Psalms 21:2

KJV

Thou hast given him his heart's desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips. Selah.

KJV (with Strong's)

Thou hast given {H5414} him his heart's {H3820} desire {H8378}, and hast not withholden {H4513} the request {H782} of his lips {H8193}. Selah {H5542}.

Complete Jewish Bible

You give him his heart's desire; you don't refuse the prayer from his lips. (Selah)

Berean Standard Bible

You have granted his heart’s desire and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah

American Standard Version

Thou hast given him his heart’s desire, And hast not withholden the request of his lips. [Selah

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 21:2 stands as a vibrant declaration of divine favor and answered prayer, celebrating God's boundless generosity toward His anointed king. The verse proclaims that the Lord has fully granted the king's deepest longings and spoken petitions without reservation, highlighting the completeness of God's benevolent response. It encapsulates a moment of profound thanksgiving, affirming God's active involvement in the life of His servant and underscoring the intimate relationship between the sovereign King of Israel and the faithful God who hears and fulfills the righteous desires of His heart.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalms 21 is a royal psalm of thanksgiving, forming a direct counterpart and triumphant response to [Psalm 20](/psalms/20 "Psalm 20 - A Prayer for the King's Victory"). While Psalm 20 was a fervent prayer for the king's success and God's intervention in an impending battle, Psalm 21, particularly this verse, celebrates the glorious fulfillment of those very petitions. The psalm shifts from supplication to exultation, marking a pivotal moment of victory and divine vindication. It is strategically placed within the Psalter to illustrate the principle that God hears and answers the prayers of His people, especially those offered on behalf of His anointed leader. The "Selah" at the end of the verse invites a pause, allowing the reader to reflect on the profound truth of God's complete and unreserved answer to prayer, setting the stage for the subsequent verses that elaborate on the king's blessings and God's enduring strength.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The psalm is widely attributed to King David, reflecting a specific historical context of ancient Israelite monarchy. In this period, the king was not merely a political leader but also God's chosen representative, an "anointed one" (Messiah). His victories were seen as direct evidence of God's favor and presence among His people. The "heart's desire" and "request of his lips" likely refer to prayers offered before or during a significant military campaign, perhaps for victory, protection, or the establishment of his kingdom. The culture deeply understood the concept of a covenant relationship between God and His king, where faithfulness on the king's part would be met with divine blessing and success. This verse, therefore, celebrates not just a personal triumph but a national affirmation of God's faithfulness to His covenant with David and his dynasty, as promised in [2 Samuel 7](/2_samuel/7 "2 Samuel 7 - The Davidic Covenant").
* **Key Themes:** Psalms 21:2 is rich with several interconnected themes. Firstly, it powerfully conveys the theme of **answered prayer**, demonstrating God's attentiveness and responsiveness to the petitions of His faithful servants. The completeness implied by "not withholden" emphasizes God's generous nature. Secondly, it highlights **divine blessing and favor**, portraying God as a benevolent Giver who delights in bestowing good things upon His anointed. The king's success is not due to his own might but to God's active intervention and unmerited grace, aligning with the broader theme of God's sovereignty over earthly rulers and events, as seen in [Psalm 75:6-7](/psalms/75-6 "Psalm 75:6-7 - God Exalts and Brings Down"). Thirdly, the verse underscores **God's unwavering faithfulness** to His promises, particularly those made to the Davidic line. The fulfillment of the king's desires serves as a tangible testament to God's reliability and integrity. Finally, while rooted in David's experience, the psalm carries significant **Messianic undertones**, pointing beyond the earthly king to the ultimate, perfect King, Jesus Christ, whose desires perfectly align with the Father's will and are always fulfilled, foreshadowing the ultimate triumph described in [Revelation 11:15](/revelation/11-15 "Revelation 11:15 - The Kingdom of the World Becomes the Kingdom of Our Lord").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Heart's desire (Hebrew, _ta'avat libbo'_):** This phrase refers to the deepest, most intrinsic longings or cravings of an individual's inner being. It speaks to the core motivations, aspirations, and unuttered yearnings that reside within the heart. The use of "heart" (לֵב, _lev_) in Hebrew thought often encompasses the mind, will, and emotions, indicating a comprehensive and profound desire that stems from one's very essence. The granting of this "heart's desire" signifies a complete and intimate fulfillment of the king's deepest needs and hopes, far beyond superficial requests.
* **Request of his lips (Hebrew, _areshet s'fatav'_):** This refers to the spoken petition, the uttered prayer, or the specific words of supplication that the king vocalized. While "heart's desire" speaks to the internal longing, "request of his lips" refers to the external, articulated expression of that longing. The parallelism between these two phrases ("heart's desire" and "request of his lips") emphasizes the comprehensive nature of God's answer, addressing both the unspoken burdens and the explicit prayers of the king. It highlights God's attentiveness to both the spirit and the letter of human petition.
* **Selah (Hebrew, _selah'_):** This term, found frequently in the Psalms, is a musical or liturgical notation whose precise meaning is debated but generally understood as an instruction for a pause, perhaps for reflection, meditation, or a musical interlude. In this context, following the powerful declaration of God's complete fulfillment of the king's desires, "Selah" functions as an invitation to pause and deeply contemplate the profound truth of God's generosity and faithfulness. It provides a moment for the worshiper to absorb the weight and significance of the preceding statement, allowing its spiritual impact to resonate.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Thou hast given him his heart's desire":** This clause directly attributes the fulfillment of the king's deepest longings to God's active and benevolent hand. The verb "given" (נָתַתָּה, _natattah_) implies a deliberate, gracious, and complete bestowal. It signifies that God is the source of this profound blessing, not the king's own merit or effort. The "heart's desire" points to the internal, unexpressed longings that God, in His omniscience and grace, has recognized and satisfied.
* **"and hast not withholden the request of his lips":** This second clause functions in synonymous parallelism with the first, reinforcing the completeness of God's answer. The phrase "not withholden" (לֹא מָנַעְתָּ, _lo mana'ta_) emphasizes God's unreserved generosity and lack of hesitation. It means God did not hold back, deny, or refuse any part of what the king explicitly asked for. This double affirmation underscores that both the king's unspoken longings and his articulated prayers have been fully and freely granted by the Lord.
* **"Selah.":** As discussed in the Key Word Analysis, this notation serves as a liturgical or musical marker, prompting a pause for reflection. In the context of this verse, it calls for a moment to ponder the immense truth that God not only hears but fully answers the prayers of His anointed, inviting deep gratitude and trust in His character.

