---
title: Psalms 89:5
url: https://jw-apologetics.app/verses/psalms-89-5/
markdown: https://jw-apologetics.app/verses/psalms-89-5.md
type: verse
perspective: Protestant (historic Nicene) response to Jehovah's Witness teaching
reference: Psalms 89:5
testament: OT
section: Poetry
index: https://jw-apologetics.app/llms.txt
---

# Psalms 89:5

## Text (Berean Standard Bible)

> The heavens praise Your wonders, O LORD— Your faithfulness as well— in the assembly of the holy ones.

## NWT Wording of the Key Phrase

- NWT (2013 revision): "The heavens praise your marvels, O Jehovah, Yes, your faithfulness in the congregation of the holy ones."

## JW Usage

JWs read Psalm 89:5 as anchoring the existence of a class of "holy ones" — angelic beings subordinate to Jehovah. Jesus is taken to be chief among these holy ones, but a created spiritual being all the same. The verse is treated as evidence for the angelic-Jesus position rather than against it.

## Protestant Usage

Psalm 89:5 sets up the argument that follows in v6. The "holy ones" praise Jehovah's faithfulness in their congregation — angelic beings in the heavens, the same divine council referenced in Psalm 82:1 and 1 Kings 22:19. The next verse contrasts Jehovah with this entire class: "Who in the skies can compare to Jehovah? Who among the sons of God is like Jehovah?" The congregation of holy ones is precisely the category JWs place Jesus in — and v6 says no being in that category is like Jehovah. Combined with Hebrews 1:3 (Jesus the exact representation of God's being), Jesus cannot belong to the v5 congregation.

## Arguments Using This Verse

- [The Elohim Category Trap](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/elohim-category.md) — Psalm 82 — If Jesus Is 'a God,' Which Kind? [Deity of Christ]
- [The Exact Representation Problem](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/heb1-3-psalm89-contradiction.md) — Hebrews 1:3 vs Psalm 89:6 [Deity of Christ]