Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.

PSALMS 90:2KJV
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Psalms 90:2 (KJV)

What does Psalms 90:2 mean?

Psalms 90:2 says that God existed before anything in the world was created, and that God’s existence stretches endlessly in both directions—before the mountains, the earth, or the world came to be, God has always been and always will be God. The verse highlights God’s eternal nature, showing that God is not limited by time or creation.

This verse is part of a prayer attributed to Moses, speaking to God about the vast difference between God’s everlasting nature and the shortness of human life. Moses is reflecting on how God’s existence is not tied to the physical world or its beginnings, but instead, God stands outside of time itself, always present and unchanging.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 90:2

  • "mountains" (הָרִים, harim): This word points to some of the oldest and most enduring features of the earth, emphasizing that even these ancient things had a beginning, but God did not.
  • "forth" (יָלַד, yalad): This verb often means "to give birth," and here it is used poetically to describe the mountains as if they were born, underlining that even the most permanent parts of creation had a starting point.
  • "formed" (חוּל, chul): This word can mean "to form" or "to bring forth with labor," adding to the image of the earth and world being shaped or brought into existence by God.
  • "everlasting" (עוֹלָם, olam): Used twice, this word means "eternity" or "forever," stressing that God’s existence stretches beyond any boundaries of time—before the beginning and after the end.

Why Psalms 90:2 matters

  • Psalms 90:2 clears up the idea that God is just another part of creation; instead, the verse emphasizes that God is entirely outside and before all created things.
  • The verse sets the stage for the rest of the psalm, which contrasts God’s eternal nature with the fleeting lives of humans, helping readers understand the perspective from which Moses is praying.
  • By using vivid language about mountains and the earth, the verse helps readers grasp the concept of eternity in a concrete way, showing that even the most solid things we know had a beginning, but God did not.

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?

“formed” Hebrew H2342 · used in 58 verses

  • Genesis 8:10 And he stayed yet other seven days; and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark;
  • Psalms 29:8 The voice of the LORD shaketh the wilderness; the LORD shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh.
  • Isaiah 51:2 Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him.

“to” Hebrew H5704 · used in 97 verses

  • Genesis 3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
  • 1 Samuel 20:15 But also thou shalt not cut off thy kindness from my house for ever: no, not when the LORD hath cut off the enemies of David every one from the face of the earth.
  • Job 18:2 How long will it be ere ye make an end of words? mark, and afterwards we will speak.