Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations. [The LORD is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works.]
English Standard Version (ESV)
The phrase "an everlasting kingdom" doesn't just mean it lasts a long time; it literally translates to "a kingdom of all ages," encompassing past, present, and future. This highlights that God's reign isn't just enduring but is foundational to all of time itself.
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations. [The LORD is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works.]
English Standard Version (ESV)
This psalm is an acrostic, with each verse starting with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Verse 13 begins with the Hebrew letter "mem," and the expectation is that the next verse would begin with "nun." However, the verse starting with "nun" is missing in the Hebrew text, leading to a jump from "mem" to "samekh" in verse 14. This structural gap has led to much scholarly discussion and the inclusion of a supplemental verse in some ancient translations that begins with "nun," affirming God's faithfulness and kindness.
We often think of kingdoms as temporary empires that rise and fall. But Psalm 145 points to a reign that transcends all human history.
The psalm declares, 'Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom.' This isn't just a statement about longevity; it's about the very nature of God's rule. Unlike earthly kingdoms, which are bound by time, space, and human limitations, God's kingdom is eternal. It existed before time began and will continue long after it ends.
This eternal nature means:
God's reign isn't just for 'now'; it stretches across the vast expanse of human history. What does it mean for His dominion to endure through every generation?
The psalm continues, 'and your dominion endures throughout all generations.' This speaks to the continuous and pervasive nature of God's rule. It's not a dominion that starts and stops, or one that only applies to certain peoples or times.
Ask a follow-up
Consider what this means:
Psalm 145 is an alphabetical psalm, but a letter is missing! The verse that likely fills this gap reveals something crucial about the character of God's eternal reign.
Many ancient manuscripts and early translations (like the Septuagint) include a verse following Psalm 145:13 that begins with the Hebrew letter 'nun.' This verse reads, 'The LORD is faithful in all his words, and kind [or holy] in all his works.'
While its absence in some Hebrew texts is debated, its presence in so many ancient versions and its fitting content suggest it's highly significant. It explains how God's kingdom can be everlasting and His dominion endure:
This verse acts as the cornerstone, showing that the stability and endurance of God's reign are rooted in His unwavering character and actions.
Understand the original words
ʿôlām · Hebrew Noun/Adjective
A state of being that is eternal, lacking an end, and persisting through all time; a hallmark of God’s existence and authority.
memšālâ · Hebrew Noun
The sovereign authority, rule, or administrative power exerted by a king or ruler over a specific territory or people.
ʾĕmûnâ · Hebrew Noun
Refers to God’s steadfastness, reliability, truthfulness, and integrity in keeping His promises and covenant commitments.
ḥāsîd · Hebrew Adjective
Refers to God’s loyal love, covenant faithfulness, kindness, and mercy toward His creation; often associated with His covenantal devotion.
This passage directly echoes Psalm 145:13, speaking of Nebuchadnezzar's declaration of God's everlasting kingdom and eternal dominion, highlighting the theme of God's ultimate sovereignty over human rulers.
1 Timothy 1:17Paul refers to God as the 'King of the ages,' directly aligning with the psalmist's description of God's kingdom as 'an everlasting kingdom' that endures 'throughout all generations.'
Exodus 15:18This early song of Moses proclaims that 'The LORD will reign forever and ever,' reinforcing the eternal nature of God's kingship and dominion presented in Psalm 145.
Isaiah 9:7This prophecy foretells the coming Messiah whose 'governing will increase, and there will be no end,' speaking to the perpetual and unending nature of God's righteous kingdom.
ellicottPsalms 145:13: "Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations."
(13) See margin, and comp. Daniel 4:3 ; Daniel 4:34 . But it is not necessary to see any dependence between the passages because of the recurrence of phrases which must have been of daily use in the theocracy. The nun stanza, which should come after Psalm 145:13, has most probably dropped away. The LXX. and Vulg., Syriac, and Ethiopic have here a variation of Psalm 145:17, which would,…
clarkePsalms 145:13: "Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations."
Thy dominion endureth - There is neither age nor people in and over which God does not manifest his benignly ruling power. As the above verse begins with the letter מ mem, the next in the order of the alphabet shouid begin with נ nun: but that verse is totally wanting. To say it never was in, is false, because the alphabet is not complete without it; and it is an unanswerable argument…
The phrase "an everlasting kingdom" doesn't just mean it lasts a long time; it literally translates to "a kingdom of all ages," encompassing past, present, and future. This highlights that God's reign isn't just enduring but is foundational to all of time itself.
This psalm is an acrostic, with each verse starting with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Verse 13 begins with the Hebrew letter "mem," and the expectation is that the next verse would begin with "nun." However, the verse starting with "nun" is missing in the Hebrew text, leading to a jump from "mem" to "samekh" in verse 14. This structural gap has led to much scholarly discussion and the inclusion of a supplemental verse in some ancient translations that begins with "nun," affirming God's faithfulness and kindness.
This psalm is an acrostic, with each verse starting with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Verse 13 begins with the Hebrew letter "mem," and the expectation is that the next verse would begin with "nun." However, the verse starting with "nun" is missing in the Hebrew text, leading to a jump from "mem" to "samekh" in verse 14. This structural gap has led to much scholarly discussion and the inclusion of a supplemental verse in some ancient translations that begins with "nun," affirming God's faithfulness and kindness.
"Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations.
[The LORD is faithful in all his words
and kind in all his works.]" — The phrase "an everlasting kingdom" doesn't just mean it lasts a long time; it literally translates to "a kingdom of all ages," encompassing past, present, and future. This highlights that God's reig…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026