Psalms 21:3

Old Testament Poetry/Hymns ASV (1901)

What does Psalms 21:3 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “For thou meetest him with the blessings of goodness: Thou settest a crown of fine gold on his head.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

For thou meetest him with the blessings of goodness: Thou settest a crown of fine gold on his head.
Psalms 21:3 — American Standard Version

Context — Psalms 21

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
3For thou meetest him with the blessings of goodness: Thou settest a crown of fine gold on his head.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“For thou preventest him with the blessings of goodness, etc.] Not temporal, but spiritual blessings, which spring from the grace and goodness of God, and consist of it; and relate to the spiritual and eternal welfare of those for whose sake he receives them, and who are blessed with them in him: his being “prevented” with them denotes the freeness of the donation of them; that before he could well ask for them, or before he had done requesting them, they were given him; and also the earliness of the gift of them, they were put into his hands before his incarnation, before he was manifest in the flesh, even from the foundation of the world, and before the world began, (<490103>Ephesians…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“preventest--literally, "to meet here in good sense," or "friendship" (Psa 59:10; compare opposite, Psa 17:13). blessings of goodness--which confer happiness. crown of pure gold--a figure for the highest royal prosperity.”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Prevent - Crowning him with manifold blessings, both more and sooner than he expected. With - With excellent blessings. Psalms 21:4”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“21:3-6 The king returned victorious from battle and received honor from the people. His greatest honor came from God, who gave him blessings, life, and his presence. 21:3 success and prosperity: See Prov 10:6.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“preventest: Psa 18:18; Sa1 16:13; Sa2 2:4, Sa2 5:3; Job 41:11; Rom 11:35 blessings: Psa 31:19; Ch2 6:41; Rom 2:4; Eph 1:3 settest: Sa2 12:30; Ch1 20:2; Heb 2:9; Rev 19:12 Psalms 21:4”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“(Heb.: 21:4-5) "Blessings of good" ( Pro 24:25) are those which consist of good, i.e., true good fortune. The verb קדּם, because used of the favour which meets and presents one with some blessing, is construed with a double accusative, after the manner of verbs of putting on and bestowing (Ges. ֗139). Since Psa 21:4 cannot be intended to refer to David's first coronation, but to the preservation and increase of the honour of his kingship, this particularisation of Psa 21:4 sounds like a prediction of what is recorded in Sa2 22:30 : after the conquest of the Ammonitish royal city Rabbah David set the Ammonitish crown (עטרת), which is renowned for the weight of its gold and its ornamentation…”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification