Psalm 44 4

Psalm 44:4 kjv

Thou art my King, O God: command deliverances for Jacob.

Psalm 44:4 nkjv

You are my King, O God; Command victories for Jacob.

Psalm 44:4 niv

You are my King and my God, who decrees victories for Jacob.

Psalm 44:4 esv

You are my King, O God; ordain salvation for Jacob!

Psalm 44:4 nlt

You are my King and my God.
You command victories for Israel.

Psalm 44 verses

Psalm 44 4 Meaning

Psalm 44:4 is a foundational declaration of faith and an earnest, confident petition during a time of national crisis. It asserts God as the singular and supreme King of the psalmist and of Israel, and based on this unshakeable truth, boldly requests His sovereign decree to bring about manifold victories and deliverances for His covenant people. This verse functions as the theological anchor for the entire psalm's lament, affirming God's power and rightful authority despite the people's dire circumstances.

Psalm 44 4 Context

Psalm 44 is a communal lament (Psalm of the Sons of Korah) by the people of Israel who are facing severe military defeat, national humiliation, and the feeling of God's apparent abandonment. The psalm opens with a recollection of God's glorious acts of deliverance in the past (vv. 1-3), explicitly stating that Israel did not conquer by their own strength but by God's hand alone. This historical preamble serves as the backdrop and basis for their plea. Verse 4 stands as a profound statement of continued faith before the psalm shifts to the agonizing present suffering (vv. 9-16). It articulates a theological conviction in God's unchanging nature and power despite the present distress, affirming that even though things look bleak, God is still their supreme King and ultimate source of salvation. Culturally, the people of Israel uniquely understood their God, Yahweh, as their true King, even above any earthly monarch. This distinguishes their belief from surrounding nations who attributed success to human might or their pantheon of deities, indirectly asserting a polemic against such contemporary beliefs by firmly stating allegiance to their divine King.

Psalm 44 4 Word analysis

• כִּי (Kî): "For" or "Because," "Indeed." This particle serves as an affirmation or causal link. It introduces the fundamental truth of God's kingship, which provides the unwavering basis for the bold plea that follows. It signifies that the declaration of God's identity is the foundational reason for the requested action.
• אַתָּה־הוּא ('attâ-hû'): "You are He" or "You Yourself." This emphatic pronominal phrase underscores the unique and exclusive identity of God. It highlights His absolute and incomparable sovereignty, stressing that He alone is the true King, distinct from any earthly power or false god.
• מַלְכִּי (malkî): "My King." From the Hebrew `melech` (king) with the first-person singular possessive suffix. This powerful declaration expresses a deeply personal allegiance to God as ruler. Simultaneously, it signifies a corporate acknowledgment, identifying God as the King of the entire nation, reinforcing the covenant relationship and God's authority over Israel.
• אֱלֹהִים ('ělōhîm): "God." This generic yet profound Hebrew name for God emphasizes His divine nature and supreme power. Paired with "my King," it magnifies the concept of His absolute kingship, implying authority that transcends all human or earthly bounds.
• צַוֵּה (ṣawwê'): "Command!" An imperative verb from `tsavah` (to command, ordain, decree). This is not a humble request but a direct, confident appeal for a sovereign decree. It conveys the psalmist's deep conviction that God possesses the ultimate power to dictate outcomes, and His mere command is sufficient to bring forth desired results.
• יְשׁוּעוֹת (yəšû‘ôṯ): "Victories," "Salvation(s)," or "Deliverance(s)." This is the plural form of `yeshua` (salvation, deliverance, help, victory). The use of the plural intensifies the desire, signifying a plea for multiple, comprehensive, and sweeping acts of deliverance, not just a single success, but sustained triumphs and wellbeing.
• יַעֲקֹב (Ya‘ăqōḇ): "Jacob." This refers to the patriarch Jacob, but here it stands metonymically for the nation of Israel, his descendants. Its inclusion evokes the historical covenant made with Jacob and his forefathers, appealing to God's enduring promises and past faithfulness to His chosen people as a basis for present and future intervention.

• Words-group Analysis:
• "For You are my King, O God": This segment establishes the unwavering theological premise for the subsequent plea. It asserts God's supreme and sole authority ("You are He") over the speaker and the nation ("my King, O God"). This declaration grounds the prayer in God's established identity and His covenant relationship, highlighting Him as the ultimate power capable of providing deliverance.
• "Command victories for Jacob!": Flowing directly from the confession of God's kingship, this is a potent imperative prayer. It implores God, in His sovereign capacity as King, to issue a decisive decree (`command!`) that will bring about abundant and diverse acts of salvation and triumph (`victories`) for His covenant people (`Jacob`). It's a prayer rooted in belief in God's effectual word and His unwavering commitment to His chosen ones.

Psalm 44 4 Bonus section

The tension within Psalm 44—between God's historically demonstrated power (vv. 1-3) and His current perceived inactivity (vv. 9ff.)—makes verse 4 particularly striking. It serves as the enduring foundation of faith that enables the psalmist to continue addressing God even when He appears distant. The specific use of "Jacob" (rather than just "Israel") reinforces the appeal to God's ancient covenant faithfulness to the patriarch and his descendants, suggesting a plea rooted in a deep historical and theological understanding of God's character. This verse teaches that acknowledging God's unassailable sovereignty ("my King") is prerequisite to bold and effective prayer, empowering a direct petition for His decisive intervention, knowing that His command carries ultimate authority.

Psalm 44 4 Commentary

Psalm 44:4 is a profound and defiant affirmation of faith in the midst of overwhelming despair. Despite the severe national humiliation and feeling of divine abandonment described later in the psalm, the psalmist opens by anchoring their plea in an unshakeable truth: God's immutable kingship. The emphatic "You are my King, O God" is a declaration of ultimate allegiance and a recognition of His singular authority over their destiny. This bold statement then forms the basis for the subsequent petition: "Command victories for Jacob!" This is not a hesitant request but a confident demand for a divine decree, signifying that God's mere word is powerful enough to orchestrate deliverance and triumph, regardless of their dire circumstances. The verse reveals a prayer steeped in theological conviction, trusting in God's character and past deeds rather than immediate experience, making it a powerful testament to resilient faith in a suffering context.