Question 1

What does Psalms 90:2 mean?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 2

The Hebrew behind Psalms 90:2

Accepted Answer

"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.

Question 3

Why Psalms 90:2 matters

Accepted Answer

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.

Psalms 90:2 (KJV)