Psalms 18:44

KJV

As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall submit themselves unto me.

KJV (with Strong's)

As soon as they hear {H8088}{H241} of me, they shall obey {H8085} me: the strangers {H1121}{H5236} shall submit {H3584} themselves unto me.

Complete Jewish Bible

the moment they hear of me, they obey me, foreigners come cringing to me.

Berean Standard Bible

When they hear me, they obey me; foreigners cower before me.

American Standard Version

As soon as they hear of me they shall obey me; The foreigners shall submit themselves unto me.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 18:44 is a powerful declaration from King David, expressing his unwavering confidence in God's divine empowerment and the inevitable, widespread recognition of his God-given authority. This verse, situated within a grand psalm of thanksgiving for deliverance, anticipates a future where even foreign nations, those outside the immediate covenant community of Israel, will not only acknowledge but actively submit to David's rule, testifying to the irresistible power and universal scope of God's sovereign hand working through His chosen king.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalms 18 is a monumental psalm of thanksgiving, almost identical to the account found in [2 Samuel 22](/2_samuel/22 "2 Samuel 22 - David's Song of Deliverance"), chronicling David's miraculous deliverance from all his adversaries, especially King Saul. The psalm opens with a fervent expression of love and devotion to God (vv. 1-3), transitions into a vivid portrayal of David's deep distress and desperate plea for divine intervention (vv. 4-6), followed by a dramatic, almost cosmic, depiction of God's powerful response on his behalf (vv. 7-19). Verses 20-30 affirm David's integrity and God's righteous judgment, leading into a triumphant celebration of God's might and the training He provides for battle (vv. 31-45). Specifically, [Psalm 18:44](/psalms/18-44 "Psalm 18:44 - Universal Submission to David") falls within the culminating section of triumph and universal dominion (vv. 43-45), where David celebrates his decisive victories and anticipates the expansion of his kingdom, concluding with a final doxology (vv. 46-50). It speaks to the ultimate, divinely ordained outcome of God's faithfulness in establishing David's throne.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Composed by David, likely after a period of significant military conquests and the consolidation of his kingdom, Psalm 18 reflects the realities of kingship in the ancient Near East, yet it is uniquely filtered through Israel's covenant relationship with Yahweh. In this era, kings were often perceived as divine representatives, and their authority was largely measured by their ability to secure peace, expand territory, and exact tribute. The phrase "the strangers shall submit themselves unto me" speaks directly to the common practice of suzerainty, where powerful empires received allegiance and tribute from surrounding, often subjugated, nations. However, for David, this anticipated dominion was not merely the result of military prowess but a direct consequence of God's divine mandate and active intervention. His reign was seen as a microcosm of God's universal rule, and the submission of "strangers" highlighted God's power extending beyond Israel's borders, setting the stage for a future, more expansive kingdom.
* **Key Themes:** This verse profoundly contributes to several overarching themes evident throughout the Psalms and the broader Old Testament narrative. Firstly, it powerfully underscores the theme of **Divine Authority and Universal Recognition**. David's kingship is not merely human; it is divinely ordained and empowered by God, ensuring that his rule will be acknowledged even by those who are not naturally inclined to obey. This speaks to the irresistible power of God's chosen leader and the ultimate triumph of His will. Secondly, the phrase "As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me" highlights the **Transformative Power of Reputation and Revelation**. It implies that genuine understanding or exposure to the fame of David's victories, and by extension, the God who granted them, leads to submission. This foreshadows the power of the gospel message to elicit obedience, as seen in the call to "make disciples of all nations" in [Matthew 28:19](/matthew/28-19 "Matthew 28:19 - The Great Commission"). Lastly, the verse carries profound **Messianic Foreshadowing**. While immediately applicable to David's earthly reign, his kingdom served as a type of the ultimate, eternal kingdom of the Messiah. The anticipation of "strangers" submitting points directly to the universal scope of Christ's future kingdom, where all nations will acknowledge His dominion, as prophesied in passages like [Psalm 2:8](/psalms/2-8 "Psalm 2:8 - Ask of Me, and I will Give You the Nations") and [Isaiah 49:6](/isaiah/49-6 "Isaiah 49:6 - A Light to the Gentiles"), and ultimately fulfilled in the New Testament.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **hear (Hebrew, _shêmaʻ'_):** From H8088. This noun refers to "something heard, i.e. a sound, rumor, announcement; abstractly, audience; bruit, fame, hear(-ing), loud, report, speech, tidings." In the context of "As soon as they hear of me," it signifies the widespread report or fame of David's military victories and the divine power that enabled them. The immediate response implies that this report is so compelling and undeniable that it elicits an immediate reaction.
* **obey (Hebrew, _shâmaʻ'_):** From H8085. This verb means "to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.); [idiom] attentively, call (gather) together, [idiom] carefully, [idiom] certainly, consent, consider, be content, declare, [idiom] diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make to) hear(-ken, tell), [idiom] indeed, listen, make (a) noise, (be) obedient, obey, perceive, (make a) proclaim(-ation), publish, regard, report, shew (forth), (make a) sound, [idiom] surely, tell, understand, whosoever (heareth), witness." Here, it denotes an active, intelligent response to what is heard, leading to compliance and submission to David's authority.
* **submit themselves (Hebrew, _kâchash'_):** From H3584. This primitive root means "to be untrue, in word (to lie, feign, disown) or deed (to disappoint, fail, cringe); deceive, deny, dissemble, fail, deal falsely, be found liars, (be-) lie, lying, submit selves." While it can imply a feigned or reluctant submission, in this triumphant context, it generally conveys the idea of acknowledging and yielding to a superior authority, even if it's initially grudging or born out of necessity rather than heartfelt allegiance. It signifies a bowing down or a recognition of overwhelming power and undeniable sovereignty.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"As soon as they hear of me":** This clause establishes a direct and immediate cause-and-effect relationship. The "hearing" refers to the widespread renown and reputation of David's military successes and, more importantly, the divine power that enabled them. It speaks to the compelling nature of God's work through His chosen king, so undeniable that mere exposure to the facts elicits a profound response.
* **"they shall obey me":** This is the direct and immediate consequence of the "hearing." The obedience implied here is a recognition of David's legitimate, God-given authority. It signifies not necessarily a willing, heartfelt embrace of his person, but an acknowledgment of his power and right to rule, leading to compliance and submission.
* **"the strangers shall submit themselves unto me":** This parallel clause expands the scope of the previous statement. "The strangers" (Hebrew: _bnei nekâr_, literally "sons of the foreigner" or "sons of the stranger," combining H1121 and H5236) explicitly identifies the subjects of this obedience as foreign nations, non-Israelites, or Gentiles. Their "submission" (from _kâchash_) reinforces the idea of yielding to David's dominion, signifying a universal recognition of his sovereignty, which is ultimately God's sovereignty manifested through him. This anticipates a global reach for God's kingdom.

