Psalm 89 42

Psalm 89:42 kjv

Thou hast set up the right hand of his adversaries; thou hast made all his enemies to rejoice.

Psalm 89:42 nkjv

You have exalted the right hand of his adversaries; You have made all his enemies rejoice.

Psalm 89:42 niv

You have exalted the right hand of his foes; you have made all his enemies rejoice.

Psalm 89:42 esv

You have exalted the right hand of his foes; you have made all his enemies rejoice.

Psalm 89:42 nlt

You have strengthened his enemies
and made them all rejoice.

Psalm 89 verses

Psalm 89 42 Meaning

Psalm 89:42 depicts a dire situation where God Himself is perceived as actively strengthening the adversaries of His anointed king and allowing them to exult in triumph. It expresses the profound distress and humiliation felt by the psalmist as the divine promises to David seem abrogated, resulting in the public shaming and defeat of the king and the people of God. This is not seen as an accident or a mere allowance, but as a deliberate act of God's will, intensifying the psalmist's lament.

Psalm 89 42 Context

Psalm 89 is a Maskil (instructional psalm) of Ethan the Ezrahite. It begins with fervent praise of God's steadfast love and faithfulness, specifically focusing on the unwavering Davidic covenant (2 Sam 7), which promised an eternal throne and an unbroken dynasty (vv. 1-37). However, there is a dramatic and abrupt shift from verse 38 onwards. The psalmist expresses a lament concerning God's apparent abandonment of the Davidic king, viewing it as a casting off of the covenant. This shift reflects a profound national crisis, widely understood by scholars to be the destruction of Jerusalem and the Babylonian exile (c. 586 BCE), or a similarly devastating period when the Davidic line faced severe humiliation and defeat. Verse 42 is part of this anguished complaint, highlighting the specific reversal of fortunes where God Himself, instead of protecting His anointed, is seen as the agent who has empowered the adversaries, leading to the utter shame of the king. The theological tension lies in reconciling God's eternal covenant promises with the present crushing reality.

Psalm 89 42 Word analysis

• You have exalted: (Hebrew: rōmamta - רוממתָּ) From the verb rum, meaning "to be high, to rise, to be lifted up." The Piel form used here means "to cause to rise," "to elevate," or "to make high." This word signifies direct, active divine agency. It indicates that the elevation of the enemies' power is not merely a consequence God allowed but a deliberate action God performed. This implies God's sovereignty over the seemingly chaotic turn of events.
• the right hand: (Hebrew: yəmiyn - יְמִין) Literally "right hand." In ancient Israelite and Near Eastern cultures, the right hand was a powerful symbol. It represented strength, power, authority, victory, honor, and even divine blessing (e.g., God's right hand often denotes His strength). Exalting the "right hand" of foes means granting them decisive power, might, and strategic advantage.
• of his foes: (Hebrew: ṣārāw - צָרָיו) Plural of ṣar, meaning "adversary," "foe," or "oppressor." This term broadly refers to any hostile party opposing the king or Israel. The "his" refers to God's anointed, the king of David's line. These are the instruments God is paradoxically strengthening to bring about judgment or chastisement.
• you have made...rejoice: (Hebrew: śimmaḥtā - שִׂמַּחְתָּ) From the verb śamaḥ, meaning "to be glad" or "to rejoice." Again, the Piel form emphasizes God's active role in causing this rejoicing. It suggests not merely allowing joy but intentionally creating circumstances that elicit it from the enemies. This causes deep anguish for the psalmist.
• all his enemies: (Hebrew: kol-'ôy'ḥbāw - כָּל־אֹויְבָיו) kol means "all," "every," emphasizing totality. 'ôyeb means "enemy," specifically one with hatred or hostility. The phrase "all his enemies" highlights the comprehensive nature of the humiliation and defeat. It implies that every adversary of the anointed king now has cause to celebrate, intensifying the sense of shame and abandonment for the king and his people.

Words-group analysis:

• "You have exalted the right hand of his foes": This phrase communicates the crushing reality of divine judgment where God not only allows, but empowers the very ones who oppose His chosen people. It signifies a complete reversal of fortunes, a loss of divine favor and protection for the king, and a terrifying manifestation of God's sovereign hand in judgment. It is a profound theological statement, recognizing that even enemy successes ultimately stem from God's permission and power.
• "you have made all his enemies rejoice": This further emphasizes the severity of the humiliation. The rejoicing of enemies is a clear sign of victory and mocking derision for the defeated party. By making "all" enemies rejoice, the verse underscores the public and comprehensive nature of the shame and loss of divine blessing. This is the ultimate painful consequence of a perceived covenant abrogation: the very people whom God was to protect are now subjected to widespread scorn and triumph by their adversaries.

Psalm 89 42 Bonus section

The active language used—"You have exalted," "you have made rejoice"—is critical. It prevents any misinterpretation that God is merely permissive or uninvolved in the suffering. For the psalmist, God is directly responsible for this dire state, which deepens the lament and the urgency of the plea for restoration. This concept echoes instances throughout the Bible where God uses external powers or adversaries as instruments of His righteous judgment or discipline upon His own people (e.g., Assyria and Babylon for Israel/Judah). However, in this Psalm, the complaint is so profound because it specifically concerns the Davidic king, the embodiment of God's seemingly unbreakable covenant, who now appears utterly forsaken and whose enemies are glorified by God Himself. This verse lays bare the agony of a people experiencing God's punitive hand while wrestling with the promises of His unfailing love. It points to the paradox of God's sovereignty even over evil's temporary triumph, ultimately for His own purposes and glory.

Psalm 89 42 Commentary

Psalm 89:42 is a powerful expression of deep lament and theological struggle. It captures the psalmist's bewildering realization that God, the faithful covenant Keeper, is paradoxically acting against His own anointed. The verse portrays God not as a passive observer but as the active agent who elevates the strength of the king's adversaries and directly causes their jubilation. This is the ultimate disgrace: the one who should protect is now empowering the opposition, leading to a public spectacle of humiliation for God's chosen leader. This active "exalting" and "making rejoice" indicates a severe divine discipline, likely tied to a break in the human side of the covenant. The question inherent in the psalm then becomes: How can God be faithful to His promises when He allows such profound suffering and humiliation for His chosen ones? This verse confronts the raw, painful reality of suffering under divine judgment, where all external signs point to God's disfavor and abandonment, pushing faith to its limits.