Psalm 89:3
New International Version
You said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant,

New Living Translation
The LORD said, “I have made a covenant with David, my chosen servant. I have sworn this oath to him:

English Standard Version
You have said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one; I have sworn to David my servant:

Berean Standard Bible
You said, “I have made a covenant with My chosen one, I have sworn to David My servant:

King James Bible
I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant,

New King James Version
“I have made a covenant with My chosen, I have sworn to My servant David:

New American Standard Bible
“I have made a covenant with My chosen; I have sworn to My servant David,

NASB 1995
“I have made a covenant with My chosen; I have sworn to David My servant,

NASB 1977
“I have made a covenant with My chosen; I have sworn to David My servant,

Legacy Standard Bible
“I have cut a covenant with My chosen; I have sworn to David My servant,

Amplified Bible
[God has said] “I have made a covenant with My chosen one; I have sworn to David My servant,

Christian Standard Bible
The LORD said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one; I have sworn an oath to David my servant:

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The LORD said,” I have made a covenant with My chosen one; I have sworn an oath to David My servant:

American Standard Version
I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant:

Contemporary English Version
You said, "David, my servant, is my chosen one, and this is the agreement I made with him:

English Revised Version
I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
[You said,] "I have made a promise to my chosen one. I swore this oath to my servant David:

Good News Translation
You said, "I have made a covenant with the man I chose; I have promised my servant David,

International Standard Version
I have made a covenant with my chosen one; I have made a promise to David, my servant.

Majority Standard Bible
You said, ?I have made a covenant with My chosen one, I have sworn to David My servant:

NET Bible
The LORD said, "I have made a covenant with my chosen one; I have made a promise on oath to David, my servant:

New Heart English Bible
"I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David, my servant,

Webster's Bible Translation
I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn to David my servant,

World English Bible
“I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David, my servant,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
I have made a covenant for My chosen, "" I have sworn to My servant David:

Young's Literal Translation
I have made a covenant for My chosen, I have sworn to David My servant:

Smith's Literal Translation
I cut out a covenant to my chosen, I sware to David my servant,
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
I have made a covenant with my elect: I have sworn to David my servant:

Catholic Public Domain Version
I have set up a covenant with my elect. I have sworn to David my servant:

New American Bible
I have made a covenant with my chosen one; I have sworn to David my servant:

New Revised Standard Version
You said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to my servant David:
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn to David my servant,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
I have established a covenant for my chosen and I have sworn to David my Servant:
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
I have made a covenant with My chosen, I have sworn unto David My servant:

Brenton Septuagint Translation
I made a covenant with my chosen ones, I sware unto David my servant.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
I Will Sing of His Love Forever
2For I have said, “Loving devotion is built up forever; in the heavens You establish Your faithfulness.” 3You said, “I have made a covenant with My chosen one, I have sworn to David My servant: 4‘I will establish your offspring forever and build up your throne for all generations.’ ” Selah…

Cross References
2 Samuel 7:12-16
And when your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. / He will build a house for My Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. / I will be his Father, and he will be My son. When he does wrong, I will discipline him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men. ...

1 Chronicles 17:11-14
And when your days are fulfilled and you go to be with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. / He will build a house for Me, and I will establish his throne forever. / I will be his Father, and he will be My son. And I will never remove My loving devotion from him as I removed it from your predecessor. ...

2 Samuel 23:5
Is not my house right with God? For He has established with me an everlasting covenant, ordered and secured in every part. Will He not bring about my full salvation and my every desire?

1 Kings 8:23-26
and said: “O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like You in heaven above or on earth below, keeping Your covenant of loving devotion with Your servants who walk before You with all their hearts. / You have kept Your promise to Your servant, my father David. What You spoke with Your mouth You have fulfilled with Your hand this day. / Therefore now, O LORD, God of Israel, keep for Your servant, my father David, what You promised when You said: ‘You will never fail to have a man to sit before Me on the throne of Israel, if only your descendants guard their way to walk before Me as you have done.’ ...

Isaiah 55:3
Incline your ear and come to Me; listen, so that your soul may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant—My loving devotion promised to David.

Jeremiah 33:20-21
“This is what the LORD says: If you can break My covenant with the day and My covenant with the night, so that day and night cease to occupy their appointed time, / then My covenant may also be broken with David My servant and with My ministers the Levites who are priests, so that David will not have a son to reign on his throne.

2 Chronicles 6:14-16
and said: “O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like You in heaven or on earth, keeping Your covenant of loving devotion with Your servants who walk before You with all their hearts. / You have kept Your promise to Your servant, my father David. What You spoke with Your mouth You have fulfilled with Your hand this day. / Therefore now, O LORD, God of Israel, keep for Your servant, my father David, what You promised when You said: ‘You will never fail to have a man to sit before Me on the throne of Israel, if only your descendants guard their way to walk in My law as you have walked before Me.’

