Psalm 21:8 kjv
Thine hand shall find out all thine enemies: thy right hand shall find out those that hate thee.
Psalm 21:8 nkjv
Your hand will find all Your enemies; Your right hand will find those who hate You.
Psalm 21:8 niv
Your hand will lay hold on all your enemies; your right hand will seize your foes.
Psalm 21:8 esv
Your hand will find out all your enemies; your right hand will find out those who hate you.
Psalm 21:8 nlt
You will capture all your enemies.
Your strong right hand will seize all who hate you.
Psalm 21 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Divine Power & Action | ||
| Exod 15:6 | Your right hand, O Lord, glorious in power… | God's powerful right hand. |
| Ps 18:35 | ...your right hand held me up... | God's right hand for support and strength. |
| Ps 89:13 | Your arm has power; your hand is strong... | God's powerful hand and arm. |
| Isa 41:10 | ...I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. | God's righteous hand upholds and protects. |
| Ps 118:15-16 | The right hand of the LORD does valiantly... | God's right hand accomplishes great deeds. |
| Judgment & Defeat of Enemies | ||
| Ps 9:15-16 | The nations have sunk... By the work of his hands... | God's justice reveals and judges the wicked. |
| Ps 18:37-40 | I pursued my enemies and overtook them... | Depiction of the Lord enabling victory over foes. |
| Ps 92:9 | For behold, your enemies, O LORD, perish... | Certain destruction of God's adversaries. |
| Job 34:22 | No darkness, no deep gloom, where evildoers may hide. | Enemies cannot hide from God's scrutiny. |
| Isa 27:1 | ...the LORD with his hard and great and strong sword... | God's direct intervention in judgment. |
| Mal 4:1 | "For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven... | Future, inescapable judgment for the wicked. |
| Nah 1:2 | The LORD is a jealous and avenging God... | God takes vengeance on His adversaries. |
| Messianic Fulfillment & Spiritual Triumph | ||
| Ps 2:1-5 | Why do the nations rage...? He who sits in the heavens laughs... | God's dominion over plotting nations and kings. |
| Ps 110:1 | The LORD says to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool." | Prophecy of Messiah's ultimate victory. |
| Matt 25:31-33 | ...all the nations will be gathered before him... | Christ's future judgment of all people. |
| Lk 19:27 | "But as for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them... | Parable illustrating the Lord's judgment on His enemies. |
| Jn 15:23 | Whoever hates me hates my Father also. | Those opposing Christ oppose God. |
| Col 2:15 | He disarmed the rulers and authorities... | Christ's victory over spiritual enemies. |
| Heb 2:14 | ...destroy him who has the power of death, that is, the devil. | Christ defeats Satan, the ultimate enemy. |
| Rom 16:20 | The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. | Promise of final victory over the adversary. |
| 1 Cor 15:25 | For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. | Christ's continuous reign and subduing of all foes. |
| 2 Thes 1:7-9 | ...when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven... | Future divine retribution on those who do not obey the gospel. |
| Rev 19:15 | From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations... | Christ as the divine warrior delivering final judgment. |
Psalm 21 verses
Psalm 21 8 Meaning
Psalm 21:8 declares the sovereign certainty of God's victory over all His adversaries. It asserts that divine power, represented by God's "hand" and "right hand," will relentlessly pursue, uncover, and ultimately defeat every single enemy of the King and, by extension, God Himself. It conveys a strong message of assured triumph and divine justice against those who harbor malice and opposition.
Psalm 21 8 Context
Psalm 21 is a Royal Psalm, specifically a psalm of thanksgiving and assured confidence for the king. It directly follows Psalm 20, which was a prayer for the king. Psalm 21 transitions from a declaration of answered prayer and God's blessings upon the king (vv. 1-7) to a confident pronouncement of the king's ultimate and lasting victory over his adversaries (vv. 8-12), culminating in a renewed commitment to praise God (v. 13). Historically, it reflects the ancient Near Eastern understanding that the king was God's chosen representative, and thus, the king's enemies were considered God's enemies. The "hand" and "right hand" refer to God's active, personal, and powerful intervention on behalf of His anointed. It establishes divine certainty and triumph for the king against all hostile forces, a theme deeply rooted in the covenant relationship between YHWH and His people/king. The psalm also has strong Messianic undertones, pointing forward to the ultimate King, Jesus Christ.
