Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version You rule over the surging sea; when its waves mount up, you still them. New Living Translation You rule the oceans. You subdue their storm-tossed waves. English Standard Version You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, you still them. Berean Standard Bible You rule the raging sea; when its waves mount up, You still them. King James Bible Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them. New King James Version You rule the raging of the sea; When its waves rise, You still them. New American Standard Bible You rule the surging of the sea; When its waves rise, You calm them. NASB 1995 You rule the swelling of the sea; When its waves rise, You still them. NASB 1977 Thou dost rule the swelling of the sea; When its waves rise, Thou dost still them. Legacy Standard Bible You rule the swelling of the sea; When its waves rise, You still them. Amplified Bible You rule the swelling of the sea; When its waves rise, You still them. Christian Standard Bible You rule the raging sea; when its waves surge, you still them. Holman Christian Standard Bible You rule the raging sea; when its waves surge, You still them. American Standard Version Thou rulest the pride of the sea: When the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them. Contemporary English Version You rule the roaring sea and calm its waves. English Revised Version Thou rulest the pride of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them. GOD'S WORD® Translation You rule the raging sea. When its waves rise, you quiet them. Good News Translation You rule over the powerful sea; you calm its angry waves. International Standard Version You rule over the majestic sea; when its waves surge, you calm them. NET Bible You rule over the proud sea. When its waves surge, you calm them. New Heart English Bible You rule the pride of the sea. When its waves rise up, you calm them. Webster's Bible Translation Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when its waves arise, thou stillest them. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleYou rule the raging sea; when its waves mount up, You still them. World English Bible You rule the pride of the sea. When its waves rise up, you calm them. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionYou [are] ruler over the pride of the sea, "" In the lifting up of its billows You restrain them. Young's Literal Translation Thou art ruler over the pride of the sea, In the lifting up of its billows Thou dost restrain them. Smith's Literal Translation Thou ruling over the lifting up of the sea: in the lifting up of its waves thou wilt soothe them. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleThou rulest the power of the sea: and appeasest the motion of the waves thereof. Catholic Public Domain Version New American Bible You rule the raging sea; you still its swelling waves. New Revised Standard Version You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, you still them. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleThou rulest the splendor of the sea; thou stillest the waves thereof. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated You are The Ruler in the magnificence of the sea and you stop the tumult of its waves! OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Thou rulest the proud swelling of the sea; When the waves thereof arise, Thou stillest them. Brenton Septuagint Translation Thou rulest the power of the sea; and thou calmest the tumult of its waves. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context I Will Sing of His Love Forever…8O LORD God of Hosts, who is like You? O mighty LORD, Your faithfulness surrounds You. 9You rule the raging sea; when its waves mount up, You still them. 10You crushed Rahab like a carcass; You scattered Your enemies with Your mighty arm.… Cross References Mark 4:39 Then Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the sea. “Silence!” He commanded. “Be still!” And the wind died down, and it was perfectly calm. Matthew 8:26-27 “You of little faith,” Jesus replied, “why are you so afraid?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it was perfectly calm. / The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the sea obey Him!” Luke 8:24-25 The disciples went and woke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” Then Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters, and they subsided, and all was calm. / “Where is your faith?” He asked. Frightened and amazed, they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him!” Job 26:12 By His power He stirred the sea; by His understanding He shattered Rahab. Isaiah 51:15 For I am the LORD your God who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar—the LORD of Hosts is His name. 