Acts 13:22-23
After removing Saul, He raised up David as their king and testified about him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse a man after My own heart; he will carry out My will in its entirety.’ / From the descendants of this man, God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as He promised.

Luke 1:32-33
He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, / and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!”

Romans 1:3
regarding His Son, who was a descendant of David according to the flesh,

Hebrews 1:5
For to which of the angels did God ever say: “You are My Son; today I have become Your Father”? Or again: “I will be His Father, and He will be My Son”?

Revelation 22:16
“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the bright Morning Star.”

Matthew 1:1
This is the record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham:

Luke 1:69-70
He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David, / as He spoke through His holy prophets, those of ages past,

Acts 2:30
But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that He would place one of his descendants on his throne.


Treasury of Scripture

I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn to David my servant,

made

Psalm 89:28,34,39
My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him…

2 Samuel 7:10-16
Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as beforetime, …

2 Samuel 23:5
Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow.

my chosen

Psalm 89:19
Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people.

Psalm 78:70
He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds:

Isaiah 42:1
Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.

sworn

Psalm 89:35
Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David.

Psalm 132:11
The LORD hath sworn in truth unto David; he will not turn from it; Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne.

2 Samuel 3:9
So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the LORD hath sworn to David, even so I do to him;

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Psalm 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.














I have made
The phrase "I have made" is rooted in the Hebrew word "karath," which means to cut. This term is often used in the context of making covenants, signifying a solemn and binding agreement. In ancient times, covenants were often ratified by cutting an animal in two and passing between the pieces, symbolizing the seriousness and binding nature of the agreement. This imagery underscores the gravity and permanence of God's promises.

a covenant
refers to a divine promise or agreement initiated by God. In the Hebrew context, a covenant is not merely a contract but a sacred bond. Theologically, covenants in the Bible are central to God's relationship with humanity, marking significant moments in salvation history. This particular covenant is reminiscent of God's promises to Abraham, Moses, and David, each serving as a foundation for God's unfolding plan of redemption.

with My chosen one
highlights the special selection and favor of the individual with whom God is making this covenant. The term "chosen one" in Hebrew is "bachir," indicating someone selected for a specific purpose or mission. Historically, this phrase is understood to refer to David, the king chosen by God to lead Israel and through whose lineage the Messiah would come. This choice is not based on human merit but on divine grace and purpose, reflecting God's sovereign will in the unfolding of His redemptive plan.

I have sworn to David My servant
The phrase "I have sworn" comes from the Hebrew "shaba," meaning to take an oath. In biblical times, an oath was a solemn promise, often invoking God as a witness to the truth of one's words. God's swearing an oath emphasizes the unchangeable and trustworthy nature of His promises. It reassures believers of the certainty and reliability of God's word, as He binds Himself to His promises with an unbreakable commitment.

to David
refers to King David, a central figure in the Old Testament. David is not only a historical king but also a type of Christ, prefiguring the coming Messiah. God's covenant with David, often called the Davidic Covenant, promised that his throne would be established forever, ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the Son of David. This promise to David is a cornerstone of biblical prophecy and messianic expectation.

My servant
underscores the relationship between God and David. The term "servant" in Hebrew is "ebed," which conveys both humility and honor. It signifies one who is devoted to carrying out the will of another. David, as God's servant, is portrayed as a model of faithfulness and obedience, despite his human flaws. This designation also points to the ultimate Servant, Jesus Christ, who perfectly fulfills the role of the obedient servant, accomplishing God's redemptive work on behalf of humanity.

(3) I have sworn.--The prophetic passage (2Samuel 7:12, seq.) is in the poet's mind.

Verse 3. - I have made a covenant with my chosen. There is an ellipse of "for thou hast said," which Professor Cheyne supplies. God's promise to David is the entire foundation of the psalmist's hope and confidence. He therefore places it briefly in the very forefront - afterwards expanding it into the beautiful passage, which forms more than one-third of the entire composition (vers. 19-37). I have sworn unto David my servant (comp. 2 Samuel 7:11-16; Psalm 132:11).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
You said, “I have made
כָּרַ֣תִּֽי (kā·rat·tî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 3772: To cut, to destroy, consume, to covenant

a covenant
בְ֭רִית (ḇə·rîṯ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1285: A covenant

with My chosen one,
לִבְחִירִ֑י (liḇ·ḥî·rî)
Preposition-l | Adjective - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 972: Select

I have sworn
נִ֝שְׁבַּ֗עְתִּי (niš·ba‘·tî)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7650: To seven oneself, swear

to David
לְדָוִ֥ד (lə·ḏā·wiḏ)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

My servant:
עַבְדִּֽי׃ (‘aḇ·dî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 5650: Slave, servant


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OT Poetry: Psalm 89:3 I have made a covenant with my (Psalm Ps Psa.)
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