The King Rejoices in the Lord's Strength

Psm. 21:12 Therefore shalt thou make them turn their back, when thou shalt make ready thine arrows upon thy strings against the face of them.

Even though they schemed to overthrow the king, they would turn in fear from before him. Thus the king, who trusted in the Lord, was assured of future victories.

Therefore...

כּי

kı̂y

Definition:

1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since

1a) that

1a1) yea, indeed

1b) when (of time)

1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force)

1c) because, since (causal connection)

1d) but (after negative)

1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if

1f) but rather, but

1g) except that

1h) only, nevertheless

1i) surely

1j) that is

1k) but if

1l) for though

1m) forasmuch as, for therefore

Part of Speech: conjunction

This psalm is a pendant to the preceding. There the people prayed for the king; here they give thanks for him: there they asked that his desires might be fulfilled; here they bless Jehovah, who has fulfilled them: there the battle was impending; here it has been won, though foes are still in the field: there the victory was prayed for; here it is prophesied.

shalt thou (God) make...

שׁית

shı̂yth

Definition:

1) to put, set

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to put, lay (hand upon)

1a2) to set, station, appoint, fix, set mind to

1a3) to constitute, make (one something), make like, perform

1a4) to take one’s stand

1a5) to lay waste

1b) (Hophal) to be imposed, be set upon

Part of Speech: verb

The remarkable greatness and majesty of the figure will appear as we read. The whole may be cast into two parts, with a closing strain of prayer. In the first part (Psm. 21:1-7), the people praise Jehovah for His gifts to the king; in the second (Psm. 21:8-12) they prophesy to the king complete victory.

them turn their back,...

שׁכם

shekem

Definition:

1) shoulder, back

1a) shoulder, shoulder-blade

1b) back (in general)

Part of Speech: noun masculine

when thou (God) shalt make ready...

כּוּן

kûn

Definition:

1) to be firm, be stable, be established

1a) (Niphal)

1a1) to be set up, be established, be fixed

1a1a) to be firmly established

1a1b) to be established, be stable, be secure, be enduring

1a1c) to be fixed, be securely determined

1a2) to be directed aright, be fixed aright, be steadfast

1a3) to prepare, be ready

1a4) to be prepared, be arranged, be settled

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to establish, set up, accomplish, do, make firm

1b2) to fix, make ready, prepare, provide, provide for, furnish

1b3) to direct toward (moral sense)

1b4) to arrange, order

1c) (Hophal)

1c1) to be established, be fastened

1c2) to be prepared, be ready

1d) (Polel)

1d1) to set up, establish

1d2) to constitute, make

1d3) to fix

1d4) to direct

1e) (Pulal) to be established, be prepared

1f) (Hithpolel) to be established, be restored

Part of Speech: verb

thine arrows upon thy strings...

מיתר

mêythâr

Definition:

1) cord, string

Part of Speech: noun masculine

against...

על

‛al

Definition:

1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against (preposition)

1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards

1b) above, beyond, over (of excess)

1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence)

1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition)

1e) over (of suspension or extension)

1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity)

1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion)

1h) to (as a dative)

2) because that, because, notwithstanding, although (conjunction)

Part of Speech: see above in Definition

the face...

פּנה / פּנים

pânı̂ym / pâneh

Definition:

1) face

1a) face, faces

1b) presence, person

1c) face (of seraphim or cherubim)

1d) face (of animals)

1e) face, surface (of ground)

1f) as adverb of loc/temp

1f1) before and behind, toward, in front of, forward, formerly, from beforetime, before

1g) with preposition

1g1) in front of, before, to the front of, in the presence of, in the face of, at the face or front of, from the presence of, from before, from before the face of

Part of Speech: noun masculine

of them...

The former psalm had asked for strength to be given to the king; this begins with thanks for the strength in which the king rejoices. In the former the people had anticipated triumph in the king’s salvation or victory; here they celebrate his exceeding exultation in it. It was his, since he was victor, but it was Jehovah’s, since He was Giver of victory. Loyal subjects share in the king’s triumph, and connect it with him; but he himself traces it to God.