Psalm 21:7 kjv
For the king trusteth in the LORD, and through the mercy of the most High he shall not be moved.
Psalm 21:7 nkjv
For the king trusts in the LORD, And through the mercy of the Most High he shall not be moved.
Psalm 21:7 niv
For the king trusts in the LORD; through the unfailing love of the Most High he will not be shaken.
Psalm 21:7 esv
For the king trusts in the LORD, and through the steadfast love of the Most High he shall not be moved.
Psalm 21:7 nlt
For the king trusts in the LORD.
The unfailing love of the Most High will keep him from stumbling.
Psalm 21 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 9:10 | Those who know your name trust in you... | Trust in the Lord's character for security. |
| Ps 37:3 | Trust in the Lord and do good... dwell in the land safely. | General call to trust for stability. |
| Ps 62:8 | Trust in him at all times, you people... God is our refuge. | Trust as a constant refuge. |
| Prov 3:5-6 | Trust in the Lord with all your heart... he will make your paths straight. | Trust brings divine guidance and stability. |
| Isa 26:3-4 | You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you... | Trust as a source of peace and strength. |
| Jer 17:7-8 | Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord... like a tree planted by water. | Trust brings steadfastness and fruitfulness. |
| Nah 1:7 | The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him. | Lord as a secure refuge for the trusting. |
| Ps 36:5 | Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens... | God's hesed is immense and eternal. |
| Ps 89:2 | For I said, "Steadfast love will be built up forever..." | God's hesed is the basis of covenant. |
| Jer 31:3 | I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness (hesed) to you. | God's everlasting love and faithfulness. |
| Ps 107:1 | Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love (hesed) endures forever! | Exhortation based on God's enduring love. |
| Gen 14:19-20 | ...blessed be Abram by God Most High (Elyon), Creator of heaven and earth. | Introduces God as sovereign creator. |
| Ps 91:1 | He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High (Elyon) will abide... | Protection under God's supreme authority. |
| Ps 7:17 | I will give thanks to the Lord for his righteousness and sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High (Elyon). | Worship of God as supreme sovereign. |
| Ps 15:5 | ...who does these things shall never be moved. | Principle of spiritual steadfastness. |
| Ps 16:8 | I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. | Personal reliance on God for stability. |
| Ps 62:2 | He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly moved. | God as an unmovable foundation. |
| Ps 112:6 | For he will never be shaken; the righteous man will be remembered forever. | Righteous individual's enduring stability. |
| Heb 12:28 | ...let us offer to God acceptable worship... a kingdom that cannot be shaken. | Receiving an unshakable kingdom. |
| Ps 2:7-8 | ...You are my Son; today I have begotten you... ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage. | Royal psalm, pointing to the Messiah's divine authority. |
| Ps 89:29 | His offspring shall endure forever, his throne as long as the sun before me. | Davidic covenant promises of an enduring throne. |
| Lk 1:32-33 | He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High... and of his kingdom there will be no end. | Fulfilment of an everlasting kingdom in Christ. |
| Heb 1:8 | But of the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever..." | Christ's eternal, unshakeable reign. |
| Jn 14:1 | Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. | Trust in Jesus as the ultimate source of peace. |
Psalm 21 verses
Psalm 21 7 Meaning
Psalm 21:7 declares the secure foundation of the king's rule, asserting that his unwavering stability comes directly from his trust in Yahweh. This trust is upheld and sustained by the steadfast love and covenant faithfulness of God Most High, guaranteeing that the king will never be overthrown or brought low. It attributes divine backing to the anointed monarch, rooting his enduring position in God's eternal nature rather than human strength.
Psalm 21 7 Context
Psalm 21 is a royal psalm, specifically a hymn of thanksgiving offered to Yahweh for a great victory or for the king's long life and blessing. It immediately follows Psalm 20, which was a prayer for the king prior to battle. This psalm thus reflects a time of celebration and acknowledgment of God's direct involvement in granting the king success, power, and an enduring reign. The historical context would likely involve an Israelite monarch, possibly King David, whose reliance on Yahweh for leadership and protection was central to his identity and success. Culturally, kings in the ancient Near East often attributed their success to their patron deities; here, the distinctive Hebrew belief attributes it exclusively to Yahweh, implicitly contrasting with the surrounding polytheistic nations and their unstable pantheons.
