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Psalms 20

BSB·9 verses ·Old Testament
✦ Tap any verse to open Scripture Explorer — original Hebrew/Greek, commentary, notes & highlights
1May the LORDיְ֭הוָהYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study → answer youיַֽעַנְךָ֣ya·‘an·ḵā — To answer, respond, or testifyH6030 — Full Word Study → in the dayבְּי֣וֹםbə·yō·wm — day; time; period; ageH3117 — Full Word Study → of troubleצָרָ֑הṣā·rāh — Distress, trouble, adversityH6869 — Full Word Study →; may the nameשֵׁ֤ם׀šêm — Name; reputation; renownH8034 — Full Word Study → of the Godאֱלֹהֵ֬י’ĕ·lō·hê — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study → of Jacobיַעֲקֹֽב׃ya·‘ă·qōḇ — He grasps the heelH3290 — Full Word Study → protect youיְ֝שַׂגֶּבְךָ֗yə·śag·geḇ·ḵā — to set on high, to be exalted, to defend or protectH7682 — Full Word Study →. 2May He send youיִשְׁלַֽח־yiš·laḥ- — to send, let go, releaseH7971 — Full Word Study → helpעֶזְרְךָ֥‘ez·rə·ḵā — Helper, aid, or one who assistsH5828 — Full Word Study → from the sanctuaryמִקֹּ֑דֶשׁmiq·qō·ḏeš — Holiness, sacred, consecrated, set apartH6944 — Full Word Study → and sustain youיִסְעָדֶֽךָּ׃yis·‘ā·ḏe·kā — to support, sustain, or strengthenH5582 — Full Word Study → from Zionוּ֝מִצִּיּ֗וֹןū·miṣ·ṣî·yō·wn — The Lord's MountainH6726 — Full Word Study →. 3May He rememberיִזְכֹּ֥רyiz·kōr — to remember, recall, or mentionH2142 — Full Word Study → allכָּל־kāl- — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → your giftsמִנְחֹתֶ֑ךָmin·ḥō·ṯe·ḵā — Gift offering; present or tributeH4503 — Full Word Study → and look favorably onיְדַשְּׁנֶ֣הyə·ḏaš·šə·neh — to make fat, prosper, or grow richH1878 — Full Word Study → your burnt offeringsוְעוֹלָתְךָ֖wə·‘ō·w·lā·ṯə·ḵā — burnt offering; ascending sacrificeH5930 — Full Word Study →. Selahסֶֽלָה׃se·lāh — Pause or SelahH5542 — Full Word Study → 4May He giveיִֽתֶּן־yit·ten- — to give, grant, or bestowH5414 — Full Word Study → you the desires of your heartכִלְבָבֶ֑ךָḵil·ḇā·ḇe·ḵā — The inner self; mind, will, understandingH3824 — Full Word Study → and makeיְמַלֵּֽא׃yə·mal·lê — to fill, fulfill, completeH4390 — Full Word Study → all yourוְֽכָל־wə·ḵāl — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → plans succeed. 5May we shout for joyנְרַנְּנָ֤ה׀nə·ran·nə·nāh — To shout or sing aloud with joy; to cry out triumphantlyH7442 — Full Word Study → at your victoryבִּ֘ישׁ֤וּעָתֶ֗ךָbî·šū·‘ā·ṯe·ḵā — Deliverance, salvation, rescue from dangerH3444 — Full Word Study → and raise a bannerנִדְגֹּ֑לniḏ·gōl — to raise a banner; to be conspicuous or pre-eminentH1713 — Full Word Study → in the nameוּבְשֵֽׁם־ū·ḇə·šêm- — Name; reputation; renownH8034 — Full Word Study → of our Godאֱלֹהֵ֥ינוּ’ĕ·lō·hê·nū — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study →. May the LORDיְ֝הוָ֗הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study → grantיְמַלֵּ֥אyə·mal·lê — to fill, fulfill, completeH4390 — Full Word Study → allכָּל־kāl- — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → your petitionsמִשְׁאֲלוֹתֶֽיךָ׃miš·’ă·lō·w·ṯe·ḵā — A petition or request; something asked forH4862 — Full Word Study →. 6Nowעַתָּ֤ה‘at·tāh — Now; at the present timeH6258 — Full Word Study → I knowיָדַ֗עְתִּיyā·ḏa‘·tî — to know, understand, perceiveH3045 — Full Word Study → thatכִּ֤יkî — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → the LORDיְהוָ֗הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study → savesהוֹשִׁ֥יעַ׀hō·wō·šî·a‘ — To deliver, rescue, or save from dangerH3467 — Full Word Study → His anointedמְשִׁ֫יח֥וֹmə·šî·ḥōw — Anointed one; chosen for divine serviceH4899 — Full Word Study →; He answers himיַ֭עֲנֵהוּya·‘ă·nê·hū — To answer, respond, or testifyH6030 — Full Word Study → from His holyקָדְשׁ֑וֹqā·ḏə·šōw — Holiness, sacred, consecrated, set apartH6944 — Full Word Study → heavenמִשְּׁמֵ֣יmiš·šə·mê — The heavens; sky; dwelling place of GodH8064 — Full Word Study → with the savingיֵ֣שַׁעyê·ša‘ — Salvation, deliverance, safetyH3468 — Full Word Study → powerבִּ֝גְבֻר֗וֹתbiḡ·ḇu·rō·wṯ — Mighty power, strength, or valorH1369 — Full Word Study → of His right handיְמִינֽוֹ׃yə·mî·nōw — right hand, right side, southH3225 — Full Word Study →. 7Someאֵ֣לֶּה’êl·leh — These; those; the onesH428 — Full Word Study → trust in chariots and othersוְאֵ֣לֶּהwə·’êl·leh — These; those; the onesH428 — Full Word Study → in horsesבַסּוּסִ֑יםḇas·sū·sîm — horse; swift creatureH5483 — Full Word Study →, but weוַאֲנַ֓חְנוּ׀wa·’ă·naḥ·nū — We, us, ourselves (first person plural pronoun)H587 — Full Word Study → trustנַזְכִּֽיר׃naz·kîr — to remember, recall, or mentionH2142 — Full Word Study → in the nameבְּשֵׁם־bə·šêm- — Name; reputation; renownH8034 — Full Word Study → of the LORDיְהוָ֖הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study → our Godאֱלֹהֵ֣ינוּ’ĕ·lō·hê·nū — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study →. 8Theyהֵ֭מָּהhêm·māh — They, them (masculine plural pronoun)H1992 — Full Word Study → collapseכָּרְע֣וּkā·rə·‘ū — to bow down, kneel, or fall to the groundH3766 — Full Word Study → and fallוְנָפָ֑לוּwə·nā·p̄ā·lū — to fall; collapse; perishH5307 — Full Word Study →, but weוַאֲנַ֥חְנוּwa·’ă·naḥ·nū — We, us, ourselves (first person plural pronoun)H587 — Full Word Study → rise upקַּ֝֗מְנוּqam·nū — To rise, stand, or be establishedH6965 — Full Word Study → and stand firmוַנִּתְעוֹדָֽד׃wan·niṯ·‘ō·w·ḏāḏ — to testify, witness, or solemnly affirmH5749 — Full Word Study →. 9O LORDיְהוָ֥הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →, saveהוֹשִׁ֑יעָהhō·wō·šî·‘āh — To deliver, rescue, or save from dangerH3467 — Full Word Study → the kingהַ֝מֶּ֗לֶךְham·me·leḵ — A male ruler or sovereign who governs a nation or kingdomH4428 — Full Word Study →. Answer usיַעֲנֵ֥נוּya·‘ă·nê·nū — To answer, respond, or testifyH6030 — Full Word Study → on the dayבְיוֹם־ḇə·yō·wm- — day; time; period; ageH3117 — Full Word Study → we callקָרְאֵֽנוּ׃qā·rə·’ê·nū — To call, summon, or proclaimH7121 — Full Word Study →.
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Chapter Commentary — Psalms 20
Chapter Overview

