Psalm 105:8

 Psalm 105:8 

He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations.

a. NASB 1995: He has remembered His covenant forever, The word which He commanded to a thousand generations,   [New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB1995) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.]

b. NKJV:  He remembers His covenant forever, The word which He commanded, for a thousand generations, [Scripture quotations marked "NKJV" are taken from the New King James Version®, Copyright© 1982, Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.]

c. Classic Amplified:  He is [earnestly] mindful of His covenant and forever it is imprinted on His heart, the word which He commanded and established to a thousand generations, [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation]

d. Stone Edition Torah/Prophets/Writings:  He remembered His Covenant forever -- the Word He commanded for a thousand generations.    [The Artscroll Series/Stone Edition, THE TANACH--STUDENT SIZE EDITION Copyright 1996, 1998 by Mesorah Publications, Ltd.]

e. ESV:  He remembers his covenant forever, the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations,  [Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001, 2007, 2011, 2016 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.]

f. Unless otherwise stated, all Greek and Hebrew definitions are from Blue Letter Bible

1.  He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations.

a. [He hath] remembered [Strong: 2142 zâkar, zaw-kar'; a primitive root; also as denominative from H2145 properly, to mark (so as to be recognized), i.e. to remember; by implication, to mention; to be male:—× burn (incense), × earnestly, be male, (make) mention (of), be mindful, recount, record(-er), remember, make to be remembered, bring (call, come, keep, put) to (in) remembrance, × still, think on, × well.]

b. [his] covenant [Strong: 1285 bᵉrîyth, ber-eeth'; from H1262 (in the sense of cutting [like H1254]); a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh):—confederacy, (con-) feder(-ate), covenant, league.]

c. forever [Strong: 5769 ʻôwlâm, o-lawm'; or עֹלָם ʻôlâm; from H5956; properly, concealed, i.e. the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or future), i.e. (practically) eternity; frequentatively, adverbial (especially with prepositional prefix) always:—alway(-s), ancient (time), any more, continuance, eternal, (for, (n-)) ever(-lasting, -more, of old), lasting, long (time), (of) old (time), perpetual, at any time, (beginning of the) world (+ without end).]

d. [the] word [Strong: 1697 dâbâr, daw-baw'; from H1696; a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause:—act, advice, affair, answer, × any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case, cause, certain rate, chronicles, commandment, × commune(-ication), concern(-ing), confer, counsel, dearth, decree, deed, × disease, due, duty, effect, eloquent, errand, (evil favoured-) ness, glory, harm, hurt, iniquity, judgment, language, lying, manner, matter, message, (no) thing, oracle, × ought, × parts, pertaining, please, portion, power, promise, provision, purpose, question, rate, reason, report, request, × (as hast) said, sake, saying, sentence, sign, so, some (uncleanness), somewhat to say, song, speech, × spoken, talk, task, that, × there done, thing (concerning), thought, thus, tidings, what(-soever), wherewith, which, word, work.]

e. [which he] commanded [Strong: 6680 tsâvâh, tsaw-vaw'; a primitive root; (intensively) to constitute, enjoin:—appoint, (for-) bid, (give a) charge, (give a, give in, send with) command(-er, -ment), send a messenger, put, (set) in order.]

f. [to a] thousand [Strong: 505 ʼeleph, eh'-lef; prop, the same as H504; hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand:—thousand.]

g. generations [Strong: 1755 dôwr, dore; or (shortened) דֹּר dôr; from H1752; properly, a revolution of time, i.e. an age or generation; also a dwelling:—age, × evermore, generation, (n-) ever, posterity.]

1). Depending on the source, the numbers are from 20 to 40 years for the length of a generation. So we are looking at anywhere between 20 to 40 thousand years. 

2). John MacArthur: This Psalm possibly originated by command of David to Asaph on the occasion when the Ark of the Covenant was first brought to Jerusalem. (2 Samuel 6:12-19; 1 Chronicles 16:1-7). Psalm 105:1-15 repeats 1 Chronicles 16:8-22.

a). Psalm 105:1-15   O give thanks unto the Lord; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people.

105:2 Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works.

105:3 Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord.

105:4 Seek the Lord, and his strength: seek his face evermore.

105:5 Remember his marvellous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;

105:6 O ye seed of Abraham his servant, ye children of Jacob his chosen.

105:7 He is the Lord our God: his judgments are in all the earth.

105:8 He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations.

105:9 Which covenant he made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac;

105:10 And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant:

105:11 Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance:

105:12 When they were but a few men in number; yea, very few, and strangers in it.

105:13 When they went from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another people;

105:14 He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes;

105:15 Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.

b). 1 Chronicles 16:8-22 Give thanks unto the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people.

16:9 Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, talk ye of all his wondrous works.

16:10 Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord.

16:11 Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his face continually.

16:12 Remember his marvellous works that he hath done, his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;

16:13 O ye seed of Israel his servant, ye children of Jacob, his chosen ones.

16:14 He is the Lord our God; his judgments are in all the earth.

16:15 Be ye mindful always of his covenant; the word which he commanded to a thousand generations;

16:16 Even of the covenant which he made with Abraham, and of his oath unto Isaac;

16:17 And hath confirmed the same to Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant,

16:18 Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance;

16:19 When ye were but few, even a few, and strangers in it.

16:20 And when they went from nation to nation, and from one kingdom to another people;

16:21 He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes,

16:22 Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.