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: Nahum 1:4 He rebukes the sea and dries it up; He makes all the rivers run dry. Bashan and Carmel wither, and the flower of Lebanon wilts. Exodus 14:21-22 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove back the sea with a strong east wind that turned it into dry land. So the waters were divided, / and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on their right and on their left. Jonah 1:4 Then the LORD hurled a great wind upon the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship was in danger of breaking apart. Psalm 107:29 He calmed the storm to a whisper, and the waves of the sea were hushed. Proverbs 8:29 when He set a boundary for the sea, so that the waters would not surpass His command, when He marked out the foundations of the earth. Job 38:8-11 Who enclosed the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb, / when I made the clouds its garment and thick darkness its blanket, / when I fixed its boundaries and set in place its bars and doors, ... Isaiah 43:16 Thus says the LORD, who makes a way in the sea and a path through the surging waters, Matthew 14:32 And when they had climbed back into the boat, the wind died down. John 6:18-21 A strong wind was blowing, and the sea grew agitated. / When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the sea—and they were terrified. / But Jesus spoke up: “It is I; do not be afraid.” ... Treasury of Scripture You rule the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, you still them. Psalm 29:10 The LORD sitteth upon the flood; yea, the LORD sitteth King for ever. Psalm 65:7 Which stilleth the noise of the seas, the noise of their waves, and the tumult of the people. Psalm 66:5,6 Come and see the works of God: he is terrible in his doing toward the children of men… Jump to Previous Arise Billows Calm Lifting Mount Pride Proud Raging Restrain Rise Rule Ruler Rulest Sea Stillest Storm Surging Swelling Thereof Troubled WavesJump to Next Arise Billows Calm Lifting Mount Pride Proud Raging Restrain Rise Rule Ruler Rulest Sea Stillest Storm Surging Swelling Thereof Troubled WavesPsalm 89 1. The psalmist praises God for his covenant5. 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. You rule the raging sea; This phrase emphasizes God's sovereignty over creation, particularly the chaotic and untamable sea, which in ancient Near Eastern cultures often symbolized chaos and disorder. In biblical literature, the sea is frequently depicted as a force that only God can control, as seen in Genesis 1:2, where the Spirit of God hovers over the waters. This imagery is also present in Job 38:8-11, where God sets boundaries for the sea. The ruling of the sea can be seen as a metaphor for God's power over all forms of chaos and evil, reflecting His ultimate authority and control. when its waves mount up, You still them. Persons / Places / Events 1. Ethan the EzrahiteThe author of Psalm 89, traditionally believed to be a wise man during the time of King Solomon. His psalm reflects on God's covenant with David and His sovereign power. 2. The Raging Sea Symbolic of chaos and disorder in ancient Near Eastern literature, often representing the forces of nature that are beyond human control. 3. God's Sovereignty The central theme of this verse, highlighting God's supreme authority over creation, including the chaotic forces of the sea. Teaching Points God's Sovereignty Over ChaosGod is in control of all circumstances, no matter how chaotic they may seem. Trust in His power to bring order and peace. Faith in God's Power Just as God stills the raging sea, He can calm the storms in our lives. We are called to have faith in His ability to bring peace. God's Faithfulness The same God who ruled the sea in ancient times is faithful to His promises today. We can rely on His unchanging nature. Jesus as the Fulfillment Jesus' calming of the storm in the New Testament is a direct fulfillment of God's power over creation, affirming His divinity. Prayer and Dependence In times of trouble, we should turn to God in prayer, acknowledging His power and seeking His intervention in our lives. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Psalm 89:9?2. How does Psalm 89:9 demonstrate God's power over creation in our lives? 3. What does "rule the raging sea" reveal about God's authority and sovereignty? 4. How can we trust God during life's storms, as seen in Psalm 89:9? 5. Connect Psalm 89:9 with Jesus calming the storm in Mark 4:39. 6. How can acknowledging God's control over chaos strengthen our daily faith journey? 7. How does Psalm 89:9 demonstrate God's sovereignty over nature? 8. What historical context surrounds the writing of Psalm 89? 9. How does Psalm 89:9 relate to the theme of God's power in the Bible? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Psalm 89? 11. Job 26:12: Does the depiction of God suppressing sea forces align with or conflict with other ancient Near Eastern flood narratives? 