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Psalms 21

BSB·13 verses ·Old Testament
✦ Tap any verse to open Scripture Explorer — original Hebrew/Greek, commentary, notes & highlights
1O LORDיְֽהוָ֗הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →, the kingמֶ֑לֶךְme·leḵ — A male ruler or sovereign who governs a nation or kingdomH4428 — Full Word Study → rejoicesיִשְׂמַח־yiś·maḥ- — To rejoice, be glad, make merryH8055 — Full Word Study → in Your strengthבְּעָזְּךָ֥bə·‘āz·zə·ḵā — Strength, power, or mightH5797 — Full Word Study →. Howמַה־mah- — What? Why? How? (interrogative particle)H4100 — Full Word Study → greatlyיָּ֥גֶילyå̄·ḡɛl — to rejoice, be glad, exultH1523 — Full Word Study → he exultsמְאֹֽד׃mə·’ōḏ — Much, greatly, very, exceedinglyH3966 — Full Word Study → in Your salvationוּ֝בִישׁ֥וּעָתְךָ֗ū·ḇî·šū·‘ā·ṯə·ḵā — Deliverance, salvation, rescue from dangerH3444 — Full Word Study →! 2You have grantedנָתַ֣תָּהnā·ṯat·tāh — to give, grant, or bestowH5414 — Full Word Study → his heart’sלִ֭בּוֹlib·bōw — Heart; the center of emotion, will, and intellectH3820 — Full Word Study → desireתַּאֲוַ֣תta·’ă·waṯ — Much, greatly, very, exceedinglyH3966 — Full Word Study → and have notבַּל־bal- — not, lest, nothingH1077 — Full Word Study → withheldמָנַ֥עְתָּmā·na‘·tā — to withhold, restrain, or refuse to giveH4513 — Full Word Study → the requestוַאֲרֶ֥שֶׁתwa·’ă·re·šeṯ — Request, petition, or desireH782 — Full Word Study → of his lipsשְׂ֝פָתָ֗יוśə·p̲ā·t̲āyw — Lips; edge, border, or shoreH8193 — Full Word Study →. Selahסֶּֽלָה׃se·lāh — Pause or SelahH5542 — Full Word Study → 3Forכִּֽי־kî- — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → You welcomed himתְ֭קַדְּמֶנּוּṯə·qad·də·men·nū — to meet, come before, prevent, anticipateH6923 — Full Word Study → with richט֑וֹבṭō·wḇ — good, beneficial, pleasing, wellH2896 — Full Word Study → blessingsבִּרְכ֣וֹתbir·ḵō·wṯ — Blessing; divine favor and benefitH1293 — Full Word Study →; You placedתָּשִׁ֥יתtā·šîṯ — to set, place, or appointH7896 — Full Word Study → on his headלְ֝רֹאשׁ֗וֹlə·rō·šōw — Head; chief; beginning; topH7218 — Full Word Study → a crownעֲטֶ֣רֶת‘ă·ṭe·reṯ — Crown; royal headpiece or honorH5850 — Full Word Study → of pure goldפָּֽז׃pāz — Pure gold; refined gold of highest qualityH6337 — Full Word Study →. 4He asked You forשָׁאַ֣לšā·’al — to ask, request, inquire, or demandH7592 — Full Word Study → lifeחַיִּ֤ים׀ḥay·yîm — alive, living, lifeH2416 — Full Word Study →, and You granted itנָתַ֣תָּהnā·ṯat·tāh — to give, grant, or bestowH5414 — Full Word Study →lengthאֹ֥רֶךְ’ō·reḵ — Length, duration, or extensivenessH753 — Full Word Study → of daysיָ֝מִ֗יםyā·mîm — day; time; period; ageH3117 — Full Word Study →, foreverעוֹלָ֥ם‘ō·w·lām — forever, eternity, perpetual durationH5769 — Full Word Study → and everוָעֶֽד׃wā·‘eḏ — perpetuity, eternity, foreverH5703 — Full Word Study →. 5Great isגָּד֣וֹלgā·ḏō·wl — Great, mighty, large in size or significanceH1419 — Full Word Study → his gloryכְּ֭בוֹדוֹkə·ḇō·w·ḏōw — weightiness, honor, splendor, gloryH3519 — Full Word Study → in Your salvationבִּישׁוּעָתֶ֑ךָbî·šū·‘ā·ṯe·ḵā — Deliverance, salvation, rescue from dangerH3444 — Full Word Study →; You bestowתְּשַׁוֶּ֥הtə·šaw·weh — to level, equalize, make equal or suitableH7737 — Full Word Study → on himעָלָֽיו׃‘ā·lāw — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → splendorה֥וֹדhō·wḏ — Splendor, majesty, honor, and gloryH1935 — Full Word Study → and majestyוְ֝הָדָרwə·hā·ḏār — Glory, majesty, splendor, honorH1926 — Full Word Study →. 6Forכִּֽי־kî- — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → You grant himתְשִׁיתֵ֣הוּṯə·šî·ṯê·hū — to set, place, or appointH7896 — Full Word Study → blessings foreverבְרָכ֣וֹתḇə·rā·ḵō·wṯ — Blessing; divine favor and benefitH1293 — Full Word Study →; You cheer himתְּחַדֵּ֥הוּtə·ḥad·dê·hū — to rejoice, be glad, celebrateH2302 — Full Word Study → with joyבְ֝שִׂמְחָ֗הḇə·śim·ḥāh — Joy, gladness, rejoicingH8057 — Full Word Study → inאֶת־’eṯ- — with, together with, againstH854 — Full Word Study → Your presenceפָּנֶֽיךָ׃pā·ne·ḵā — face; presence; beforeH6440 — Full Word Study →. 