Psalms 20:2
Psalms 20:2 in Multiple Translations
May He send you help from the sanctuary and sustain you from Zion.
Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion;
Send thee help from the sanctuary, And strengthen thee out of Zion;
May he send you help from the holy place, and give you strength from Zion;
May the Lord send you help from the sanctuary, and may he support you from Zion.
Send thee helpe from the Sanctuarie, and strengthen thee out of Zion.
He doth send thy help from the sanctuary, And from Zion doth support thee,
send you help from the sanctuary, grant you support from Zion,
Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion.
In thy strength, O Lord, the king shall joy; and in thy salvation he shall rejoice exceedingly.
I desire/hope that he will reach out from his sacred temple and help you, and aid you from where he lives on Zion Hill.
Berean Amplified Bible — Psalms 20:2
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Psalms 20:2 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
יַֽעַנְ/ךָ֣
יְ֭הוָה
בְּ/י֣וֹם
צָרָ֑ה
יְ֝שַׂגֶּבְ/ךָ֗
שֵׁ֤ם
אֱלֹהֵ֬י
יַעֲקֹֽב
יַֽעַנְ/ךָ֣
ʻânâh
H6030
to dwell
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms | Suff
יְ֭הוָה
Yᵉhôvâh
H3068
The Lord
N-proper
בְּ/י֣וֹם
yôwm
H3117
day
Prep | N-ms
צָרָ֑ה
tsârâh
H6869
dearth
N-fs
יְ֝שַׂגֶּבְ/ךָ֗
sâgab
H7682
to exalt
V-Piel-Imperf-3ms | Suff
שֵׁ֤ם
shêm
H8034
name
N-ms
אֱלֹהֵ֬י
ʼĕlôhîym
H430
God
N-mp
יַעֲקֹֽב
Yaʻăqôb
H3290
Jacob
N-proper
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — Psalms 20:2
יַֽעַנְ/ךָ֣
ʻânâh
H6030
"to dwell"
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms | Suff
This verb means to sing or make music, but also to respond or give an answer. In the Bible, it is used to describe praising God in song or responding to a question. The KJV translates it as 'sing' or 'answer'.
Definition: (Qal) to dwell
Usage: Occurs in 316 OT verses. KJV: give account, afflict (by mistake for H6031 (עָנָה)), (cause to, give) answer, bring low (by mistake for H6031 (עָנָה)), cry, hear, Leannoth, lift up, say, [idiom] scholar, (give a) shout, sing (together by course), speak, testify, utter, (bear) witness. See also H1042 (בֵּית עֲנוֹת), H1043 (בֵּית עֲנָת). See also: Genesis 18:27; 2 Samuel 14:19; Job 40:2.
יְ֭הוָה
Yᵉhôvâh
H3068
"The Lord"
N-proper
Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.
Definition: Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
Usage: Occurs in 5522 OT verses. KJV: Jehovah, the Lord. Compare H3050 (יָהּ), H3069 (יְהֹוִה). See also: Genesis 2:4; Genesis 24:42; Exodus 8:8.
בְּ/י֣וֹם
yôwm
H3117
"day"
Prep | N-ms
The Hebrew word 'yom' refers to a day, which can be a literal 24-hour period or a figurative space of time. It is used in the Bible to describe a wide range of time periods, from a single day to a year or a lifetime. The word 'yom' is used in many different contexts throughout the Bible.
Definition: : day/when/time/period 1) day, time, year 1a) day (as opposed to night) 1b) day (24 hour period) 1b1) as defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1 1b2) as a division of time 1b2a) a working day, a day's journey 1c) days, lifetime (pl.) 1d) time, period (general) 1e) year 1f) temporal references 1f1) today 1f2) yesterday 1f3) tomorrow
Usage: Occurs in 1930 OT verses. KJV: age, [phrase] always, [phrase] chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), [phrase] elder, [idiom] end, [phrase] evening, [phrase] (for) ever(-lasting, -more), [idiom] full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, [phrase] old, [phrase] outlived, [phrase] perpetually, presently, [phrase] remaineth, [idiom] required, season, [idiom] since, space, then, (process of) time, [phrase] as at other times, [phrase] in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), [idiom] whole ([phrase] age), (full) year(-ly), [phrase] younger. See also: Genesis 1:5; Genesis 33:13; Exodus 23:15.
צָרָ֑ה
tsârâh
H6869
"dearth"
N-fs
A vexer is someone who causes trouble or distress, like a rival wife, used in the Bible to describe relationships or situations that cause anguish or affliction, as seen in the book of Genesis.
Definition: death, destitution
Usage: Occurs in 72 OT verses. KJV: adversary, adversity, affliction, anguish, distress, tribulation, trouble. See also: Genesis 35:3; Psalms 116:3; Psalms 9:10.
יְ֝שַׂגֶּבְ/ךָ֗
sâgab
H7682
"to exalt"
V-Piel-Imperf-3ms | Suff
To exalt means to make something or someone lofty or strong, often used to describe God's power. It can also mean to defend or set something on high. This concept is found in Psalms and other books.
