Psalms 89:17

KJV

For thou [art] the glory of their strength: and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted.

KJV (with Strong's)

For thou art the glory {H8597} of their strength {H5797}: and in thy favour {H7522} our horn {H7161} shall be exalted {H7311}{H8799)}{H8675)}{H7311}{H8686)}.

Complete Jewish Bible

for you yourself are the strength in which they glory. Our power grows by pleasing you,

Berean Standard Bible

For You are the glory of their strength, and by Your favor our horn is exalted.

American Standard Version

For thou art the glory of their strength; And in thy favor our horn shall be exalted.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 89:17 powerfully declares that God Himself is the inherent splendor and source of His people's strength, and it is through His divine favor and benevolent will that their dignity and power are elevated. This verse encapsulates a foundational truth of the Davidic covenant, asserting that any true might, honor, or victory experienced by Israel, particularly through its king, originates solely from God's character and gracious disposition, rather than from human prowess or achievement.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalms 89 is a majestic and complex royal psalm, attributed to Ethan the Ezrahite, a wise man associated with Solomon's court ([1 Kings 4:31](/1_kings/4-31 "1 Kings 4:31 - Ethan the Ezrahite")). It stands as a pivotal piece within Book III of the Psalter, framed by a confident affirmation of God's covenant faithfulness (verses 1-18) and a profound lament over the apparent failure of the Davidic covenant in the face of national distress (verses 19-52). Verse 17 belongs to the opening section, which extols God's character, His cosmic power, and His unwavering commitment to the covenant established with King David. This initial section builds a robust theological foundation, celebrating God as the ultimate source of Israel's strength, honor, and prosperity, thereby setting a stark contrast with the subsequent plea for divine intervention when these promises seem to be contradicted by reality. The psalmist meticulously recounts God's promises to David, particularly the assurance of an everlasting kingdom and dynasty ([2 Samuel 7:16](/2_samuel/7-16 "2 Samuel 7:16 - The Davidic Covenant")).
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Davidic covenant, detailed in [2 Samuel 7](/2_samuel/7 "2 Samuel 7 - The Davidic Covenant"), was a cornerstone of Israelite theology and national identity. It promised David an eternal dynasty and a secure kingdom, establishing the king as God's anointed representative. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, a king's strength and the nation's prosperity were often seen as direct reflections of divine favor. The "horn" was a potent symbol of power, dignity, and authority, frequently depicted in art and literature. To have one's "horn exalted" signified triumph, increased status, and divine blessing. Thus, for the psalmist to declare that God is the "glory of their strength" and that the "horn" is exalted by His "favour" was to place all national security, royal authority, and military success squarely in the hands of Yahweh, directly challenging any notion of human self-sufficiency or reliance on earthly alliances. The psalm likely reflects a period of national crisis where the Davidic line or kingdom faced significant threats, prompting a deep theological wrestling with God's promises.
* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several overarching themes within Psalms 89 and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it underscores **God as the Sole Source of True Strength and Glory**, asserting that any genuine power, honor, or might possessed by His people or their king originates exclusively from Him. It is not human prowess but divine enablement that empowers. Secondly, the verse highlights the theme of **Divine Favor and Blessing**, emphasizing that prosperity, dignity, and victory are not earned through merit but are gracious gifts flowing directly from God's goodwill and acceptance towards His people. This concept is echoed throughout Scripture, as seen in [Psalm 30:5](/psalms/30-5 "Psalm 30:5 - His Favor is for Life"). Lastly, it powerfully articulates the theme of **Exaltation and Victory**, using the vivid imagery of the "horn" to signify elevation, triumph, and increased authority. This speaks to God's sovereign ability to lift up, establish, and grant success to those who depend entirely on Him, a truth powerfully expressed in Hannah's prayer of exaltation in [1 Samuel 2:1](/1_samuel/2-1 "1 Samuel 2:1 - Hannah's Prayer").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Glory (Hebrew, _tipheret'_):** This rich Hebrew term conveys splendor, beauty, honor, majesty, and adornment. In Psalms 89:17, it suggests that God is not merely the *giver* of strength, but He *is* the very splendor and honor that defines and dignifies that strength. It implies that the strength of God's people is not just effective, but it is also beautiful and honorable because it is imbued with God's own character and presence.
* **Strength (Hebrew, _oz'_):** This word denotes might, power, security, and fortitude. It is frequently used in the Old Testament to describe God's own mighty attributes and the power that He bestows upon His people. Here, it refers to the inherent capability, vigor, and resilience that God grants, enabling His people (and their king) to stand firm and prevail.
* **Favour (Hebrew, _ratzon'_):** This term signifies delight, goodwill, acceptance, pleasure, and benevolent will. It emphasizes God's positive disposition and gracious inclination towards His people, which is the direct cause of their blessing and upliftment. It is not a passive approval but an active, benevolent will that brings about positive outcomes.
* **Horn (Hebrew, _qeren'_):** In ancient Near Eastern cultures and biblical texts, the "horn" is a potent symbol of power, dignity, authority, and defense, much like the formidable horns of a wild ox. To have one's "horn exalted" (Hebrew: _tarum qarnenu_) means to be raised in power, status, or to achieve victory. It is a vivid metaphor for increased influence, triumph over adversaries, and established authority.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"For thou [art] the glory of their strength":** This clause establishes God as the ultimate source and essence of Israel's (and the king's) strength. It's a qualitative statement: God doesn't just *give* strength; He *is* the very honor, majesty, and splendor that makes that strength significant and effective. Any power they possess is not merely from Him, but is also adorned and dignified by His presence and character. It means that the strength of God's people is beautiful and honorable because it is derived from and reflects God's own glorious nature.
* **"and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted":** This second clause reveals the direct consequence of God's benevolent disposition. The "exaltation of the horn" – a powerful symbol of dignity, authority, and victory – is directly contingent upon God's "favour" or goodwill. It signifies that the people's elevation, triumph, and increased status are not achieved through their own merit or might, but are a gracious gift flowing from God's active pleasure and acceptance. This applies to the king as the representative of the nation, and by extension, to the nation as a whole.