7Forכִּֽי־kî- — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → the kingהַ֭מֶּלֶךְham·me·leḵ — A male ruler or sovereign who governs a nation or kingdomH4428 — Full Word Study → trustsבֹּטֵ֣חַbō·ṭê·aḥ — to trust, rely on, have confidenceH982 — Full Word Study → in the LORDבַּיהוָ֑הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →; through the loving devotionוּבְחֶ֥סֶדū·ḇə·ḥe·seḏ — Covenant loyalty and steadfast kindnessH2617 — Full Word Study → of the Most Highעֶ֝לְי֗וֹן‘el·yō·wn — Most High, elevated, supremeH5945 — Full Word Study →, he will notבַּל־bal- — not, lest, nothingH1077 — Full Word Study → be shakenיִמּֽוֹט׃yim·mō·wṭ — to shake, move, slip, or fall awayH4131 — Full Word Study →. 8Your handיָ֭דְךָyā·ḏə·ḵā — hand; power, strength, controlH3027 — Full Word Study → will apprehendתִּמְצָ֣אtim·ṣā — to find, discover, obtainH4672 — Full Word Study → allלְכָל־lə·ḵāl — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → Your enemiesאֹיְבֶ֑יךָ’ō·yə·ḇe·ḵā — Enemy; adversary; one who opposesH341 — Full Word Study →; Your right handיְ֝מִֽינְךָyə·mî·nə·ḵā — right hand, right side, southH3225 — Full Word Study → will seizeתִּמְצָ֥אtim·ṣā — to find, discover, obtainH4672 — Full Word Study → those who hate Youשֹׂנְאֶֽיךָ׃śō·nə·’e·ḵā — to hate, despise, regard with hostilityH8130 — Full Word Study →. 9You will place themתְּשִׁיתֵ֤מוֹ׀tə·šî·ṯê·mōw — to set, place, or appointH7896 — Full Word Study → in a fieryאֵשׁ֮’êš — Fire; flame; burningH784 — Full Word Study → furnaceכְּתַנּ֥וּרkə·ṯan·nūr — Oven; furnace for baking or heatingH8574 — Full Word Study → at the timeלְעֵ֪תlə·‘êṯ — Time, season, or appointed momentH6256 — Full Word Study → of Your appearingפָּ֫נֶ֥יךָpā·ne·ḵā — face; presence; beforeH6440 — Full Word Study →. In His wrathבְּאַפּ֣וֹbə·’ap·pōw — Anger, wrath, face, or noseH639 — Full Word Study → the LORDיְ֭הוָהYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study → will engulf themיְבַלְּעֵ֑םyə·ḇal·lə·‘êm — to swallow, devour, consume completelyH1104 — Full Word Study →, and the fireאֵֽשׁ׃’êš — Fire; flame; burningH784 — Full Word Study → will consume themוְֽתֹאכְלֵ֥םwə·ṯō·ḵə·lêm — to eat, consume, devourH398 — Full Word Study →. 10You will wipeתְּאַבֵּ֑דtə·’ab·bêḏ — To perish, be destroyed, or lostH6 — Full Word Study → their descendantsפִּ֭רְיָמוֹpir·yā·mōw — Fruit; produce; offspring; rewardH6529 — Full Word Study → from the earthמֵאֶ֣רֶץmê·’e·reṣ — Land, earth, or countryH776 — Full Word Study →, and their offspringוְ֝זַרְעָ֗םwə·zar·‘ām — Seed; offspring; descendant; progenyH2233 — Full Word Study → from the sonsמִבְּנֵ֥יmib·bə·nê — Son; descendant; member of a groupH1121 — Full Word Study → of menאָדָֽם׃’ā·ḏām — Man, mankind, human beingH120 — Full Word Study →. 11Thoughכִּי־kî- — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → they intendנָט֣וּnā·ṭū — to stretch out, extend, incline, bendH5186 — Full Word Study → Youעָלֶ֣יךָ‘ā·le·ḵā — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → harmרָעָ֑הrā·‘āh — evil, bad, harm, disasterH7451 — Full Word Study →, the schemesמְ֝זִמָּ֗הmə·zim·māh — wicked plot, malicious scheme, or lustful intentionH4209 — Full Word Study → they deviseחָֽשְׁב֥וּḥā·šə·ḇū — to think, devise, plan, or reckonH2803 — Full Word Study → will notבַּל־bal- — not, lest, nothingH1077 — Full Word Study → prevailיוּכָֽלוּ׃yū·ḵā·lū — to be able, have power, endureH3201 — Full Word Study →. 12Forכִּ֭יkî — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → You will put them to flightתְּשִׁיתֵ֣מוֹtə·šî·ṯê·mōw — to set, place, or appointH7896 — Full Word Study → when Your bowבְּ֝מֵֽיתָרֶ֗יךָbə·mê·ṯā·re·ḵā — cord, string, or ropeH4340 — Full Word Study → is trainedתְּכוֹנֵ֥ןtə·ḵō·w·nên — to establish, prepare, or make firmH3559 — Full Word Study → uponעַל־‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → themפְּנֵיהֶֽם׃pə·nê·hem — face; presence; beforeH6440 — Full Word Study →. 13Be exaltedר֣וּמָהrū·māh — To raise, lift up, exalt; to be highH7311 — Full Word Study →, O LORDיְהוָ֣הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →, in Your strengthבְּעֻזֶּ֑ךָḇə·‘uz·ze·ḵā — Strength, power, or mightH5797 — Full Word Study →; we will singנָשִׁ֥ירָהnā·šî·rāh — to sing, make musicH7891 — Full Word Study → and praiseוּֽ֝נְזַמְּרָהū·nə·zam·mə·rāh — To sing praises, make music to GodH2167 — Full Word Study → Your powerגְּבוּרָתֶֽךָ׃gə·ḇū·rā·ṯe·ḵā — Mighty power, strength, or valorH1369 — Full Word Study →.
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Chapter Commentary — Psalms 21
Chapter Overview

