Psalm 21 12

Psalm 21:12 kjv

Therefore shalt thou make them turn their back, when thou shalt make ready thine arrows upon thy strings against the face of them.

Psalm 21:12 nkjv

Therefore You will make them turn their back; You will make ready Your arrows on Your string toward their faces.

Psalm 21:12 niv

You will make them turn their backs when you aim at them with drawn bow.

Psalm 21:12 esv

For you will put them to flight; you will aim at their faces with your bows.

Psalm 21:12 nlt

For they will turn and run
when they see your arrows aimed at them.

Psalm 21 verses

Psalm 21 12 Meaning

Psalm 21:12 prophesies God's decisive action against the king's enemies, ensuring their utter defeat. It foretells a dual divine judgment: first, causing them to retreat in chaotic flight and rout, and second, directly striking them with divine arrows, indicating a personal, inescapable, and devastating blow from which they cannot hide. This verse affirms the Lord's unwavering support for His anointed one and the certainty of judgment against all who oppose His divine will.

Psalm 21 12 Context

Psalm 21 is a psalm of thanksgiving and praise to God for the king's victory, specifically attributed to divine intervention. It contrasts with Psalm 20, which is a prayer for the king's success. This psalm, belonging to the royal psalms, likely celebrates a specific military triumph by the Davidic king, recognizing that his strength and victory come directly from the Lord. Verses 8-12 focus on the certainty and comprehensive nature of God's judgment against the king's enemies, who are seen as enemies of God himself. Verse 12 provides a vivid depiction of this promised retribution, asserting that no foe can withstand or escape the Lord's power unleashed for His anointed. Historically, this would have affirmed the confidence of Israel in Yahweh's protection over their king, directly countering any reliance on chariots or horses as celebrated by surrounding pagan nations (cf. Ps 20:7).

Psalm 21 12 Word analysis

• For (כִּי, kī): This conjunction serves as a causal or explanatory particle, introducing the reason or elaboration for the preceding declaration of judgment (e.g., in Ps 21:8, God's hand finds enemies). It signals that what follows is a direct consequence or elaboration of God's nature and power.

• you will make them turn their back (תְּשִׁיתֵמוֹ שְׁכֶם, t'shîtëmô sh'khem):

  • תְּשִׁיתֵמוֹ (t'shîtëmô): From the verb שִׁית (shît), meaning "to set, place, put." Here in the Hiphil stem, it indicates a causative action: "You will cause them to set/place." It emphasizes God's active role in bringing about this condition upon His enemies.
  • שְׁכֶם (sh'khem): Means "shoulder" or "back" (as in upper back/shoulder blade). Figuratively, to "put one's shoulder" or "make them a shoulder" implies causing them to turn their backs in panicked flight, revealing their vulnerability as they flee a battle in utter defeat (rout). It speaks of surrender and total incapacitation to resist.

• you will aim your arrows (קַשְׁתְּךָ תְּכוֹנֵן עַל פְּנֵיהֶם, qasht'kha t'khônën ‘al p'nêyhem):

  • קַשְׁתְּךָ (qasht'kha): "Your bow." The bow is a classic instrument of warfare, here explicitly belonging to God. It symbolizes divine power, precision, and the execution of judgment.
  • תְּכוֹנֵן (t'khônën): From the verb כּוּן (kûn), meaning "to be firm, establish, prepare, direct, make ready." In the Hiphil, "you will make ready," "you will establish," "you will direct" or "aim." This highlights the deliberate, prepared, and certain nature of God's action. His judgment is not haphazard but targeted and precise.
  • עַל (‘al): "Upon," "against," or "over." Denotes direct application or targeting.
  • פְּנֵיהֶם (p'nêyhem): "Their faces." Targeting the face signifies an unavoidable, direct, and humiliating attack. It implies that there is no hiding, no escape, and the judgment is met frontally. This contrasts sharply with "turning their back," suggesting that even if they flee, the divine judgment will still meet them directly.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "For you will make them turn their back": This phrase describes the initial stage of defeat: flight and disarray. It's an image of a defeated army, forced to abandon their fight, turn around, and flee. This is not self-initiated retreat but divine causation, as God "makes" them do so. It also implicitly carries the meaning of humiliation and utter surrender of any claim to resistance or victory.
  • "you will aim your arrows at their faces": This signifies a second, or perhaps concurrent and more devastating, aspect of judgment. Even as they flee or attempt to hide, God's judgment is precise, unavoidable, and personal. The arrow is an instrument of swift, penetrating, and deadly judgment. Directing it at their "faces" suggests open, public, and inescapable judgment, where they are utterly exposed to divine wrath. This might represent continued pursuit and annihilation, ensuring total defeat, or even the judgment finding them where they hide. It leaves no doubt about the severity and certainty of God's vengeance.

Psalm 21 12 Bonus section

The depiction of God as an archer with a precise aim underscores His complete control and foreknowledge over the destiny of the wicked. This image of "arrows" also appears in divine covenant curses (Deut 32:23) and prophecies of judgment, highlighting the unerring and inescapable nature of God's instruments of wrath. The intensity of targeting the "face" speaks not just of an injury, but of deep humiliation and inability to confront or resist. The combination of forced flight ("turn their back") and direct assault ("arrows at their faces") signifies comprehensive and inescapable destruction—enemies are first broken and routed, then systematically annihilated, leaving no means of escape or recovery. This also portrays God's enemies as utterly helpless against His power. They cannot stand their ground, nor can they flee to safety from Him.

Psalm 21 12 Commentary

Psalm 21:12 serves as a powerful declaration of God's sovereignty and His unwavering commitment to His anointed. It articulates a two-fold judgment against adversaries. Firstly, God causes enemies to flee in disarray, marking them with shame and defeat. The Hebrew phrase "make them turn their back" metaphorically portrays a rout, where soldiers turn and flee, offering no resistance. Secondly, this verse states God will directly assault them, firing arrows straight at their faces. This signifies the inescapability and devastating precision of divine wrath. Even as they run, or in their attempt to hide, God's judgment finds them head-on. There is no quarter, no evasion; their downfall is complete and public.

This prophecy provides reassurance to the faithful, affirming that all opposition to God's chosen king—and by extension, to His divine purposes—will be met with ultimate destruction. It reinforces the theme of God as the divine warrior who defends His people and ensures the triumph of righteousness. In its broader biblical context, this verse finds ultimate fulfillment in the triumph of Christ, the true King, whose reign ensures all His enemies will be subdued (Ps 110:1). For believers, it signifies confidence in God's ultimate victory over sin, spiritual evil, and every adversary. Practically, it encourages reliance on God's power rather than human strength, and reminds believers that evil, in whatever form, cannot ultimately stand against the Lord. It calls for patient endurance, knowing that God himself orchestrates the final judgment against all opposition.