Psalms 89:40
Psalms 89:40 in Multiple Translations
You have broken down all his walls; You have reduced his strongholds to rubble.
Thou hast broken down all his hedges; thou hast brought his strong holds to ruin.
Thou hast broken down all his hedges; Thou hast brought his strongholds to ruin.
All his walls are broken down; you have given his strong towers to destruction.
You have torn down his defensive walls; you have ruined his fortresses.
Thou hast broken downe all his walles: thou hast layd his fortresses in ruine.
Thou hast broken down all his hedges, Thou hast made his fenced places a ruin.
You have broken down all his hedges. You have brought his strongholds to ruin.
Thou hast broken down all his hedges; thou hast brought his strong holds to ruin.
You have torn down the walls that protect his city, and allowed all his forts to become ruins.
Berean Amplified Bible — Psalms 89:40
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Psalms 89:40 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
נֵ֭אַרְתָּה
בְּרִ֣ית
עַבְדֶּ֑/ךָ
חִלַּ֖לְתָּ
לָ/אָ֣רֶץ
נִזְרֽ/וֹ
נֵ֭אַרְתָּה
nâʼar
H5010
to disown
V-Piel-Perf-2ms
בְּרִ֣ית
bᵉrîyth
H1285
covenant
N-fs
עַבְדֶּ֑/ךָ
ʻebed
H5650
servant/slave
N-ms | Suff
חִלַּ֖לְתָּ
châlal
H2490
to bore
V-Piel-Perf-2ms
לָ/אָ֣רֶץ
ʼerets
H776
land
Prep | N-cs
נִזְרֽ/וֹ
nezer
H5145
consecration
N-ms | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Psalms 89:40
נֵ֭אַרְתָּה
nâʼar
H5010
"to disown"
V-Piel-Perf-2ms
To disown or reject means to abhor or spurn something, as seen in the Bible when God rejects those who disobey Him. This word is used to describe strong feelings of dislike or hatred.
Definition: (Piel) to abhor, spurn
Usage: Occurs in 2 OT verses. KJV: abhor, make void. See also: Psalms 89:40; Lamentations 2:7.
בְּרִ֣ית
bᵉrîyth
H1285
"covenant"
N-fs
A covenant is a promise or agreement between people or between God and people, like a treaty or alliance. It is first mentioned in the Bible in Genesis, where God makes a covenant with Abraham. This concept is central to the Bible.
Definition: 1) covenant, alliance, pledge 1a) between men 1a1) treaty, alliance, league (man to man) 1a2) constitution, ordinance (monarch to subjects) 1a3) agreement, pledge (man to man) 1a4) alliance (of friendship) 1a5) alliance (of marriage) 1b) between God and man 1b1) alliance (of friendship) 1b2) covenant (divine ordinance with signs or pledges) 2) (phrases) 2a) covenant making 2b) covenant keeping 2c) covenant violation
Usage: Occurs in 264 OT verses. KJV: confederacy, (con-) feder(-ate), covenant, league. See also: Genesis 6:18; Judges 20:27; Psalms 25:10.
עַבְדֶּ֑/ךָ
ʻebed
H5650
"servant/slave"
N-ms | Suff
This word refers to a servant or slave, often in the context of serving God or a human master. It can also describe a prophet or Levite. The KJV translates it as bondage, bondman, or servant.
Definition: 1) slave, servant 1a) slave, servant, man-servant 1b) subjects 1c) servants, worshippers (of God) 1d) servant (in special sense as prophets, Levites etc) 1e) servant (of Israel) 1f) servant (as form of address between equals) Aramaic equivalent: a.vad (עֲבַד "servant/slave" H5649)
Usage: Occurs in 714 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] bondage, bondman, (bond-) servant, (man-) servant. See also: Genesis 9:25; Exodus 11:3; 1 Samuel 8:16.
חִלַּ֖לְתָּ
châlal
H2490
"to bore"
V-Piel-Perf-2ms
This Hebrew word means to profane or begin, like starting something new or breaking a rule. It appears in the Bible when someone disrespects God or a person, like in Ezekiel 22:26. It can also mean to play music or start a project.
Definition: 1) to wound (fatally), bore through, pierce, bore 1a) (Qal) to pierce 1b) (Pual) to be slain 1c) (Poel) to wound, pierce 1d) (Poal) to be wounded
Usage: Occurs in 132 OT verses. KJV: begin ([idiom] men began), defile, [idiom] break, defile, [idiom] eat (as common things), [idiom] first, [idiom] gather the grape thereof, [idiom] take inheritance, pipe, player on instruments, pollute, (cast as) profane (self), prostitute, slay (slain), sorrow, stain, wound. See also: Genesis 4:26; Ezra 3:8; Psalms 55:21.
לָ/אָ֣רֶץ
ʼerets
H776
"land"
Prep | N-cs
The land or earth refers to the soil or ground, and can also mean a country, territory, or region. In the Bible, it is used to describe the earth and its inhabitants, and is often translated as 'land' or 'country'.
