What Does Psalm 20:7 Mean in the King James?
Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The verse sets visible force beside the LORD’s nature, and makes keeping that nature present the community’s ground of confidence.
THE MEANING
Visible power can look like security, but this verse turns your attention to the nature of the LORD your God. Remembering that nature keeps it present as the ground of confidence. The “we” makes this a shared declaration, held in common.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that the force you can summon guarantees your safety.
THE ROOT
נַזְכִּיר
nazkir
GROWS FROM
זכר
z-k-r
To remember, recall, or mention.
“remember” in this verse is nazkir. The root carries both inward recollection and outward mention: what is remembered is brought into the present. The verse pairs that act with שֵׁם (shem, name as nature), so the community keeps the LORD’s character present, not merely a label.
ALSO GROWS
zakar: Remember, recall, mention.
זָכַר
The verb shows remembrance as an active bringing of something into awareness.
zeker: Remembrance, memorial, or mention.
זֵכֶר
A memorial makes what is remembered present beyond a single moment.
zikkaron: Memorial or reminder.
זִכָּרוֹן
This branch shows remembrance as something that can be kept before a whole community.
THE PATTERN
Visible strength may serve a purpose, but it cannot take the place of confidence grounded in the LORD.
Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:THE THREAD
And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.This verse makes explicit the link Psalm 20:7 holds in compressed form: knowing the LORD’s name, his nature, grounds trust in him. Psalm 20:7 describes the community keeping that nature present.
Read the SDV Bible.
Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.
The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.
Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us