Psalm 21:1-10

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

1 ^[a]The king rejoices in your strength, LORD. How great is his joy in the victories you give!

2 You have granted him his heart’s desire and have not withheld the request of his lips.^[b]

3 You came to greet him with rich blessings and placed a crown of pure gold on his head.

4 He asked you for life, and you gave it to him— length of days, for ever and ever.

5 Through the victories you gave, his glory is great; you have bestowed on him splendor and majesty.

6 Surely you have granted him unending blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence.

7 For the king trusts in the LORD; through the unfailing love of the Most High he will not be shaken.

8 Your hand will lay hold on all your enemies; your right hand will seize your foes.

9 When you appear for battle, you will burn them up as in a blazing furnace. The LORD will swallow them up in his wrath, and his fire will consume them.

10 You will destroy their descendants from the earth, their posterity from mankind.

Psalm 21:1-10 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.

Cross References

• 1. S 1 Samuel 2:10
• 2. S 2 Samuel 22:51; Psalms 59:16-17
• 3. S Psalms 20:4; Psalms 37:4
• 4. S 2 Samuel 12:30; Revelation 14:14
• 5. Zechariah 6:11
• 6. Psalms 10:16; Psalms 45:17; Psalms 48:14; Psalms 61:5-6; Psalms 91:16; Psalms 133:3
• 7. ver 1; Psalms 18:50; Psalms 44:4
• 8. S Psalms 8:5; Psalms 45:3; Psalms 93:1; Psalms 96:6; Psalms 104:1
• 9. Psalms 43:4; Psalms 126:3
• 10. S 1 Chronicles 17:27
• 11. S 2 Kings 18:5
• 12. Psalms 6:4
• 13. Genesis 14:18
• 14. S Psalms 15:5; S Psalms 55:22
• 15. Isaiah 10:10
• 16. S Deuteronomy 32:22; Psalms 50:3; Jeremiah 15:14; Lamentations 2:2; Malachi 4:1
• 17. Deuteronomy 28:18; Psalms 37:28

Footnotes

• [a] In Hebrew texts 21:1-13 is numbered 21:2-14.
• [b] The Hebrew has "Selah" (a word of uncertain meaning) here.