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21:title–13 Like Psa 20, this is a royal psalm. While Psa 20 petitions Yahweh for help in battle, Psa 21 praises Him for a battle victory (compare note on 20:title–9). The psalmist opens by praising Yahweh for glorifying the king and giving him salvation (vv. 1–6). He asserts the king’s trust of Yahweh (v. 7) and describes how the king—with Yahweh’s help—will defeat his enemies (vv. 8–12). The psalm ends on an enthusiastic note of praise (v. 13). |
21:title A psalm of David See note on 3:title.
21:1 how greatly he will delight In Psa 20, the people rejoice in anticipation of Yahweh’s salvation (20:5). Here, the king rejoices for the salvation Yahweh brought.
21:2 You have given Fulfilling the request from 20:4. Yahweh has blessed the king and given him success. See note on 20:4.
21:3 a crown of fine gold The Hebrew word paz, “fine gold,” refers to gold that has been purified or refined. Yahweh blesses the king with physical riches as well as victory.
21:4 length of days The Israelites considered long life a blessing from God (91:16), a reward for obedience or wisdom (Deut 30:20; Prov 3:1–2).
21:5 His honor is great The king’s salvation reflects positively on God. By giving victory to His anointed king, Yahweh shows His power over the nations (Ps 2:1–3). He also shows Himself to be faithful in fulfilling His promise to the Davidic king (2 Sam 7:9, 7:16).
21:6 blessings forever Reminiscent of the Davidic covenant,
where Yahweh promises to establish the dynasty forever (2 Sam 7:16).
Davidic Covenant AYBD
the joy of your presence Yahweh’s presence is a sign of His blessing. In lament psalms, the psalmist often mourns the absence of Yahweh’s presence (see Psa 10:1 and note).
Presence EDB
21:7 the king trusts Yahweh A transition verse declaring the king’s trust of Yahweh. The king trusts Yahweh because of His faithful, covenantal love (chesed; see 6:4 and note).
Chesed Word Study
21:8–12 The first half of the psalm mostly addresses Yahweh, praising Him for blessing the king. This section addresses the king, describing the victory he will have over his enemies. The plans of the enemy will not succeed; Yahweh will destroy them as well as their descendants. This victory comes with Yahweh’s assistance; He will destroy the king’s enemies in His wrath (v. 9; see 2:5 and note). |
21:13 Be exalted, O Yahweh As in Psa 20, the psalmist’s closing comments are directed to Yahweh. Here, instead of petitioning Yahweh for help (compare 20:9), the psalmist praises and extols Him for His strength—the strength that provided salvation (v. 1).
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About Faithlife Study BibleFaithlife Study Bible (FSB) is your guide to the ancient world of the Old and New Testaments, with study notes and articles that draw from a wide range of academic research. FSB helps you learn how to think about interpretation methods and issues so that you can gain a deeper understanding of the text. |
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