Psalm 89 43

Psalm 89:43 kjv

Thou hast also turned the edge of his sword, and hast not made him to stand in the battle.

Psalm 89:43 nkjv

You have also turned back the edge of his sword, And have not sustained him in the battle.

Psalm 89:43 niv

Indeed, you have turned back the edge of his sword and have not supported him in battle.

Psalm 89:43 esv

You have also turned back the edge of his sword, and you have not made him stand in battle.

Psalm 89:43 nlt

You have made his sword useless
and refused to help him in battle.

Psalm 89 verses

Psalm 89 43 Meaning

Psalm 89:43 describes a lament where the psalmist portrays God as actively disarming the king from David's lineage. It asserts that God has divinely intervened to make the king's sword ineffective ("turned back the edge") and has prevented him from standing firm or achieving victory in battle ("have not made him stand in battle"). This verse signifies a severe reversal of divine favor, illustrating God's active role in the defeat and humiliation of the anointed king, contrary to the perpetual covenant promises made to David.

Psalm 89 43 Context

Psalm 89 is a "Maskil of Ethan the Ezrahite," a wisdom poem that profoundly grapples with the tension between God's eternal covenant promises and the apparent historical reality of suffering and national defeat. The first part (vv. 1-37) is a grand celebration of God's steadfast love, faithfulness, and His unconditional covenant with David, promising an eternal dynasty and an unshakeable throne. This includes assurances of victory and divine protection for David's descendants.

However, the tone dramatically shifts from verse 38 onward into a heart-wrenching lament. The psalmist questions God, detailing a litany of national disasters and humiliations that seem to contradict every promise made in the earlier section. Psalm 89:43 is a central expression of this lament. It describes God as the one directly responsible for the king's defeat, not merely allowing it, but actively causing it. This reflects a period of profound crisis, likely a devastating military defeat or exile, such as the Babylonian conquest, which brought the Davidic monarchy to an end and saw its last kings utterly humiliated. The verse thus articulates the bewildering paradox faced by the people: how could God, the faithful Covenant-keeper, seemingly abandon His anointed and actively participate in their downfall? It stands as a polemic against the easy assumption that divine favor equates to continuous military success, challenging the understanding of God's justice and sovereignty in the face of deep suffering.

Psalm 89 43 Word analysis

• You have also (אַף - ʾaph): This Hebrew particle "also" or "even" here emphasizes God's direct and intentional action. It is not an accident or enemy's sheer strength, but God himself. It underscores the severity and the paradox of the situation, where the promised protector becomes the disabler.
• turned back (תָּשִׁיב - tashiv): From the root שׁוּב (shuv), meaning to return, restore, or cause to return/withdraw. Here, it signifies causing to retreat, blunt, or turn aside. It implies divine reversal—God reverses the natural function of the sword, rendering it ineffective, perhaps by taking away its sharp edge or withdrawing the power to wield it.
• the edge (צוּר - tzur): While tzur commonly means "rock" or "fortress," signifying strength or refuge, in this context it means the sharp edge or point of a weapon. Some translations render it as "strength" or "power," meaning God has turned back the very effectiveness or cutting power of the sword. It is God who takes away the penetrating force.
• of his sword (חַרְבּוֹ - ḥarbo): "His sword" (from חֶרֶב - ḥerev, meaning sword) is a metonymy for the king's military power, his ability to wage war effectively, and his authority as commander. It represents the means by which he would defend his kingdom and execute justice.
• and have not made him stand (וְלֹא הֲקִימֹתוֹ - ve-lo haqiymoto): The negative "and not" (וְלֹא - ve-lo) negates the verb "made him stand" (from קוּם - qum, to rise, stand up, establish, make firm). To "stand in battle" implies holding one's ground, being firm, or being established for victory. God's refusal to "make him stand" means denying the king strength, support, and the ability to prevail. It means letting him collapse, be overthrown, or retreat in utter defeat, stripping him of all military effectiveness and dignity.
• in battle (בַּמִּלְחָמָה - ba-milchamah): "In the war" or "in battle" (מִלְחָמָה - milchamah, meaning war, fight). This specifies the context where the king should typically be triumphant by divine anointing, but is now shown to be utterly disempowered by the very source of his anointing.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "You have also turned back the edge of his sword": This phrase paints a vivid picture of divine intervention. It's not that the king's sword merely broke or failed; God Himself is presented as deliberately rendering it useless. This act removes the primary instrument of the king's power, signifying the complete nullification of his military might directly by divine will.
• "and have not made him stand in battle": This further reinforces the divine agency in the king's defeat. Beyond disabling his weapon, God withheld the foundational support and strength needed for him to maintain his position, hold his ground, or achieve victory. This implies not just a tactical retreat, but a spiritual and physical inability to effectively engage or prevail, leading to ultimate humiliation.

Psalm 89 43 Bonus section

• The profound shock and bewilderment expressed in Psalm 89 stem from the apparent contradiction between God's eternal oath to David (vv. 3-4, 28-29, 34-37) and the present devastation of the Davidic throne. Verse 43 perfectly illustrates this bewildering theological tension.
• This verse can be seen as a direct outcome of the covenant curses outlined in the Mosaic Law, particularly in Deut 28 and Lev 26, where national defeat is promised for disobedience. Even the chosen line was not exempt from these consequences if they failed to uphold the ethical and spiritual aspects of the covenant.
• While initially focused on a human king, the entire Psalm ultimately points towards a faithful, everlasting "king" who perfectly embodies God's covenant, foreshadowing Christ. In contrast to the failed earthly kings whose swords were blunted, Christ, the true Son of David, needed no sword but triumphed through perfect obedience, even over death itself, demonstrating God's ultimate power and covenant faithfulness.

Psalm 89 43 Commentary

Psalm 89:43 captures the heart of a deep theological crisis experienced by Israel. In stark contrast to God's glorious and unbreakable covenant promises to David, this verse portrays a divine reversal so profound that God Himself is the agent of the king's undoing. The language is sharp and precise: God actively blunts the king's sword, denying him his primary means of power and defense, and God actively withholds the very strength required to stand firm or achieve victory in battle. This is not passive observation of defeat, but intentional divine judgment, shattering the illusion that the Davidic line was unconditionally secure regardless of their actions.

The verse encapsulates the terrifying reality of God fighting against His own anointed, a severe consequence of covenant disobedience. It signifies total divine withdrawal of support, leaving the king vulnerable and humiliated. This challenges simplistic notions of God's covenant being solely about unwavering blessings; it shows that while God's ultimate faithfulness to His covenant is sure, the temporal manifestations of that faithfulness are interwoven with human responsibility. It forced the ancient Israelite to ponder how God's justice and sovereignty align with His seemingly contradictory actions, ultimately leading them back to lament and, hopefully, to renewed trust in His character, even amidst deep mystery and suffering.