Definition: 1) to be high, be inaccessibly high 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to be (too) high (for capture) 1a2) to be high (of prosperity) 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be high 1b2) to be set on high, be (safely) set on high 1b3) to be exalted (of God) 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to set on high, set (securely) on high 1c2) to exalt, exalt (in effective hostility) 1d) (Pual) to be set (securely) on high 1e) (Hiphil) to act exaltedly
Usage: Occurs in 20 OT verses. KJV: defend, exalt, be excellent, (be, set on) high, lofty, be safe, set up (on high), be too strong. See also: Deuteronomy 2:36; Proverbs 18:10; Psalms 20:2.
שֵׁ֤ם
shêm
H8034
"name"
N-ms
In the Bible, a name represents a person's identity, honor, and character, like God's name symbolizing His power and authority. It appears in Genesis and other books, often referring to God's name or a person's reputation. This concept is central to understanding biblical identity.
Definition: 1) name 1a) name 1b) reputation, fame, glory 1c) the Name (as designation of God) 1d) memorial, monument Aramaic equivalent: shum (שֻׁם "name" H8036)
Usage: Occurs in 771 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] base, (in-) fame(-ous), named(-d), renown, report. See also: Genesis 2:11; Exodus 3:15; Deuteronomy 16:6.
אֱלֹהֵ֬י
ʼĕlôhîym
H430
"God"
N-mp
The Hebrew word for God, elohim, refers to the one supreme God, and is sometimes used to show respect to judges or magistrates. It is also used to describe angels or mighty beings. This word is closely related to the name of the Lord, Yahweh, and is often translated as God or gods in the Bible.
Definition: This name means "gods" (plural intensive-singular meaning), "God" Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)
Usage: Occurs in 2246 OT verses. KJV: angels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty. See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 22:12; Exodus 3:11.
יַעֲקֹֽב
Yaʻăqôb
H3290
"Jacob"
N-proper
This word is the name of a person, Jacob, a key figure in the Bible. He was the son of Isaac and Rebekah, and the father of many tribes of Israel. The KJV simply translates it as Jacob.
Definition: A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.25.26; son of: Isaac (H3327) and Rebekah (H7259); brother of: Esau (H6215); married to Rachel (H7354), Leah (H3812), Zilpah (H2153) and Bilhah (H1090A); father of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Judah (H3063), Dan (H1835H), Naphtali (H5321), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074), Dinah (H1783), Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144); also called Jacob frequently Another name of yis.ra.el (יִשְׂרָאֵל "Israel" H3478) § Jacob = "heel holder" or "supplanter" son of Isaac, grandson of Abraham, and father of the 12 patriarchs of the tribes of Israel
Usage: Occurs in 319 OT verses. KJV: Jacob. See also: Genesis 25:26; Genesis 34:1; Psalms 14:7.
Study Notes — Psalms 20:2
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Psalms 20:2 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Psalms 20:2
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 20:2
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 20:2
- Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 20:2
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 20:2
- Cambridge Bible on Psalms 20:2
- Barnes' Notes on Psalms 20:2
- Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 20:2
- Sermons on Psalms 20:2
Context — The Day of Trouble
1May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.
2May He send you help from the sanctuary and sustain you from Zion.
3May He remember all your gifts and look favorably on your burnt offerings. Selah 4May He give you the desires of your heart and make all your plans succeed.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 Kings 8:44–45 | When Your people go to war against their enemies, wherever You send them, and when they pray to the LORD in the direction of the city You have chosen and the house I have built for Your Name, then may You hear from heaven their prayer and their plea, and may You uphold their cause. |
| 2 | 1 Kings 6:16 | He partitioned off the twenty cubits at the rear of the temple with cedar boards from floor to ceiling to form within the temple an inner sanctuary, the Most Holy Place. |
| 3 | 2 Chronicles 20:8–9 | They have lived in the land and have built in it a sanctuary for Your Name, saying, ‘If disaster comes upon us—whether sword or judgment, plague or famine—we will stand before this temple and before You, for Your Name is in this temple. We will cry out to You in our distress, and You will hear us and save us.’ |
| 4 | Isaiah 12:6 | Cry out and sing, O citizen of Zion, for great among you is the Holy One of Israel.” |
| 5 | Isaiah 14:32 | What answer will be given to the envoys of that nation? “The LORD has founded Zion, where His afflicted people will find refuge.” |
| 6 | 2 Samuel 6:17 | So they brought the ark of the LORD and set it in its place inside the tent that David had pitched for it. Then David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. |
| 7 | Psalms 3:4 | To the LORD I cry aloud, and He answers me from His holy mountain. Selah |
| 8 | Psalms 73:17 | until I entered God’s sanctuary; then I discerned their end. |
| 9 | 2 Samuel 5:7 | Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion (that is, the City of David). |
| 10 | Isaiah 37:34–35 | He will go back the way he came, and he will not enter this city,’ declares the LORD. ‘I will defend this city and save it for My own sake and for the sake of My servant David.’” |
Psalms 20:2 Summary
This verse is a prayer asking God to send help from His special place of worship, the sanctuary, and to give strength from His holy city, Zion. It means that God wants to give us the help and support we need, and we can trust in His power and presence. Just like God helped the Israelites in the past, He wants to help us today, as we see in verses like Psalms 23:4 and Jeremiah 29:11. By trusting in God and seeking His presence, we can experience His help and sustaining power in our lives.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the 'sanctuary' refer to in Psalms 20:2?
