Psalm 20:1 kjv
The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee;
Psalm 20:1 nkjv
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble; May the name of the God of Jacob defend you;
Psalm 20:1 niv
For the director of music. A psalm of David. May the LORD answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.
Psalm 20:1 esv
May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob protect you!
Psalm 20:1 nlt
In times of trouble, may the LORD answer your cry.
May the name of the God of Jacob keep you safe from all harm.
Psalm 20 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Psa 46:1 | God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. | God as a reliable helper in trouble. |
| Psa 50:15 | Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you... | Direct command to call on God in trouble and promise of deliverance. |
| Psa 91:14-15 | "Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him... he will call upon me, and I will answer him..." | God's promise to answer and protect those who love Him in distress. |
| Prov 18:10 | The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and are safe. | The divine name as a source of protection and security. |
| Isa 25:4 | For you have been a stronghold to the poor, a stronghold to the needy in his distress... | God as a stronghold and refuge for the oppressed. |
| 2 Sam 22:4 | I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies. | Personal testimony of calling on God for salvation from enemies. |
| Gen 32:9-11 | Jacob prayed, "O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, O LORD... Deliver me, please..." | Jacob's prayer for deliverance in a day of trouble before meeting Esau. |
| Ex 3:6 | He said, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." | God revealing Himself through His covenant relationship with the patriarchs. |
| Deut 33:27 | The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms. | God's eternal protection and support for His people. |
| Jer 30:7 | ...a time of trouble for Jacob; yet he shall be saved out of it. | Prophecy of Jacob's (Israel's) trouble, but ultimate deliverance. |
| Joel 2:32 | And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved. | Emphasizes salvation through invoking the name of the LORD. |
| Acts 2:21 | And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. | New Testament reiteration of Joel, connecting "Lord" to Jesus for salvation. |
| Rom 10:13 | For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." | New Testament application of calling on the Lord's name for salvation. |
| Phil 4:6-7 | Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication... the peace of God... | Exhortation to bring all troubles to God in prayer with assurance of peace. |
| Heb 4:16 | Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. | Encouragement to approach God for timely help and mercy in affliction. |
| Psa 9:9 | The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. | God as a refuge for the distressed. |
| Psa 18:6 | In my distress I called upon the LORD; to my God I cried for help... | David's experience of calling on God in distress and being answered. |
| Psa 121:1-2 | I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD... | Trust in God alone for help. |
| 1 Pet 5:7 | Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. | Trusting God with worries because He cares. |
| Psa 34:6 | This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him and saved him out of all his troubles. | Testimony of God hearing and saving in times of trouble. |
| Isa 41:10 | Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you... | God's assurance of presence and strength in times of fear. |
| Lam 3:55-57 | I called on your name, O LORD, from the depths of the pit... You heard my plea... | Calling on God's name in desperate circumstances and His response. |
Psalm 20 verses
Psalm 20 1 Meaning
Psalm 20:1 is a heartfelt prayer and blessing spoken by the community for their king, or leader, especially in a time of dire need, such as before battle or facing severe affliction. It expresses a deep reliance on God for active intervention, protection, and deliverance. It petitions the God of Jacob, identified by His unique name and character, to powerfully respond to their distress and to exalt their leader above threatening circumstances.
Psalm 20 1 Context
Psalm 20 is a royal psalm, a prayer offered by the congregation for their king. It is a liturgical piece, likely sung or recited in the temple courts, perhaps immediately before a significant military campaign or when the nation faced a great threat. The psalmist, likely representing the people, expresses hope and trust in God for their sovereign. The psalm functions as a public petition, demonstrating national unity in faith and reliance on Yahweh, not on chariots or horses (Psa 20:7). It stands in close thematic relation to Psalm 21, which serves as a psalm of thanksgiving after the victory or successful intervention for which Psalm 20 prayed. Historically, such prayers underscore the ancient Israelite belief that true victory and protection come from the Lord, not from human might or military preparedness alone.
