Psalms 20 · Verse 1

Psalms 20:1

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee;
Psalms 20:1, King James Version

Psalms 20:1 in other translations

BSBFor the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.
WEBFor the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble. May the name of the God of Jacob set you up on high,
ASVFor the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. Jehovah answer thee in the day of trouble; The name of the God of Jacob set thee up on high;
YLTTo the Overseer. --A Psalm of David. Jehovah doth answer thee, In a day of adversity, The name of the God of Jacob doth set thee on high,
DARBYTo the chief Musician. A Psalm of David. Jehovah answer thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob protect thee;
BBEMay the Lord give ear to you in the day of trouble; may you be placed on high by the name of the God of Jacob;
WebsterTo the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee.

What does Psalms 20:1 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

Psa 20:1-9. David probably composed this Psalm to express the prayers of the pious for his success as at once the head of the Church and nation. Like other compositions of which David in such relations is the subject, its sentiments have a permanent value--the prosperity of Christ's kingdom being involved, as well as typified, in that of Israel and its king.

1. hear thee--graciously (Psa 4:1). name of--or manifested perfections, as power, wisdom, &c. defend thee--set thee on high from danger (Psa 9:9; 18:3).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Introduction

A prayer for the king in his enterprises, that his prayers may be heard, his offerings accepted, and his wishes fulfilled, Psa 20:1-4. Confidence of victory expressed, Psa 20:5, Psa 20:6. Vain hopes exposed; and supplication made for the king, Psa 20:7-9. It is most likely that this Psalm was penned on the occasion of David's going to war, and most probably with the Ammonites and Syrians, who came with great numbers of horses and chariots to fight with him. See 2Sam 10:6-8; 1Chr 19:7. It is one of the Dialogue Psalms, and appears to be thus divided: Previously to his undertaking the war, David comes to the tabernacle to offer sacrifice. This being done, the people, in the king's behalf, offer up their prayers; these are included in the three first verses: the fourth was probably spoken by the high priest; the fifth, by David and his attendants; the last clause, by the high priest; the sixth, by the high priest, after the victim was consumed; the seventh and eighth, by David and his men; and the ninth, as a chorus by all the congregation. Verse 1 The Lord hear thee - David had already offered the sacrifice and prayed. The people implore God to succor him in the day of trouble; of both personal and national danger. The name of the God of Jacob - This refers to Jacob's wrestling with the Angel; Gen 32:24 (note), etc. And who was this Angel? Evidently none other than the Angel of the Covenant, the Lord Jesus, in whom was the name of God, the fullness of the Godhead bodily. He was the God of Jacob, who blessed Jacob, and gave him a new name and a new nature. See the notes on the above place in Genesis.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
This psalm is a prayer for the kings of Israel, but with relation to Christ. --Even the greatest of men may be much in trouble. Neither the crown on the king's head, nor the grace in his heart, would make him free from trouble. Even the greatest of men must be much in prayer. Let none expect benefit by the prayers of the church, or their friends, who are capable of praying for themselves, yet neglect it. Pray that God would protect his person, and preserve his life. That God would enable him to go on in his undertakings for the public good. We may know that God accepts our spiritual sacrifices, if by his Spirit he kindles in our souls a holy fire of piety and love to God. Also, that the Lord would crown his enterprises with success. Our first step to victory in spiritual warfare is to trust only in the mercy and grace of God; all who trust in themselves will soon be cast down. Believers triumph in God, and his revelation of himself to them, by which they distinguish themselves from those that live without God in the world. Those who make God and his name their praise, may make God and his name their trust. This was the case when the pride and power of Jewish unbelief, and pagan idolatry, fell before the sermons and lives of the humble believers in Jesus. This is the case in every conflict with our spiritual enemies, when we engage them in the name, the spirit, and the power of Christ; and this will be the case at the last day, when the world, with the prince of it, shall be brought down and fall; but believers, risen-from the dead, through the resurrection of the Lord, shall stand, and sing his praises in heaven. In Christ's salvation let us rejoice; and set up our banners in the name of the Lord our God, assured that by the saving strength of his right hand we shall be conquerors over every enemy.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Psalms 20:1 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.

יַֽעַנְךָ֣ya.'an.Khamay he answer youH6030
יְ֭הוָהYah.wehYahwehH3068
בְּי֣וֹםbe.Yomin a day ofH3117
צָרָ֑הtza.RahtroubleH6869
יְ֝שַׂגֶּבְךָ֗ye.sa.gev.khamay it set on high youH7682
שֵׁ֤ם\׀shem[the] name ofH8034
אֱלֹהֵ֬י'e.lo.Hei[the] God ofH430
יַעֲקֹֽב\׃ya.'a.KoJacobH3290

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Psalms 20:1

  • Proverbs 18:10

    The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

  • Psalms 138:7

    Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.

  • Psalms 91:14-15

    Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

  • Psalms 46:11

    The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

  • Isaiah 50:10

    Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God.

  • Psalms 46:1

    To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

  • Matthew 26:38-39

    Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

  • Hebrews 5:7

    Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;

  • Psalms 83:18

    That men may know that thou, whose name alone is Jehovah, art the most high over all the earth.

  • Jeremiah 30:7

    Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.

  • Psalms 60:11

    Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man.

  • Exodus 34:5-7

    And the Lord descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1 The church blesses the king in his exploits;
7 and expresses her confidence in God's succour.

A.M. 2968. B.C. 1036. hear.
41:1; 46:1; 50:5; 60:11; 91:15; 138:7; Jer 30:7; Mt 26:38,39; Heb 5:7
name.
9:10; 83:18; Ex 34:5-7; Pr 18:10; Isa 50:10
God.
46:7,11; Ge 32:27-29; 48:15,16; Ex 3:13-15
defend. Heb. set thee on an high place.
18:2; 91:14; 114:2

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Psalms 20:1

    To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee;

  • Psalms 20:2

    Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion;

Read all of Psalms 20

Psalms 20:1 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Al Músico principal: Salmo de David. OIGATE Jehová en el día de conflicto; defiéndate el nombre del Dios de Jacob.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Au chef de musique. Psaume de David.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Jehova erhöre dich am Tage der Drangsal, der Name des Gottes Jakobs setze dich in Sicherheit;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		In finem. Psalmus David.