Earth"), "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth."
* **Cosmic Scope of Dominion:** The cumulative phrases "The heavens," "the earth," and "the world and the fulness thereof" collectively encompass the entirety of existence. God's dominion is not limited to a geographical region, a specific people, or even just the physical realm; it is cosmic, universal, and all-encompassing. This truth provides a profound basis for hope and comfort, knowing that the God who holds all things in His hands is also the one who is faithful to His people and His covenants.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **heavens (שָׁמַיִם, _shamayim'_):** This Hebrew term refers to the celestial realm, the sky, and by extension, the dwelling place of God. In this context, it signifies the vastness and transcendence of God's dominion, encompassing all that is above the earth, including celestial bodies and the spiritual realm. Its pairing with "earth" indicates the totality of creation.
* **fulness thereof (מְלֹאָהּ, _melo'ah'_):** This phrase literally means "its fullness" or "that which fills it." It refers to everything that inhabits or constitutes the world—its living creatures, its resources, its abundance, its entire contents. This term underscores that absolutely nothing within the created order is outside of God's creative act and His sovereign claim. It emphasizes the comprehensive and exhaustive nature of His ownership.
* **founded (יָסַד, _yasad'_):** This verb means "to establish," "to lay a foundation," or "to set in place." It conveys a deliberate, intentional, and purposeful act of creation. It implies that God did not merely bring things into existence haphazardly but established them with order, stability, and design, laying the very groundwork upon which the universe stands. This highlights God's role as the ultimate architect and sustainer.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"The heavens [are] thine, the earth also [is] thine":** This opening clause is a direct and emphatic declaration of God's absolute ownership and proprietorship. It asserts His inherent right over both the celestial realm (heavens) and the terrestrial sphere (earth). This is not a claim based on conquest or inheritance, but on His intrinsic nature as Creator. The repetition of "thine" (implied in the KJV, explicit in the Hebrew structure) underscores the undeniable and comprehensive nature of this divine possession.
* **"[as for] the world and the fulness thereof":** This expands upon the previous declaration, moving from the broad categories of "heavens" and "earth" to the more specific "world" (referring to the inhabited earth, תֵּבֵל, _tevel_) and "the fulness thereof." This phrase ensures that God's ownership extends not just to the physical globe but to everything within it—all its inhabitants, its natural resources, its creatures, and its entire abundance. It signifies a complete and exhaustive dominion over every aspect of creation.
* **"thou hast founded them":** This final clause provides the theological basis for God's ownership. His claim is legitimate because He is the one who brought them into existence. The verb "founded" (יָסַד, _yasad_) implies a deliberate, intentional act of laying foundations, establishing order, and setting things firmly in place. This highlights God's role as the ultimate architect, designer, and sustainer of the cosmos, whose creative act undergirds His absolute authority and right to rule over all.

#### Literary Devices
Psalms 89:11 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its profound theological truth. **Parallelism** is prominent, specifically **synthetic parallelism**, where the second part of the verse expands upon or completes the thought of the first. The initial declaration of God's ownership over "the heavens" and "the earth" is reinforced and broadened by the subsequent mention of "the world and the fulness thereof," with the act of "founding" providing the ultimate justification for this ownership. This structure builds the argument for God's comprehensive dominion. The use of **merism** is also evident in the pairing of "heavens" and "earth," which together represent the totality of creation, from the highest celestial reaches to the deepest parts of the terrestrial world. This device emphasizes the all-encompassing scope of God's sovereignty. Furthermore, the implied **repetition** of "thine" (God's ownership) through the parallel structure serves as a powerful rhetorical device, underscoring the absolute and undeniable nature of God's claim over all that exists.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse stands as a foundational truth for understanding God's absolute sovereignty, not merely as a ruler but as the ultimate originator of all that exists. It firmly grounds His right to rule in His act of creation, asserting that His ownership is inherent because He brought everything into being. This truth provides a crucial theological anchor for the psalmist's subsequent lament, asserting that the God who is powerful enough to create and own the entire cosmos is certainly capable of maintaining His covenant promises, even when human circumstances seem to contradict them. It speaks to God's omnipotence and omnipresence, as His dominion extends over every corner of existence, offering both comfort in His control and a call to worship Him as the rightful Lord of all.

