Psalm 20:1-5

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

1 ^[a]May the LORD answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.

2 May he send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion.

3 May he remember all your sacrifices and accept your burnt offerings.^[b]

4 May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.

5 May we shout for joy over your victory and lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the LORD grant all your requests.

Psalm 20:1-5 Meaning and Commentary

To the chief Musician, a Psalm of David. This psalm is thought, by some, to be written by David, on account of himself, and as a form to be used by the people for him, when he was about to go to war; particularly with the Ammonites and Syrians, 2 Samuel 10:6; mention being made of chariots in it, Psalm 20:7; of which there was a great number in that war: Arama thinks it was made by him when he got the victory over the Philistines; others think it was written by one of the singers on David's account, and should be rendered, "a psalm, for David," as Psalm 72:1: but rather it is a psalm concerning David; concerning the Messiah, whose name is David; or a psalm of David concerning the Messiah, since he is expressly mentioned, Psalm 20:6; and Aben Ezra says, there are some that interpret it of the Messiah; and some passages in it are, by Jewish writers {m}, applied unto him, as Psalm 20:6; and our countryman, Mr. Ainsworth, says, the whole psalm is a prophecy of Christ's sufferings, and his deliverance out of them, for which the church with him triumphs. Theodoret takes it to be a prophecy of Sennacherib's invasion of Judea, and of Rabshakeh's blasphemy, and of Hezekiah's distress and prayer on that account.

{m} Shirhashirim Rabba, fol. 18. 1. Tzeror Hammor, fol. 44. 2.

Cross References

• 1. Psalms 4:1
• 2. Exodus 3:6; Psalms 46:7,11
• 3. Psalms 59:1; Psalms 69:29; Psalms 91:14
• 4. Psalms 30:10; Psalms 33:20; Psalms 37:40; Psalms 40:17; Psalms 54:4; Psalms 118:7
• 5. S Numbers 3:28; Psalms 3:4
• 6. S Psalms 18:18
• 7. Psalms 2:6; Psalms 128:5; Psalms 134:3; Psalms 135:21
• 8. Acts 10:4
• 9. S Deuteronomy 33:11; Psalms 51:19
• 10. Psalms 21:2; Psalms 37:4; Psalms 145:16,19; Isaiah 26:8; Ezekiel 24:25; Romans 10:1
• 11. Psalms 140:8; Proverbs 16:3; Daniel 11:17
• 12. S Job 3:7
• 13. S Numbers 1:52; Psalms 9:14; Psalms 60:4; Isaiah 5:26; Isaiah 11:10,12; Isaiah 13:2; Isaiah 30:17; Isaiah 49:22; Isaiah 62:10; Jeremiah 50:2; Jeremiah 51:12,27
• 14. 1 Samuel 1:17

Footnotes

• [a] In Hebrew texts 20:1-9 is numbered 20:2-10.
• [b] The Hebrew has "Selah" (a word of uncertain meaning) here.