Psalm 89 18

Psalm 89:18 kjv

For the LORD is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our king.

Psalm 89:18 nkjv

For our shield belongs to the LORD, And our king to the Holy One of Israel.

Psalm 89:18 niv

Indeed, our shield belongs to the LORD, our king to the Holy One of Israel.

Psalm 89:18 esv

For our shield belongs to the LORD, our king to the Holy One of Israel.

Psalm 89:18 nlt

Yes, our protection comes from the LORD,
and he, the Holy One of Israel, has given us our king.

Psalm 89 verses

Psalm 89 18 Meaning

Psalm 89:18 proclaims that God Himself is the ultimate source and embodiment of His people's glorious strength, and it is solely through His divine favor and goodwill that their power, dignity, and influence (symbolized by the horn) are elevated and established. The verse attributes all true might, honor, and success not to human prowess or kingly dominion alone, but directly to the Almighty God, who bestows these blessings out of His benevolent will.

Psalm 89 18 Context

Psalm 89 is a "Maskil" (a contemplative psalm) attributed to Ethan the Ezrahite. It opens with an expansive celebration of God's steadfast love (héseḏ), faithfulness (ĕmûnâ), and mighty acts in creation, especially contrasting God's cosmic power with that of created beings (vv. 1-18). Within this section of praise, verse 18 acts as a capstone, reaffirming that the strength and exaltation experienced by God's people, particularly through the Davidic monarchy, flow directly and solely from God's glorious nature and sovereign favor.

The historical and cultural backdrop for this psalm is the Davidic covenant (2 Sam 7), where God promised David an enduring dynasty. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, a horn was a powerful symbol of strength, dignity, and kingly authority (as seen in horned crowns). By stating that "our horn is exalted," the psalm connects the vitality and authority of the kingdom—and implicitly, the Davidic king—to God's divine favor. The psalm later shifts dramatically from praise to a lament (vv. 38-51), questioning God's covenant promises in light of Israel's current national humiliation and the apparent breaking of the Davidic line. Verse 18's strong declaration thus serves as a theological anchor for the psalmist's initial confidence, even amidst the later lament's deep doubts. It also subtly stands in polemic opposition to reliance on military might or alliances with other nations, stressing God as the sole ultimate defender and source of strength.

Psalm 89 18 Word analysis

• For (כִּי, ki): This causal conjunction introduces the reason or explanation for the preceding affirmations about God's faithfulness and greatness. It signifies "because" or "indeed," grounding the praise in the essential nature and actions of God.

• You (אַתָּה, attah): An emphatic personal pronoun, directly addressing God and highlighting His specific role and identity as the subject of the praise. It personalizes the divine source of strength and exaltation.

• are (implied): The Hebrew verb "to be" is often omitted in such declarative sentences, implying an eternal and unchanging state. God does not become their glory or strength; He is always these things.

• the glory (הוֹד, hod): Signifies majesty, splendor, honor, renown, or divine authority. It denotes God's magnificent self-manifestation and the radiant dignity associated with Him. This glory is not merely external adornment but His inherent divine splendor that also reflects onto His people.

• of their (לָהֶם, lahem): Possessive. Refers to God's people, often Israel or specifically the king (in the context of Psalm 89's focus on the Davidic monarchy), highlighting that the glory and strength belong to them but originate from God.

• strength (עֹז, oz): Power, might, vigor, fortification, or refuge. It denotes robust ability and effectiveness, both militarily and generally. It signifies resilience and ability to prevail.

• and (וְ, ve): A simple conjunctive, linking the two clauses that articulate distinct but related aspects of God's beneficence towards His people.

• in Your (בְּרָצוֹנְךָ, b'ratzonk) favor (רָצוֹן, ratzon): Ratzon refers to goodwill, delight, pleasure, or acceptance. The prefix bĕ (בְּ) means "in" or "by means of," indicating that God's favor is the instrument or condition through which the exaltation occurs. It is not something earned but an outflow of His benevolent will.

• our (implied in the verb and collective meaning): Though not explicitly stated with a separate pronoun, the verb's form and the broader "our" collective sense of the psalm indicates the psalmist and his people identifying with the benefits received from God.

• horn (קֶרֶן, qeren): A powerful metaphor for strength, power, dignity, authority, and triumphant vindication. In the ancient world, horns symbolized the power of animals and were incorporated into regalia. To have one's horn raised signifies prosperity, victory, and honor, especially in kingship.

• is exalted (תָּרוּם, tarum): From the root רוּם (rum), meaning "to be high," "to be lifted up," "to be exalted." The verbal form suggests it is made high, emphasizing the action of an outside agent—God Himself—who raises the horn, providing honor and power.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "You are the glory of their strength": This phrase succinctly expresses that God is not just the source of their strength, but He is the very embodiment and dignified manifestation of that power. It’s God’s glorious character reflected in their capabilities. Their strength is thus sanctified and honorable because it is God-derived.
  • "and in Your favor our horn is exalted": This clause reveals the mechanism for receiving this glorious strength and exaltation: divine favor. It’s not through human merit or effort, but through God's gracious will and delight in His people that their status and authority are uplifted. It links a state of being (exalted horn) directly to God’s disposition towards them.

Psalm 89 18 Bonus section

The specific choice of "glory" (הוֹד, hod) for God as the source of "strength" (עֹז, oz) is significant. Hod is often used for royal splendor and divine majesty, indicating that the strength bestowed by God is not brute force, but strength imbued with dignity, honor, and a divine character. It contrasts sharply with pagan conceptions of power gained through ruthless conquest or human sacrifice. For the believer, this implies that strength from God leads to righteousness and upholds divine order, not merely achieving dominance. The exaltation of the "horn" through "favor" (רָצוֹן, ratzon) foreshadows the New Testament concept of grace, where divine goodwill freely extends power and salvation, most notably in the "horn of salvation" (Lk 1:69) found in Christ, who perfectly embodies the Kingly line of David established through God's eternal covenant. This verse thus speaks of both temporal strength for God’s people and ultimate salvation power revealed in the Messiah.

Psalm 89 18 Commentary

Psalm 89:18 serves as a pivotal statement affirming God's foundational role in the well-being and eminence of His people. It attributes all authentic glory, enduring strength, and ultimate authority solely to God. This truth challenges human tendency to credit success to personal merit, strategic alliances, or inherent power, instead rooting all such blessings firmly in the divine nature. The psalmist understands that Israel's, and specifically the Davidic king's, might and honor are not inherent or earned but are a direct outflow of God’s own majestic being and His sovereign, unmerited favor.

This verse emphasizes a God-centered worldview: true strength is derived strength, and genuine honor is given honor. The "horn," a potent symbol of power and royal authority, being "exalted" "in God's favor" signifies that divine approval is the necessary and sufficient condition for any lasting dominion or flourishing. It sets the stage for the psalm's later lament, for if their strength and exaltation truly come from God's glory and favor, then any perceived diminution of these blessings implies a questioning of God's faithfulness or favor. However, the initial declaration stands as an eternal truth of God's unchanging character and His ultimate capacity to uplift His covenant people. It is a timeless declaration that human thriving is directly correlated to the good pleasure of the Almighty.