Chapter Overview

Psalm 20 is a corporate prayer of intercession, likely sung by the community on behalf of their king before battle or a time of crisis. The psalm opens with heartfelt petitions for God's protection and provision, then shifts to confident assurance that the Lord will answer. The dominant theme is the contrast between human resources and divine power: while some nations trust in military strength, God's people trust in the name of the Lord. This psalm teaches us that true victory comes not from our own efforts, but from wholehearted dependence on God's faithfulness and might.

Verses 1–3: The Prayer of Intercession

The psalm begins with a community interceding for their leader. "The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble" (v. 1) expresses the basic cry of faith: when crisis comes, God's ear is open to His people. The phrase "the name of the God of Jacob defend thee" appeals to God's historical faithfulness—Jacob's God had protected the patriarch through every trial, and that same God is invoked here. Verse 2 asks for help "from the sanctuary" and strength "out of Zion," identifying God's dwelling place as the source of all security and power. The reference to offerings and burnt sacrifices (v. 3) suggests that the people have come before God in proper worship, fulfilling their covenant obligations. This foundation of prayer and worship precedes any expectation of divine intervention.

Application: Before we ask God for help, we must approach Him reverently through worship and prayer, acknowledging His character and our dependence on Him.

Verses 4–5: The Content of the Petition

Verse 4 asks God to "grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel." This is not selfish ambition, but rather a request that God align the king's desires with His own will—that the king's heart would be shaped by God's purposes. The prayer trusts that when God grants what the king's heart desires, it will be righteous and good. Verse 5 shifts to corporate celebration: "We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners." Here the community anticipates victory even before it is won, expressing the faith that God will answer their prayer. The raising of banners symbolizes public acknowledgment of God's victory and the unity of the people under His banner.

Application: True intercession means praying that God would align others' hearts—and our own—with His purposes, and celebrating His faithfulness even as we wait for His answer.

Verses 6–8: The Confidence of Faith

Verse 6 marks a turning point: "Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed." This declaration shifts from petition to assurance. The speaker has prayed, and now faith rises—the conviction that God will hear and deliver. The reference to "saving strength of his right hand" employs the language of God's mighty power, His hand outstretched to defend His people. Verses 7–8 present the climactic contrast: "Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright." This is not confidence in the king's military might, but rather a statement of spiritual reality—those who trust in earthly power are destined to fall, while those who trust in God's name are exalted.

Application: In a world obsessed with human strength, wealth, and military power, believers stand firm in the conviction that God's character and power are the only reliable foundation for victory.

Verse 9: The Final Petition

The psalm closes with a brief, urgent plea: "Save, LORD: let the king hear us when we call." The community's prayer and faith culminate in this simple, direct request for deliverance, with confidence that the king will be strengthened to lead God's people.

Application for Today

Psalm 20 invites us to intercede faithfully for our leaders and to anchor our confidence not in human resources or political power, but in God's name and character. Like the psalmist, we may face trouble and uncertainty, yet we are called to pray boldly, worship genuinely, and trust that God hears and answers. Our security rests not in chariots or horses, but in the God who has proven His faithfulness throughout history.

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