Psalms 18:34

34 who trains my hands for war so my arms can bend a bronze bow.

Psalms 18:34 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 18:34

He teacheth my hands to war
From whence it appears, that war, in some cases, is lawful; and that all the skilfulness and art in training men for war, in the use of armour, in marshalling of armies, in forming sieges is all from God; see ( Psalms 144:1 ) ; and so is all that spiritual skill, in making use of the whole armour of God against every enemy, sin, Satan, and the world; and even the wisdom and skill, counsel and instruction, which Christ as man and Mediator had, when it was the hour and power of darkness; when he was engaged with principalities and powers, and got the victory over them, were from the Lord: see ( Psalms 16:7 ) ;

so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms;
that is, the bow of an enemy falling into his hands, which might be literally true of David. It is in the Hebrew text, "a bow of brass"; and so Apollinarius renders it; which Kimchi and Ben Melech interpret strong iron, that is, steel; and so the Targum; see ( Job 20:24 ) ; Satan is an archer; his temptations are darts, and fiery ones; and his strong bow may be said to be broken by the arms of faith, when his temptations, under the influence of divine grace, are repelled and rendered ineffectual; and especially his bow was broken by Christ, not only in the wilderness, when he was vanquished by him; but in the garden, and on the cross, when Satan could find nothing in him, and get no other advantage over him, but to bruise his heel; when he himself had his head broke, his works ruined, and he himself destroyed. Some render the words, "mine arms have bent a bow of steel": that is, such skill and strength were given him that he was able to bend, draw, and shoot a bow or steel: the Targum is, "and hath strengthened mine arm as a bow of brass", or "steel"; and so the Syriac and Arabic versions; and to the same purpose the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, and Ethiopic versions; or it may be rendered, "my arms have bent", or "made to descend ^F15, a bow of brass"; for when a bow is bent, the horns or corners of it are made to descend towards a man.

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FOOTNOTES:

F15 (htxnw) "ut current", Cocceius; so Michaelis; "ut descendat vel deprimatur", Gejerus; vid. Gussetii Comment. Ebr. p. 507. so Jarchi.

Psalms 18:34 In-Context

32 Only God! The God who equips me with strength and makes my way perfect,

33 who makes my step as sure as the deer's, who lets me stand securely on the heights,

34 who trains my hands for war so my arms can bend a bronze bow.

35 You've given me the shield of your salvation; your strong hand has supported me; your help has made me great.

36 You've let me walk fast and safe, without even twisting an ankle.