Psalms 21
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
The pious are led by the Psalmist to celebrate God's favor to the king in the already conferred and in prospective victories. The doxology added may relate to both Psalms; the preceding of petition, chiefly this of thanksgiving, ascribing honor to God for His display of grace and power to His Church in all ages, not only under David, but also under his last greatest successor, "the King of the Jews." (Psa 21:1-13) thy strength . . . thy salvation--as supplied by Thee.
Open source ↗The king shall joy in thy strength, O Lord,.... Either in that strength which is in Jehovah himself, in whom is everlasting strength; and which is seen in the works of creation and providence, and is the same in Christ himself, as he is the mighty God; or else in the strength which Jehovah communicated to Christ as man, whereby he was strengthened in his human nature to go through and complete the work of man's redemption; or in the strength which the Lord puts forth, and the power which he exerts towards and upon his people, in conversion; which is the produce of the exceeding greatness of his power; and in strengthening them, from time to time, to exercise grace, discharge duty, and withstand temptations and sin; and in keeping them safe to the end; in supporting them under all their trials, and in carrying on and finishing the work of faith upon their souls; all which is matter of joy to Christ; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice? meaning either his own salvation by the Lord, from all his sorrows and troubles, and out of the hands of all enemies, being in the presence of God, where is fulness of joy, Psa 16:9; or else the salvation of his people by him, which Jehovah appointed them to, secured for them in the covenant of grace, sent Christ to work out for them, applies by his Spirit, and at last puts into the full possession of: Christ rejoices at the effectual calling and conversion of his people, when salvation is brought near unto them; and especially at their glorification, when they shall be in the full enjoyment of it; then will they be his joy, and crown of rejoicing: this is the joy that was set before him, which made him go so cheerfully through his sufferings and death for them, Heb 12:2; the reasons of this joy are, because of the great love…
Open source ↗(Heb.: 21:2-3) The Psalm begins with thanksgiving for the bodily and spiritual blessings which Jahve has bestowed and still continues to bestow upon the king, in answer to his prayer. This occupies the three opening tetrastichs, of which these verses form the first. עז (whence עזּך, as in Psa 74:13, together with עזּך, Psa 63:3, and frequently) is the power that has been made manifest in the king, which has turned away his affliction; ישׁוּעה is the help from above which has freed him out of his distress. The יגיל, which follows the מה of the exclamation, is naturally shortened by the Kerמ into יגל (with the retreat of the tone); cf. on the contrary Pro 20:24, where מה is interrogative and, according to the sense, negative). The ἁπ. λεγ. ארשׁת has the signification eager desire, according to the connection, the lxx δέηεσιν, and the perhaps also cognate רוּשׁ, to be poor; the Arabic Arab. wrš, avidum esse, must be left out of consideration according to the laws of the interchange of consonants, whereas ירשׁ, Arab. wrṯ, capere, captare (cf. Arab. irṯ = wirṯ an inheritance), but not רוּשׁ (vid., Psa 34:11), belongs apparently to the same root. Observe the strong negation בּל: no, thou hast not denied, but done the very opposite. The fact of the music having to strike up here favours the supposition, that the occasion of the Psalm is the fulfilment of some public, well-known prayer.