#### Literary Devices
Psalms 21:2 masterfully employs several literary devices to convey its powerful message. The most prominent is **Parallelism**, specifically **synonymous parallelism**, where the second clause ("and hast not withholden the request of his lips") reiterates and intensifies the meaning of the first clause ("Thou hast given him his heart's desire"). This repetition emphasizes the completeness and totality of God's response, leaving no doubt that every aspect of the king's petition, both internal and external, has been fully met. The use of a negative ("not withholden") in the second clause further underscores the positive affirmation of God's generosity. There is also an element of **Hyperbole** in the absolute nature of "not withholden," suggesting an overflowing generosity that goes beyond mere sufficiency. The psalm also uses **Apostrophe**, directly addressing God ("Thou hast given him"), which creates an intimate and worshipful tone, acknowledging God as the sole source of blessing. Finally, the inclusion of **Selah** acts as a liturgical device, a deliberate pause for meditation and reflection, inviting the audience to internalize the profound truth of God's faithfulness and the magnitude of His answered prayer.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse profoundly articulates the biblical truth of God's benevolent character and His active engagement with His people, particularly His anointed. It speaks to the confidence believers can have in prayer, knowing that God is not only attentive to their spoken words but also to the deepest longings of their hearts. The complete fulfillment of the king's desires points to God's abundant generosity and His delight in blessing those who walk in His favor. Theologically, it reinforces the concept of divine sovereignty, where God orchestrates events and answers prayers according to His perfect will, demonstrating His faithfulness to His covenant promises. This personal experience of answered prayer for the king serves as a tangible testament to God's power and goodness, inviting all who witness it to trust in His providence.

