Psalm 132 10

Psalm 132:10 kjv

For thy servant David's sake turn not away the face of thine anointed.

Psalm 132:10 nkjv

For Your servant David's sake, Do not turn away the face of Your Anointed.

Psalm 132:10 niv

For the sake of your servant David, do not reject your anointed one.

Psalm 132:10 esv

For the sake of your servant David, do not turn away the face of your anointed one.

Psalm 132:10 nlt

For the sake of your servant David,
do not reject the king you have anointed.

Psalm 132 verses

Psalm 132 10 Meaning

Psalm 132:10 is a heartfelt plea to the Almighty, asking for continued divine favor upon the Davidic king, appealing to God's own faithfulness to the covenant He made with His servant David. It acknowledges God's promises to David as the basis for divine grace and blessing upon the reigning monarch, who is God's "anointed" representative on earth. This verse functions as an intercessory prayer, foundational for the ongoing welfare of the Davidic dynasty and, ultimately, for the messianic hope it embodies.

Psalm 132 10 Context

Psalm 132 belongs to the "Songs of Ascents" (Psalms 120-134), sung by pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem for the major festivals. This particular psalm focuses on Zion and the Davidic covenant, celebrating the establishment of God's dwelling place (the Ark) in Jerusalem and the enduring promise to David's line. It weaves together two primary themes: David's devotion to finding a resting place for the Ark (verses 1-9) and God's corresponding covenantal promise to David and Zion (verses 10-18). Verse 10, specifically, is a plea within a prayer, voiced on behalf of the reigning Davidic king, imploring God to uphold His part of the covenant despite any present challenges or shortcomings. It underscores the community's reliance on God's commitment to David and his royal descendants, linking the security of the nation to the divine blessing upon its king. Historically, it reflects the enduring hope in a Davidic king even through times of adversity, anticipating the promised perfect King.

Psalm 132 10 Word analysis

• For Thy servant David's sake:
  • For Thy servant (לְמַעַן עַבְדְּךָ - lĕma‘an ‘avdekha): "For the sake of Your servant." This phrase indicates that the petition is not based on the king's current merit, but on God's prior relationship and promises to David. ’Eved (עֶבֶד), 'servant', denotes devoted loyalty, subservience, and often a special chosen status, as God's representative (e.g., Moses, David, the Suffering Servant in Isaiah). This is an appeal to God's faithfulness to His own promises made to David.
  • David's (דָּוִיד - David): The historical king, ancestor of the reigning monarch, central to the covenant God made, establishing his house and kingdom forever. The mention of David anchors the plea in God's specific, historical promise (2 Sam 7).
• Turn not away the face:
  • Turn not away (אַל־תָּשֵׁב - ’al-tashev): A negative imperative, expressing an earnest request or prohibition.
  • the face (פְּנֵי - pene): A Hebrew idiom for one's presence, attention, or favor. To "turn away the face" signifies displeasure, refusal, or rejection of a petition. Conversely, to "lift up the face" or "show the face" indicates favor, acceptance, and blessing. The plea is that God would not refuse or ignore the petition concerning His anointed. This mirrors a request for God's enduring attention and acceptance.
• of Thine anointed:
  • Thine anointed (מְשִׁיחֶךָ - mĕshiyḥekha): "Your Messiah" or "Your Christ." The word mashiach (מָשִׁיחַ) means 'anointed one'. In the Old Testament, it refers primarily to kings (who were literally anointed with oil, signifying their divine appointment), but also to priests and sometimes prophets. Here, it specifically denotes the Davidic king ruling at the time, recognized as God's chosen representative. This term, with its deeper messianic implications, points to a king divinely commissioned and sustained, culminating in Jesus Christ, the ultimate "Anointed One." The term encapsulates the hope for a king chosen, equipped, and protected by God.

Psalm 132 10 Bonus section

The emphasis on God remembering David ("for Thy servant David's sake") signifies an appeal to divine remembrance of covenantal commitments rather than David's personal holiness. God acts because of His own prior, irrevocable vows. This concept of God acting for His own name's sake or for the sake of His promises to a patriarch is a recurring biblical theme (e.g., Ex 32:13, Isa 37:35, Jer 14:21). The Old Testament "anointed one" provides a key link in redemptive history, directly prefiguring the Christ (Greek: Christos), meaning the Messiah. The prayer's earnestness underscores the community's understanding that their very well-being was inextricably linked to the favor bestowed upon God's chosen king. In a broader sense, this also serves as a model for intercessory prayer, where believers can appeal to God's past mercies and present character for future blessings and preservation.

Psalm 132 10 Commentary

Psalm 132:10 serves as a pivotal prayer within a Psalm steeped in covenant and royal theology. It highlights the profound interconnectedness between God's steadfast promises, the figure of King David, and the continuation of the Davidic dynasty. The appeal "for Thy servant David's sake" underscores that the king's legitimacy and the security of his rule are not predicated on his personal virtue, but entirely on God's unswerving fidelity to His established covenant with David. This points to a deeper truth: human pleas for blessing are often rooted not in human merit, but in God's sovereign and gracious commitments.

"Turn not away the face of Thine anointed" is a poignant request for God to grant His full attention and favor. It implies a recognition that rejection of the Davidic king—God's chosen representative—would signify a turning away from the covenant itself. This is not merely a request for the king's personal well-being, but for the continuity of God's appointed order and the fulfillment of His saving purposes which were tied to David's line. The "anointed one" represents the vehicle through which God's reign on earth would be manifested, a provisional earthly king foreshadowing the ultimate Anointed King.

This verse therefore resonates with messianic expectation. While directly referring to a reigning Davidic monarch, it inherently anticipates the perfect Davidic King—Jesus Christ—in whom all of God's promises find their definitive "Yes" and "Amen" (2 Cor 1:20). He is the truly Anointed One, who embodies perfectly God's purposes for humanity. The plea, initially for a human king's stability, finds its ultimate answer in the eternal and righteous reign of Christ, whose "face" God will never turn away because He perfectly fulfills the divine will. The practical implication is a call to trust in God's covenant faithfulness and to intercede for those whom He sets in authority, especially understanding that God's plan ultimately culminates in the reign of Christ.