Psalms 89:35 Meaning and Explanation
“Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God has sworn by His holiness that He will never deceive David.
The Context of Psalms 89:35
The ultimate divine guarantee: an oath sworn by God's holiness that His promise to David is eternally true.
What Does Psalms 89:35 Mean?
Swearing by one's holiness is the most binding oath available in biblical thought—invoking one's innermost nature and most fundamental characteristic as the guarantee. God swears not by external things but by His own holiness, making the oath unconditional and absolute.
Not lying to David means both truth-telling and promise-keeping. God's commitment is that His word to David can be trusted completely. There is no deception, no hidden qualification, no eventual reversal—absolute truthfulness and reliability.
Psalms 89:35 in the Original Language
shaba (שָׁבַע), 'sworn' — to bind oneself by oath, to make a solemn vow; here invoked with holiness as the guarantee.
Frequently Asked Questions About Psalms 89:35
What does Psalms 89:35 mean?
God has sworn by His holiness that He will never deceive David.
What is the context of Psalms 89:35?
The ultimate divine guarantee: an oath sworn by God's holiness that His promise to David is eternally true.