* [Psalm 24:1](/psalms/24-1 "Psalm 24:1 - The Earth is the Lord's")
* [Isaiah 40:28](/isaiah/40-28 "Isaiah 40:28 - God, the Creator")
* [Nehemiah 9:6](/nehemiah/9-6 "Nehemiah 9:6 - Creator and Sustainer")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 89:11 offers profound implications for believers today, challenging us to live with a deep and abiding awareness of God's ultimate ownership and authority. If the heavens, the earth, and everything that fills them belong to Him, then our lives, our possessions, our talents, and our aspirations are also His. This perspective calls for a spirit of profound humility, recognizing that we are stewards, not owners, of all that we have and are. It fosters a posture of surrender and trust, knowing that the God who founded the universe is infinitely powerful and perfectly capable of fulfilling His promises and working out His purposes, even when circumstances seem bleak or beyond our control. This truth encourages unwavering faith and perseverance through trials, reminding us that the universe operates under the benevolent sovereignty of a wise and powerful God. Our worship, our giving, our service, and our daily choices should all reflect this deep understanding of His boundless power, ownership, and unwavering faithfulness.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does acknowledging God's absolute ownership of "the heavens, the earth, and the fulness thereof" impact your view of your own possessions and life's priorities?**
* **In what areas of your life do you need to surrender control, recognizing that God "founded" all things and therefore has ultimate authority and a perfect plan?**
* **How does the truth of God's cosmic dominion bring comfort or challenge to you amidst personal struggles, global uncertainties, or moments of doubt about His faithfulness?**

### FAQ
**Why does the psalmist emphasize God's creation and ownership in a psalm that largely deals with covenant faithfulness?**

Answer: The emphasis on God's creation and ownership in [Psalms 89:11](/psalms/89-11 "Psalms 89:11 - God's Ownership of Creation") serves as a crucial theological foundation for the psalm's overarching theme of covenant faithfulness. The psalm begins by celebrating God's unwavering covenant love, particularly to David ([2 Samuel 7](/2_samuel/7 "2 Samuel 7 - The Davidic Covenant")). However, it then shifts dramatically to a lament, questioning God's apparent abandonment of His promises in the face of national crisis. By reminding the reader that "The heavens [are] thine, the earth also [is] thine... thou hast founded them," the psalmist anchors the argument in God's undeniable power and absolute authority. The implicit logic is: if God is powerful enough to create and own the entire cosmos—every star, every creature, every atom—He is certainly capable of upholding and fulfilling His covenant promises, regardless of how bleak current circumstances may appear. It is a declaration of God's omnipotence and cosmic dominion that undergirds the psalmist's hope, even in the midst of profound despair and perceived divine silence.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 89:11, with its majestic declaration of God's absolute ownership and foundational act of creation, finds its ultimate fulfillment and clearest expression in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The New Testament reveals that it was specifically through Christ that all things were created, both in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities ([Colossians 1:16](/colossians/1-16 "Colossians 1:16 - Christ as Creator")). He is not merely an agent of creation but the very Word through whom all things came into being, and without Him, nothing was made that has been made ([John 1:3](/john/1-3 "John 1:3 - All Things Through Christ")). Therefore, the "heavens," the "earth," and "the world and the fulness thereof" are not only God's in a general sense, but specifically Christ's, for "all things were created through him and for him" ([Colossians 1:16](/colossians/1-16 "Colossians 1:16 - Christ as Creator")). His resurrection and ascension further confirm His cosmic dominion, as He has been given "all authority in heaven and on earth" ([Matthew 28:18](/matthew/28-18 "Matthew 28:18 - All Authority Given to Christ")), and He is now "the head over every rule and authority" ([Colossians 2:10](/colossians/2-10 "Colossians 2:10 - Christ is Head Over All")). Thus, the ancient declaration of God's universal sovereignty in Psalms 89:11 points forward to the Lordship of Jesus, the one through whom God's creative power is fully manifested and His ultimate ownership eternally secured for the redemption and reconciliation of all things ([Colossians 1:20](/colossians/1-20 "Colossians 1:20 - Reconciliation Through Christ")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

1 Chronicles 29:11

Thine, O LORD, [is] the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all [that is] in the heaven and in the earth [is thine]; thine [is] the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.

Genesis 1:1

¶ In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

Psalms 115:16

The heaven, [even] the heavens, [are] the LORD'S: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.

Psalms 24:1

¶ A Psalm of David. The earth [is] the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.

Psalms 24:2

For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.

1 Corinthians 10:26

For the earth [is] the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.

Psalms 50:12

If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world [is] mine, and the fulness thereof.