The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: as for the world and the fulness thereof, thou hast founded them.

PSALMS 89:11KJV
Know the Bible

Psalms 89:11 (KJV)

What does Psalms 89:11 mean?

Psalms 89:11 declares that everything in the universe—both the heavens and the earth—belongs to God, and that God is the one who established or created the world and everything in it. This verse emphasizes God’s complete ownership and creative authority over all creation.

The verse is part of a psalm attributed to Ethan the Ezrahite, who is speaking to God in praise. The setting is one of worship, where the psalmist is reflecting on God’s power, faithfulness, and sovereignty. By mentioning both the heavens and the earth, the verse highlights that nothing is outside of God’s domain or creative work.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 89:11

  • "heavens" (שָׁמַיִם, shamayim): This word refers to the sky or the realm above the earth, often used in the Hebrew Bible to represent everything beyond the physical world. Its use here stresses that even the highest places belong to God.
  • "earth" (אֶרֶץ, erets): This word means the land or the ground, pointing to everything familiar and tangible. The pairing with "heavens" shows God’s rule over both the seen and unseen.
  • "world" (תֵּבֵל, tevel): This term often means the inhabited world or the whole earth as a system. It adds the sense that not just the physical land, but the organized, populated world is God’s.
  • "fulness" (מְלוֹא, melo): This word means everything that fills the world—the creatures, resources, and all that exists within creation. It underscores that God’s ownership includes not just the earth itself, but everything in it.
  • "founded" (יָסַד, yasad): This verb means to establish or lay a foundation. It points to God as the one who intentionally set everything in place, not by accident but by design.

Why Psalms 89:11 matters

  • Psalms 89:11 corrects any idea that God’s authority is limited to spiritual matters or to a certain people; the verse insists that all creation is under God’s care and control.
  • The verse sets the stage for the rest of the psalm, which explores God’s promises and faithfulness, by first grounding everything in God’s unmatched power as Creator.
  • By naming both the heavens and the earth, the verse invites the reader to see God’s presence everywhere, not just in religious spaces or moments.

Where else these words appear

“world” Hebrew H8398 · used in 36 verses

  • 1 Samuel 2:8 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD'S, and he hath set the world upon them.
  • Psalms 50:12 If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.
  • Isaiah 14:17 That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?

“fulness” Hebrew H4393 · used in 36 verses

  • Genesis 48:19 And his father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it: he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations.
  • 1 Samuel 28:20 Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night.
  • Isaiah 31:4 For thus hath the LORD spoken unto me, Like as the lion and the young lion roaring on his prey, when a multitude of shepherds is called forth against him, he will not be afraid of their voice, nor abase himself for the noise of them: so shall the LORD of hosts come down to fight for mount Zion, and for the hill thereof.

“founded” Hebrew H3245 · used in 41 verses

  • Exodus 9:18 Behold, to morrow about this time I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail, such as hath not been in Egypt since the foundation thereof even until now.
  • Esther 1:8 And the drinking was according to the law; none did compel: for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man's pleasure.
  • Isaiah 14:32 What shall one then answer the messengers of the nation? That the LORD hath founded Zion, and the poor of his people shall trust in it.