Psalms 21:12

Therefore shalt thou make them turn their back, [when] thou shalt make ready [thine arrows] upon thy strings against the face of them.

Therefore shalt thou make {H7896} them turn their back {H7926}, when thou shalt make ready {H3559} thine arrows upon thy strings {H4340} against the face {H6440} of them.

For you will make them turn their back by aiming your bow at their faces.

For You will put them to flight when Your bow is trained upon them.

For thou wilt make them turn their back; Thou wilt make ready with thy bowstrings against their face.

Psalm 21:12 (KJV) powerfully depicts God's decisive action against the enemies of His anointed king, promising their utter defeat and rout. This verse is a vivid military metaphor illustrating divine judgment and protection.

Context

Psalm 21 is a psalm of thanksgiving, celebrating God's gracious deliverance and victory granted to the king, often understood to be King David. It follows Psalm 20, which is a prayer for the king's success in battle. Here, the battle has been won, and the king attributes his triumph entirely to the Lord's strength and blessing. Verse 12 specifically describes the fate of those who had plotted against the king and, by extension, against God's purposes (as mentioned in Psalm 21:11).

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment and Vengeance: The verse emphasizes God's active role in bringing about the downfall of the wicked. He is not a passive observer but an engaged warrior who executes justice.
  • God's Sovereignty in Battle: Victory is attributed directly to God's power and readiness, not merely to human military might. It highlights the truth that the battle is the Lord's.
  • Utter Defeat of Enemies: "Make them turn their back" signifies complete rout and flight, where the enemies are forced to flee in disarray, showing their inability to withstand God's might.
  • God's Readiness to Act: The imagery of God making ready "thine arrows upon thy strings" portrays Him as prepared and poised to strike decisively against opposition.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "turn their back" comes from the Hebrew word shikem, which literally means to turn the shoulder or back, vividly conveying the act of fleeing from an attacker. It implies a swift and humiliating retreat. The imagery of God making ready "thine arrows upon thy strings" uses the Hebrew term kun for "make ready," meaning to establish, prepare, or make firm. This suggests a deliberate, precise, and irresistible action. The phrase "against the face of them" ('al-p'neihem) underscores the direct and inescapable nature of God's judgment; there is no hiding or avoiding His confrontation.

Practical Application

For believers today, Psalm 21:12 offers profound assurance regarding God's unwavering protection and His ultimate justice. While we may not face physical battles in the same way as ancient kings, we often encounter spiritual opposition and various forms of adversity. This verse reminds us:

  • Trust in God's Protection: Just as God fought for King David, He is ready to defend His people from spiritual and worldly adversaries. We can have confidence that if God is for us, who can be against us?
  • Confidence in Ultimate Justice: The verse speaks to the certainty of God's judgment against all forms of evil and those who oppose His righteous will. Though evil may seem to triumph for a time, God's justice will ultimately prevail.
  • God is Active and Prepared: We serve a God who is not distant but actively engaged in the affairs of His creation and ready to intervene on behalf of His faithful. This encourages us to rely on His strength in times of weakness and conflict.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Psalms 7:12

    If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.

  • Psalms 7:13

    He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors.

  • Psalms 18:40

    Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me.

  • Psalms 64:7

    ¶ But God shall shoot at them [with] an arrow; suddenly shall they be wounded.

  • Psalms 56:9

    When I cry [unto thee], then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God [is] for me.

  • Psalms 44:10

    Thou makest us to turn back from the enemy: and they which hate us spoil for themselves.

  • Job 16:12

    I was at ease, but he hath broken me asunder: he hath also taken [me] by my neck, and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for his mark.

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