Psalm 89 17

Psalm 89:17 kjv

For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted.

Psalm 89:17 nkjv

For You are the glory of their strength, And in Your favor our horn is exalted.

Psalm 89:17 niv

For you are their glory and strength, and by your favor you exalt our horn.

Psalm 89:17 esv

For you are the glory of their strength; by your favor our horn is exalted.

Psalm 89:17 nlt

You are their glorious strength.
It pleases you to make us strong.

Psalm 89 verses

Psalm 89 17 Meaning

Psalm 89:17 proclaims that the Lord God is the singular source of His people's glory, strength, and exaltation. It expresses the profound truth that any dignity, power, or victory experienced by His covenant people, particularly by the king, comes solely from God's glorious presence and gracious favor, not from their own inherent might or human achievements.

Psalm 89 17 Context

Psalm 89 is a "Maskil," an instructional psalm by Ethan the Ezrahite. It falls into the section of psalms meditating on the Davidic covenant (Psalms 73-89). The first half (verses 1-37) is a celebration of God's unchanging faithfulness, His covenant with David, and His cosmic power. Verse 17 comes within this celebratory section, specifically following descriptions of the blessedness of walking in God's light (v. 15) and rejoicing in His righteousness (v. 16). It builds on the idea that the strength, joy, and justice of the covenant people and their king derive entirely from God. The psalm then transitions sharply into a lament (from v. 38 onwards), questioning God's apparent abandonment of His promises to David amidst national suffering and defeat. Verse 17, therefore, highlights the ideal and covenant promise that anchors the lament's desperation: the conviction that God is the source of strength and glory. Historically, the psalm may reflect a period of great crisis for the Davidic dynasty, such as during the Babylonian exile or a major military defeat that threatened the king's very existence.

Psalm 89 17 Word analysis

• For (כִּֽי – kî): This particle often introduces a reason or explanation, indicating that the source of joy and rejoicing mentioned in the preceding verses is precisely because of who God is.
• You (אַתָּה – 'attāh): This is an emphatic second-person singular pronoun, directly addressing God. It underscores the exclusivity of God as the subject and source, making it personal and direct.
• are the glory (תִפְאַרְתְּ עֻזָּמוֹ – tif'ar•t uz-zāmô):
  • Glory (תִפְאַרֶת – tif'aret): Means splendor, beauty, majesty, honor, renown, or even glorious attire. Here, it refers to the renown or majestic beauty of their strength. It is often an attribute of God or that which comes from God. It carries a sense of inherent brilliance and distinction.
  • Of their strength (עֻזָּמוֹ – uz-zāmô): From ‘oz (עֹז) meaning strength, power, might, valor. The suffix -āmô ("their") refers back to "Your people" or "those who know the joyful sound" from verses 15-16, particularly the Davidic king and his house as representative of the people. This phrase means God is the splendor of their strength, or their strength is glorious because of Him. It directly counters any pagan notion of human or idol-derived strength; instead, true strength's beauty and majesty derive from YHWH alone.
• And in your favor (וּבִרְצֹֽנְךָ – u-virtsōnəḵā):
  • And (וּ – u-): Connects this aspect to the previous, showing another facet of God's role.
  • In your favor (רָצ֥וֹן – rātsōn): Implies God's good pleasure, delight, acceptance, or goodwill. This highlights the benevolent and voluntary nature of God's action; He does not exalt out of obligation, but out of His gracious disposition towards His covenant people. It suggests divine approval and delight in them.
• Our horn shall be exalted (תָּר֤וּם קַרְנֵּ֫נוּ – tā-rûm qar'nēnû):
  • Shall be exalted (תָּר֤וּם – tā-rûm): From rûm (רוּם) meaning to be high, lifted up, exalted, rise. It signifies elevation in status, power, or victory. This verb denotes a divine action that raises them up.
  • Our horn (קַרְנֵּ֫נוּ – qar'nēnû): qeren (קֶרֶן) literally means a horn, like that of an animal. Symbolically, horns represent power, strength, dignity, honor, and particularly kingly authority or military victory. The image of the horn being "exalted" implies an increase in power, prestige, and victory, often applied to the king or the nation under God’s blessing. The possessive "our" points to the communal experience, centering on the King. This imagery is a direct polemic against reliance on human might (e.g., strong horses or chariots) or the 'horns' of pagan deities; only YHWH exalts.

Psalm 89 17 Bonus section

The metaphor of the "horn" is significant across the Old and New Testaments. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, animals used their horns for defense and assertion of dominance. Thus, the horn became a universal symbol for strength, power, dignity, and sovereignty. To "exalt the horn" means to increase one's power and standing. This concept culminates in the New Testament with Zechariah's prophecy in Luke 1:69, where he blesses God for having "raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David," a direct Messianic reference to Jesus Christ. This illustrates that Psalm 89:17, while immediately addressing the Davidic king, also foreshadows Christ as the ultimate fulfillment of divine strength, glory, and salvation, exalted by God's favor for His people.

Psalm 89 17 Commentary

Psalm 89:17 presents a profound declaration of Yahweh's essential role as the lifeblood of His covenant people, particularly manifest through their king. The verse beautifully combines the ideas of glory and strength, indicating that the majesty and effectiveness of any human power or dignity, especially that of the Davidic throne, originates directly and exclusively from God's glorious presence (tif'aret ‘uzzāmô). It is not an inherent quality but a divinely bestowed one. Furthermore, the exaltation and enduring success, symbolized by the "horn," are wholly contingent upon God's good pleasure and favorable disposition (u-virtsōnəḵā). This signifies that prosperity and victory are not achieved by human effort or strategy alone, but are a direct outflow of divine grace and approval. Even amidst potential threats or actual defeat, as the psalm later laments, this verse reminds both the king and the people of God that their true honor and power come solely from clinging to their Creator. It serves as a reminder to Christians today that all spiritual strength, honor, and victory in life come through dependence on God's indwelling power and His benevolent will, exemplified in Christ, the ultimate "Horn of salvation."