Psalm 33:20 kjv
Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield.
Psalm 33:20 nkjv
Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help and our shield.
Psalm 33:20 niv
We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.
Psalm 33:20 esv
Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.
Psalm 33:20 nlt
We put our hope in the LORD.
He is our help and our shield.
Psalm 33 20 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Psa 27:14 | Wait for the LORD; be strong... | Patience and strength from waiting for God |
| Psa 62:1, 5 | My soul waits for God alone; from Him comes my salvation... | Sole reliance on God for deliverance |
| Lam 3:25-26 | The LORD is good to those who wait for Him... | God's goodness to those who patiently await Him |
| Isa 40:31 | Those who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength... | Renewed strength for those who wait on God |
| Rom 8:25 | But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. | Christian hope involves patient waiting |
| Heb 10:36 | For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive... | Endurance needed for promised blessings |
| Psa 46:1 | God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. | God as an immediate source of help |
| Psa 121:1-2 | I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD... | God as the ultimate source of help |
| Deut 33:29 | Happy are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD? He is your shield and your helpful sword. | God's specific role as shield and helper for Israel |
| Heb 13:6 | The Lord is my helper; I will not fear... | Confidence in God as a personal helper |
| Psa 3:3 | But You, O LORD, are a shield about me... | God as a personal protective shield |
| Gen 15:1 | Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great. | God's self-revelation as a protective shield |
| Prov 30:5 | Every word of God proves true; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. | God's truthfulness tied to His protective nature |
| Psa 84:11 | For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. | God as provider and protector |
| Eph 6:16 | In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts... | Faith as a shield against evil |
| Psa 20:7 | Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. | Contrast between human and divine reliance |
| Psa 115:9-11 | O Israel, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield... | Exhortation to Israel to trust their helper and shield |
| Isa 31:1 | Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help... | Warning against trusting in human alliances |
| Jer 17:7-8 | Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose hope is the LORD. | Blessings for those who trust solely in the LORD |
| Psa 33:18-19 | Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him... to deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine. | God's watchful care preceding Psa 33:20 |
| Psa 124:8 | Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth. | Recognition of God's sovereign help |
| Psa 130:5-6 | I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in His word I hope... | Soul's deep waiting anchored in God's word |
Psalm 33 verses
Psalm 33 20 Meaning
Psalm 33:20 declares the deep trust and patient expectation of God's people. Their entire being is directed towards the LORD, anticipating His divine intervention and acknowledging Him as their sole source of support and unwavering protection in all circumstances. It is a corporate confession of faith in God's saving power and providence.
Psalm 33 20 Context
Psalm 33 is a communal hymn of praise celebrating God's attributes, particularly His sovereignty, creative power, faithful word, and just reign over all nations. The verses leading up to verse 20 (Psa 33:16-17) emphasize the futility of human strength—no king or warrior can be saved by military might or a powerful horse. This sets the stage for a stark contrast, as verse 18 immediately follows with a declaration of God's watchful care over those who fear Him and hope in His steadfast love. Thus, verse 20 naturally arises as the people's humble, hopeful response and confession, stating where their true trust and expectation lie, following the truth that only God can truly deliver. It marks a transition from describing God's universal dominion to a more personal and corporate declaration of reliance.
Psalm 33 20 Word analysis
- Our soul: (Hebrew: נַפְשֵׁנוּ, nafshēnu) - "Soul" here signifies the entirety of the inner person, the very being or self, rather than just an immaterial part. It speaks of the deepest longing, the vital breath and will, emphasizing total and profound dependence. This is not merely an intellectual assent but a profound commitment from the whole person.
- waits: (Hebrew: חִכְּתָה, khikəṭāh, from חָכָה, chakha) - This verb denotes an active, expectant, and patient waiting or longing. It's not passive resignation but a hopeful endurance, a steadfast perseverance in the confident expectation of divine intervention. It implies an outstretched anticipation, much like one watches intently for an awaited arrival.
- for the LORD: (Hebrew: לַיהוָה, laYHWH) - The prefix la means "for" or "to." YHWH is the personal, covenantal name of God, revealing His relationship with Israel. Directing one's soul specifically to YHWH signifies trust in His faithfulness, promises, and redemptive history. It highlights that the object of their waiting is the true and living God, not a mere concept or idol.
- he is: (Hebrew: הוּא, hūʼ) - The explicit pronoun emphasizes the direct agency of God. It highlights that He, and He alone, embodies these characteristics; they are not attributed to anyone or anything else.
- our help: (Hebrew: עֶזְרֵנוּ, ʿezrēnū, from עֵזֶר, ʿēzer) - "Help" implies timely support, assistance, and reinforcement, particularly in times of distress or need. God is the active helper, one who intervenes to provide strength and sustenance, a constant source of divine aid. This isn't just moral support but tangible, salvific assistance.
- and our shield: (Hebrew: וּמָגִנֵּנוּ, ūmāginnēnu, from מָגֵן, māgēn) - A shield is a defensive weapon used to ward off blows or arrows. As a metaphor, God is depicted as the ultimate protector, safeguarding His people from harm, danger, and hostile forces. It speaks to His role as defense, security, and guardian against all threats, seen and unseen.
Words-Group analysis:
- Our soul waits for the LORD: This phrase emphasizes a corporate, deep-seated trust and sustained spiritual discipline of hopeful expectation. It positions the entire community's essence and deepest desires solely on God's forthcoming action and presence, affirming an active posture of faith.
- He is our help and our shield: This second phrase shifts from the people's action (waiting) to God's identity and unfailing character. It articulates the specific benefits derived from trusting YHWH: ultimate assistance in times of need and impenetrable protection against all threats. These two metaphors capture both God's provision for flourishing and His defense against adversity, confirming His complete sufficiency for His people.
Psalm 33 20 Bonus section
- The declaration in Psa 33:20 is a corporate response to the preceding verses (Psa 33:16-19), which juxtapose the futility of human power with the unfailing eye of the LORD upon those who fear Him. It's not an isolated thought but the necessary consequence of God's character revealed in the Psalm.
- The metaphor of "shield" (מָגֵן, magen) often refers to God's covenant loyalty and protective provision, recalling early promises like that to Abram (Gen 15:1). It highlights not just physical defense, but also spiritual and existential security derived from God's presence.
- The twin descriptors "help" and "shield" comprehensively cover both God's active support in battle or crisis ("help") and His continuous protection from ongoing threats ("shield"). This demonstrates the multi-faceted nature of divine provision for those who trust Him.
Psalm 33 20 Commentary
Psalm 33:20 serves as a profound statement of faith and dependency, voiced collectively by God's people. In the face of earthly uncertainties and the acknowledged limitations of human strength, the psalmist declares the community's unwavering trust in the LORD. The "soul" waiting is not a passive act of idleness but an active posture of persistent, hopeful expectation—a longing for God's revealed power and presence to fulfill His promises. This "waiting" is anchored in the belief that God alone possesses the capability and covenant faithfulness to act on their behalf. He is affirmed as "our help," the one who provides indispensable assistance and strength precisely when all human means fall short. Simultaneously, He is "our shield," the ultimate defense and guardian against every form of danger, signifying comprehensive protection for the faithful. This verse encapsulates the theological truth that true security and salvation are found not in human resources or plans, but exclusively in the sovereign and faithful God who continually cares for His own.