Chapter Overview

Psalm 21 is a royal psalm of thanksgiving and confidence, celebrating God's abundant blessings upon the king and his certain victory over his enemies. The psalm divides naturally into two parts: verses 1–7 rejoice in the king's blessings, strength, and trust in the Lord, while verses 8–12 celebrate God's righteous judgment upon those who oppose him. The final verse (13) calls the people to praise God for his exalted power. Throughout, the psalm reflects the deep connection between the king's reign and God's sovereignty, reminding us that true authority and security rest entirely in the Lord's hands.

Verses 1–5: The King's Joy and Blessing

The psalm opens with the king expressing profound joy in God's strength and salvation (verse 1). This is not earthly pride but grateful dependence—the king rejoices because he trusts in the Lord as his source. Verses 2–3 emphasize God's generosity: He has granted the king's heart's desire and granted his requests. The image of God "preventing" (going before, preparing) him with blessings speaks to God's proactive, loving care. The crown of pure gold (verse 3) symbolizes both royal authority and divine favor—the king wears this crown because God has placed it upon him.

Verse 4 contains a remarkable promise: the king asked for life itself, and God granted it—"length of days for ever and ever." While this may have an immediate historical meaning (long reign and dynasty), it points ultimately to Christ, the King who conquered death through resurrection and reigns eternally. Verse 5 summarizes the result: great glory, honor, and majesty, all rooted in God's salvation. Application: We too should learn to ask God for what we truly need and to recognize that every good gift comes from His hand, not from our own striving.

Verses 6–7: Trust and Stability

Verse 6 deepens the theme: God has made the king "most blessed for ever" and "exceeding glad with thy countenance." The face or favor of God is the source of all joy. Verse 7 pivots to the ground of this blessing: trust. "The king trusteth in the LORD"—this is the spiritual foundation. Because of his trust and God's mercy, he shall not be moved; he will remain stable even amid opposition. This verse teaches a vital principle: security does not come from military might or earthly alliances, but from faith in the Lord's faithfulness.

Verses 8–12: God's Judgment Upon Enemies

The tone shifts to divine justice. Verses 8–9 declare that God's hand will find and deal with all enemies and those who hate Him. The vivid imagery of a fiery oven and God swallowing them in wrath conveys the certainty and severity of God's judgment against those who oppose His anointed. Verse 10 speaks of complete destruction—their fruit and seed will be removed from the earth. This is not petty revenge but righteous judgment by a holy God.

Verses 11–12 clarify the reason for judgment: the enemies "intended evil" against the Lord and imagined mischievous devices. Yet they lack the power to accomplish their plans. When God makes ready His arrows, the enemies will turn and flee. Application: We are reminded that opposition to God's purposes is ultimately futile, and that God's judgment against sin and rebellion is just and certain.

Verse 13: Final Exaltation

The psalm concludes with a call to praise: "Be thou exalted, LORD, in thine own strength." The worshipping community commits to sing and praise God's power. This is the proper human response to God's sovereign rule.

Application for Today

Psalm 21 calls us to rejoice in Christ, our ultimate King, who has conquered death and reigns eternally. Like the psalmist, we should trust in the Lord's strength rather than our own resources, present our requests to Him with confidence, and rest in His unfailing love. When we face opposition or fear, we can remember that God's hand protects His own and that His judgment against evil is certain. Above all, let us live in the joy of God's favor and join the psalmist's chorus: exalting the Lord in His strength.

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