28:7 28:7

Psalms 28:8

28:9 28:9

Bible Versions

The LORD [is] their strength, and he [is] the saving strength of his anointed.
The LORD {H3068} is their strength {H5797}, and he is the saving {H3444} strength {H4581} of his anointed {H4899}.
ADONAI is strength for [his people], a stronghold of salvation to his anointed.
The LORD is the strength of His people, a stronghold of salvation for His anointed.
Jehovah is their strength, And he is a stronghold of salvation to his anointed.

Context

Psalm 28 is a fervent prayer of David, likely composed during a period of intense distress or danger. He cries out to the Lord for deliverance from his enemies, pleading for God to hear him and not forsake him. The psalm contrasts the fate of the wicked, who are consumed by their own evil, with the blessing and protection God provides for His people. Verse 8 marks a shift from David's personal plea to a confident declaration of God's unwavering character and His faithfulness to His chosen leader, the king.

Key Themes

  • Divine Strength and Refuge: The verse emphatically declares that the LORD is the ultimate source of strength for His people. This strength is not merely a passive quality but an active, protective power that sustains and upholds.
  • Saving Strength (Deliverance): The phrase "saving strength" (KJV) or "stronghold of salvation" (NIV) highlights God's active intervention to rescue and preserve. It signifies that God's power is specifically applied for deliverance from danger, oppression, and all forms of spiritual and physical harm.
  • God's Anointed (Messiah): The term "his anointed" (Hebrew: meshiach) refers directly to the king of Israel, who was consecrated by oil as God's chosen representative. In David's context, this refers to himself. However, prophetically, this term powerfully points to the ultimate "Anointed One," Jesus Christ, the Messiah, through whom all true salvation and strength come. This connects to the broader biblical narrative of God's covenant with His kingly line, culminating in Christ's eternal reign (see Psalm 2:2).
  • God's Faithfulness: This verse underscores God's steadfast loyalty to His covenant promises, both to His people and to the leaders He establishes. He will not abandon those He has chosen and empowered.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "strength" here is עוֹז ('oz), conveying might, power, and a fortified place. The phrase "saving strength" is מָעוֹז יְשׁוּעוֹת (ma'oz yeshu'ot), which literally translates to "fortress of salvations" or "stronghold of deliverances." This emphasizes God as a secure, impenetrable refuge who provides abundant and repeated acts of salvation.

Practical Application

For believers today, Psalm 28:8 serves as a profound affirmation of God's character. In times of personal weakness, fear, or overwhelming circumstances, we are reminded that our strength comes from the Lord. He is not just a source of general power, but a specific "saving strength" that delivers us from spiritual bondage, temptation, and the challenges of life. Furthermore, recognizing Christ as the ultimate "Anointed One" helps us understand that true and lasting salvation is found only in Him (Acts 4:12). This verse encourages us to trust in God's sovereign power and His unfailing commitment to His people, especially His Anointed Son.

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.

  • Psalms 20:6

    ¶ Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand.

  • Psalms 140:7

    O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.

  • Isaiah 61:1

    ¶ The Spirit of the Lord GOD [is] upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to [them that are] bound;

  • 1 Samuel 16:13

    Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.

  • Psalms 2:2

    The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, [saying],
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