Psalms 144:1
A Psalm of David. Blessed be the Lord my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:
Psalms 144:1 in other translations
| BSB | Of David. Blessed be the LORD, my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle. |
|---|---|
| WEB | By David. Blessed be the LORD, my rock, who trains my hands to war, and my fingers to battle— |
| ASV | A Psalm of David. Blessed be Jehovah my rock, Who teacheth my hands to war, And my fingers to fight: |
| YLT | By David. Blessed is Jehovah my rock, who is teaching My hands for war, my fingers for battle. |
| DARBY | A Psalm of David. Blessed be Jehovah my rock, who teacheth my hands to war, my fingers to fight; |
| BBE | Praise be to the God of my strength, teaching my hands the use of the sword, and my fingers the art of fighting: |
| Webster | A Psalm of David. Blessed be the LORD my strength, who teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight; |
What does Psalms 144:1 mean?
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Introduction
The psalmist praises God for his goodness, Psa 144:1, Psa 144:2. Exclamations relative to the vanity of human life, Psa 144:3, Psa 144:4. He prays against his enemies, Psa 144:5-8; and extols God's mercy for the temporal blessings enjoyed by his people, Psa 144:9-15. The Hebrew, and all the Versions, attribute this Psalm to David. The Vulgate, Septuagint, Ethiopic, and Arabic, term it, A Psalm of David against Goliath. The Syriac says, "A Psalm of David when he slew Asaph, the brother of Goliath." Calmet thinks, and with much probability, that it was composed by David after the death of Absalom, and the restoration of the kingdom to peace and tranquillity. From a collation of this with Psalm 18, of which it appears to be an abridgment, preserving the same ideas, and the same forms of expression, there can be no doubt of both having proceeded from the same pen, and that David was the author. There is scarcely an expression here of peculiar importance that is not found in the prototype; and for explanation I must refer generally to the above Psalm. Verse 1 Teacheth my hands to war - To use sword, battle-axe, or spear. And my fingers to fight - To use the bow and arrows, and the sling.Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 144:1-8
Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain
Psalms 144:1 in the original Hebrew
Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.
Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).
Cross references for Psalms 144:1
- Psalms 18:34
He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.
- Psalms 18:2
The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
- 2 Samuel 22:35
He teacheth my hands to war; so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.
- Psalms 44:3-4
For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour unto them. Thou art my King, O God: command deliverances for Jacob.
- Ephesians 6:10-11
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
- 2 Corinthians 10:4
(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
- Deuteronomy 32:30-31
How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the Lord had shut them up? For their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges.
- Isaiah 45:24
Surely, shall one say, in the Lord have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed.
- Psalms 60:12
Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.
- Psalms 18:31
For who is God save the Lord? or who is a rock save our God?
- Psalms 71:3
Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.
- Psalms 95:1
O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
5 He prays that God would powerfully deliver him from his enemies.
9 He promises to praise God.
11 He prays for the happy state of the kingdom.
(Title.) A Psalm of David.Calmet and others think that this Psalm was composed by David after the death of Absalom; and from a collation of it with Ps 18, in which the same ideas and form of expression occur, there can be no doubt of both having proceeded from the same pen, and that David was the author.
my strength. Heb. my rock.
18:2,31; 71:3; 95:1; De 32:30,31; Isa 26:4; *marg:
Isa 45:24
teacheth.
18:34; 44:3,4; 60:12; 2Sa 22:35; 2Co 10:4; Eph 6:10,11
to war. or, to the war, etc.
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain
Context
- Psalms 144:1
A Psalm of David. Blessed be the Lord my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:
- Psalms 144:2
My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me.
Psalms 144:1 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Salmo de David. BENDITO sea Jehová, mi roca, que enseña mis manos á la batalla, y mis dedos á la guerra: |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | De David. Béni soit l’ Éternel, mon rocher! qui enseigne mes mains pour le combat, mes doigts pour la bataille, |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Gepriesen sei Jehova, mein Fels, der meine Hände unterweist zum Kampf, meine Finger zum Kriege: |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Laudatio ipsi David. Exaltabo te, Deus meus rex, et benedicam nomini tuo in sæculum, et in sæculum sæculi. |