#### Literary Devices
Psalms 18:44 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its message of triumph and universal dominion. **Synonymous Parallelism** is evident between the two clauses: "they shall obey me" and "the strangers shall submit themselves unto me" are closely related in meaning, reinforcing the idea of yielding to authority and specifically expanding the scope of that submission to non-Israelites. The verse also functions as **Prophetic Language** or **Anticipation**, looking forward to a future state of affairs where David's influence extends universally, a vision that finds its ultimate and complete fulfillment in the Messianic kingdom. There is an element of **Metonymy** in "hear of me," where "me" stands for David's reputation, his deeds, and the manifest power of God working through him. The immediate and universal nature of the response ("As soon as they hear... they shall obey") contains a degree of **Hyperbole**, emphasizing the overwhelming and undeniable nature of God's power working through David, making his authority irresistible.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 18:44 offers profound theological insights into the nature of God's sovereignty and the universal scope of His kingdom. It demonstrates that God's plan for His chosen king, David, extended beyond the borders of Israel, anticipating a time when His authority would be recognized by all nations. This verse underscores the principle that true authority is divinely bestowed and that God's purposes will ultimately prevail, compelling even those who are initially resistant to acknowledge His dominion. It highlights the power of God's manifested glory and the reputation of His mighty acts to elicit a response of submission, laying a foundational truth for the universal reach of the gospel message. The submission of "strangers" is a testament to God's ultimate triumph over all opposition and His intention to draw all peoples to Himself, a theme echoed throughout prophetic literature concerning the ingathering of the Gentiles.

* [Psalm 2:8](/psalms/2-8 "Psalm 2:8 - The Nations as an Inheritance")
* [Isaiah 49:6](/isaiah/49-6 "Isaiah 49:6 - A Light to the Gentiles")
* [Philippians 2:10-11](/philippians/2-10-11 "Philippians 2:10-11 - Every Knee Will Bow")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
For believers today, Psalms 18:44 serves as a powerful reminder of the ultimate triumph of God's kingdom and the universal authority of Jesus Christ. Just as David's earthly kingdom foreshadowed, the kingdom of God, established through Christ, transcends all national, cultural, and ethnic boundaries. This verse encourages us to live with profound confidence in the knowledge that Christ's authority is absolute and that His reign will ultimately be acknowledged by every person. It affirms the inherent power of the gospel message: when people "hear" the truth of Christ, it has the divine capacity, empowered by the Holy Spirit, to bring about genuine submission and transformation. This truth should embolden our evangelism and global mission efforts, knowing that God's Word is effective and that His purposes will not be thwarted. Despite present challenges, resistance, or apparent setbacks, this psalm points to a glorious future where all will bow the knee and confess the Lordship of Jesus Christ, bringing ultimate glory to God the Father.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does David's confidence in God's universal authority in this verse encourage your faith in Christ's ultimate triumph over all things?**
* **In what specific ways does "hearing" about Jesus lead to "obeying" Him in your own life, and how have you witnessed this transformation in others?**
* **How can the anticipation of "strangers" submitting to God's chosen king inform our perspective on global missions and the church's role in reaching every people group with the gospel?**