The sanctuary likely refers to the temple in Jerusalem, which was a place of worship and sacrifice, as seen in Exodus 25:8 and 1 Kings 8:1-66. It symbolizes God's presence and help.
How does God sustain us from Zion?
Zion is another name for Jerusalem, and God's sustaining power comes from His throne, as described in Psalms 2:6 and Isaiah 31:9. This sustaining power gives us strength and comfort in times of need.
Is this verse a promise for everyone or just for the Israelites?
While this verse was written in the context of the Israelites, the principle of God's help and sustaining power is available to all who put their trust in Him, as seen in Romans 11:17-24 and Galatians 3:26-29.
How can I experience God's help and sustaining power in my life?
To experience God's help and sustaining power, we must trust in Him and seek His presence, as encouraged in Psalms 91:1-2 and Hebrews 4:16. We can do this through prayer, worship, and obedience to His Word.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways I have experienced God's help and sustaining power in my life, and how can I thank Him for those times?
- How can I trust in God's presence and power when I am facing difficulties or challenges, and what scriptures can I turn to for comfort?
- In what ways can I seek God's sanctuary and Zion, and what does that look like in my daily life?
- How can I apply the promise of God's help and sustaining power to my current circumstances, and what steps can I take to trust in Him more fully?
Gill's Exposition on Psalms 20:2
Send thee help from the sanctuary,.... Meaning either from the tabernacle, the holy place, where was the ark, the symbol of the divine Presence; or rather heaven, the habitation of God's holiness
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 20:2
Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion; Help ... out of Zion. The help sought is on the ground of God's covenant with His people, whereof the sanctuary on Zion is the pledge.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 20:2
From the sanctuary; either, 1. From heaven, as it is expressed, . Or rather, 2. From the tabernacle in Zion, as it is explained in the next words, where the ark then was; toward which the Israelites directed their prayers, and from which God heard and answered them.
Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 20:2
Psalms 20:2 Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion;Ver. 2. Send thee help from the sanctuary] Or, from his holy heaven, saith Tremellius; without which vain is the help of man. God is all the doer in battles; and whencesoever the sword comes, it is bathed in heaven, Isaiah 34:5, whatsoever Ajax, Timotheus Atheniensis, and other atheists think to the contrary: God will send from heaven and save me, saith holy David. And strengthen thee out of Zion] i.e. Out of the assemblies of the saints, where they are praying hard for thy welfare. See Psalms 76:2-3,
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 20:2
Verse 2. Send thee help from the sanctuary] This was the place where God recorded his name; the place where he was to be sought, and the place where he manifested himself. He dwelt between the cherubim over the mercy-seat. He is now in Christ, reconciling the world to himself. This is the true sanctuary where God must be sought. Strengthen thee out of Zion] The temple or tabernacle where his prayers and sacrifices were to be offered.
Cambridge Bible on Psalms 20:2
2. the sanctuary] Here, as the parallel out of Zion shews, the earthly sanctuary is meant. See notes on Psalms 3:4, Psalms 14:7; and cp. Psalms 20:6. strengthen] Lit. support; the same word as hath holden me up in Psalms 18:35.
Barnes' Notes on Psalms 20:2
Send thee help - Margin, thy help. So the Hebrew. The idea is, such help as he needed; such as would make him safe.
Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 20:2
2. Help from the sanctuary—The holy of holies of the tabernacle, where were the symbols of God, where the national expiation was made, and from whence the lively oracles proceeded.
Sermons on Psalms 20:2
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
The Gladness of God by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of experiencing the joy and gladness of the Lord. He encourages the congregation to come down from the balcony, any exit, or |
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Through the Bible - Isaiah - Part 1 by Zac Poonen | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the importance of delivering a strong message to people whose hearts are insensitive and ears are dull. He references Jesus quoting from Isai |
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(Isaiah) All About Satan by David Guzik | In this sermon, the speaker addresses the fall of the king of Babylon and the reasons behind it. The fall was prompted by something the king said in his heart, even though he may n |
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The Glorious Uncovered King of Israel by Carter Conlon | In this sermon, the speaker reflects on the soldiers dividing Jesus' clothing into four parts at the foot of the cross. He emphasizes that Jesus willingly laid down his life and al |
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(The Ark of the Covenant) 5. Entering Jerusalem by Roy Hession | In this sermon, the speaker discusses how often Christians rely on worldly methods and strategies to promote their faith and achieve success. He emphasizes that these methods are o |
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Psalm 3 by Carl Armerding | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of crying out to the Lord in times of need. He shares a personal testimony of a doctor who was also a minister and how he expe |
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Sharpening the Axe by A.W. Tozer | A.W. Tozer emphasizes the importance of engaging with the world intellectually, arguing that a faith that requires isolation from criticism is not genuine. He reflects on the assur |