12. In Job 7:12, why does Job reference the sea or a monstrous creature (possibly Leviathan)—and does this suggest any mythological element at odds with a strictly historical reading of Scripture? 13. What is the significance of the Sea of Galilee story? 14. Will there be no more sea? What Does Psalm 89:9 Mean You rule the raging seaPsalm 89:9 opens with “You rule the raging sea,” immediately spotlighting God as the undisputed sovereign over creation. The psalmist doesn’t picture a distant deity but a present King who governs every surge and swell. • Scripture consistently ties the sea to chaos and danger, then shows God reigning over it. In Job 38:8-11, He asks, “Who shut in the sea behind doors…when I fixed its boundaries and set bars and doors?” He alone set the limits. • Psalm 93:3-4 echoes, “The floods have lifted up their voice…mightier than the breakers of the sea, the LORD on high is majestic.” No matter how loud the roar, His rule is louder. • The Red Sea scene in Exodus 14:21-31 reminds us that God doesn’t merely command from shore; He divides waters for His people to walk through. Because He rules, the Christian never faces an untamable chaos; every wave, literal or figurative, answers to Him. When its waves mount up The verse moves from God’s authority to the dramatic moment “when its waves mount up.” Real life mirrors this: storms don’t consult our calendars. • Psalm 107:25-27 portrays sailors whose “courage melted away…they reeled and staggered like drunken men.” Even seasoned mariners can’t outmuscle the sea. • Jonah 1:4 shows God “hurling a great wind on the sea,” proving He can escalate circumstances to awaken hearts. • Jesus’ disciples faced mounting waves in Matthew 8:24; their boat “was being swamped by the waves.” The mounting moment is common to God’s people, and Scripture normalizes that tension. Knowing waves will rise keeps us from surprise and drives us to the Ruler who stands above them. You still them Finally, “You still them.” Authority becomes action; God’s sovereignty translates into serenity. • Psalm 107:29 celebrates, “He calmed the storm to a whisper, and the waves of the sea were hushed.” What He did then, He still does. • Mark 4:39 records Jesus rebuking the wind: “Peace! Be still!” and “the wind died down and it was perfectly calm.” The same voice heard in Psalm 89 is heard in Galilee, underscoring Christ’s divine identity. • Revelation 21:1 looks forward to a “new heaven and a new earth…there was no longer any sea.” The ultimate stilling is coming, when chaos is eradicated and peace is permanent. For believers, this means: – No crisis outruns His capacity to silence it. – His calming may be immediate, gradual, or ultimate, but it is certain. – Our worship is fueled by remembrance of past stillings and confidence in future ones. summary Psalm 89:9 paints a threefold picture: God rules the sea, acknowledges the reality of mounting waves, and personally stills them. He stands above every chaos, permits its rise for His purposes, and possesses the final word of peace. Trust rests secure when anchored to the One whom winds and waves obey. Verse 9. - Thou rulest the raging of the sea. There is no reason why this should not be understood literally. God's power over the sea is constantly put forward by the sacred writers as very specially indicative of his might and greatness (comp. Job 38:8-11; Psalm 107:29; Proverbs 8:29; Jeremiah 5:22, etc.). When the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them (comp. Psalm 65:7; Psalm 107:23-30; Matthew 8:26, 27).Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Youאַתָּ֣ה (’at·tāh) Pronoun - second person masculine singular Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you rule מ֭וֹשֵׁל (mō·wō·šêl) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 4910: To rule, have dominion, reign the raging בְּגֵא֣וּת (bə·ḡê·’ūṯ) Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct Strong's 1348: Arrogance, majesty, ornament sea; הַיָּ֑ם (hay·yām) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 3220: A sea, the Mediterranean Sea, large river, an artifical basin when its waves גַ֝לָּ֗יו (ḡal·lāw) Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 1530: Something rolled, a heap of stone, dung, a spring of water mount up, בְּשׂ֥וֹא (bə·śō·w) Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Strong's 7721: A rising You אַתָּ֥ה (’at·tāh) Pronoun - second person masculine singular Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you still them. תְשַׁבְּחֵֽם׃ (ṯə·šab·bə·ḥêm) Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine plural Strong's 7623: To address in a, loud tone, loud, to pacify Links Psalm 89:9 NIVPsalm 89:9 NLT Psalm 89:9 ESV Psalm 89:9 NASB Psalm 89:9 KJV Psalm 89:9 BibleApps.com Psalm 89:9 Biblia Paralela Psalm 89:9 Chinese Bible Psalm 89:9 French Bible Psalm 89:9 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Psalm 89:9 You rule the pride of the sea (Psalm Ps Psa.) |