Psalms 21:2-12

2 (20-3) Thou hast given him his heart’s desire: and hast not withholden from him the will of his lips.

3 (20-4) For thou hast prevented him with blessings of sweetness: thou hast set on his head a crown of precious stones.

4 (20-5) He asked life of thee: and thou hast given him length of days for ever and ever.

5 (20-6) His glory is great in thy salvation: glory and great beauty shalt thou lay upon him.

6 (20-7) For thou shalt give him to be a blessing for ever and ever: thou shalt make him joyful in gladness with thy countenance.

7 (20-8) For the king hopeth in the Lord: and through the mercy of the most High he shall not be moved.

8 (20-9) Let thy hand be found by all thy enemies: let thy right hand find out all them that hate thee.

9 (20-10) Thou shalt make them as an oven of fire, in the time of thy anger: the Lord shall trouble them in his wrath, and fire shall devour them.

10 (20-11) Their fruit shalt thou destroy from the earth: and their seed from among the children of men.

11 (20-12) For they have intended evils against thee: they have devised counsels which they have not been able to establish.

12 (20-13) For thou shalt make them turn their back: in thy remnants thou shalt prepare their face.

Psalms 21:2-12 Meaning and Commentary

To the chief Musician, a Psalm of David. This psalm was either written by David; and therefore called a "psalm of David"; or it was written, as it may be rendered, "for David," by some other person, on account of his victories and triumphs; or rather "concerning David" {s}; that is, concerning the Messiah, the son of David, as Kimchi says some expound it; or concerning the Messiah, who is called David, Ezekiel 37:24; and Jarchi observes, that their Rabbins interpret it of the Messiah; but, says he, it is right to explain it, moreover, of David himself, for an answer to the heretics (Christians) who err in it; and various passages in this psalm are by the Jewish writers understood of the Messiah; as "the King," in Psalm 20:1 is in the Targum called the King Messiah; Psalm 21:4 is in the Talmud applied {t} to him; Psalm 21:3 are in Zohar {u}, and in the Midrashes {w}, interpreted of him; and many Christian writers understand the whole of him; which is right: though Theodoret thinks it was penned on the account of the health of King Hezekiah, and his restoration from his disease; which is not likely.

{s} dwdl "pro Davide, vel de Davide," Vatablus. {t} T. Bab. Succah, fol. 52. 1. Vid. Nachman. disput. "cum fratre Paulo," p. 36. Ed. Wagenseil. {u} In Numb. fol. 68. 3. 4. {w} Midrash Tillim apud Viccars. in loc. & in Galatin. l. 3. c. 9. Bemidbar Rabba, fol. 212. 4. & 218. 1.