BibleWord.ai› Bible› Psalms› Chapter 21› Verse 12

Psalms 21:12

Old Testament Poetry/Hymns ASV (1901)

What does Psalms 21:12 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “For thou wilt make them turn their back; Thou wilt make ready with thy bowstrings against their face.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

For thou wilt make them turn their back; Thou wilt make ready with thy bowstrings against their face.
Psalms 21:12 — American Standard Version

Context — Psalms 21

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
9Thou wilt make them as a fiery furnace in the time of thine anger: Jehovah will swallow them up in his wrath, And the fire shall devour them.
10Their fruit wilt thou destroy from the earth, And their seed from among the children of men.
11For they intended evil against thee; They conceived a device which they are not able to perform.
12For thou wilt make them turn their back; Thou wilt make ready with thy bowstrings against their face.
13Be thou exalted, O Jehovah, in thy strength: So will we sing and praise thy power. Psalm 22 For the Chief Musician; set to Aijaleth hash-Shahar. A Psalm of David.
← Psalms 21:11Psalms 21:13 →
← Full Chapter 21 Psalms Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Therefore shall thou make them turn their back, etc.] Or flee and run away to private places, to hide themselves from the wrath of God and of the Lamb, though to no purpose; or “make them turn [behind thy] back”: God will turn his back upon them, and be negligent and careless of them, and not regard them when they cry in their misery and destruction. Some Jewish interpreters f325 understand it of their being put together on one side, in one corner, and be separate from the people of God; to which sense the Targum inclines, rendering the word for “back” the “shoulder”, which sometimes signifies unanimity and union, (<360309>Zephaniah 3:9); and thus, being all together by themselves, the wrath…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“turn their back--literally, "place them [as to the] shoulder." against the face of them--The shooting against their faces would cause them to turn their backs in flight.”
Read attributed excerpt →
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Therefore: Psa 9:3, Psa 44:10, Psa 56:9 make: etc. or, set them as a butt, Job 7:20, Job 16:12, Job 16:13; Lam 3:12 back: Heb. shoulder thou shalt: Psa 7:13, Psa 18:14, Psa 64:7 Psalms 21:13”
Read attributed excerpt →

Related study paths

Read Psalms 21 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification