The Meaning of Psalms 44:4 Explained

Psalms 44:4

KJV: Thou art my King, O God: command deliverances for Jacob.

YLT: Thou art He, my king, O God, Command the deliverances of Jacob.

Darby: Thou thyself art my king, O God: command deliverance for Jacob.

ASV: Thou art my King, O God: Command deliverance for Jacob.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Thou art my King,  O God:  command  deliverances  for Jacob. 

What does Psalms 44:4 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 44:1-8 - Courage From Former Deliverances
This psalm, like Psalms 60:1-12, came out of one of the early wars in David's reign, as described in 2 Samuel 8:13-14. Some refer it to 2 Chronicles 20:1-37. It befits the Church when her former prosperous state contrasts sadly with her depressed and suffering condition.
It is a great argument in prayer when we can quote to God the mighty things of the past, and ask that He should do the same again. The great revivals and advances of the past were not achieved by human wisdom or might, but by faith. It is always God's right hand and the light of Hiscountenance that win the land in possession; but why should He not command similar deliverances again! And what is true of the Church is equally true of the individual. Why not lift thy heart to God, O defeated soul, and claim that He should command victories for thee? Psalms 44:2, r.v., margin. Make thy boast in God and thou wilt have reason to give thanks unto Him forever! But before we can claim God's deliverances, we must be able to say, Thou art my King, Psalms 44:4. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 44

1  The church, in memory of former favors
7  complains of her present evils
17  professing her integrity,
24  she fervently prays for helpfulness

What do the individual words in Psalms 44:4 mean?

You are my King God Command victories for Jacob
אַתָּה־ ה֣וּא מַלְכִּ֣י אֱלֹהִ֑ים צַ֝וֵּ֗ה יְשׁוּע֥וֹת יַעֲקֹֽב

מַלְכִּ֣י  my  King 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
אֱלֹהִ֑ים  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
צַ֝וֵּ֗ה  Command 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: צָוָה  
Sense: to command, charge, give orders, lay charge, give charge to, order.
יְשׁוּע֥וֹת  victories  for 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct
Root: יְשׁוּעָה  
Sense: salvation, deliverance.
יַעֲקֹֽב  Jacob 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יַעֲקֹב  
Sense: son of Isaac, grandson of Abraham, and father of the 2 patriarchs of the tribes of Israel.