Psalm 136:9
New International Version
the moon and stars to govern the night; His love endures forever.

New Living Translation
and the moon and stars to rule the night. His faithful love endures forever.

English Standard Version
the moon and stars to rule over the night, for his steadfast love endures forever;

Berean Standard Bible
the moon and stars to govern the night. His loving devotion endures forever.

King James Bible
The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.

New King James Version
The moon and stars to rule by night, For His mercy endures forever.

New American Standard Bible
The moon and stars to rule by night, For His faithfulness is everlasting.

NASB 1995
The moon and stars to rule by night, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

NASB 1977
The moon and stars to rule by night, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

Legacy Standard Bible
The moon and stars to rule by night, For His lovingkindness endures forever.

Amplified Bible
The moon and stars to rule by night, For His lovingkindness endures forever;

Christian Standard Bible
the moon and stars to rule by night. His faithful love endures forever.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
the moon and stars to rule by night. His love is eternal.

American Standard Version
The moon and stars to rule by night; For his lovingkindness endureth for ever:

Contemporary English Version
He lets the moon and the stars rule each night. God's love never fails.

English Revised Version
The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
the moon and stars to rule the night- because his mercy endures forever.

Good News Translation
the moon and the stars to rule over the night; his love is eternal.

International Standard Version
and the moon and stars to illumine the night, for his gracious love is everlasting—

Majority Standard Bible
the moon and stars to govern the night. His loving devotion endures forever.

NET Bible
the moon and stars to rule by night, for his loyal love endures,

New Heart English Bible
The moon and stars to rule by night; for his loving kindness endures forever:

Webster's Bible Translation
The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.

World English Bible
the moon and stars to rule by night, for his loving kindness endures forever;
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
The moon and stars to rule by night, "" For His kindness [is] for all time.

Young's Literal Translation
The moon and stars to rule by night, For to the age is His kindness.

Smith's Literal Translation
The moon and the stars for rulings in the night: for his mercy is forever.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The moon and the stars to rule the night: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Catholic Public Domain Version
the moon and the stars to rule the night, for his mercy is eternal.

New American Bible
The moon and stars to rule the night, for his mercy endures forever;

New Revised Standard Version
the moon and stars to rule over the night, for his steadfast love endures forever;
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
The moon and stars to rule by night; for his mercy endures for ever.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
The moon and the stars for rulers of the night, for his mercies are to eternity.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
The moon and stars to rule by night, For His mercy endureth for ever.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
The moon and the stars to rule the night; for his mercy endures for ever.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
His Loving Faithfulness Endures Forever
8the sun to rule the day, His loving devotion endures forever. 9 the moon and stars to govern the night. His loving devotion endures forever. 10He struck down the firstborn of Egypt His loving devotion endures forever.…

Cross References
Genesis 1:16
God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night. And He made the stars as well.

Jeremiah 31:35
Thus says the LORD, who gives the sun for light by day, who sets in order the moon and stars for light by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar—the LORD of Hosts is His name:

Job 38:12-13
In your days, have you commanded the morning or assigned the dawn its place, / that it might spread to the ends of the earth and shake the wicked out of it?

Isaiah 60:19-20
No longer will the sun be your light by day, nor the brightness of the moon shine on your night; for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your splendor. / Your sun will no longer set, and your moon will not wane; for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and the days of your sorrow will cease.

Deuteronomy 4:19
When you look to the heavens and see the sun and moon and stars—all the host of heaven—do not be enticed to bow down and worship what the LORD your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven.

Psalm 104:19
He made the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows when to set.

Ecclesiastes 12:2
before the light of the sun, moon, and stars is darkened, and the clouds return after the rain,

Joshua 10:12-13
On the day that the LORD gave the Amorites over to the Israelites, Joshua spoke to the LORD in the presence of Israel: “O sun, stand still over Gibeon, O moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.” / So the sun stood still and the moon stopped until the nation took vengeance upon its enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? “So the sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day.”

1 Corinthians 15:41
The sun has one degree of splendor, the moon another, and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor.

Revelation 21:23
And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, because the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its lamp.

Luke 21:25
There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among the nations, bewildered by the roaring of the sea and the surging of the waves.

