Psalms 89:34

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

My covenant {H1285} will I not break {H2490}{H8762)}, nor alter {H8138}{H8762)} the thing that is gone out {H4161} of my lips {H8193}.

I will not profane my covenant or change what my lips have spoken.

I will not violate My covenant or alter the utterance of My lips.

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

Commentary

Psalms 89:34 declares God's unwavering commitment to His divine promises, particularly in the context of the Davidic covenant. This verse serves as a powerful affirmation of God's faithfulness and the immutability of His word.

Context

Psalm 89 is a Maskil (a contemplative psalm) of Ethan the Ezrahite, often considered a royal psalm. It opens with praise for God's steadfast love and faithfulness, then recounts God's covenant with King David, promising an eternal dynasty (see 2 Samuel 7:12-16). Verses 19-37 describe God's direct speech, reaffirming this covenant. However, the psalm then shifts dramatically into a lament (from verse 38 onwards), as the psalmist observes the apparent collapse of the Davidic kingdom and the suffering of God's people, seemingly contradicting the promises. Verse 34 is a crucial part of God's assurance within this dialogue, emphasizing that despite human failures or changing circumstances, God Himself will not violate or change His solemn oath.

Key Themes

  • God's Unbreakable Covenant: The central message is the absolute reliability of God's agreements. His covenants are not subject to human caprice or error.
  • Divine Faithfulness (Emunah): This verse highlights God's intrinsic nature of being true to His word. He is utterly dependable.
  • Immutability of God's Word: What God declares from His lips ("gone out of my lips") is fixed and cannot be reversed or altered. This provides a solid foundation for faith, knowing that God is not a man that He should lie.
  • Contrast with Human Unfaithfulness: Implicitly, this verse contrasts God's steadfastness with the potential for human disobedience or doubt, affirming that His commitment stands regardless.

Linguistic Insights

  • The Hebrew word for "break" is chalal (Χ—ΧœΧœ), which can mean to profane, defile, or violate. It implies making something common or rendering it void. God emphatically states He will not desecrate His own covenant.
  • The word for "alter" is shanah (Χ©Χ Χ”), meaning to change, repeat (in a different way), or transform. God asserts that He will not modify or reverse the solemn declarations He has made. This underscores the permanence of His decrees.

Practical Application

For believers today, Psalms 89:34 offers immense comfort and assurance. It reminds us that our hope is founded not on our own strength or fluctuating circumstances, but on the unchanging character of God. When life seems chaotic or promises appear unfulfilled, this verse calls us to remember that God's word is eternally settled in heaven (Psalm 119:89). We can trust His promises for salvation, provision, and His ultimate plan, knowing that He will never break His covenant nor alter what has gone out of His lips. This truth fosters perseverance in faith and worship, even in times of trial.

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Cross-References

  • Numbers 23:19

    God [is] not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do [it]? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

  • Matthew 24:35

    Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

  • James 1:17

    Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

  • Romans 11:29

    For the gifts and calling of God [are] without repentance.

  • Malachi 3:6

    For I [am] the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

  • Jeremiah 14:21

    Do not abhor [us], for thy name's sake, do not disgrace the throne of thy glory: remember, break not thy covenant with us.

  • Leviticus 26:44

    And yet for all that, when they be in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly, and to break my covenant with them: for I [am] the LORD their God.