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Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

Psalms 89:6

For who in the heaven ... - literally, In the cloud; that is, in the sky. The idea is that none in the regions above - the upper world - can be compared with God. There is no other god - there is no one among the angels, great and glorious as they are, that can be likened to him.

Who among the sons of the mighty ... - The angels - regarded as mighty. The “sons of the mighty” on earth are spoken of as mighty men - as men of power - as men of exalted rank. So here, the idea is, that none of the angels, though of exalted rank (“principalities,” or “powers,” compare Romans 8:38; Ephesians 1:21), could be put in comparison with God. See the notes at Isaiah 40:25.

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See also Psalms 89:6 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Psalms 89:6. _FOR WHO IN THE HEAVEN_] שחק _shachak_ signifies the ethereal regions, all visible or unbounded space; the universe. Who is like Jesus? given in his _human nature_ none of _the sons...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    Psalms 89 God's Faithfulness: His Oath-bound Covenant with David _ 1. Jehovah's faithfulness (Psalms 89:1)_ 2. His covenant with David (Psalms 89:19) 3. The ruin and desolation ...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    LXXXIX. THE COVENANT WITH DAVID. The Ps. may be divided thus: Psalms 89:1. The promise made to David (2 Samuel 7). Yahweh is all-powerful, so that He can, faithful so that He will, fulfil His word. Ps...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    WHO. Figure of speech _Erotesis._ App-6. This is the cry of all His saints. See note on Exodus 15:11. HEAVEN. sky. Same word as Psalms 89:37. SONS OF THE MIGHTY. sons of _Elim_. the angels....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    For who in the sky can be compared unto Jehovah? Who is like Jehovah among the sons of God, A God greatly to be dreaded in the council of the holy ones, And to be feared above all that are round ab...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    The adoring recital of God's attributes which follows here has a twofold purpose in relation to the subject of the Psalm. It is a plea with God, and it is an encouragement to Israel. His omnipotence g...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Jehovah's incomparableness is ever being celebrated in heaven. The angelic beings, "who best can tell," as standing nearest to the throne of God, and partaking most of His nature, know that there is n...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    WHO AMONG THE SONS OF THE MIGHTY, &C.— i.e. Of the most mighty princes upon earth: But some understand this of the angels, who, in Job 1:6 are particularly styled _the Sons of God._...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    PSALMS 89 DESCRIPTIVE TITLE The Covenant with David Contrasted with the Present Dishonour of David's Heir. ANALYSIS Stanza I., Psalms 89:1-2, The Keynotes of the psalmJehovah's Kindness and Faithfu...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    And the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O LORD: thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints. -Inasmuch as the value of a promise depends on the power and the faithfulness of the promi...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    89:6 heaven (g-5) Or 'in the sky.' mighty (h-17) _ Elim_ , plural of _ El_ . see Note, Genesis 1:1 ....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    We have here another national and historical Ps., written when the Jewish kingdom and its king had fallen very low before their enemies, contrasting the promises made to David with their seeming lack...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    SONS OF THE MIGHTY] angels: see Psalms 29:1....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    Psalms 73:89 _GORDON CHURCHYARD_ MAKE YOUR *KINGDOM COME SOON! PSALMS 89 Make your *kingdom come soon. Make people obey your rules in the earth as they do in *heaven ...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    SONS OF THE MIGHTY. — Rather, _sons of God — i.e.,_ angels. (Comp. Psalms 29:1.)...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    _[Psalms 89:7]_ כִּ֤י מִ֣י בַ֭ † שַּׁחַק...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    Psalms 89:1 THE foundation of this psalm is the promise in 2 Samuel 7:1 which guaranteed the perpetuity of the Davidic kingdom. Many of the characteristic phrases of the prophecy recur here- _ e.g.,_...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    NO GOD LIKE OUR GOD Psalms 89:1 To understand this psalm we must turn to 2 Samuel 7:1, where God guaranteed that David's kingdom should be continued to his descendants. Nathan's words are quoted in P...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    Taken as a whole, this song is one of the finest in the collection as a revelation of how the man of faith is compelled to view circumstances of calamity. In a poem of great beauty he first sets forth...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    For who in the heaven can be compared unto the LORD? [who] among the (g) sons of the mighty can be likened unto the LORD? (g) Meaning, the angels....