Matthew 24:29
Immediately after the tribulation of those days: ‘The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.’

Acts 2:20
The sun will be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the coming of the great and glorious Day of the Lord.

Revelation 6:12
And I watched as the Lamb opened the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black like sackcloth of goat hair, and the whole moon turned blood red,

Mark 13:24
But in those days, after that tribulation: ‘The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light;


Treasury of Scripture

The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endures for ever.

The moon and stars.

Psalm 8:3
When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;

Psalm 89:36,37
His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me…

Job 31:26
If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness;

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Age Endures Endureth Everlasting Forever Govern Kindness Loving Loving-Kindness Mercy Moon Night Rule Stars Steadfast Unchanging
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Age Endures Endureth Everlasting Forever Govern Kindness Loving Loving-Kindness Mercy Moon Night Rule Stars Steadfast Unchanging
Psalm 136
1. An exhortation to give thanks to God for particular mercies.














the moon and stars to govern the night
In the ancient Near Eastern context, celestial bodies like the moon and stars were often associated with deities and worshiped by surrounding cultures. However, in the biblical narrative, they are created by God and serve His purposes, emphasizing His sovereignty over creation. The moon and stars are described as governing the night, indicating their role in providing light and order during darkness. This reflects Genesis 1:16, where God appoints the greater and lesser lights to rule the day and night, respectively. The use of "govern" suggests authority and control, which in biblical theology, is ultimately derived from God. The regularity and predictability of the moon and stars also symbolize God's faithfulness and order in creation.

His loving devotion endures forever
This refrain, repeated throughout Psalm 136, underscores the central theme of God's enduring love and faithfulness. The Hebrew word "hesed" is often translated as "loving devotion" or "steadfast love," conveying a sense of covenant loyalty and mercy. This phrase reassures believers of God's unchanging nature and His commitment to His people. It echoes throughout the Old Testament, reminding the Israelites of God's past acts of deliverance and His promises for the future. The enduring nature of God's love is a foundation for trust and worship, as seen in Lamentations 3:22-23, where His mercies are described as new every morning. This eternal aspect of God's character is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, whose sacrificial love and resurrection assure believers of eternal life and unending fellowship with God.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Moon and Stars
Celestial bodies created by God to illuminate the night, symbolizing His order and provision in creation.

2. The Night
Represents times of darkness or uncertainty, where God's creation continues to provide light and guidance.

3. God's Loving Devotion
The central theme of the psalm, emphasizing God's enduring love and faithfulness throughout creation and history.
Teaching Points
God's Sovereignty in Creation
The moon and stars are reminders of God's control over the universe. Even in the darkest times, His order prevails.

Enduring Love and Faithfulness
The repetition of "His loving devotion endures forever" throughout Psalm 136 emphasizes that God's love is constant and unwavering, just as the celestial bodies are constant in the night sky.

Guidance in Darkness
Just as the moon and stars provide light in the night, God's Word and presence guide us through life's uncertainties and challenges.

Worship and Gratitude
Recognizing God's creation and His enduring love should lead us to worship and gratitude, acknowledging His hand in all aspects of life.

Trust in God's Promises
The consistency of the moon and stars serves as a metaphor for the reliability of God's promises. We can trust Him to be faithful in all circumstances.Verse 9. - The moon and stare to rule by night (Genesis 1:16, 18). For his mercy, etc.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
the moon
הַיָּרֵ֣חַ (hay·yā·rê·aḥ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3394: The moon

and stars
וְ֭כוֹכָבִים (wə·ḵō·w·ḵā·ḇîm)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3556: A star, a prince

to govern
לְמֶמְשְׁל֣וֹת (lə·mem·šə·lō·wṯ)
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 4475: Rule, a realm, a ruler

the night.
בַּלָּ֑יְלָה (bal·lā·yə·lāh)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3915: A twist, night, adversity

His loving devotion
חַסְדּֽוֹ׃ (ḥas·dōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 2617: Kindness, piety, reproof, beauty

endures forever.
לְעוֹלָ֣ם (lə·‘ō·w·lām)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5769: Concealed, eternity, frequentatively, always


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OT Poetry: Psalm 136:9 The moon and stars to rule (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 136:8
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