Psalms 89:43
Psalms 89:43 in Multiple Translations
You have bent the edge of his sword and have not sustained him in battle.
Thou hast also turned the edge of his sword, and hast not made him to stand in the battle.
Yea, thou turnest back the edge of his sword, And hast not made him to stand in the battle.
His sword is turned back; you have not been his support in the fight.
You have repelled his sharp sword; you have not helped him in battle.
Thou hast also turned the edge of his sworde, and hast not made him to stand in the battell.
Also — Thou turnest back the sharpness of his sword, And hast not established him in battle,
Yes, you turn back the edge of his sword, and haven’t supported him in battle.
Thou hast also turned the edge of his sword, and hast not made him to stand in the battle.
You have caused his sword to become useless, and you have not helped him in his battles.
Berean Amplified Bible — Psalms 89:43
BAB
Word Study
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Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Psalms 89:43 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
הֲ֭רִימוֹתָ
יְמִ֣ין
צָרָ֑י/ו
הִ֝שְׂמַ֗חְתָּ
כָּל
אוֹיְבָֽי/ו
הֲ֭רִימוֹתָ
rûwm
H7311
to exalt
V-Hiphil-Perf-2ms
יְמִ֣ין
yâmîyn
H3225
Ben]jamin
N-fs
צָרָ֑י/ו
tsar
H6862
narrow
N-mp | Suff
הִ֝שְׂמַ֗חְתָּ
sâmach
H8055
to rejoice
V-Hiphil-Perf-2ms
כָּל
kôl
H3605
all
N-ms
אוֹיְבָֽי/ו
ʼôyêb
H341
enemy
V-Qal | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Psalms 89:43
הֲ֭רִימוֹתָ
rûwm
H7311
"to exalt"
V-Hiphil-Perf-2ms
This verb can mean to lift something or someone up, like a parent lifting a child, or to exalt oneself in pride. In the Bible, it's used to describe God lifting up the humble and bringing down the proud.
Definition: 1) to rise, rise up, be high, be lofty, be exalted 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to be high, be set on high 1a2) to be raised, be uplifted, be exalted 1a3) to be lifted, rise 1b) (Polel) 1b1) to raise or rear (children), cause to grow up 1b2) to lift up, raise, exalt 1b3) to exalt, extol 1c) (Polal) to be lifted up 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to raise, lift, lift up, take up, set up, erect, exalt, set on high 1d2) to lift up (and take away), remove 1d3) to lift off and present, contribute, offer, contribute 1e) (Hophal) to be taken off, be abolished 1f) (Hithpolel) to exalt oneself, magnify oneself Aramaic equivalent: rum (רוּם "to rise" H7313)
Usage: Occurs in 184 OT verses. KJV: bring up, exalt (self), extol, give, go up, haughty, heave (up), (be, lift up on, make on, set up on, too) high(-er, one), hold up, levy, lift(-er) up, (be) lofty, ([idiom] a-) loud, mount up, offer (up), [phrase] presumptuously, (be) promote(-ion), proud, set up, tall(-er), take (away, off, up), breed worms. See also: Genesis 7:17; Psalms 46:11; Psalms 3:4.
יְמִ֣ין
yâmîyn
H3225
"Ben]jamin"
N-fs
Benjamin was a son of Israel and Rachel, and the brother of Joseph, mentioned in Genesis 35:18. The name also refers to the right hand or south direction.
Definition: A man of the tribe of Benjamin living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.35.18; son of: Israel (H3478) and Rachel (H7354); brother of: Joseph (H3130); half-brother of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Judah (H3063), Dan (H1835H), Naphtali (H5321), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074) and Dinah (H1783); father of: Bela (H1106A), Becher (H1071), Ashbel (H0788), Gera (H1617), Naaman (H5283), Ehi (H0278), Rosh (H7220), Muppim (H4649), Huppim (H2650H), Ard (H0714), Ahiram (H0297) and Jediael (H3043); also called Jamin at 1Sa.9.1,4; 22.7; 1x Another name of bin.ya.min (בִּנְיָמִין "Benjamin" H1144G)
Usage: Occurs in 134 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] left-handed, right (hand, side), south. See also: Genesis 13:9; Psalms 18:36; Psalms 16:8.
צָרָ֑י/ו
tsar
H6862
"narrow"
N-mp | Suff
This word means hard or narrow, often referring to trouble or a tight spot, like an adversary or affliction. It can also mean a small stone or pebble, such as flint, and is used in various biblical contexts to describe challenges.
Definition: narrow, tight
Usage: Occurs in 107 OT verses. KJV: adversary, afflicted(-tion), anguish, close, distress, enemy, flint, foe, narrow, small, sorrow, strait, tribulation, trouble. See also: Genesis 14:20; Psalms 89:24; Psalms 3:2.
הִ֝שְׂמַ֗חְתָּ
sâmach
H8055
"to rejoice"
V-Hiphil-Perf-2ms
This verb means to rejoice or be glad, often used in a religious sense, like when the Israelites rejoiced at the dedication of the temple in 1 Kings 8:66.
