Bible Commentaries
Psalms 21

Introduction

Psalms 21:0

STROPHE DIVISIONS OF MODERN TRANSLATIONS

READING CYCLE THREE (see “Guide to Good Bible Reading”)

FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT PARAGRAPH LEVEL

This is a study guide commentary which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects (reading cycle #3). Compare your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.

1. First paragraph

2. Second paragraph

3. Third paragraph

4. Etc.

CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS

A. Psalms 20:0 and 21 may be connected. Psalms 20:0 is the liturgical prayer for victory in battle and Psalms 21:0 is a liturgical welcoming of the King and soldiers home in victory.

B. Notice the possible strophes. By comparing the strophe divisions from various English translations a person can ascertain how many main truths are expressed in a psalm.

1. NASB 2

2. NKJV 5

3. NRSV 4

4. NJB 6

Obviously it is difficult to be certain of how to identify strophes. There is often no textual marker. Modern students must

1. check the parallelism

2. check the Hebrew beat pattern

3. check related subject matter (every strophe has one major subject)

Verses 1-6

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Psalms 21:1-6 1O Lord, in Your strength the king will be glad, And in Your salvation how greatly he will rejoice! 2You have given him his heart's desire, And You have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah. 3For You meet him with the blessings of good things; You set a crown of fine gold on his head. 4He asked life of You, You gave it to him, Length of days forever and ever. 5His glory is great through Your salvation, Splendor and majesty You place upon him. 6For You make him most blessed forever; You make him joyful with gladness in Your presence.

Psalms 21:1 Note the synonymous parallelism between “in Your strength” and “in Your salvation.”

The term (BDB 447, feminine singular) translated salvation has several possible connotations.

1. prosperity Job 30:15

2. deliverance/help 2 Samuel 10:11; 1 Chronicles 19:12; Psalms 22:1

3. salvation Genesis 49:18; Psalms 3:2, Psalms 3:8; Psalms 14:7; Psalms 35:3; Psalms 53:6; Psalms 62:2; and many more

4. victory Exodus 15:2; Psalms 20:6; Psalms 21:1, Psalms 21:5; Psalms 44:4; Psalms 68:20-21; Psalms 118:14, Psalms 118:15, Psalms 118:21

YHWH is our great hope and there is no other! In light of this, faithful followers (in this context, the King) will continue to

1. be glad BDB 970, KB 1330, Qal imperfect, cf. Psalms 9:2

2. rejoice BDB 162, KB 189, Qal imperfect, cf. Psalms 9:14

Psalms 21:2 This verse seems to link to Psalms 20:4 and is connected to the King's prayer for military victory.

Notice the two parallel perfect verbs (i.e., completed action).

1. has given BDB 678, KB 733, Qal perfect

2. has not withheld BDB 586, KB 602, negated, Qal perfect

NASB, NKJV, NRSV“request” NJB“prayer” LXX“wish” NEB“ask”

The word (BDB 77, KB 92) is found only here in the OT. It seems, in context, to refer to a ritual liturgical prayer before a battle, possibly in the tabernacle/temple.

▣ “Selah” See note at Psalms 3:2 and Introduction to Psalms, VII. Some commentators feel it denotes a point in the liturgy where there is a transition to another liturgical act (i.e., praise, song, sacrifice, another liturgy read, bowing, etc.).

Psalms 21:3-6 These are the actions of YHWH on behalf of the King.

1. meet him with the blessings of good things (i.e., YHWH Himself welcomes the victorious king)

2. set a crown of fine gold on his head (i.e., a reaffirmation of kingship or the liturgical transfer of the battle helmet for the royal crown)

3. gave him his prayer for life (i.e., victory in battle)

4. placed upon him

a. splendor (BDB 217)

b. majesty (BDB 214) these are descriptions of YHWH (cf. 1 Chronicles 16:27; Psalms 45:3; Psalms 96:6; Psalms 104:1; Psalms 111:3), but because of YHWH's image in mankind, they share these attributes (cf. Psalms 8:5)

5. make him blessed for a long life (‘olam must be interpreted in context, see Special Topic at Psalms 9:5; a literary parallel would be “long live the king,” cf. 1 Samuel 10:24; 1 Kings 1:25, 1 Kings 1:31, 1 Kings 1:34, 1 Kings 1:39; Daniel 2:4; Daniel 3:9)

6. make him joyful in Your presence

It is not just the King who is the recipient of YHWH's actions, but through him all the covenant people.

