The Meaning of Psalms 21:1 Explained

Psalms 21:1

KJV: {To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.} The king shall joy in thy strength, O LORD; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!

YLT: To the Overseer. -- A Psalm of David. Jehovah, in Thy strength is the king joyful, In Thy salvation how greatly he rejoiceth.

Darby: {To the chief Musician. A Psalm of David.} The king shall joy in thy strength, Jehovah; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice.

ASV: The king shall joy in thy strength, O Jehovah; And in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!

KJV Reverse Interlinear

{{To the chief Musician,  A Psalm  of David.  }} The king  shall joy  in thy strength,  O LORD;  and in thy salvation  how greatly  shall he rejoice! 

What does Psalms 21:1 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 21:1-13 - Rejoicing In The Strength Of Jehovah
This is a companion to the psalm preceding. The blessings there asked for are here gladly acknowledged to have been granted; and bright anticipations are entertained for the future. How much of this psalm is true only of the ideal King-our Lord! Let us read it with special reference to Him as He rides forth on His white horse, Revelation 19:11-16.
That which the heart desires, the lips at times find difficulty in expressing. God's help always prevents us, that is, "goes before" us, anticipates our needs. The only life that can satisfy is the eternal, but that is ours already if we only knew it. Our beloved dead are more blessed forever, because they see Him "face to face;" but we also may share their joy. Trust in Christ is the secret of immovability. God has exalted Christ to be a Prince and a Savior, and we shall never be at peace until we have done the same, Acts 5:31. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 21

1  A thanksgiving for victory
7  with confidence of further success

What do the individual words in Psalms 21:1 mean?

To the Chief Musician a Psalm of David Yahweh in Your strength shall have joy the king and in Your salvation how shall he rejoice greatly
לַמְנַצֵּ֗חַ מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִֽד יְֽהוָ֗ה בְּעָזְּךָ֥ יִשְׂמַח־ מֶ֑לֶךְ וּ֝בִישׁ֥וּעָתְךָ֗ מַה־ ! מְאֹֽד[[יגילמְאֹֽד]] יָּ֥גֶל‪‬

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.
יְֽהוָ֗ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
בְּעָזְּךָ֥  in  Your  strength 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: עֹז  
Sense: might, strength.
יִשְׂמַח־  shall  have  joy 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׂמַח  
Sense: to rejoice, be glad.
מֶ֑לֶךְ  the  king 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
וּ֝בִישׁ֥וּעָתְךָ֗  and  in  Your  salvation 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: יְשׁוּעָה  
Sense: salvation, deliverance.
מַה־  how 
Parse: Interrogative
Root: לָמָּה 
Sense: what, how, of what kind.
! מְאֹֽד[[יגילמְאֹֽד]]  shall  he  rejoice 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: גִּיל  
Sense: to rejoice, exult, be glad.
יָּ֥גֶל‪‬  greatly 
Parse: Adverb
Root: מְאֹד  
Sense: exceedingly, much subst.