Anakalypsis / Unveiling the Word
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⚙ Annotations & References ▾
Themes 8 ▾
Kingship of Christ 1, 8 Joy 1 Eternal Life 4 Judgment 8-9, 11 Sovereignty of God 8-9, 11 Justice and Mercy 11 Worship 13 Glory of God 13
Speakers 1 ▾
David human 1-13
Historic voices 7 ▾
Summa Theologica 2× 2 Homilies on the Epistle to the Hebrews 1× 22 Homilies on the Gospel of John 1× 30 John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible 1× 1-13 Keil and Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament 1× 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary 1× 1, 7 Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary 1× 2-4, 6-13
Manuscript witnesses 5 ▾
Codex Sinaiticus Aleph c. AD 330-360 Codex Vaticanus B c. AD 300-325 Codex Alexandrinus A c. AD 400-440 Aleppo Codex (Crown of Aleppo) c. AD 930 Leningrad Codex (Codex Leningradensis) AD 1008
Cross-references 151 ▾
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What is Psalms 21 about?

Answering the prayer of the previous psalm, the twenty-first rejoices that the king now has the victory for which the people asked, joying in the strength of the LORD. It gives thanks that God has granted him his heart's desire, met him with blessings of goodness, set a crown of pure gold upon his head, and given him length of days forever and ever. Confident of God's continued triumph over every enemy, the psalm turns to the certainty that the king trusts in the LORD and shall not be moved. Petition before battle and praise after victory together frame the anointed king's reign as wholly upheld by God, foreshadowing the crowned and everlasting King to come.

Historical backdrop

These are the songbook of a nation, sung across a thousand years of Israel's worship, from Moses in the wilderness to the exiles returned from Babylon. They were carried from the tabernacle to Solomon's temple to the second temple rebuilt under Persia, set to the lyre and the harp and the clash of cymbals in the courts of the LORD.

Matthew Henry on Psalms 21
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Psalms 21
The Church Fathers on Psalms 21

Psalms 21

Psalms Chapter 21
21
1The king shall joy in thy strength, O Jehovah; And in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!
2Thou hast given him his heart’s desire, And hast not withholden the request of his lips. [Selah
3For thou meetest him with the blessings of goodness: Thou settest a crown of fine gold on his head.
4He asked life of thee, thou gavest it him, Even length of days for ever and ever.
5His glory is great in thy salvation: Honor and majesty dost thou lay upon him.
6For thou makest him most blessed for ever: Thou makest him glad with joy in thy presence.
7For the king trusteth in Jehovah; And through the lovingkindness of the Most High he shall not be moved.
8Thy hand will find out all thine enemies; Thy right hand will find out those that hate thee.
9Thou wilt make them as a fiery furnace in the time of thine anger: Jehovah will swallow them up in his wrath, And the fire shall devour them.
10Their fruit wilt thou destroy from the earth, And their seed from among the children of men.
11For they intended evil against thee; They conceived a device which they are not able to perform.
12For thou wilt make them turn their back; Thou wilt make ready with thy bowstrings against their face.
13Be thou exalted, O Jehovah, in thy strength: So will we sing and praise thy power.
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What is Psalms 21 about?

Answering the prayer of the previous psalm, the twenty-first rejoices that the king now has the victory for which the people asked, joying in the strength of the LORD. It gives thanks that God has granted him his heart's desire, met him with blessings of goodness, set a crown of pure gold upon his head, and given him length of days forever and ever. Confident of God's continued triumph over every enemy, the psalm turns to the certainty that the king trusts in the LORD and shall not be moved. Petition before battle and praise after victory together frame the anointed king's reign as wholly upheld by God, foreshadowing the crowned and everlasting King to come.