The Meaning of Psalms 89:9 Explained

Psalms 89:9

KJV: Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them.

YLT: Thou art ruler over the pride of the sea, In the lifting up of its billows Thou dost restrain them.

Darby: Thou rulest the pride of the sea: when its waves arise, thou stillest them.

ASV: Thou rulest the pride of the sea: When the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Thou rulest  the raging  of the sea:  when the waves  thereof arise,  thou stillest  them. 

What does Psalms 89:9 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 89:1-18 - No God Like Our God
To understand this psalm we must turn to 2 Samuel 7:1-29, where God guaranteed that David's kingdom should be continued to his descendants. Nathan's words are quoted in Psalms 89:3-4. But in contrast with these promises, which were conditional upon the faithful obedience of David's descendants, the psalmist sorrowfully recites the disobedience of the Chosen People. There could be no doubt as to the divine faithfulness to Covenant engagements. See Psalms 89:1-2; Psalms 89:5; Psalms 89:8; Psalms 89:14. And the object of this psalm is to inquire whether that faithfulness does not include the recall and restoration of a sinful nation, as it most certainly does include the continued blessing of an obedient one.
In the first division, Psalms 89:1-18, the singer enumerates the divine attributes. God's mercy is conceived as a stately mansion, which is being reared, story by story, throughout the centuries. The enduring heavens, the mightiest natural forces, such as the tides, the glorious mountains, are emblems of qualities in God's nature. He is described as going forth in a triumphal procession, preceded by Mercy and Truth; and we are invited to accompany Him, and to walk in the light of His countenance. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 89

1  The psalmist praises God for his covenant
5  For his wonderful power
15  For the care of his church
19  For his favor to the kingdom of David
38  Then complaining of contrary events
46  He expostulates, prays, and blesses God

What do the individual words in Psalms 89:9 mean?

You rule the raging of the sea when rise its waves still them
אַתָּ֣ה מ֭וֹשֵׁל בְּגֵא֣וּת הַיָּ֑ם בְּשׂ֥וֹא גַ֝לָּ֗יו תְשַׁבְּחֵֽם

מ֭וֹשֵׁל  rule 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: מָשַׁל  
Sense: to rule, have dominion, reign.
בְּגֵא֣וּת  the  raging 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: גֵּאוּת  
Sense: majesty.
הַיָּ֑ם  of  the  sea 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יָם  
Sense: sea.
בְּשׂ֥וֹא  when  rise 
Parse: Preposition-b, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: נָשָׂא  
Sense: (Qal) rising (infinitive).
גַ֝לָּ֗יו  its  waves 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: גַּל 
Sense: heap, spring, wave, billow.
תְשַׁבְּחֵֽם  still  them 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, second person masculine singular, third person masculine plural
Root: שָׁבַח 
Sense: to soothe, still, stroke.