Psalm 20 9

Psalm 20:9 kjv

Save, LORD: let the king hear us when we call.

Psalm 20:9 nkjv

Save, LORD! May the King answer us when we call.

Psalm 20:9 niv

LORD, give victory to the king! Answer us when we call!

Psalm 20:9 esv

O LORD, save the king! May he answer us when we call.

Psalm 20:9 nlt

Give victory to our king, O LORD!
Answer our cry for help.

Psalm 20 verses

Psalm 20 9 Meaning

Psalm 20:9 concludes a communal prayer, primarily on behalf of the king, invoking divine deliverance and intercession. It is a fervent plea to the Lord (YHWH) for salvation and for Him, as the sovereign King, to hear and answer the prayers of His people when they call upon Him. The verse encapsulates a profound reliance on God as the ultimate source of victory and responsive aid, whether for the earthly ruler in times of battle or for the community seeking His intervention in their collective need.

Psalm 20 9 Context

Psalm 20 is a psalm of supplication offered on behalf of the king, likely a prayer recited before a major battle or significant national endeavor. The preceding verses (20:1-5) are the community's earnest prayers for YHWH to answer the king's pleas, remember his sacrifices, and grant him victory. Verse 6 shifts to an expression of confident faith, stating the certainty of the Lord saving His anointed king. Verse 7 articulates the foundational principle of the Psalm: trust in the name of the Lord, rather than reliance on human military might (chariots and horses). Verse 8 contrasts the falling of the adversaries with the rising and standing of those who trust in the Lord. Thus, Psalm 20:9 functions as the concluding communal petition, summarizing the entire Psalm's central theme: an urgent appeal for YHWH's ultimate saving power and His active response to His people's collective prayers, recognizing Him as the sovereign King. Historically, this type of prayer reflects the challenges faced by ancient Israel's monarchy, where the king's success was seen as tied to divine favor.

Psalm 20 9 Word analysis

• יְהוָ֣ה (YHWH): The personal, covenantal Name of God revealed to Moses (Exo 3:14-15), signifying God's self-existence, eternal presence, and unwavering faithfulness. The petition is directed to the one true and living God, the object of Israel's exclusive worship and trust.
• הוֹשִׁ֣יעָה (hosha'ah): An imperative verb, "Save!" or "Deliver!" derived from the root Y-Sh-A, which broadly means to bring salvation, liberation, rescue, or victory. This single word underscores the central theme of divine intervention and aid.
• הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ (hammelech): "The King." This term is highly significant due to its potential referents and grammatical position.
  • Interpretation 1 (Traditional): Refers to the earthly king (e.g., David), making the plea "O LORD, save the king!" This is grammatically plausible as a direct object, although unusual without the particle 'et.
  • Interpretation 2 (Modern/Theological): Refers to YHWH Himself as "the King." In this view, it's a vocative "O LORD, O King, save (us)!" or "O Lord, the King, save!". This aligns with Psalm 20's overarching emphasis on YHWH's ultimate sovereignty and power (as also seen in Ps 24:7-10; 47:7). Many scholars support this due to the broader theological context of God's Kingship.
  • The ambiguity reflects the dynamic relationship between divine sovereignty and human kingship within Israel's understanding.
• יַ֝עֲנֵ֗נוּ (ya'anenu): "May He answer us" or "Let Him answer us." This is a jussive form of the verb 'anah (to answer, respond, hear, attend). The ambiguity of "He" here is central:
  • If "hammelech" refers to the earthly king, then "He" could refer to the earthly king (less likely grammatically due to an abrupt shift). "Let the king hear us" meaning he provides what they called for.
  • More commonly, and aligned with the theological focus of the psalm, "He" refers to YHWH, the implied or explicit King from the first part of the verse. Thus, "May YHWH (or the King, who is YHWH) answer us when we call."
• בְי֣וֹם קׇרְאֵֽנוּ (beyom qor'enu): "In the day of our calling" or "when we call."
  • בְּיוֹם (beyom): "In the day of" or "when." This phrase indicates a specific time of earnest petition.
  • קׇרְאֵֽנוּ (qor'enu): From the verb qara', "to call," "cry out," or "proclaim." The suffix "נו" (nu) means "us/our," making it "our calling" or "our cry." It signifies the collective act of supplication from the community to God in their time of need, expressing urgency and reliance.

Words-group Analysis:

• "יְהוָ֣ה הוֹשִׁ֣יעָה הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ" (YHWH hosha'ah hammelech): This phrase represents the core appeal for salvation. If "hammelech" refers to God, it underscores His nature as both Lord and sovereign King from whom salvation flows. If it refers to the earthly king, it expresses a desperate prayer for God's protective intervention over His anointed leader, vital for the nation's well-being. The very existence of this petition is a theological statement, attributing ultimate power and salvation not to human strength but to God.
• "יַ֝עֲנֵ֗נוּ בְי֣וֹם קׇרְאֵֽנוּ׃" (ya'anenu beyom qor'enu): This concluding clause expresses the hope and expectation that God, the true King and ultimate authority, will respond favorably and actively to the community's earnest prayers. It reaffirms a central tenet of faith: God is a hearer and answerer of prayer, particularly for those who call upon Him in times of need. The jussive form implies a strong desire and a prayerful confidence that this desired outcome will indeed come to pass. This contrasts with reliance on unreliable earthly means, reinforcing the Psalm's polemic against idolatry or self-reliance.

Psalm 20 9 Bonus section

The positioning of Psalm 20:9 at the very end of this pre-battle communal prayer gives it significant rhetorical force. It serves as an ultimate cry for divine help, reinforcing the belief that despite all human preparations, final victory and deliverance rest solely with God. The subtle linguistic nuances in "hammelech" and "ya'anenu" might even reflect a theological sophistication among the psalmists who sought to increasingly recognize God's universal Kingship over and above human monarchs, seeing the earthly king as a subordinate or even representative of God's reign. This prepares the way for a deeper Messianic understanding, where the ultimate "King" who saves and answers prayer is Christ Himself (refer Ps 2:6, Acts 4:12), in whom all divine promises of salvation and responsiveness are ultimately fulfilled.

Psalm 20 9 Commentary

Psalm 20:9 acts as the climactic petition, drawing together the themes of the preceding communal prayer. It expresses a dual yearning for God's saving power and His responsive presence. The phrase "Save, LORD; Let the King hear us when we call" embodies the Israelite faith that deliverance fundamentally comes from YHWH, who is not only their Lord but also the true King—the sovereign ruler of all creation.

While some translations may suggest an earthly king hearing the people, the stronger and more theologically consistent interpretation sees God Himself as "the King" who is entreated for salvation and whose characteristic act is to hear and answer the prayers of His faithful. This understanding elevates the Psalm's message from a mere petition for a human ruler to a profound declaration of trust in God's ultimate authority and readiness to act on behalf of His people. The inclusion of "when we call" emphasizes the ongoing nature of communion and reliance. It means that whenever the people earnestly cry out in their distress or need, the Almighty, King, and Savior will not only listen but will actively intervene and respond.

This verse therefore serves as an enduring comfort and an encouragement to prayer, affirming that divine salvation is accessible and that God remains intimately involved in the lives of those who place their trust in Him and seek His face. It concludes a Psalm steeped in military context but redirects the gaze from human weaponry to the divine Helper, solidifying the absolute and final confidence in YHWH.