The Meaning of Psalms 148:6 Explained

Psalms 148:6

KJV: He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass.

YLT: And He establisheth them for ever to the age, A statute He gave, and they pass not over.

Darby: And he established them for ever and ever; he made for them a statute which shall not pass.

ASV: He hath also established them for ever and ever: He hath made a decree which shall not pass away.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

He hath also stablished  them for ever  and ever:  he hath made  a decree  which shall not pass. 

What does Psalms 148:6 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 148:1-14 - Creation's Song Of Praise
The "Benedicite" in the Book of Common Prayer is based on this psalm. The sacred minstrel is not content that he or his people should have a monopoly of praise. He calls to nature, with her myriad voices, to take up the strain. It is interesting to turn these words from the imperative to the indicative mood, for already the heights and depths around us are vocal. The sun leads the chorus, and the moon plays upon her silver harp. The stars "quire to the young-eyed cherubim." The deeps praise for depths of love, the mountains for its height, the fruit trees for its sweetness, while the great forest monarchs, their branches swaying in the wind, "clap their hands." Surely the children of God should awake from their lethargy! Can we be redeemed and dumb? Saved and silent? Delivered and made "near," and no word of gratitude? Let us, as we read this psalm, remember also that there is a praise note for the fire of tribulation and the hail of abusive scorn. The saints have long ago praised God in the fires. The stormy wind or adversity, no less than the zephyrs of prosperity, fulfills His purpose and deserves our trust. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 148

1  The psalmist exhorts the celestial
7  The terrestrial
11  And the rational creatures to praise God

What do the individual words in Psalms 148:6 mean?

And He established them forever and ever a decree He made and not which shall pass away
וַיַּעֲמִידֵ֣ם לָעַ֣ד לְעוֹלָ֑ם חָק־ נָ֝תַ֗ן וְלֹ֣א יַעֲבֽוֹר

וַיַּעֲמִידֵ֣ם  And  He  established  them 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular, third person masculine plural
Root: עָמַד  
Sense: to stand, remain, endure, take one’s stand.
לָעַ֣ד  forever 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַד  
Sense: perpetuity, for ever, continuing future.
לְעוֹלָ֑ם  and  ever 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֹולָם  
Sense: long duration, antiquity, futurity, for ever, ever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient, world.
חָק־  a  decree 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: חֹק  
Sense: statute, ordinance, limit, something prescribed, due.
נָ֝תַ֗ן  He  made 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
וְלֹ֣א  and  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יַעֲבֽוֹר  which  shall  pass  away 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָבַר 
Sense: to pass over or by or through, alienate, bring, carry, do away, take, take away, transgress.