Psalms 21:5

His glory [is] great in thy salvation: honour and majesty hast thou laid upon him.

His glory {H3519} is great {H1419} in thy salvation {H3444}: honour {H1935} and majesty {H1926} hast thou laid {H7737} upon him.

Your victory brings him great glory; you confer on him splendor and honor.

Great is his glory in Your salvation; You bestow on him splendor and majesty.

His glory is great in thy salvation: Honor and majesty dost thou lay upon him.

Commentary

Commentary on Psalms 21:5 (KJV)

This verse is part of a royal psalm, likely composed for a king of Israel, perhaps celebrating a victory or a significant moment like a coronation. It follows verses that highlight the king's trust in God and God's favor towards him. Verse 5 specifically magnifies the source of the king's greatness: it is not inherent in the king himself, but stems entirely from God's saving power and the honor God bestows upon him.

Key Themes

  • Divine Source of Glory: The verse explicitly states that the king's "glory" is not his own doing but is "great in thy salvation." This emphasizes that any success, honor, or victory the king experiences is a direct result of God's intervention and saving action.
  • Bestowal of Honour and Majesty: God is the one who "laid upon him" honour and majesty. This highlights God's sovereign power to exalt and give authority. The earthly king's position and dignity are gifts from the divine King.
  • Messianic Significance: While initially referring to an earthly king, this psalm is often seen through a messianic lens. The ultimate fulfillment is found in Jesus Christ, whose glory is uniquely tied to God's salvation for humanity, and upon whom God the Father has bestowed unparalleled glory and honour.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "salvation" here is yeshua (ื™ึฐืฉืื•ึผืขึธื”), a term rich with meaning, encompassing deliverance, victory, and well-being. The word for "glory" (kavod - ื›ึธึผื‘ื•ึนื“) signifies weight, substance, and renown. "Honour" (hod - ื”ื•ึนื“) speaks of splendor and majesty, often associated with divine authority, while "majesty" (hadar - ื”ึธื“ึธืจ) also conveys adornment, glory, and honor. The combination of these terms paints a picture of profound exaltation granted by God.

Reflection and Application

Psalms 21:5 reminds us that true glory, honour, and majesty come from God. For the believer, our standing, worth, and any spiritual "glory" we possess are entirely dependent on God's salvation through Christ. It calls us to humility, recognizing that any good thing in us or through us is by His grace. It also points forward to Christ, the King upon whom God has laid ultimate honour and majesty, and through whom we experience the fullness of God's great salvation.

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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 Peter 3:22

    Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

  • Revelation 5:8

    And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four [and] twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.

  • Revelation 5:13

    And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, [be] unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

  • John 17:22

    And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

  • Hebrews 8:1

    ยถ Now of the things which we have spoken [this is] the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;

  • Ephesians 1:20

    Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set [him] at his own right hand in the heavenly [places],

  • Ephesians 1:22

    And hath put all [things] under his feet, and gave him [to be] the head over all [things] to the church,
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