Open source ↗David here speaks for himself in the first place, professing that his joy was in God's strength and in his salvation, and not in the strength or success of his armies. He also directs his subjects herein to rejoice with him, and to give God all the glory of the victories he had obtained; and all with an eye to Christ, of whose triumphs over the powers of darkness David's victories were but shadows. 1. They here congratulate the king on his joys and concur with him in them (Psa 21:1): "The king rejoices, he uses to rejoice in thy strength, and so do we; what pleases the king pleases us," Sa2 3:36. Happy the people the character of whose king it is that he makes God's strength his confidence and God's salvation his joy, that is pleased with all the advancements of God's kingdom and trusts God to bear him out in all he does for the service of it. Our Lord Jesus, in his great undertaking, relied upon help from heaven, and pleased himself with the prospect of that great salvation which he was thereby to work out. 2. They gave God all the praise of those things which were the matter of their king's rejoicing. (1.) That God had heard his prayers (Psa 21:2): Thou hast given him his heart's desire (and there is no prayer accepted but what is the heart's desire), the very thing they begged of God for him, Psa 20:4. Note, God's gracious returns of prayer do, in a special manner, require our humble returns of praise. When God gives to Christ the heathen for his inheritance, gives him to see his seed, and accepts his intercession for all believers, he give him his heart's desire. (2.) That God had surprised him with favours, and much outdone his expectations (Psa 21:3): Thou preventest him with the blessings of goodness. All our blessings are blessings of goodness, and are owing, no…
Open source ↗Ps 21 God’s people thank him for giving victory to the king.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
נָצַח (nâtsach, H5329) — properly, to glitter from afar, i.e. to be eminent (as a superintendent, especially of… מִזְמוֹר (mizmôwr, H4210) — properly, instrumental music; by implication, a poem set to notes דָּוִד (Dâvid, H1732) — David, the youngest son of Jesse מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king שָׂמַח (sâmach, H8055) — probably to brighten up, i.e. (figuratively) be (causatively, make) blithe or gleesome עֹז (ʻôz, H5797) — strength in various applications (force, security, majesty, praise) יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God יְשׁוּעָה (yᵉshûwʻâh, H3444) — something saved, i.e. (abstractly) deliverance; hence, aid, victory, prosperity מְאֹד (mᵉʼôd, H3966) — properly, vehemence, i.e. (with or without preposition) vehemently; by implication,… גִּיל (gîyl, H1523) — properly, to spin round (under the influence of any violent emotion), i.e. usually…
Open source ↗נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) לֵב (lêb, H3820) — the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the… תַּאֲוָה (taʼăvâh, H8378) — a longing; by implication, a delight (subjectively, satisfaction, objectively, a charm) מָנַע (mânaʻ, H4513) — to debar (negatively or positively) from benefit or injury אֲרֶשֶׁת (ʼăresheth, H782) — a longing for שָׂפָה (sâphâh, H8193) — the lip (as a natural boundary); by implication, language; by analogy, a margin (of a… סֶלָה (çelâh, H5542) — suspension (of music), i.e. pause
Open source ↗קָדַם (qâdam, H6923) — to project (one self), i.e. precede; hence, to anticipate, hasten, meet (usually for help) בְּרָכָה (Bᵉrâkâh, H1293) — benediction; by implication prosperity טוֹב (ṭôwb, H2896) — good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the… שִׁית (shîyth, H7896) — to place (in a very wide application) עֲטָרָה (ʻăṭârâh, H5850) — a crown פָּז (pâz, H6337) — pure (gold); hence, gold itself (as refined) רֹאשׁ (rôʼsh, H7218) — the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of…
Open source ↗שָׁאַל (shâʼal, H7592) — to inquire; by implication, to request; by extension, to demand חַי (chay, H2416) — alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially… נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) אֹרֶךְ (ʼôrek, H753) — length יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… עוֹלָם (ʻôwlâm, H5769) — properly, concealed, i.e. the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or… עַד (ʻad, H5703) — properly, a (peremptory) terminus, i.e. (by implication) duration, in the sense of…
Open source ↗כָּבוֹד (kâbôwd, H3519) — properly, weight, but only figuratively in a good sense, splendor or copiousness גָּדוֹל (gâdôwl, H1419) — great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent יְשׁוּעָה (yᵉshûwʻâh, H3444) — something saved, i.e. (abstractly) deliverance; hence, aid, victory, prosperity הוֹד (hôwd, H1935) — grandeur (i.e. an imposing form and appearance) הָדָר (hâdâr, H1926) — magnificence, i.e. ornament or splendor שָׁוָה (shâvâh, H7737) — properly, to level, i.e. equalize; figuratively, to resemble; by implication, to adjust…
