Psalm 21 10

Psalm 21:10 kjv

Their fruit shalt thou destroy from the earth, and their seed from among the children of men.

Psalm 21:10 nkjv

Their offspring You shall destroy from the earth, And their descendants from among the sons of men.

Psalm 21:10 niv

You will destroy their descendants from the earth, their posterity from mankind.

Psalm 21:10 esv

You will destroy their descendants from the earth, and their offspring from among the children of man.

Psalm 21:10 nlt

You will wipe their children from the face of the earth;
they will never have descendants.

Psalm 21 verses

Psalm 21 10 Meaning

Psalm 21:10 declares the absolute and unavoidable defeat of the enemies of God's anointed king. It describes their total rout ("you will make them turn their back") and the relentless, inescapable judgment pursued by God, striking them directly even in their flight ("you will aim your bows at their faces"). This signifies comprehensive victory for God and His chosen one, demonstrating divine wrath and perfect execution of justice against all who oppose His rule.

Psalm 21 10 Context

Psalm 21 is a royal psalm, serving as a thanksgiving hymn for the victory granted to the king. It immediately follows Psalm 20, a prayer for the king before battle, indicating a sequence of events: prayer, divine intervention, and then triumphant praise. Verses 1-7 rejoice in God's great strength, power, and blessings bestowed upon the king. From verse 8, the psalm transitions into a declarative pronouncement of the king's (and ultimately, God's) complete and final judgment over all his enemies. Verse 10 specifically articulates the manner and totality of this judgment through vivid military imagery. Historically, ancient Near Eastern kings were seen as divinely appointed, and their victories were attributed to their patron deity. This psalm highlights Yahweh as the supreme Giver of victory, establishing His chosen king’s rule as unassailable.

Psalm 21 10 Word analysis

• כִּי (kī): "For," "because." This particle introduces an explanation or reinforcement of the preceding statement (verse 9), which spoke of the enemies being consumed by fire. It ties the coming actions to their deserved fate.
• תְּשִׁיתֵמוֹ (təšîtēmô): From the verb שׁוּת (shûth), meaning "to set," "place." In the causative form (Hiphil), it means "You will make them set." Paired with "back/shoulder," it creates the idiom "make them turn their back" or "make them flee." It highlights God as the active agent forcing the enemies' retreat.
• שֶׁכֶם (shekhem): "Shoulder" or "back." This is a key part of the idiom indicating retreat. To show one's back implies running away, surrendering, or being utterly defeated and put to flight. It conveys fear and desperation.
• בַּחֲצוֹתֶיךָ (baḥaṣôṯeykhā): Derived from חָצָה (ḥātsāh), "to cut" or "divide." In this context, it often refers to "your bowstrings," "your arrows," or simply "your bows" by metonymy. It is the instrument through which judgment is delivered.
• תְּכוֹנֵן (təkhônēn): From כוּן (kûn), meaning "to be firm, established." In the intensive form (Pilpel), it means "You will make firm" or "You will establish." When referring to weapons, it translates to "you will aim," "you will make ready," or "you will direct with precision." It implies deliberate and unswerving execution.
• עַל־פְּנֵיהֶם (ʿal-pənêhem): "Upon their faces." This is highly significant. Enemies typically present their backs when fleeing. To be aimed at or struck "on their faces" suggests either they are so completely trapped that they are forced to turn and face their doom, or it denotes a strike so direct and unavoidable that no escape is possible, emphasizing lethal precision and no mercy. It also signifies an ultimate humiliation, as being struck in the face while trying to flee means being fully exposed and annihilated.

• "For you will make them turn their back": This phrase emphasizes the complete rout and humiliating defeat of the adversaries. It's not merely a defeat but a terrified flight, imposed directly by divine power, removing any possibility of standing their ground.
• "you will aim your bows at their faces": This is a powerful image of inescapable judgment. Even in their frantic retreat, the enemies are not safe. God’s aim is precise, targeted, and lethal. The unusual imagery of hitting the "face" of a fleeing enemy underscores the inevitability and severity of their doom—they cannot evade the decisive strike, indicating relentless pursuit and ultimate destruction.

Psalm 21 10 Bonus section

The "you" in "you will make them" and "you will aim" strongly refers to God Himself. While the psalm concerns the king, the victory's source and power are divine. This attributes the king's triumphs wholly to Yahweh, distinguishing Him from human monarchs who might rely solely on their own strength or alliances. This royal psalm has significant messianic fulfillment, as King David's earthly victories prefigure Christ's ultimate spiritual and eschatological victory over sin, death, and all His adversaries (Col 2:15, Heb 2:14-15). The severity of the judgment reflects the magnitude of the affront against the Divine King and His established order.

Psalm 21 10 Commentary

Psalm 21:10 vividly portrays the definitive triumph of God over His enemies, delivered through His anointed king, understood ultimately as the Messiah. The imagery is one of total military annihilation: the enemies are first put to shameful flight (turning their backs), then relentlessly pursued. Even as they flee, they are caught by God's precise and inescapable judgment, represented by arrows striking their very faces. This double-edged judgment—flight followed by lethal direct hits—emphasizes the overwhelming nature of God's power and justice. There is no sanctuary, no quarter, and no escaping the consequence of opposing His righteous reign. For believers, this verse assures the ultimate victory of Christ over all hostile forces, validating His authority and the certainty of divine retribution against evil. For the ungodly, it stands as a solemn warning of coming judgment.