There are 6 participants/characters in Psalm 89:
Profile List
| Ethan the Ezrahite
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| "Ethan the Ezrahite" (v. 1)
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| Israel
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| "the people" (vv. 16, 20)
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| "those who know the signal" (v. 16)
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| "YHWH's servants" (v. 51)
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| Prophets
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| "YHWH's loyal ones" (v. 20)
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| YHWH
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| "YHWH" (vv. 2, 6, 7, 9, 16, 19, 47, 52, 53)
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| "YHWH, God of armies" (v. 9)
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| "Mighty Yah" (v. 9)
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| "The holy one of Israel" (v. 19)
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| "The king's father, god, and the rock who saves him" (v. 27)
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| "Lord" (vv. 58, 50, 51)
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| David
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| "David" (vv. 4, 21, 36, 50)
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| "YHWH's servant" (vv. 4, 21)
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| "YHWH's chosen one" (vv. 4, 20)
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| "warrior" (v. 20)
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| "The firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth" (v. 28)
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| David's descendant(s)
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| "David's descendants" (lit: "seed") (vv. 5, 30, 37)
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| "Israel's king" (v. 19)
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| "David's descendants" (lit: "sons") (v. 31)
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| "YHWH's anointed one" (vv. 39, 52)
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| "YHWH's servant" (v. 40)
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| Enemies
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| "Enemy" (v. 23)
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| "Unjust person" (v. 23)
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| "David's adversaries" (v. 24)
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| "Those who are hostile to David" (v. 24)
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| "All who pass by" (v. 42)
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| "The king's neighbors" (v. 42)
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| "The king's enemies" (v. 43)
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| "The king's adversaries" (v. 43)
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| "The nations" (v. 51)
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| "YHWH's enemies" (v. 52)
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| The Sea
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| "The sea" (vv. 10, 26)
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| "The sea's waves" (v. 10)
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| "The currents" (v. 26)
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| "Rahab" (the sea monster) (v. 11)
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| "YHWH's enemies" (v. 11)
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| Divine beings
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| "The sky" (v. 6)
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| "Holy ones" (vv. 6, 8)
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| "Divine beings" (v. 7)
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| "Everyone around YHWH" (v. 8)
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| "Tabor and Hermon" (v. 13)
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| Humanity
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| "People" (v. 48)
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| "Person" (v. 49)
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Profile Notes
- Ethan was a Levite, a contemporary of King David, whom David put in charge of early temple music, together with Asaph and Heman (1 Chr 6:16-32; 15:16-19). He was an "Ezrahite" in the sense that he was associated with the Judahite family of Zerah (cf. 1 Chr 2:6), not as a biological descendant, but as a sojourner (cf. Judg 17:7; 1 Sam 1:1). In addition to being a leader of worship, he was also renowned for his wisdom (cf. 1 Kgs 5:10-11). See further: The Identity of Ethan the Ezrahite in Psalm89:1.
- YHWH's heavenly court consists of lesser divine beings (cf. 1 Kgs 22:19; Job 1:6; 2:1; 38:7; Ps 82). These heavenly creatures surround YHWH's throne (see v. 8b) and worship him (v. 6; cf. Ps 29). In terms of power and majesty, they do not even compare to YHWH (see vv. 7–8).