Definition: : soil 1) land, earth 1a) earth 1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part) 1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven) 1a3) earth (inhabitants) 1b) land 1b1) country, territory 1b2) district, region 1b3) tribal territory 1b4) piece of ground 1b5) land of Canaan, Israel 1b6) inhabitants of land 1b7) Sheol, land without return, (under) world 1b8) city (-state) 1c) ground, surface of the earth 1c1) ground 1c2) soil 1d) (in phrases) 1d1) people of the land 1d2) space or distance of country (in measurements of distance) 1d3) level or plain country 1d4) land of the living 1d5) end(s) of the earth 1e) (almost wholly late in usage) 1e1) lands, countries 1e1a) often in contrast to Canaan
Usage: Occurs in 2190 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world. See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 18:18; Genesis 42:13.
נִזְרֽ/וֹ
nezer
H5145
"consecration"
N-ms | Suff
The Hebrew word for consecration or a crown, often referring to a Nazirite vow, where someone dedicates themselves to God. This concept appears in Numbers 6 and is associated with unshorn locks or a royal chaplet. In the Bible, it symbolizes a person's commitment to God.
Definition: 1) consecration, crown, separation, Nazariteship 1a) crown (as sign of consecration), earring 1a1) stones of a crown, diadem, stones of charming 1b) woman's hair 1c) consecration 1c1) of high priest 1c2) of Nazarite
Usage: Occurs in 22 OT verses. KJV: consecration, crown, hair, separation. See also: Exodus 29:6; Numbers 6:18; Psalms 89:40.
Study Notes — Psalms 89:40
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Psalms 89:40 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Psalms 89:40
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 89:40
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 89:40
- Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 89:40
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 89:40
- Cambridge Bible on Psalms 89:40
- Barnes' Notes on Psalms 89:40
- Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 89:40
- Sermons on Psalms 89:40
Context — I Will Sing of His Love Forever
38Now, however, You have spurned and rejected him; You are enraged by Your anointed one.
39You have renounced the covenant with Your servant and sullied his crown in the dust.
40You have broken down all his walls; You have reduced his strongholds to rubble.
41All who pass by plunder him; he has become a reproach to his neighbors. 42You have exalted the right hand of his foes; You have made all his enemies rejoice.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalms 80:12 | Why have You broken down its walls, so that all who pass by pick its fruit? |
| 2 | Lamentations 2:2 | Without pity the Lord has swallowed up all the dwellings of Jacob. In His wrath He has demolished the fortified cities of the Daughter of Judah. He brought to the ground and defiled her kingdom and its princes. |
| 3 | Lamentations 2:5 | The Lord is like an enemy; He has swallowed up Israel. He has swallowed up all her palaces and destroyed her strongholds. He has multiplied mourning and lamentation for the Daughter of Judah. |
| 4 | Job 1:10 | Have You not placed a hedge on every side around him and his household and all that he owns? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. |
| 5 | Isaiah 5:5–6 | Now I will tell you what I am about to do to My vineyard: I will take away its hedge, and it will be consumed; I will tear down its wall, and it will be trampled. I will make it a wasteland, neither pruned nor cultivated, and thorns and briers will grow up. I will command the clouds that rain shall not fall on it.” |
| 6 | 2 Chronicles 15:5 | In those days there was no safety for travelers, because the residents of the lands had many conflicts. |
| 7 | 2 Chronicles 12:2–5 | In the fifth year of Rehoboam’s reign, because they had been unfaithful to the LORD, Shishak king of Egypt came up and attacked Jerusalem with 1,200 chariots, 60,000 horsemen, and countless troops who came with him out of Egypt—Libyans, Sukkites, and Cushites. He captured the fortified cities of Judah and came as far as Jerusalem. Then Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam and the leaders of Judah who had gathered at Jerusalem because of Shishak, and he said to them, “This is what the LORD says: ‘You have forsaken Me; therefore, I have forsaken you into the hand of Shishak.’” |
| 8 | Revelation 13:1–7 | Then I saw a beast with ten horns and seven heads rising out of the sea. There were ten royal crowns on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. The beast I saw was like a leopard, with the feet of a bear and the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority. One of the heads of the beast appeared to be mortally wounded. But the mortal wound was healed, and the whole world marveled and followed the beast. They worshiped the dragon who had given authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can wage war against it?” The beast was given a mouth to speak arrogant and blasphemous words, and authority to act for 42 months. And the beast opened its mouth to speak blasphemies against God and to slander His name and His tabernacle—those who dwell in heaven. Then the beast was permitted to wage war against the saints and to conquer them, and it was given authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation. |
Psalms 89:40 Summary
[This verse is saying that God has allowed the defenses of His people to be broken down, leaving them vulnerable to attack. This can be a difficult and scary experience, but it can also be an opportunity for God's people to turn to Him and trust in His presence and provision, as described in Psalms 23:4. By letting go of our own strength and resources, we can learn to rely on God as our rock and our salvation, as described in Psalms 18:2. This is a hard lesson to learn, but it is one that can bring us closer to God and help us to trust in Him more deeply.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean for God to 'break down all his walls' in Psalms 89:40?