### FAQ
**What does "strangers" mean in the context of Psalms 18:44, and why is their submission significant?**

Answer: In Psalms 18:44, "strangers" (Hebrew: _bnei nekâr_, literally "sons of the foreigner") refers to non-Israelites, or Gentiles—people from foreign nations who are outside the covenant community of Israel. Their anticipated submission is highly significant because it demonstrates the universal scope of God's authority, extended through His chosen king, David. It anticipates a time when God's dominion would not be confined to a single nation but would be acknowledged by all peoples. This foreshadows the global reach of God's kingdom, ultimately fulfilled in the person and work of Jesus Christ, who draws people from every nation, tribe, and tongue into His fold, as seen in the vision of the great multitude in [Revelation 7:9-10](/revelation/7-9-10 "Revelation 7:9-10 - A Multitude from Every Nation").

**Does the phrase "submit themselves" imply genuine conversion or merely forced obedience?**

Answer: The Hebrew verb _kâchash_ (H3584, "submit themselves") can carry the nuance of feigned or reluctant submission, as well as genuine yielding. In the context of Psalms 18:44, it primarily conveys the idea of acknowledging and yielding to a superior, undeniable authority, even if that yielding is initially born out of necessity or fear rather than heartfelt allegiance. While David's earthly reign might have seen both reluctant and willing submissions from foreign peoples, the prophetic thrust of this verse, especially when viewed through a Christ-centered lens, points to a future where all will ultimately acknowledge Jesus' Lordship. For believers, this submission becomes genuine and willing, born out of love and faith, as they hear and respond to the gospel, as described in [Romans 10:9-10](/romans/10-9-10 "Romans 10:9-10 - Confession and Belief Lead to Salvation"). However, the ultimate universal acknowledgment of Christ's sovereignty will include both willing worship and compelled recognition from those who have rejected Him, as every knee will bow and every tongue confess, as stated in [Philippians 2:10-11](/philippians/2-10-11 "Philippians 2:10-11 - Every Knee Will Bow").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 18:44 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. David, as God's anointed king, served as a type of the greater King to come, the Messiah. While David's reign saw the limited submission of some foreign nations, Christ's kingdom is truly universal and eternal, transcending all earthly boundaries. The declaration "As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me" is perfectly realized in the proclamation of the Gospel: when people hear the good news of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit empowers them to respond with faith and obedience, as seen in the transformative response to Peter's sermon in [Acts 2:37-41](/acts/2-37-41 "Acts 2:37-41 - Peter's Sermon and Conversion"). The "strangers" of David's day are fully encompassed by the "Gentiles" in the New Testament, who are now, through Christ, brought into the family of God and made fellow heirs with Israel, as beautifully articulated in [Ephesians 2:11-22](/ephesians/2-11-22 "Ephesians 2:11-22 - Gentiles Included in Christ"). Jesus' authority is not established by military conquest but by His sacrificial death, resurrection, and ascension, by which He has been given "all authority in heaven and on earth" ([Matthew 28:18](/matthew/28-18 "Matthew 28:18 - The Great Commission")). Therefore, the submission of all peoples to Christ is not merely a matter of forced tribute but a willing adoration and confession of His Lordship, culminating in the day when "every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" ([Philippians 2:10-11](/philipians/2-10-11 "Philippians 2:10-11 - Every Knee Will Bow")). Thus, David's triumphant psalm points directly to the glorious, global reign of the Lamb of God.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Psalms 81:15

The haters of the LORD should have submitted themselves unto him: but their time should have endured for ever.

Psalms 66:3

Say unto God, How terrible [art thou in] thy works! through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee.

Deuteronomy 33:29

Happy [art] thou, O Israel: who [is] like unto thee, O people saved by the LORD, the shield of thy help, and who [is] the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places.

2 Samuel 1:13

And David said unto the young man that told him, Whence [art] thou? And he answered, I [am] the son of a stranger, an Amalekite.

Romans 10:16

But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?

Romans 10:17

So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Psalms 68:30

Rebuke the company of spearmen, the multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the people, [till every one] submit himself with pieces of silver: scatter thou the people [that] delight in war.