The Meaning of Psalms 105:8 Explained

Psalms 105:8

KJV: He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations.

YLT: He hath remembered to the age His covenant, The word He commanded to a thousand generations,

Darby: He is ever mindful of his covenant, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations, --

ASV: He hath remembered his covenant for ever, The word which he commanded to a thousand generations,

KJV Reverse Interlinear

He hath remembered  his covenant  for ever,  the word  [which] he commanded  to a thousand  generations. 

What does Psalms 105:8 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 105:1-15 - The Lord's Covenant With Israel
This psalm and the next are a pair, probably composed during the Exile in Babylon. They are evidently derived in part from the old Tabernacle service, in which is found the beginning of this psalm and the end of the next, 1 Chronicles 16:1-43. Here we have the story of Jehovah's faithfulness to his Covenant and of Israel's ingratitude.
It is right to make known God's doings. Nothing touches men more quickly, or excites faith and hope more certainly, than to hear what others have experienced of God's saving health. Let us talk more often of His marvelous works. If God has forgiven you, even to ten thousand talents, confess it. If you have learned more of Christ's patience in His bearing with your sins and failures, tell it out. The salient points which stand out in our record of the past may be summarized under the same general headings as those of the psalmist. God has been mindful of His Covenant, ratified by the blood of his Son. He has shown his independence of human standards in choosing us, though we are absolutely unworthy to inherit His Kingdom. How often He has interposed in our behalf even when we have deserved the worst, saying, Touch not mine anointed! [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 105

1  An exhortation to praise God, and to seek out his works
7  The story of God's providence over Abraham
16  Over Joseph
23  Over Jacob in Egypt
26  Over Moses delivering the Israelites
37  Over the Israelites brought out of Egypt, fed in the desert, and planted in Canaan

What do the individual words in Psalms 105:8 mean?

He remembers forever His covenant the word [which] He commanded for a thousand generations
זָכַ֣ר לְעוֹלָ֣ם בְּרִית֑וֹ דָּבָ֥ר צִ֝וָּ֗ה לְאֶ֣לֶף דּֽוֹר

זָכַ֣ר  He  remembers 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: זָכַר 
Sense: to remember, recall, call to mind.
לְעוֹלָ֣ם  forever 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֹולָם  
Sense: long duration, antiquity, futurity, for ever, ever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient, world.
בְּרִית֑וֹ  His  covenant 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: בְּרִית  
Sense: covenant, alliance, pledge.
דָּבָ֥ר  the  word 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
צִ֝וָּ֗ה  [which]  He  commanded 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: צָוָה  
Sense: to command, charge, give orders, lay charge, give charge to, order.
לְאֶ֣לֶף  for  a  thousand 
Parse: Preposition-l, Number, masculine singular construct
Root: אֶלֶף 
Sense: a thousand.
דּֽוֹר  generations 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: דֹּור 
Sense: period, generation, habitation, dwelling.