Psalms 89:11
The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: as for the world and the fulness thereof, thou hast founded them.
Original Language Analysis
שָׁ֭מַיִם
The heavens
H8064
שָׁ֭מַיִם
The heavens
Strong's:
H8064
Word #:
2 of 9
the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies r
אַף
H637
אַף
Strong's:
H637
Word #:
3 of 9
meaning accession (used as an adverb or conjunction); also or yea; adversatively though
אָ֑רֶץ
are thine the earth
H776
אָ֑רֶץ
are thine the earth
Strong's:
H776
Word #:
5 of 9
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
תֵּבֵ֥ל
also is thine as for the world
H8398
תֵּבֵ֥ל
also is thine as for the world
Strong's:
H8398
Word #:
6 of 9
the earth (as moist and therefore inhabited); by extension, the globe; by implication, its inhabitants; specifically, a particular land, as babylonia,
Cross References
1 Chronicles 29:11Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.Genesis 1:1In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.Psalms 115:16The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD'S: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.1 Corinthians 10:26For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.Psalms 50:12If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.Genesis 2:1Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.
Historical Context
Ancient Near Eastern kings claimed divine authorization to rule, but Israel's theology inverted this—God owned everything, and earthly kings were merely His vice-regents. David understood he was stewarding God's kingdom, not building his own empire. This prepared the way for the Messiah who would rule not by military conquest but by divine right as Creator-King.
Questions for Reflection
- What practical difference does it make to view yourself as steward rather than owner of your possessions, time, and talents?
- How does God's ownership of 'the world and its fullness' affect your response to environmental and social concerns?
- In what areas of life are you tempted to act as owner rather than acknowledging God's ultimate ownership?
Analysis & Commentary
The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine (לְךָ שָׁמַיִם אַף־לְךָ אָרֶץ)—The emphatic possessive lekha (to you, yours) asserts God's universal ownership of both shamayim (heavens) and eretz (earth). As for the world and the fulness thereof, thou hast founded them (תֵּבֵל וּמְלֹאָהּ אַתָּה יְסַדְתָּם)—Tevel (inhabited world) and its melo (fullness, everything in it) were yasad (founded, established) by God alone.
This echoes Psalm 24:1—'The earth is the LORD's, and the fulness thereof.' Paul quotes this in 1 Corinthians 10:26 to argue for Christian freedom regarding food. The theological implication is massive: God owns everything, therefore no earthly power has ultimate authority, and believers steward (not own) all possessions. The Davidic covenant rests on this foundation—God can promise an eternal throne because He owns all kingdoms. Christ as Creator (John 1:3, Colossians 1:16) inherits this universal ownership.