Definition: 1) to rejoice, be glad 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to rejoice 1a2) to rejoice (arrogantly), exult (at) 1a3) to rejoice (religiously) 1b) (Piel) to cause to rejoice, gladden, make glad 1c) (Hiphil) to cause to rejoice, gladden, make glad
Usage: Occurs in 148 OT verses. KJV: cheer up, be (make) glad, (have, make) joy(-ful), be (make) merry, (cause to, make to) rejoice, [idiom] very. See also: Exodus 4:14; Psalms 92:5; Psalms 5:12.
כָּל
kôl
H3605
"all"
N-ms
The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.
Definition: 1) all, the whole 1a) all, the whole of 1b) any, each, every, anything 1c) totality, everything Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)
Usage: Occurs in 4242 OT verses. KJV: (in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any (manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as many as, (no-) thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole, whoso(-ever). See also: Genesis 1:21; Genesis 17:10; Genesis 41:40.
אוֹיְבָֽי/ו
ʼôyêb
H341
"enemy"
V-Qal | Suff
This Hebrew word means enemy or adversary, referring to someone who hates or opposes another person or nation. It is used to describe personal or national enemies in the Bible.
Definition: 1) (Qal) enemy 1a) personal 1b) national
Usage: Occurs in 275 OT verses. KJV: enemy, foe. See also: Genesis 22:17; 2 Samuel 22:1; Psalms 3:8.
Study Notes — Psalms 89:43
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Psalms 89:43 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Psalms 89:43
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 89:43
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 89:43
- Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 89:43
- Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 89:43
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 89:43
- Cambridge Bible on Psalms 89:43
- Barnes' Notes on Psalms 89:43
- Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 89:43
- Sermons on Psalms 89:43
Context — I Will Sing of His Love Forever
41All who pass by plunder him; he has become a reproach to his neighbors.
42You have exalted the right hand of his foes; You have made all his enemies rejoice.
43You have bent the edge of his sword and have not sustained him in battle.
44You have ended his splendor and cast his throne to the ground. 45You have cut short the days of his youth; You have covered him with shame. SelahCross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joshua 7:8–12 | O Lord, what can I say, now that Israel has turned its back and run from its enemies? When the Canaanites and all who live in the land hear about this, they will surround us and wipe out our name from the earth. Then what will You do for Your great name?” But the LORD said to Joshua, “Stand up! Why have you fallen on your face? Israel has sinned; they have transgressed My covenant that I commanded them, and they have taken some of what was devoted to destruction. Indeed, they have stolen and lied, and they have put these things with their own possessions. This is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies. They will turn their backs and run from their enemies, because they themselves have been set apart for destruction. I will no longer be with you unless you remove from among you whatever is devoted to destruction. |
| 2 | Numbers 14:42 | Do not go up, lest you be struck down by your enemies, because the LORD is not among you. |
| 3 | Psalms 44:10 | You have made us retreat from the foe, and those who hate us have plundered us. |
| 4 | Ezekiel 30:21–25 | “Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt. See, it has not been bound up for healing, or splinted for strength to hold the sword. Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: Behold, I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt. I will break his arms, both the strong one and the one already broken, and will make the sword fall from his hand. I will disperse the Egyptians among the nations and scatter them throughout the lands. I will strengthen the arms of Babylon’s king and place My sword in his hand, but I will break the arms of Pharaoh, who will groan before him like a mortally wounded man. I will strengthen the arms of Babylon’s king, but Pharaoh’s arms will fall limp. Then they will know that I am the LORD, when I place My sword in the hand of Babylon’s king, and he wields it against the land of Egypt. |
| 5 | Leviticus 26:36–37 | As for those of you who survive, I will send a faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies, so that even the sound of a windblown leaf will put them to flight. And they will flee as one flees the sword, and fall when no one pursues them. They will stumble over one another as before the sword, though no one is behind them. So you will not be able to stand against your enemies. |
| 6 | Numbers 14:45 | Then the Amalekites and Canaanites who lived in that part of the hill country came down, attacked them, and routed them all the way to Hormah. |
| 7 | Joshua 7:4–5 | So about three thousand men went up, but they fled before the men of Ai. And the men of Ai struck down about thirty-six of them, chasing them from the gate as far as the quarries and striking them down on the slopes. So the hearts of the people melted and became like water. |
| 8 | 2 Chronicles 25:8 | Even if you go and fight bravely in battle, God will make you stumble before the enemy, for God has power to help and power to overthrow.” |
Psalms 89:43 Summary
This verse means that God has taken away the king's ability to defend himself, and has not helped him in battle. It's like having a sword that's been bent and can't be used to fight. This can happen to anyone who is not following God's ways, as we see in the Bible, where disobedience leads to weakness and defeat, as in Judges 3:12-15. We can learn from this verse to always seek God's strength and sustenance in our own battles, and to trust in His sovereignty, as in Proverbs 3:5-6 and Isaiah 40:28-31.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to 'bend the edge of his sword' in Psalms 89:43?