#### Literary Devices
Psalms 89:17 employs several potent literary devices to convey its profound message. **Symbolism** is prominently featured with the "horn," which is a widely recognized ancient Near Eastern symbol for power, dignity, and authority. Its "exaltation" visually represents triumph and elevated status. The verse also utilizes **Metonymy**, where "horn" stands in for the power or dignity itself, rather than literally referring to an animal's horn. Furthermore, the two clauses exhibit a form of **Synthetic Parallelism**, where the second line expands upon or completes the thought of the first, showing a cause-and-effect relationship: God *is* their glorious strength, and *because* of His favor, their power (horn) is exalted. This structure reinforces the singular source of all true power and honor. The psalmist's declaration is also a form of **Affirmation**, a confident statement of theological truth that undergirds the entire psalm, particularly before the shift to lament.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 89:17 serves as a profound theological statement on divine sovereignty, covenant faithfulness, and the nature of true human strength. It asserts that all genuine power, honor, and success for God's people are not self-generated but are gifts flowing from God's character and gracious will. This verse highlights the essential truth that human exaltation is always a reflection of God's prior favor and not a result of human achievement. It calls believers to a posture of humility and dependence, recognizing that our ultimate security and ability to overcome challenges reside in God alone. This theological principle resonates throughout the biblical narrative, emphasizing that God delights in lifting up the humble and demonstrating His power through those who rely on Him.