Psalm 21 8 Word analysis
- Your hand (יָדְךָ, Yādekhā): The Hebrew yad (hand) refers to strength, power, agency, and active influence. When attributed to God, it denotes His direct involvement, effective power, and execution of His will. This is not a passive action but a forceful and personal reach.
- will find out (תִּמְצָא, Timtsā’): From the verb mātsā’ (מָצָא), meaning "to find, discover, encounter, attain." In this context, it signifies a relentless pursuit, active investigation, and inevitable discovery and confrontation. It implies no place of escape or hiding for the enemies; God's power will actively locate them. This is more than mere discovery; it suggests an bringing them forth to face justice.
- all your enemies (כָּל־אֹיְבֶיךָ, Kōl ’ôyebhekha): Kōl (all) emphasizes totality and universality. ’Ôyebh (enemy, adversary) denotes one who is hostile or creates opposition. This phrase means every single opponent, leaving no room for any to escape or remain hidden from God's reach and judgment.
- your right hand (וּמִֽינְךָ, Ûmīnkā): The Hebrew yāmîn (right hand) signifies extreme power, strength, authority, effectiveness, vindication, and favor. It often highlights the execution of judgment or salvation. The parallel structure with "Your hand" reinforces the certainty and emphasis, providing a strong rhetorical effect. God's right hand signifies His full might and the decisive nature of His actions.
- will find out (תִּמְצָא, Timtsā’): The repetition of this verb, in direct parallelism, underscores the absolute certainty and determination of God's action. It heightens the sense of inevitable, thorough, and active discovery and defeat.
- those who hate you (שׂוֹנְאֶֽיךָ, Śōna’êkhā): From the verb śānē’ (שָׂנֵא), meaning "to hate, to be hostile towards, to be an enemy of." This describes the active malicious intent and opposition harbored by the adversaries. It focuses not just on "enemies" in a general sense, but on those who specifically harbor strong enmity and active hatred towards the king/God.
- "Your hand... will find out... your right hand... will find out": This powerful synonymous parallelism intensifies the declaration. It confirms the complete and unwavering commitment of God's entire being and power towards bringing His enemies to light and consequence. The twofold declaration guarantees the inevitable outcome and the totality of God's effective action. The divine hand is omniscient and omnipresent in its pursuit of those who stand against God.
Psalm 21 8 Bonus section
This verse reflects a concept deeply embedded in the theology of the Ancient Near East: the belief that the king's fortune and fate were intrinsically linked to the favor and power of his patron deity. In Israel, this relationship was with YHWH, affirming His unique status as the supreme and true God who actively defends His chosen king and ultimately, His own covenant and kingdom. The 'enemies' mentioned here, whether specific historical foes of the Israelite king or generalized adversaries of God, encompass any power, person, or spiritual force that resists the divine will and rule. It's a statement not only of punitive justice but also of maintaining the order and sovereignty of God. The eventual fulfillment points to the Messiah's final triumph over all opposition, including sin, death, and spiritual wickedness.
Psalm 21 8 Commentary
Psalm 21:8 serves as an unwavering declaration of divine retribution and assured victory. It underscores God's omnipotence and active sovereignty in dealing with His adversaries. The doubling of "hand" and "right hand" highlights the completeness and certainty of God's intervention; there is no corner or hiding place where His enemies can escape His reach. "Finding out" conveys an active pursuit and inescapable revelation, not a passive discovery. Those who set themselves against God or His anointed are relentlessly pursued until they are exposed and confronted by divine judgment. This verse resonates with God's steadfast justice, promising vindication for the righteous and ultimate defeat for those filled with malice against His kingdom. For believers, this is a profound source of confidence: our spiritual battles ultimately rest on the omnipotent Hand of God.