Thou hast made his glory to cease, and cast his throne down to the ground.

PSALMS 89:44KJV
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Psalms 89:44 (KJV)

What does Psalms 89:44 mean?

Psalms 89:44 is a complaint to God about the loss of a king’s honor and power. The speaker addresses God directly, saying that God has brought the king’s splendor to an end and thrown his throne to the ground.

The fallen throne is a picture of royal authority brought low. The words “thou” and “his” distinguish the one addressed, God, from the king whose position has been overturned.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 89:44

  • “glory” — טֹהַר (tohar): The Hebrew word can suggest brightness or splendor. Here it describes the king’s shining honor, an image suited to someone who holds a royal position.
  • “cease” — שָׁבַת (shavat): This word carries the sense of stopping or bringing something to an end. The speaker presents the loss of royal splendor as something God has caused.

Why Psalms 89:44 matters

  • The complaint is about a king in David’s line, not merely a private person. Earlier in the psalm, God speaks of establishing David’s throne for generations (verses 3–4).
  • The speaker sets the king’s disgrace against God’s earlier promise. The words “cast his throne down to the ground” make the contrast with the promised lasting throne especially sharp.

Where else these words appear

“cast” Hebrew H4048 · used in 2 verses

  • Ezekiel 21:12 Cry and howl, son of man: for it shall be upon my people, it shall be upon all the princes of Israel: terrors by reason of the sword shall be upon my people: smite therefore upon thy thigh.

“glory” Hebrew H2892 · used in 4 verses

  • Exodus 24:10 And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness.
  • Leviticus 12:4 And she shall then continue in the blood of her purifying three and thirty days; she shall touch no hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying be fulfilled.
  • Leviticus 12:6 And when the days of her purifying are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter, she shall bring a lamb of the first year for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon, or a turtledove, for a sin offering, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest:

“cease” Hebrew H7673 · used in 67 verses

  • Genesis 2:2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
  • 2 Chronicles 36:21 To fulfil the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years.
  • Jeremiah 48:35 Moreover I will cause to cease in Moab, saith the LORD, him that offereth in the high places, and him that burneth incense to his gods.

“throne” Hebrew H3678 · used in 124 verses

  • Genesis 41:40 Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.
  • 1 Kings 22:19 And he said, Hear thou therefore the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left.
  • Psalms 122:5 For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David.