This phrase is a metaphor for weakening or rendering ineffective someone's strength or ability to defend themselves, much like how a bent sword would be useless in battle, as seen in the context of God not sustaining him in battle, similar to how the Israelites were not sustained in battle when they disobeyed God, as in Joshua 7:12.
Why did God not sustain him in battle according to Psalms 89:43?
The reasons for God not sustaining him in battle are not explicitly stated in this verse, but in the context of the Psalm, it appears to be a result of God's judgment, possibly due to disobedience or sin, as seen in Psalms 89:30-32, where God warns of consequences for disobedience, similar to the warnings in Deuteronomy 28:15.
How does this verse relate to the rest of the Psalm?
This verse is part of a larger lament in Psalms 89, where the psalmist is mourning the fall of a king or leader, and is questioning God's actions, as seen in the surrounding verses, Psalms 89:41-45, which describe the plundering and shame of the king, similar to the lament in Lamentations 1:1-2.
What can we learn from this verse about God's sovereignty?
This verse teaches us that God is sovereign over all things, including the rise and fall of leaders, and that He can choose to sustain or not sustain someone in battle, as seen in the example of King David in 1 Samuel 30:6, where God sustained him in battle, and in the example of King Saul in 1 Samuel 31:3, where God did not sustain him in battle.
Reflection Questions
- What are some areas in my life where I feel like my 'sword has been bent', and how can I seek God's strength and sustenance in those areas, as in Ephesians 6:10-18?
- How can I trust in God's sovereignty, even when I don't understand His ways, as in Romans 11:33-36?
- What are some ways that I can 'keep my sword sharp' through prayer, Bible study, and obedience to God, as in Hebrews 4:12 and 2 Timothy 2:15?
- How can I apply the lesson of this verse to my own life, in terms of seeking God's sustaining power in times of battle or struggle, as in Psalm 119:25-32?
Gill's Exposition on Psalms 89:43
Thou hast also turned the edge of his sword,.... Or the "sharpness" (a) of it blunted it, so that it could do no execution: the disciples of Christ were not allowed the use of the temporal sword to
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 89:43
But thou hast cast off and abhorred, thou hast been wroth with thine anointed. -The people of the covenant contrast the sad state of things actually with what the covenant seemed to promise. Similarly in Psalms 44:9. Verse 38.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 89:43
Turned the edge of his sword; so that he can neither offend his enemies, nor defend himself. Not made him to stand, but to flee and fall before his enemies; for more is understood than what is expressed.
Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 89:43
Psalms 89:43 Thou hast also turned the edge of his sword, and hast not made him to stand in the battle.Ver. 43. Thou hast also turned the edge] Disarmed and disabled him. And hast not made him, &c.] But turned his courage into cowardice.
Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 89:43
(43) Edge of his sword.—The Hebrew is tsûr, i.e., rock, and a comparison with Joshua 5:2 (margin) suggests that we have here a reminiscence of the “stone age.” The word “flint” for the edge of a weapon might easily survive the actual use of the implement itself. So we should still speak of “a foeman’s steel” even if the use of chemical explosives entirely abolished the use of sword and bayonet. This is one of the cases where the condition of modern science helps us in exegesis of the Bible. The ancient versions, who knew nothing of the stone or iron ages, paraphrase, by “strength,” or “help.”
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 89:43
Verse 43. Thou hast also turned the edge of his sword.] The arms and military prowess of thy people are no longer of any use to them; THOU art against them, and therefore they are fallen. In what a perilous and hopeless situation must that soldier be who, while defending his life against his mortal foe, has his sword broken, or its edge turned; or, in modern warfare, whose gun misses fire! The Gauls, when invaded by the Romans, had no method of hardening iron; at every blow their swords bended, so that they were obliged, before they could strike again, to put them under their foot or over their knee, to straighten them; and in most cases, before this could be done, their better armed foe had taken away their life! The edge of their sword was turned, so that they could not stand in battle; and hence the Gauls were conquered by the Romans.
Cambridge Bible on Psalms 89:43
43. Yea, thou turnest back the edge of his sword (R.V.): i.e. not as A.V. might seem to mean, bluntest it, but as the parallelism shews, makest it give way in battle. Cp. 2 Samuel 1:22.
Barnes' Notes on Psalms 89:43
Thou hast also turned the edge of his sword - That is, Thou hast turned it away, so that when it is raised to strike, it does not descend on the object aimed at by the blow.
Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 89:43
43. Turned the edge of his sword—Contrast Psalms 89:23
Sermons on Psalms 89:43
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Christ and His Children by C.H. Spurgeon | The preacher delves into the concept of timidity, exploring its various facets such as lack of mental or moral strength, reticence, cowardice, and shameful fear. Drawing from bibli |