Psalm 136:8
New International Version
the sun to govern the day, His love endures forever.

New Living Translation
the sun to rule the day, His faithful love endures forever.

English Standard Version
the sun to rule over the day, for his steadfast love endures forever;

Berean Standard Bible
the sun to rule the day, His loving devotion endures forever.

King James Bible
The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever:

New King James Version
The sun to rule by day, For His mercy endures forever;

New American Standard Bible
The sun to rule by day, For His faithfulness is everlasting,

NASB 1995
The sun to rule by day, For His lovingkindness is everlasting,

NASB 1977
The sun to rule by day, For His lovingkindness is everlasting,

Legacy Standard Bible
The sun to rule by day, For His lovingkindness endures forever,

Amplified Bible
The sun to rule over the day, For His lovingkindness endures forever;

Christian Standard Bible
the sun to rule by day, His faithful love endures forever.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
the sun to rule by day, His love is eternal.

American Standard Version
The sun to rule by day; For his lovingkindness endureth for ever;

Contemporary English Version
He lets the sun rule each day. God's love never fails.

English Revised Version
The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
the sun to rule the day- because his mercy endures forever.

Good News Translation
the sun to rule over the day; his love is eternal;

International Standard Version
the sun to illumine the day, for his gracious love is everlasting—

Majority Standard Bible
the sun to rule the day, His loving devotion endures forever.

NET Bible
the sun to rule by day, for his loyal love endures,

New Heart English Bible
The sun to rule by day; for his loving kindness endures forever;

Webster's Bible Translation
The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever:

World English Bible
the sun to rule by day, for his loving kindness endures forever;
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
The sun to rule by day, "" For His kindness [is] for all time.

Young's Literal Translation
The sun to rule by day, For to the age is His kindness.

Smith's Literal Translation
The sun for the rulings in the day: for his mercy is forever.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The sun to rule over the day: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Catholic Public Domain Version
the sun to rule the day, for his mercy is eternal:

New American Bible
The sun to rule the day, for his mercy endures forever;

New Revised Standard Version
the sun to rule over the day, for his steadfast love endures forever;
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
The sun to rule by day; for his mercy endures for ever;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
The sun for a ruler of the day, for his mercies are to eternity.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
The sun to rule by day, For His mercy endureth for ever;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
The sun to rule by day; for his mercy endures for ever.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
His Loving Faithfulness Endures Forever
7He made the great lights—His loving devotion endures forever. 8 the sun to rule the day, His loving devotion endures forever. 9the moon and stars to govern the night. His loving devotion endures forever.…

Cross References
Genesis 1:16
God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night. And He made the stars as well.

Joshua 10:12-13
On the day that the LORD gave the Amorites over to the Israelites, Joshua spoke to the LORD in the presence of Israel: “O sun, stand still over Gibeon, O moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.” / So the sun stood still and the moon stopped until the nation took vengeance upon its enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? “So the sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day.”

Ecclesiastes 1:5
The sun rises and the sun sets; it hurries back to where it rises.

Jeremiah 31:35
Thus says the LORD, who gives the sun for light by day, who sets in order the moon and stars for light by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar—the LORD of Hosts is His name:

Job 9:7
He commands the sun not to shine; He seals off the stars.

Isaiah 38:8
I will make the sun’s shadow that falls on the stairway of Ahaz go back ten steps.’” So the sunlight went back the ten steps it had descended.

Malachi 4:2
“But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings, and you will go out and leap like calves from the stall.

2 Kings 23:5
Josiah also did away with the idolatrous priests ordained by the kings of Judah to burn incense on the high places of the cities of Judah and in the places all around Jerusalem—those who had burned incense to Baal, to the sun and moon, to the constellations, and to all the host of heaven.

Deuteronomy 4:19
When you look to the heavens and see the sun and moon and stars—all the host of heaven—do not be enticed to bow down and worship what the LORD your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven.

Psalm 19:4-6
their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens He has pitched a tent for the sun. / Like a bridegroom emerging from his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course, / it rises at one end of the heavens and runs its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth.

Matthew 5:45
that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

Luke 1:78-79
because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the Dawn will visit us from on high, / to shine on those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

Revelation 21:23
And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, because the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its lamp.

Revelation 22:5
There will be no more night in the city, and they will have no need for the light of a lamp or of the sun. For the Lord God will shine on them, and they will reign forever and ever.

1 Corinthians 15:41
The sun has one degree of splendor, the moon another, and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor.


Treasury of Scripture

The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endures for ever:

the sun

Psalm 148:3
Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light.

Jeremiah 31:35
Thus saith the LORD, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The LORD of hosts is his name:

Matthew 5:45
That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

to rule.

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Age Endures Endureth Everlasting Forever Govern Kindness Loving Loving-Kindness Mercy Rule Steadfast Sun Unchanging
Psalm 136
1. An exhortation to give thanks to God for particular mercies.














the sun
In Psalm 136:8, the phrase "the sun" refers to the celestial body created by God to govern the day. The Hebrew word for sun is "שֶׁמֶשׁ" (shemesh), which appears frequently in the Old Testament. The sun is a symbol of God's provision and order, as it provides light and warmth essential for life. In the ancient Near Eastern context, the sun was often deified, but in the Hebrew Scriptures, it is clearly a creation of the one true God, demonstrating His sovereignty over all creation. The sun's regular rising and setting are a testament to God's faithfulness and the order He established in the universe.

to rule
The phrase "to rule" in this context is derived from the Hebrew word "מָשַׁל" (mashal), which means to have dominion or authority. This word emphasizes the sun's role as a governing force over the day, as ordained by God. In the biblical narrative, the sun's rule is not autonomous but is a delegated authority from God, highlighting His ultimate control over creation. This reflects the biblical theme of God's sovereignty and the order He has instituted in the cosmos.

the day
The term "the day" refers to the period of light that the sun governs. In Hebrew, the word is "יוֹם" (yom), which can mean a 24-hour period or the daylight portion of that period. In the creation account in Genesis, God separates light from darkness, establishing the cycle of day and night. This cycle is a daily reminder of God's creative power and His ongoing sustenance of the world. The day, governed by the sun, is a time for work and activity, reflecting the rhythm of life that God has designed.

His loving devotion endures forever
This phrase is a recurring refrain throughout Psalm 136, emphasizing the steadfast love of God. The Hebrew word for "loving devotion" is "חֶסֶד" (chesed), which encompasses love, mercy, kindness, and faithfulness. It is a covenantal term, reflecting God's unwavering commitment to His people. The phrase "endures forever" underscores the eternal nature of God's love, which is not subject to change or decay. This assurance of God's enduring love provides comfort and hope, reminding believers of His unchanging nature and His promises that stand firm throughout all generations.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
the sun
הַ֭שֶּׁמֶשׁ (haš·še·meš)
Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 8121: The sun, the east, a ray, a notched battlement

to rule
לְמֶמְשֶׁ֣לֶת (lə·mem·še·leṯ)
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 4475: Rule, a realm, a ruler

the day,
בַּיּ֑וֹם (bay·yō·wm)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3117: A day

His loving devotion
חַסְדּֽוֹ׃ (ḥas·dōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 2617: Kindness, piety, reproof, beauty

endures forever.
לְעוֹלָ֣ם (lə·‘ō·w·lām)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5769: Concealed, eternity, frequentatively, always


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OT Poetry: Psalm 136:8 The sun to rule by day (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 136:7
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