The Meaning of Psalms 20:1 Explained

Psalms 20:1

KJV: {To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.} The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee;

YLT: To the Overseer. -- A Psalm of David. Jehovah doth answer thee, In a day of adversity, The name of the God of Jacob doth set thee on high,

Darby: {To the chief Musician. A Psalm of David.} Jehovah answer thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob protect thee;

ASV: Jehovah answer thee in the day of trouble; The name of the God of Jacob set thee up on high;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

{{To the chief Musician,  A Psalm  of David.  }} The LORD  hear  thee in the day  of trouble;  the name  of the God  of Jacob  defend  thee; 

What does Psalms 20:1 Mean?

Study Notes

defend
Heb. "set thee on an high place."

Context Summary

Psalms 20:1-9 - The Saving Strength Of God's Right Hand
This may have been written on such an occasion as 2 Samuel 10:1-19.
The prayer of the soldiers, Psalms 20:1-4. Ready, drawn up for the battle, they salute their king. God's name is His character. The God of Jacob cannot forsake us, though we are unworthy as the patriarch. "Thou worm Jacob!" Isaiah 41:14.
The resolve, Psalms 20:5. Our banners may wave proudly in the breeze, but all is vain if God be not our trust. The Lord is our "banner," Exodus 17:15. We succeed only as we set out in His name and for His glory.
The king's voice, Psalms 20:6. Strength is plural, signifying the variety and infinity of God's resources, on which we may count.
The final chorus of the host, Psalms 20:7-9. As they look across the field, they contrast the might of their foes with their slender equipment. But as they gaze, those embattled hosts are dispersed, as clouds before a gale. Save! is the battle-cry. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 20

1  The church blesses the King in his exploits
7  and expresses her confidence in God's helpfulness

What do the individual words in Psalms 20:1 mean?

To the Chief Musician a Psalm of David May answer you Yahweh in the day of trouble May defend you the name of the God of Jacob
לַמְנַצֵּ֗חַ מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִֽד יַֽעַנְךָ֣ יְ֭הוָה בְּי֣וֹם צָרָ֑ה יְ֝שַׂגֶּבְךָ֗ שֵׁ֤ם ׀ אֱלֹהֵ֬י יַעֲקֹֽב

לַמְנַצֵּ֗חַ  To  the  Chief  Musician 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Verb, Piel, Participle, masculine singular
Root: נָצַח  
Sense: to excel, be bright, be preeminent, be perpetual, be overseer, be enduring.
מִזְמ֥וֹר  a  Psalm 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִזְמֹור  
Sense: melody, psalm.
לְדָוִֽד  of  David 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּוִד  
Sense: youngest son of Jesse and second king of Israel.
יַֽעַנְךָ֣  May  answer  you 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular, second person masculine singular
Root: לְעַנּׄות 
Sense: to answer, respond, testify, speak, shout.
יְ֭הוָה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
בְּי֣וֹם  in  the  day 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
צָרָ֑ה  of  trouble 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: צָרָה 
Sense: straits, distress, trouble.
יְ֝שַׂגֶּבְךָ֗  May  defend  you 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine singular, second person masculine singular
Root: שָׂגַב  
Sense: to be high, be inaccessibly high.
שֵׁ֤ם ׀  the  name 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: שֵׁם  
Sense: name.
אֱלֹהֵ֬י  of  the  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
יַעֲקֹֽב  of  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.