What does Psalm 132:11 mean?
ESV: The Lord swore to David a sure oath from which he will not turn back: "One of the sons of your body I will set on your throne.
NIV: The Lord swore an oath to David, a sure oath he will not revoke: "One of your own descendants I will place on your throne.
NASB: The Lord has sworn to David A truth from which He will not turn back: 'I will set upon your throne one from the fruit of your body.
CSB: The Lord swore an oath to David, a promise he will not abandon: "I will set one of your offspring on your throne.
NLT: The Lord swore an oath to David with a promise he will never take back: 'I will place one of your descendants on your throne.
KJV: The Lord hath sworn in truth unto David; he will not turn from it; Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne.
NKJV: The Lord has sworn in truth to David; He will not turn from it: “I will set upon your throne the fruit of your body.
Verse Commentary:
Verse Context:
Psalm 132:11–18 recalls the Lord's promises to David (2 Samuel 7:12). These include a guarantee that David's descendants would occupy the throne of Israel (Psalm 89:3–4). Once the ark was placed in the temple (1 Kings 8:1), that became identified as God's "house" (1 Kings 6:37; 9:10). Zion took on use as a second name for Jerusalem (2 Samuel 5:7; 2 Kings 9:28; Isaiah 2:3). The psalm anticipates the "anointed one" (Daniel 9:25) who would bring salvation (Luke 1:69).
Chapter Summary:
David vowed to create a permanent home for the Lord. This involved the ark of the covenant, which was eventually placed in Solomon's temple (1 Kings 8:1). God vowed that David's descendants would be the kings of Israel. The Lord also chose Jerusalem—sometimes referred to as "Zion"—as the symbolic seat of His power. From David's line, the Lord would produce an "anointed one" (Daniel 9:25–26), also called "Messiah."
Chapter Context:
When Israel was taken into exile, everything associated with worship of the Lord was destroyed or confiscated (2 Chronicles 36:17–20). This psalm speaks of the ark (Exodus 25:10–22) and God's presence near it, so it was most likely written before then. This is one of the songs "of ascents" (Psalms 120—134) which were used during festival times (Deuteronomy 16:16). Verses 8–10 and 2 Chronicles 6:41–42 suggest this song may have been written to celebrate Solomon's dedication of the temple.
Book Summary:
The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.
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