Verses 7-13

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Psalms 21:7-13 7For the king trusts in the Lord, And through the lovingkindness of the Most High he will not be shaken. 8Your hand will find out all your enemies; Your right hand will find out those who hate you. 9You will make them as a fiery oven in the time of your anger; The Lord will swallow them up in His wrath, And fire will devour them. 10Their offspring You will destroy from the earth, And their descendants from among the sons of men. 11Though they intended evil against You And devised a plot, They will not succeed. 12For You will make them turn their back; You will aim with Your bowstrings at their faces. 13Be exalted, O Lord, in Your strength; We will sing and praise Your power.

Psalms 21:7 “the king trusts in the Lord” This is an affirmation of the king's faith orientation (BDB 105, KB 120, Qal active participle, cf. Psalms 4:5; Psalms 9:10; Psalms 13:5; Psalms 22:4, Psalms 22:5, Psalms 22:9; and many more). The king has strength, joy, and deliverance only through YHWH.

▣ “the lovingkindness of the Most High” The special covenant term, “lovingkindness” (hesed, BDB 338, see Special Topic: Lovingkindness) means YHWH's covenant loyalty. YHWH is always faithful, the King and the nation will be also, if they continue to “trust” (BDB 105, KB 120) in Him (cf. Psalms 125:1). Nehemiah 9:0 is a record of YHWH's faithfulness and Israel's unfaithfulness!

For “Most High” (Elyon, BDB 751) see Special Topic: Names for Deity.

NASB, LXX, JPSOA“he will not be shaken” NKJV, NRSV“he shall not be moved” TEV“he will always be secure” NJB“will keep him from falling”

The verb (BDB 556, KB 555, Niphal imperfect) means “totter,” “shake,” or “slip.” It can be used in several senses.

1. place on the throne

2. security in life

3. godly lifestyle

To see the different senses see Psalms 10:6; Psalms 15:5; Psalms 16:8; Psalms 21:7; Psalms 30:6; Psalms 62:2, Psalms 62:6; Psalms 112:6; Proverbs 10:30; Proverbs 12:3. There is stability in YHWH but not in a fallen world.

Psalms 21:8-12 These verses describe what YHWH (i.e., through the king's army) will do if the king and people stay faithful.

1. power over your enemies

2. your enemies will be destroyed

3. your enemies and their descendants will be cut off and disappear

4. your enemies will not succeed in their plans (i.e., to plan against YHWH's king and covenant people is to plan against Him, cf. Psalms 21:11a; Psalms 2:1-3; Psalms 83:1-5)

5. your enemies will retreat in battle

Some scholars (AB) see these verses as describing YHWH's actions in battle on behalf of His covenant king and people.

▣ “hand” This is a Hebrew idiom of the power to act. See SPECIAL TOPIC: HAND.

Psalms 21:9 “The Lord will swallow them up” This verb (BDB 118, KB 134, Piel imperfect) is an idiom for complete destruction (cf. Job 2:3; Job 10:8; Lamentations 2:2, Lamentations 2:5, Lamentations 2:8).

Psalms 21:13 This verse concludes the Psalm with commanded praises of YHWH.

1. Be exalted BDB 926, KB 1202, Qal imperative, cf. 2 Samuel 22:47; Psalms 18:46; Psalms 46:10; Psalms 57:5, Psalms 57:11; Psalms 108:5

2. We will sing BDB 1010, KB 1479, Qal cohortative

3. We will praise BDB 274, KB 273, Piel cohortative

▣ “Your strength” This mantra begins the Psalm (cf. Psalms 21:1) and closes (cf. Psalms 21:13) the Psalm. God is the chief character of the Bible. It is His book; it is about Him!

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought-provoking, not definitive.

1. How are Psalms 20:0 and 21 related?

2. Does Psalms 21:4 imply eternal life?

3. List the military imagery in Psalms 21:7-13.