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Psalm 89 · a question people ask

Who are "the holy ones" and "the sons of the heavenly beings" in 89:5-7?

In the text

The psalm doesn't name them. It says, "The heavens will praise your wonders, LORD, your faithfulness also in the assembly of the holy ones" (89:5), "Who among the sons of the heavenly beings is like the LORD" (89:6), and "a very awesome God in the council of the holy ones, to be feared above all those who are around him" (89:7). Its point is that none of them compares with the LORD. The chapter on Psalm 82 quotes 89:5-6 in its question about who "the gods" of Psalm 82 are, and sets out the two main ways Christians read them there, picking neither. The chapter on Psalm 29 notes that the sons of the heavenly beings (89:6) is bene elim in Hebrew, the words of "you sons of the mighty" (Psalm 29:1), and that the Hebrew Bible has the two together only in those two verses.

The verses

“The heavens will praise your wonders, LORD, your faithfulness also in the assembly of the holy ones. For who in the skies can be compared to the LORD? Who among the sons of the heavenly beings is like the LORD, a very awesome God in the council of the holy ones, to be feared above all those who are around him?”
Psalm 89:5-7 · World English Bible
“A Psalm by Asaph. God presides in the great assembly. He judges among the gods.”
Psalm 82:1 · World English Bible
“I said, “You are gods, all of you are sons of the Most High.”
Psalm 82:6 · World English Bible
“A Psalm by David. Ascribe to the LORD, you sons of the mighty, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.”
Psalm 29:1 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Psalm 89

Psalm 89: I have sworn to David

Psalm 89 says loving kindness and faithfulness seven times each in Hebrew. The LORD swears, "I will not break my covenant" (89:34); then, with the same Hebrew verb, the psalm tells him, "You have defiled his crown in the dust" (89:39). Its last question hands him back his oath: "Lord, where are your former loving kindnesses, which you swore to David in your faithfulness?" (89:49).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions