Psalm 21 KJV
King James Version, Holy Bible
- 1 The king shall joy in thy strength, O Lord; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!
- 2 Thou hast given him his heart's desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips. Selah.
- 3 For thou preventest him with the blessings of goodness: thou settest a crown of pure gold on his head.
- 4 He asked life of thee, and thou gavest it him, even length of days for ever and ever.
- 5 His glory is great in thy salvation: honour and majesty hast thou laid upon him.
More Psalms 21 (Old Testament)
- 6 For thou hast made him most blessed for ever: thou hast made him exceeding glad with thy countenance.
- 7 For the king trusteth in the Lord, and through the mercy of the most High he shall not be moved.
- 8 Thine hand shall find out all thine enemies: thy right hand shall find out those that hate thee.
- 9 Thou shalt make them as a fiery oven in the time of thine anger: the Lord shall swallow them up in his wrath, and the fire shall devour them.
- 10 Their fruit shalt thou destroy from the earth, and their seed from among the children of men.
More Psalm 21 (Old Testament)
- 11 For they intended evil against thee: they imagined a mischievous device, which they are not able to perform.
- 12 Therefore shalt thou make them turn their back, when thou shalt make ready thine arrows upon thy strings against the face of them.
- 13 Be thou exalted, Lord, in thine own strength: so will we sing and praise thy power.
Key Takeaways from This Psalm:
Psalm 21:7
Verse: כִּי שִׂמַּחְתָּה בּוֹ בְחַסְדֶּךָ
Transliteration: Ki simachta bo b’chasdekha
English: “For You make him most blessed with the joy of Your presence.”
Focus Word: חֶסֶד (Chesed)
- Root: ח-ס-ד (Chet-Samech-Dalet)
- Meaning: “Lovingkindness,” “mercy,” “steadfast love.”
- Deeper Insight: Chesed is relational and covenantal. God’s blessing flows from His faithful, enduring love, not human merit.
More On This Psalm: Commentary From Biblical Scholars
| Scholar | Paraphrase of the psalm |
|---|---|
| Alexander Maclaren (University of Manchester, 1826–1910, Expositions of Holy Scripture) | Maclaren notes that the psalm celebrates God’s blessings on the king and His faithfulness in granting victory. |
| George Adam Smith (University of Aberdeen, 1856–1942, The Book of Psalms, Commentary) | The psalm, Smith observes, highlights the joy and strength given by God to those He has chosen. |
| John Kitto (University of London, 1804–1854, Cyclopaedia of Biblical Literature) | Kitto emphasizes that the psalm shows gratitude for God’s protection and success in leadership. |
| F.D. Maurice (King’s College London, 1805–1872, Theological Essays) | Maurice interprets the psalm as a recognition of God’s hand in empowering the king and blessing his reign. |
| Charles Hodge (Princeton University, 1797–1878, Commentary on the Psalms) | Hodge points out that the psalm celebrates God’s justice, favor, and the prosperity of the faithful ruler. |
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