Psalms 89:6

6 For who in the clouds shall be made even to the Lord; shall be like God among the sons of God? (For who in heaven shall be made equal to the Lord? who shall be like God among the heavenly beings?/who shall be like God in the council of heaven?)

Psalms 89:6 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 89:6

For who in the heaven can be compared unto the Lord?
&c.] Or "ranked" F14, or put upon a par, with him; none of the angels in heaven; for though they are holy, wise, knowing, powerful, faithful, kind, and merciful creatures, yet not to be compared with the Lord for holiness, wisdom, knowledge, strength, faithfulness, and mercy; see ( Exodus 15:11 ) ( Isaiah 46:9 Isaiah 46:10 ) ( Psalms 89:8 ) ( 1 Kings 8:23 ) ( Micah 7:18 ) ,

who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the Lord?
the Syriac version very wrongly renders it "the sons of angels", seeing angels do not propagate their species, ( Luke 20:36 ) to which Kimchi agrees, who makes the "mighty" to be angels, and their sons to be the host of heaven, which are moved and guided by them: the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Ethiopic, and Arabic versions, render it "the sons of God"; and this phrase, indeed, is applicable to the angels, ( Job 38:7 ) , and so the Targum interprets it of the multitude of the angels; but rather the mighty men of the earth, and their children, are meant; princes, nobles, judges, and civil magistrates of all sorts, men of power and authority in the world; there are none of them to be likened to the Lord, who is King of kings, and Lord of lords; see ( Psalms 82:1 Psalms 82:2 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F14 (Krey) "par aestimetur", Junius & Tremellius; "par aestimabitur", Piscator.

Psalms 89:6 In-Context

4 Till into without end I shall make ready thy seed. And I shall build thy seat; in generation, and into generation. (that I shall establish thy children, or thy descendants, forever. And I shall preserve thy throne; for all generations.)
5 Lord, heavens shall acknowledge thy marvels; and thy truth in the church of saints. (Lord, the heavens shall praise thy marvellous deeds; and the council of the saints shall praise thy faithfulness.)
6 For who in the clouds shall be made even to the Lord; shall be like God among the sons of God? (For who in heaven shall be made equal to the Lord? who shall be like God among the heavenly beings?/who shall be like God in the council of heaven?)
7 God, that is glorified in the council of saints; is great, and dreadful over all that be in his compass. (God, thou art feared/thou art revered, in the council of the saints; thou art great, and glorified above all who surround thee.)
8 Lord God of virtues, who is like thee? Lord, thou art mighty, and thy truth is in thy compass. (Lord God of hosts, who is like thee? Lord, thou art mighty, and thy faithfulness surroundeth thee.)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.