Psalm 20 1 Word analysis
- The LORD (Hebrew: YHWH, יהוה): This is the most sacred, covenantal name of God, revealing His self-existent and faithful nature. It emphasizes His personal relationship with His people and His reliability to fulfill His promises. When the psalmist invokes YHWH, they are appealing to God’s known character as the one who acts on behalf of His chosen people.
- answer (Hebrew: Anah, עָנָה): More than merely hearing, Anah implies a positive and active response. It signifies divine intervention, an affirmation that the prayer will be not just acknowledged but acted upon decisively to bring about deliverance or solution.
- you (Hebrew: leka, לְךָ): Refers directly to the king (or leader), the one for whom the people are interceding. In a broader sense, it encompasses the nation represented by their king. The prayer is specifically directed to God on behalf of this pivotal figure.
- in the day of trouble (Hebrew: beyom tsarah, בְּיוֹם צָרָה):
- day (yom, יוֹם): Here refers not necessarily to a literal 24-hour period but a definite season, occasion, or time. It emphasizes a specific, current period of acute distress.
- trouble (tsarah, צָרָה): Signifies distress, affliction, narrowness, or constriction. It denotes a situation where one feels hemmed in, facing overwhelming difficulties with no apparent escape. It encompasses various forms of adversity, physical, spiritual, or national.
- the name (Hebrew: Shem, שֵׁם): In biblical thought, "the name" is much more than an identifier; it embodies the essence, character, authority, power, and reputation of the individual. When the psalmist speaks of "the name of the God of Jacob," it's an appeal to all that God is – His divine attributes, His omnipotence, His faithfulness, His past redemptive acts. It represents God Himself acting powerfully.
- of the God of Jacob (Hebrew: Elohei Ya'akov, אֱלֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב):
- God (Elohei, אֱלֹהֵי): A general but potent term for Deity.
- Jacob (Ya'akov, יַעֲקֹב): Refers to the patriarch, emphasizing God's historical faithfulness to him (e.g., in Gen 32, when Jacob faced Esau). It specifically invokes the covenant-keeping God who has historically intervened and preserved His people through various trials. It reminds God of His commitment to the lineage and nation stemming from Jacob, establishing a strong basis for appeal based on His unchanging nature and promises.
- protect (Hebrew: Yesaggvekha, יְשַׂגֶּבְךָ): The root meaning is to set on high, to elevate, to place out of reach of danger. It implies a strong defense, divine safeguarding, and an elevation above the reach or power of one’s enemies. It denotes being placed in a secure, inaccessible place due to God's powerful action. It signifies total divine insulation from harm and triumph.
Psalm 20 1 Bonus section
The appeal to the "God of Jacob" is significant not just for historical faithfulness, but also because Jacob was a man who experienced deep trouble and wrestled with God, emerging changed and blessed. This particular reference offers comfort and a basis for prayer to those who identify with similar struggles and rely on God’s grace amidst their wrestling. Liturgically, Psalm 20, being a royal psalm, often pointed beyond the immediate earthly king to the future Anointed King, the Messiah. In this light, the prayer becomes an anticipation of God’s ultimate answer and protection through Jesus Christ, who Himself experienced profound trouble and was exalted by God. The power in "the name of the LORD" finds its ultimate fulfillment in the saving power of the name of Jesus (Phil 2:9-11).
Psalm 20 1 Commentary
Psalm 20:1 opens a powerful prayer of supplication and faith, reflecting a deep theological conviction in God's active involvement in human affairs. It articulates the fundamental Christian truth that in moments of extreme peril, the believer's recourse is not self-reliance or trust in earthly powers, but earnest petition to the personal, covenant-keeping God. The specific invocation of "the God of Jacob" highlights divine faithfulness rooted in historical acts of deliverance and a profound, intimate relationship. The emphasis on "the name" signifies that God’s very character and power are sufficient for protection. It’s a declaration of dependence and a fervent hope that God will elevate and safeguard the one being prayed for, placing them beyond the reach of their troubles. Practically, this verse teaches believers to collectively intercede for their leaders in times of national or personal crisis, grounding their prayers in God's immutable character and His demonstrated faithfulness through salvation history.