* [Psalm 37:4](/psalms/37-4 "Delight in the Lord and He Will Give You the Desires of Your Heart")
* [Psalm 20:4](/psalms/20-4 "May He Grant You Your Heart's Desire")
* [1 John 5:14](/1_john/5-14 "Confidence in Prayer According to His Will")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 21:2 offers profound encouragement for believers today, reminding us of the active and generous nature of our God. It invites us to cultivate a life of confident prayer, knowing that the Lord is intimately acquainted with our deepest heart's desires and listens attentively to our spoken requests. This verse challenges us to align our desires with God's will, trusting that when our longings reflect His purposes, He delights in granting them without reservation. It fosters a spirit of profound gratitude, prompting us to acknowledge God as the ultimate source of every good and perfect gift. Just as the king celebrated God's faithfulness, we too are called to recount and give thanks for the ways God has answered our prayers, both seen and unseen, strengthening our trust in His unfailing goodness and His commitment to our flourishing. This verse calls us to a deeper relationship with a God who is not distant or withholding, but intimately involved and abundantly generous.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What are the "heart's desires" and "requests of your lips" that you are currently bringing before the Lord?**
* **How does the completeness of God's answer in this verse encourage your confidence in prayer?**
* **In what ways have you experienced God's "not withholden" generosity in your own life, and how can you express gratitude for it?**
* **How does aligning your desires with God's will impact your expectation of answered prayer?**

### FAQ
**Does God always grant every desire of our heart, as suggested by this verse?**

Answer: While Psalms 21:2 celebrates the complete fulfillment of the king's desires, it's crucial to understand this within the broader biblical context. This verse speaks to the desires of an anointed king, whose petitions were presumably aligned with God's will for his kingdom and people. The Bible teaches that God delights in granting the desires of those who delight in Him ([Psalm 37:4](/psalms/37-4 "Delight in the Lord")). However, it also clarifies that our prayers must be according to His will ([1 John 5:14](/1_john/5-14 "Confidence in Prayer According to His Will")). God, in His perfect wisdom and love, always acts for our ultimate good and His glory. Sometimes, His answer is "yes," sometimes "no," and sometimes "wait," but always "I have something better." This verse assures us of God's benevolent character and His willingness to bless, especially when our hearts are attuned to His purposes.

**What is the significance of "Selah" in this verse?**

Answer: "Selah" (סֶלָה) is a term found frequently in the Psalms and Habakkuk, believed to be a musical or liturgical direction. While its exact meaning is debated, it is commonly understood as an instruction for a pause, perhaps for musical interlude, silent reflection, or emphasis. In Psalms 21:2, "Selah" acts as a powerful invitation to pause and meditate on the profound truth just stated: that God has completely and unreservedly granted the king's deepest desires and spoken requests. It encourages the reader or worshiper to absorb the weight of God's faithfulness and generosity, allowing the truth to sink deeply into the heart and mind before moving on. It's a call to contemplation and worship in response to divine blessing.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 21:2 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ, the true and eternal King, the Son of David. While the verse celebrates the earthly king's answered prayers, it foreshadows the perfect and complete fulfillment of the Father's will through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. The "heart's desire" of Jesus was always to do the will of His Father ([John 4:34](/john/4-34 "Jesus' Food Is to Do the Will of God")), and His "request of His lips" included prayers for His disciples ([John 17:9](/john/17-9 "Jesus Prays for His Disciples")) and for the Father's glory ([John 12:28](/john/12-28 "Jesus Prays for the Father's Name to Be Glorified")). Unlike any earthly monarch, Jesus' desires were perfectly aligned with God's, and thus, the Father "has not withholden" any of them. His ultimate "desire" was the salvation of humanity, achieved through His obedient sacrifice on the cross and His triumphant resurrection, by which He secured eternal victory over sin and death ([Hebrews 12:2](/hebrews/12-2 "Jesus, the Author and Finisher of Our Faith")). The blessings and triumph described for the king in Psalm 21 are fully realized in Christ, who now reigns at the right hand of God, having received all authority and having His every desire—the establishment of His kingdom and the redemption of His people—perfectly fulfilled ([Matthew 28:18](/matthew/28-18 "All Authority Given to Jesus")).

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 37:4

Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

Psalms 20:4

Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel.

Psalms 20:5

We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up [our] banners: the LORD fulfil all thy petitions.

Psalms 2:8

Ask of me, and I shall give [thee] the heathen [for] thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth [for] thy possession.

Psalms 2:9

Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.

Hebrews 7:25

Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

Isaiah 49:6

And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.