Psalm 20 3

Psalm 20:3 kjv

Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice; Selah.

Psalm 20:3 nkjv

May He remember all your offerings, And accept your burnt sacrifice. Selah

Psalm 20:3 niv

May he remember all your sacrifices and accept your burnt offerings.

Psalm 20:3 esv

May he remember all your offerings and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices! Selah

Psalm 20:3 nlt

May he remember all your gifts
and look favorably on your burnt offerings. Interlude

Psalm 20 verses

Psalm 20 3 Meaning

Psalm 20:3 is a prayer expressing the fervent hope and expectation that the Almighty God will remember and graciously accept the offerings and burnt sacrifices of His people and their king. This acceptance signifies divine approval and serves as a basis for God's favorable intervention, especially in times of need or before significant endeavors such as battle, as indicated by the surrounding context of the psalm. It reflects a core belief that true worship, offered in obedience, is met with divine favor and remembrance, leading to blessed outcomes.

Psalm 20 3 Context

Psalm 20 is a communal prayer for the king of Israel, likely offered before or during a significant military campaign or national crisis. The nation intercedes on behalf of their monarch, who represents their corporate identity and destiny. The psalm moves from asking for God's help for the king (vv. 1-2), to remembering and accepting his worship and sacrifices (v. 3), affirming confidence in God's saving power (vv. 4-7), and concluding with a declaration of faith and final plea for victory (vv. 8-9). Verse 3 is a pivotal part of this intercession, acknowledging that the people's and the king's sincere acts of devotion and obedience through prescribed worship (offerings and burnt sacrifices) are foundational to receiving divine favor and intervention. Historically, burnt offerings (olah) and grain offerings (minchah) were central acts of worship in Israel, symbolizing complete dedication, atonement, thanksgiving, and a seeking of God's face, contrasting with the often transactional or manipulative pagan rituals of surrounding nations, emphasizing Yahweh's nature as One who receives sincere devotion.

Psalm 20 3 Word analysis

• "May he remember" (יִזְכֹּר, yizkor): From the root זָכַר (zakhar), meaning "to remember." In the biblical context, divine remembrance is not merely cognitive recall but a dynamic act involving active engagement and purposeful action. When God "remembers," it implies He takes notice of His covenant, promises, or His people's circumstances and then acts on their behalf, often leading to deliverance, blessing, or fulfilling a purpose (e.g., God remembering Noah and causing the floodwaters to recede, Gen 8:1; God remembering His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, leading to Israel's deliverance from Egypt, Ex 2:24). Here, it implies God's favorable acknowledgment leading to intervention.
• "all your offerings" (כָּל מִנְחֹתֶיךָ, kol minchotekha): "All" (kol) signifies completeness and totality. "Offerings" (מִנְחָה, minchah) refers broadly to a gift or tribute. In the Levitical system, it specifically denoted the "grain offering" (meal offering), often made of flour, oil, and frankincense. These were voluntary offerings of gratitude, dedication, or thanksgiving, sometimes presented alongside burnt offerings, acknowledging God's provision and sovereignty. It emphasizes dedication of one's produce or livelihood.
• "and accept" (וְיֹכֵן, veyokhen): From the root כּוּן (kun), which can mean "to be firm, established, ready," or "to prepare." In this context, in the Hiphil stem, it signifies causing something to be "established," "approved," or "accepted as valid." It conveys divine affirmation, approval, or validation. The idea is that the sacrifices "stand firm" or are found "suitable" and "pleasing" in God's sight, leading to favorable reception and effective response from Him. It implies God's active favorable consideration, not mere passive receipt.
• "your burnt sacrifices" (עוֹלָתֶךָ, olatekha): "Burnt sacrifice" (עוֹלָה, olah, literally "that which ascends"). This was a primary type of offering in the Old Testament, where an animal was completely consumed by fire on the altar, symbolizing complete dedication, worship, and atonement for unintentional sins. It was considered a "pleasing aroma" to the Lord. The offering represents the highest level of commitment and surrender to God. The possessive "your" (tekha) indicates these were the king's sacrifices, representative of the nation's worship.
• "Selah" (סֶלָה, selah): A liturgical or musical notation found in the Psalms and Habakkuk. Its exact meaning is debated but commonly understood as an instruction for a pause, an interlude for musical accentuation, or a signal to reflect deeply on the preceding words. It punctuates the prayer, inviting solemn contemplation on the divine remembrance and acceptance being requested.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "May he remember... and accept": This pair of verbs highlights a two-fold request for divine favor. "Remember" points to God's awareness and will to act, while "accept" (or "approve," "establish") refers to God's positive validation of the presented worship. The hope is that God not only notices their devotion but actively regards it as valid and worthy of response. This duo encapsulates the deepest longing of a worshiper: to be seen and to be found pleasing by God.
• "all your offerings and your burnt sacrifices": This phrasing emphasizes the comprehensive nature of the devotion being presented to God. By mentioning both minchah (grain offerings/general gifts) and olah (burnt offerings/whole devotion), the verse covers the breadth of typical sacrificial worship, from everyday acknowledgments to complete surrender. It suggests that all forms of their prescribed worship, offered with a sincere heart, should be brought into God's favorable remembrance and acceptance.

Psalm 20 3 Bonus section

The longing for God to "remember" and "accept" is deeply rooted in Israelite thought, as a divine remembering always entailed subsequent divine action in the lives of His people, whether in blessing or judgment. The efficacy of their prayers, therefore, was seen as tied to the acceptability of their offerings—not in a magical sense, but in reflecting their adherence to the covenant and their earnestness of heart. This concept prepares the way for the New Testament understanding that true spiritual sacrifices, stemming from a repentant and believing heart, such as praise, acts of service, and presenting one's life to God (Heb 13:15-16, Rom 12:1), are those that are truly "pleasing to God through Jesus Christ," our ultimate and sufficient offering (Heb 10:10-14).

Psalm 20 3 Commentary

Psalm 20:3 encapsulates a fundamental Old Testament theological principle: that human devotion, expressed through God-ordained sacrifices, holds a vital place in seeking and receiving divine favor. The prayer "May He remember all your offerings and accept your burnt sacrifices" is not a claim of merit but an appeal based on covenant faithfulness. It underscores the belief that sincere worship and obedience were pathways to encountering God's gracious intervention. The Israelites offered these sacrifices not to bribe a deity, but as acts of profound surrender, gratitude, and atonement, trusting in Yahweh's character to respond favorably to His people's genuine expressions of worship and dependence. This verse is an expression of deep reliance on God's benevolence, praying that He would validate their acts of devotion and thereby incline His ear to their pleas for victory and protection, understanding that His acceptance of their worship foreshadows His answer to their prayers. For believers today, while animal sacrifices are fulfilled and transcended by Christ's perfect sacrifice, this verse retains its spiritual truth: our worship, presented in Spirit and truth, and our lives as "living sacrifices" (Rom 12:1), when truly consecrated, are pleasing to God and remain foundational to our communion with Him and His responsive care in our lives.