This phrase is a metaphor for God removing the protection and defenses of His people, similar to what is described in Deuteronomy 28:52, where God warns of the consequences of disobedience, including the loss of security and protection.
Why would God reduce His people's strongholds to rubble?
According to Scripture, God sometimes allows His people to face hardship and defeat as a form of discipline or judgment, as seen in Isaiah 45:7, where God says He creates both peace and calamity, and in Psalms 119:71, where the psalmist acknowledges that affliction can be a means of spiritual growth.
Is this verse talking about a specific event or person in history?
While the verse does not specify a particular event or person, the context of Psalms 89 suggests that it may be referring to the fall of the kingdom of Judah or the experiences of King David, as described in 2 Samuel 7:14-16, where God promises to discipline David's descendants if they are disobedient.
How can we apply this verse to our lives today?
This verse can serve as a reminder that our security and protection come from God, and that we should not put our trust in earthly strongholds or defenses, but rather in God's presence and provision, as described in Psalms 20:7-8, where the psalmist trusts in God's name and not in chariots or horses.
Reflection Questions
- What are the 'walls' in my life that I have built for my own protection, and am I willing to let God break them down if necessary?
- In what ways have I experienced God's discipline or judgment in my life, and how have I responded to it?
- How can I cultivate a deeper trust in God's presence and provision, rather than relying on my own strength or resources?
- What are some areas in my life where I need to surrender my control and let God be my stronghold, as described in Psalms 28:7-8?
Gill's Exposition on Psalms 89:40
Thou hast broken down all his hedges,.... Round about his vine, the church; see Psalms 80:12.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 89:40
But thou hast cast off and abhorred, thou hast been wroth with thine anointed. -The people of the covenant contrast the sad state of things actually with what the covenant seemed to promise. Similarly in Psalms 44:9. Verse 38.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 89:40
All his hedges; all the means of his protection and safety.
Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 89:40
Psalms 89:40 Thou hast broken down all his hedges; thou hast brought his strong holds to ruin.Ver. 40. Thou hast broken down all his hedges] Or, walls. The walls of Sparta were their militia, of England are their ships, of all lands their laws, Ecclesiastes 10:8. Thou hast brought his strong holds to ruin] Or, to consternation and deadly fright. Siqua manet gelida formidine concutis arcem (Buchanan).
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 89:40
Verse 40. Thou hast broken down all his hedges] Thou hart permitted the land to be stripped of all defence; there is not even one strong place in the hands of thy people.
Cambridge Bible on Psalms 89:40
40. Insensibly the king is identified with the nation whose head and representative he was. The first line is taken from the description of Israel as a vine in Psalms 80:12. hedges] Or, as R.V. in Psalms 80:12, fences.
Barnes' Notes on Psalms 89:40
Thou hast broken down all his hedges - His walls or defenses; all that he relied on for safety. Thou hast brought his strongholds to ruin - His towers, fortifications; defenses. The enemy has been suffered to destroy them.
Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 89:40
40. His hedges—His defences, called his strongholds in the next member.
Sermons on Psalms 89:40
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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Making of a Man of God by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the preacher begins by expressing a desire to draw closer to God and be broken before Him. He emphasizes that even in the midst of trials and confusion, God is at w |
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(Genesis) Genesis 39 Introduction by J. Vernon McGee | In this sermon, the speaker focuses on the story of Joseph from the book of Genesis. Joseph, despite facing numerous challenges and hardships, is a prime example of how God's provi |
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Light on Satan's Tactics - Satan's Tactic With Job by Zac Poonen | In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the book of Job and highlights the godly character of Job, who was also a wealthy man and a father of ten children. The preacher emphasizes |
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Satan Must Find Nothing in Us by Zac Poonen | This sermon emphasizes the importance of understanding Satan's tactics and the need to be a testimony to Satan by living a life free from pride, rebellion, discontent, lying, and m |
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The God Who Is Over All by Smith Wigglesworth | Smith Wigglesworth emphasizes the supremacy of God as the Father who is above all, encouraging believers to trust in His power and presence that protects them from the enemy. He il |
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Hedged In by Charles E. Cowman | Charles E. Cowman preaches about the purpose of trials and hardships in the lives of believers, emphasizing that God hedges in His own to preserve them, even though they may not al |
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(Secrets of Victory) 7. You Cannot Be Tested Beyond Your Ability by Zac Poonen | Zac Poonen emphasizes the assurance found in 1 Corinthians 10:13, which states that God will not allow us to be tested beyond our ability. He explains that while trials may seem un |