Open source ↗שִׁית (shîyth, H7896) — to place (in a very wide application) בְּרָכָה (Bᵉrâkâh, H1293) — benediction; by implication prosperity עַד (ʻad, H5703) — properly, a (peremptory) terminus, i.e. (by implication) duration, in the sense of… חָדָה (châdâh, H2302) — to rejoice שִׂמְחָה (simchâh, H8057) — blithesomeness or glee, (religious or festival) פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and…
Open source ↗מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king בָּטַח (bâṭach, H982) — figuratively, to trust, be confident or sure יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God חֵסֵד (chêçêd, H2617) — kindness; by implication (towards God) piety; rarely (by opposition) reproof, or… עֶלְיוֹן (ʻelyôwn, H5945) — an elevation, i.e. (adj.) lofty (compar.); as title, the Supreme מוֹט (môwṭ, H4131) — to waver; by implication, to slip, shake, fall
Open source ↗יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), מָצָא (mâtsâʼ, H4672) — properly, to come forth to, i.e. appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e. find or… אֹיֵב (ʼôyêb, H341) — hating; an adversary יָמִין (yâmîyn, H3225) — the right hand or side (leg, eye) of a person or other object (as the stronger and more… שָׂנֵא (sânêʼ, H8130) — to hate (personally)
Open source ↗שִׁית (shîyth, H7896) — to place (in a very wide application) אֵשׁ (ʼêsh, H784) — fire (literally or figuratively) תַּנּוּר (tannûwr, H8574) — a fire-pot עֵת (ʻêth, H6256) — time, especially (adverb with preposition) now, when, etc. פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God בָּלַע (bâlaʻ, H1104) — to make away with (specifically by swallowing); generally, to destroy אַף (ʼaph, H639) — properly, the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and occasionally a person; also (from the… אָכַל (ʼâkal, H398) — to eat (literally or figuratively)
Open source ↗פְּרִי (pᵉrîy, H6529) — fruit (literally or figuratively) אָבַד (ʼâbad, H6) — properly, to wander away, i.e. lose oneself; by implication to perish (causative, destroy) אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) זֶרַע (zeraʻ, H2233) — seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… אָדָם (ʼâdâm, H120) — ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)
Open source ↗נָטָה (nâṭâh, H5186) — to stretch or spread out; by implication, to bend away (including moral deflection); used… רַע (raʻ, H7451) — bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral) חָשַׁב (châshab, H2803) — properly, to plait or interpenetrate, i.e. (literally) to weave or (generally) to… מְזִמָּה (mᵉzimmâh, H4209) — a plan, usually evil (machination), sometimes good (sagacity) יָכֹל (yâkôl, H3201) — to be able, literally (can, could) or morally (may, might)
Open source ↗שִׁית (shîyth, H7896) — to place (in a very wide application) שְׁכֶם (shᵉkem, H7926) — the neck (between the shoulders) as the place of burdens; figuratively, the spur of ahill כּוּן (kûwn, H3559) — properly, to be erect (i.e. stand perpendicular); hence (causatively) to set up, in a… מֵיתָר (mêythâr, H4340) — a cord (of a tent); or the string (of a bow) פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and…
Open source ↗רוּם (rûwm, H7311) — to be high actively, to rise or raise (in various applications, literally or figuratively) יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God עֹז (ʻôz, H5797) — strength in various applications (force, security, majesty, praise) שִׁיר (shîyr, H7891) — to sing זָמַר (zâmar, H2167) — play upon it; to make music, accompanied by the voice; hence to celebrate in song and… גְּבוּרָה (gᵉbûwrâh, H1369) — force (literally or figuratively); by implication, valor, victory
Open source ↗Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. Therefore my heart rejoices, and I give thanks to Him with my song.
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
My salvation and my honor rest on God, my strong rock; my refuge is in God.
asking, “Where is the One who has been born King of the Jews? We saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”
“I have installed My King on Zion, upon My holy mountain.”
O LORD, save the king. Answer us on the day we call.
Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout to the Rock of our salvation!
The mighty King loves justice. You have established equity; You have exercised justice and righteousness in Jacob.
But the king will rejoice in God; all who swear by Him will exult, for the mouths of liars will be shut.