Psalms 132:10 (KJV)

What does Psalms 132:10 mean?

Psalms 132:10 is a prayer asking God, for the sake of His servant David, not to reject or turn away from the one He has chosen and anointed. The verse appeals to God's faithfulness to David as a reason to show favor to the current anointed leader.

The speaker in Psalms 132:10 is likely a worshipper or leader in Israel, praying during a time when God's blessing on the king or the nation is being sought. The verse refers to David, Israel’s beloved king, and asks God to remember His promises to David by continuing to show kindness to David’s descendants, especially the current king, who is called "thine anointed." This fits into the larger context of Psalm 132, which centers on God's covenant with David and the hope that God will keep His promises to David’s family.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 132:10

• עַבְדֶּךָ (ʿavdecha, "servant"): This word refers to David as God's loyal servant, highlighting the close relationship and covenant between God and David.
• פָּנִים (panim, "face"): The phrase "turn not away the face" is a Hebrew way of saying "do not reject" or "do not refuse to hear," emphasizing a personal, relational appeal.
• מָשִׁיחַ (mashiach, "anointed"): This word is used for someone specially chosen by God, often a king. Here, it likely refers to the current king from David’s line, underlining the link between God’s promise to David and the well-being of his descendants.

Why Psalms 132:10 matters

• Psalms 132:10 clarifies that the prayer is not just for David himself, but for the ongoing line of kings descended from him, connecting the verse to the larger theme of God’s promises to David’s family.
• The verse shows how the people of Israel looked back to God’s faithfulness to David as a basis for hope and prayer in their own time, especially when seeking God’s favor for their leaders.
• This verse helps explain why David is so central in the Psalms and in Israel’s prayers: his relationship with God is seen as a foundation for the nation’s ongoing hope and blessing.