Thy Word is a Lamp Unto My Feet Outreach

Psalm 103:19

Just how sovereign is YHWH? Taking a closer look at this verse from Psalm 103 can give insight.

THE VERSE
YHWH hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.

THE STUDY
Prepared [Hebrew term: kûn]. Verb meaning “to establish, to set-up, to make firm.” The form of this verb indicates that someone caused the action to happen rather than doing it directly. In this case, the Lord caused the throne to be established in heaven.

Throne [Hebrew term: kissē’]. Meaning “seat of dignity, honor; seat of a king, judge or priest.” Derived from the verb root meaning “to cover, conceal.” The idea here is as a canopy covering, versus a “covering of skin.”

Heavens [Hebrew term: šāmayim]. Noun, “the heaved-up things; the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher aether where the celestial bodies revolve).” Derives from an unused root meaning “to be lofty.”

Kingdom [Hebrew term: malḵûṯ]. “A rule; concretely, a dominion.” The verb root of MALKUT is “to be or become king or queen, to reign.” The emphasis here is on royal power or dominion of a certain area.

Rules [Hebrew term: māšal]. The term is a verb meaning “to have dominion.” The form of this verb is called “perfect tense,” which means the action was completed in the past, but the effect of that action continues until present time. Also important to note: this verb is linked with the word “kingdom” and not with YHWH. The form of the noun “kingdom” is feminine, as is also the form of the verb (i.e., a third person feminine singular construct). This indicates that what is having the dominion — the initiation of which was completed in the past, and of which effect is continuing to the present — is the rule of the kingdom. In short, the kingdom is everlasting in rule.

All [Hebrew term: ʿkōl]. The word indicates “properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every.” The form of this noun includes a preposition, commonly translated as “over” — but the Hebrew suggests the idea of “in” (i.e., “in all” versus “over all”). KOL comes from a verb root meaning “to complete, perfect, make complete, make perfect.”

TAKEAWAY THOUGHT
This psalm expresses a heart full of praise to YHWH for His grace and compassion. YHWH isn’t a national or imperial deity; He is universal — King of kings and Lord of lords! This psalm invites all Creation to worship Him.