* [1 Samuel 2:1](/1_samuel/2-1 "Hannah's Prayer of Exaltation")
* [Psalm 20:7](/psalms/20-7 "Psalm 20:7 - Trust in the Name of the Lord")
* [Philippians 4:13](/philippians/4-13 "Philippians 4:13 - All Things Through Christ")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 89:17 offers timeless encouragement and a vital call to humility for believers today. It reminds us that our true strength, our capacity for resilience, and our ability to navigate life's challenges do not originate from our own talents, resources, or efforts, but are divine endowments. This verse invites us to shift our perspective from self-reliance to God-reliance, understanding that any genuine "exaltation" or success we experience is a direct result of His unmerited favor. It encourages us to live in a posture of dependence, constantly acknowledging God as the source of all good things and giving Him the glory for every achievement. When we face weakness, adversity, or feel inadequate, this verse assures us that God's favor is sufficient to lift us up, establish our dignity, and grant us victory, not based on our merit, but on His benevolent will and steadfast love.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life are you most tempted to rely on your own strength rather than God's?**
* **How does understanding God as the "glory of your strength" change your perspective on personal achievements or successes?**
* **What does it mean practically to "seek God's favor" in your daily life, and how might that lead to spiritual "exaltation"?**
* **How can you cultivate a deeper sense of dependence on God's strength and favor, especially during times of weakness or challenge?**

### FAQ
**What does the "horn" symbolize in the Bible, and how is it "exalted"?**

Answer: In the Bible and ancient Near Eastern cultures, the "horn" (Hebrew: _qeren_) is a powerful and multifaceted symbol. Primarily, it represents strength, power, dignity, authority, and defense, drawing from the image of powerful horned animals like oxen or rams. It can also symbolize a king or a nation's might. To have one's "horn exalted" means to be elevated in status, to gain victory over enemies, to have one's authority increased, or to experience triumph and prosperity. It signifies divine vindication and blessing, as seen in [1 Samuel 2:1](/1_samuel/2-1 "Hannah's Prayer of Exaltation") where Hannah's "horn is exalted in the Lord." In Psalms 89:17, the exaltation of the horn is directly attributed to God's "favour," indicating that true power and dignity come from divine goodwill, not human effort or might.

**How does this verse balance human effort with divine grace?**

Answer: Psalms 89:17 strongly emphasizes divine grace as the ultimate source of strength and exaltation, rather than human effort. It declares that God *is* the "glory of their strength," meaning that even the capacity to exert effort or achieve anything honorable is imbued and dignified by God's presence. Furthermore, the "exaltation of the horn" is explicitly stated to be "in thy favour," highlighting that any true elevation or success is a direct result of God's benevolent disposition and not earned merit. While the Bible certainly calls for human responsibility and diligence, this verse serves as a powerful reminder that all effective strength and lasting triumph ultimately flow from God's enabling grace and unmerited favor. It promotes a posture of humble dependence, where human effort is seen as a response to, and empowered by, divine initiative.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 89:17 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The Davidic covenant, which forms the backdrop of this psalm, points forward to an eternal King whose kingdom would never end. Jesus is the true heir of David's throne, the promised "horn of salvation" raised up for us in the house of His servant David, as prophesied by Zechariah in [Luke 1:69](/luke/1-69 "Luke 1:69 - Zechariah's Prophecy of the Horn of Salvation"). He is the very embodiment of God's "glory," being the "radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature" ([Hebrews 1:3](/hebrews/1-3 "Hebrews 1:3 - Jesus, the Radiance of God's Glory")). In Him, the "strength" of God is perfectly manifested, not through earthly power, but through His sacrificial love and resurrection victory, demonstrating that God's power is "made perfect in weakness" ([2 Corinthians 12:9](/2_corinthians/12-9 "2 Corinthians 12:9 - God's Power Perfected in Weakness")). Through Christ, God's "favour" is perfectly extended to humanity, leading to our spiritual exaltation. Believers are not merely given strength, but they are united with Christ, who is their strength and glory ([Colossians 1:27](/colossians/1-27 "Colossians 1:27 - Christ in You, the Hope of Glory")), and are seated with Him in the heavenly realms ([Ephesians 2:6](/ephesians/2-6 "Ephesians 2:6 - Seated with Christ in Heavenly Places")), truly having their "horn exalted" in Him.

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 75:10

All the horns of the wicked also will I cut off; [but] the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.

Psalms 92:10

But my horn shalt thou exalt like [the horn of] an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil.

Psalms 148:14

He also exalteth the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; [even] of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the LORD.

2 Corinthians 12:9

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

2 Corinthians 12:10

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

1 Corinthians 1:30

But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

1 Corinthians 1:31

That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.