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Fall. Hebrew, "it is cut down and dries." The heat of the climate caused the flowers to decay ver soon, Isaias xl. 6. Man's youth touches on old age. (Calmet) --- The present moment is all we can cal...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    These verses contain a blessed hymn of praise. Jehovah's name, and his perfections, are gratefully celebrated. His sovereignty, grace, power, love, and goodness, are beautifully set forth, and most th...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    6_For who in the clouds can be compared to Jehovah? _The prophet now proceeds to illustrate farther what he had said respecting God’s wonders, and exclaims emphatically, _Who in the clouds can be comp...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    Psalms 89. We have seen that Psalms 88 puts Israel in the presence of Jehovah (when guilty of having been unfaithful to Him), under the judgment of Jehovah, with the sense of wrath, yet in faith in Je...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    FOR WHO IN THE HEAVEN CAN BE COMPARED UNTO THE LORD?.... Or "ranked" n, or put upon a par, with him; none of the angels in heaven; for though they are holy, wise, knowing, powerful, faithful, kind, an...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    For who in the heaven can be compared unto the LORD? [who] among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the LORD? Ver. 6. _For who in the heaven can be compared? &c_] Thou far transcendest the br...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Who among the sons of the mighty_ That is, of the most mighty princes upon earth: or among the highest angels; who well may and needs must admire and adore thee, because thou art incomparably and inf...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    OF THE MESSIAH AND HIS KINGDOM. Maschil, a didactic poem, of Ethan, the Ezrahite, a descendant of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, 1 Chronicles 2:6; 1 Kings 4:31. He belonged to a great family, or guild,...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    For who in the heaven can be compared unto the Lord, in the immeasurable greatness of this miracle of His grace in providing a Savior for mankind? WHO AMONG THE SONS OF THE MIGHTY, the greatest of His...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    5-14 The more God's works are known, the more they are admired. And to praise the Lord, is to acknowledge him to be such a one that there is none like him. Surely then we should feel and express reve...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    AMONG THE SONS OF THE MIGHTY; either, first, among the potentates of the earth; or rather, secondly, among the highest angels; who well may and needs must admire and adore time, because thou art incom...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Psalms 89:6 heavens H7834 compared H6186 (H8799) LORD H3068 sons H1121 mighty H410 likened H1819 (H8799) LORD...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Psalms 89:1. _I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations. For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Psalms 89:1. _I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations. For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Psalms 89:1. Maschil of Ethan the Ezrahite. That is to say, an instructive Psalm, written by or for one Ethan, one of the great singers of David's day. He sings of the covenant, the covenant with Davi...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Joy over and praise of God's greatness. Complaint of the seeming failure of the covenant and prayer for redress. CHARACTERS: God, David, Psalmist. CONCLUSION: Though we may find it hard to...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    The time of this ode is gathered from the text; it was written after Rahab, the proud Egyptian kingdom, Psalms 87:4, was broken to pieces, Psalms 89:10; and after the hedge, the wall of Jerusalem, was...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _For who In the heaven can be compared unto the Lord?_ THE GREATNESS OF GOD The true God, Sovereign of heaven and earth, is incomparably great-- I. In His being and existence. 1. Eternal. 2. Perf...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever._ A MAJESTIC SONG This psalm is one of the very choicest songs in the night. Midst a stream of troubled thoughts there stands a fair island of rescue...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    PSALM PSALM—NOTE ON PSALMS 89:1. This is a community lament, but with a distinctive flavor. The people celebrate the Davidic kingship as God’s special gift to his people, but they also mourn the distr...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    INTRODUCTION _Superscription_.—“_Maschil_,” an instruction, a didactic poem. _“Of Ethan the Ezrahite_,” “one of the four sons of Mahol, whose wisdom was excelled by Solomon (1 Kings 4:31). There is li...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION At first sight, a psalm of praise; but, in reality, one of expostulation and complaint. The praises of God are sung in the opening section (Psalms 89:1); they culminated in the Davidical co...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations. For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou est...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    Exodus 15:11; Jeremiah 10:6; Psalms 29:1; Psalms 52:1; Psalms 113:5;...

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    THE PSALM OF WORSHIPFUL PRAISE Psalms 89:1 INTRODUCTORY WORDS By way of introduction we shall take the first two verses of our study and see what God will give us. Let us quote to you these verses i...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Among — The highest angels....

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