Psalm 21 7 Word analysis
- For the king (כִּי־מֶלֶךְ / ki-melekh): "For" or "because" indicates the reason for the blessings mentioned in prior verses. "The king" refers to the specific human monarch, acting as Yahweh's anointed representative, but also carries significant messianic typology, pointing ultimately to Christ.
- trusts (בּוֹטֵחַ / botēakh): From the root בָּטַח (bataḥ), meaning "to trust," "to rely upon," "to be confident in." It signifies not merely intellectual assent but a profound leaning on, a feeling of security, a casting of one's full weight onto something or someone. This trust is active and deliberate.
- in the Lord (בַּיהוָה / ba-Yahweh): Emphasizes that the object of trust is YHWH, the personal covenant God of Israel. His unchanging, faithful, and powerful nature is the sole basis for the king's stability, not human strength or alliances. This is a direct polemic against reliance on idols or human military might.
- and through the unfailing love (וּבְחֶסֶד / u'vechesed): "And through" or "by virtue of." חֶסֶד (chesed) is a profound Hebrew term often translated as "unfailing love," "steadfast love," "covenant loyalty," "mercy," or "goodness." It refers to a commitment to relationship, a faithful and gracious act rooted in covenant. It’s not just an emotion but an active demonstration of loyal, preserving love. Here, it is the means or agency through which the king's stability is assured. It speaks of God's constant benevolent action.
- of the Most High (עֶלְיוֹן / 'Elyōn): An epithet for God, meaning "Highest" or "Exalted One." It emphasizes God's absolute supremacy, sovereignty, and transcendence over all creation and all other gods. Using "Most High" reinforces the idea that the king's stability comes from the ultimate, undisputed authority, making it utterly unassailable.
- he will not be shaken (בַּל־יִמּוֹט / bal-yimmōṭ): "He will not waver," "he will not stumble," "he will not be overthrown or brought down." The root מוּט (mūṭ) means "to totter," "to shake," "to reel," "to be moved." The negation "bal" strongly affirms absolute security. It means the king's position is firm and eternal, reflecting God's own unshakeable nature.
Words-group analysis:
- For the king trusts in the Lord: Establishes the divine source of the king's authority and success. It's a statement of dependent faith—the king's stability isn't inherent but derived from his reliance on the supreme sovereign.
- and through the unfailing love of the Most High: This phrase highlights the divine attribute that enables the king's enduring security. God's hesed is the active, powerful force that keeps the king steadfast. It underscores that God's faithful commitment is the sustaining power, not merely a promise but an enacted reality. The "Most High" adds the dimension of supreme authority and irresistible power to this unfailing love.
- he will not be shaken: The result and assurance of the king's trust and God's steadfast love. It speaks of permanent, immutable security against all forms of instability, both internal weakness and external threat. This phrase indicates the triumph of God’s covenant over all opposing forces, leading to a permanent, secure state for the one in covenant with Him.
Psalm 21 7 Bonus section
The declaration of the king's unshakable nature carries significant weight in a culture where rulers faced constant threats to their power. By attributing this security directly to Yahweh's hesed and position as Elyon, the verse not only validates the king but also reinforces Yahweh's singular supremacy over all other claims of power and divinity. It teaches that true authority and lasting stability originate from humble dependence on the living God, contrasting sharply with the shifting sands of human ambition and transient earthly empires. This theological truth extends beyond the earthly monarch to every believer who puts their trust in the Lord, ensuring that their spiritual foundation remains firm even amidst the world's storms.
Psalm 21 7 Commentary
Psalm 21:7 anchors the king's stability not in his own power or the might of his army, but exclusively in his faith in Yahweh. This trust is not passive, but an active leaning on God, recognizing His covenant faithfulness as the sole guarantor of success and security. The verse elevates God's attributes, particularly His hesed (steadfast love) and His identity as Elyon (Most High), as the dynamic forces preserving the king. God's unwavering commitment (hesed) ensures the king's enduring position, reflecting God’s own steadfastness. The title "Most High" asserts divine sovereignty and omnipotence, leaving no doubt about the absolute, supreme, and ultimate nature of the power protecting the king. Consequently, the declaration "he will not be shaken" becomes a profound statement of divine certainty and ultimate victory for the anointed ruler. This ultimately foreshadows Christ, the ultimate King whose reign is truly unshakeable, being founded entirely upon His perfect trust in the Father and the Father's eternal, unshakeable love for Him.