Bible Strands
Psalms 89:27
I will indeed appoint him as My firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — God speaks in a covenantal declaration about a royal figure who has just pledged to call Him Father and Rock of salvation. The utterance functions as a divine response guaranteeing that figure’s elevated status.
The words — בְּכ֣וֹר (be.Khor) literally means "firstborn," and עֶ֝לְי֗וֹן (el.Yon) means "most high." The text directly assigns these titles to the king before any later theological application.
The thread — The "firstborn" designation and sonship language reappear in Psalm 2:7 and Colossians 1:15-18. These references track the same exalted status across the covenantal and New Testament contexts.
Why it lands — The passage requires the reader to acknowledge the permanent, covenant-bound elevation of the king. It demands acceptance of God’s pledged loyalty as the foundation for that royal authority.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth.
Cross-references
- Colossians 1:15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
- Colossians 1:18 And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and firstborn from among the dead, so that in all things He may have preeminence.
- Psalms 2:7 I will proclaim the decree spoken to Me by the LORD: “You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.
- Romans 8:29 For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers.
- Revelation 19:16 And He has a name written on His robe and on His thigh: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
- Psalms 72:11 May all kings bow down to him and all nations serve him.
- Numbers 24:7 Water will flow from his buckets, and his seed will have abundant water. His king will be greater than Agag, and his kingdom will be exalted.
- Exodus 4:22 Then tell Pharaoh that this is what the LORD says: ‘Israel is My firstborn son,
- Psalms 2:10 Therefore be wise, O kings; be admonished, O judges of the earth.
- Isaiah 49:7 Thus says the LORD, the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel, to Him who was despised and abhorred by the nation, to the Servant of rulers: “Kings will see You and rise, and princes will bow down, because of the LORD, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen You.”