Psalms 18:50 (KJV)

What does Psalms 18:50 mean?

Psalms 18:50 says that God gives great rescue to his chosen king and shows steadfast love to his anointed one, specifically to David and his descendants forever. The verse highlights God’s ongoing kindness and faithfulness to David and his family line.

King David is speaking these words as a song of thanks to God after being delivered from his enemies. The verse closes the psalm by recognizing God’s special relationship with David, calling him both "king" and "anointed," and promises that God’s mercy will extend to David’s descendants for all time.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 18:50

• "Great" (גָּדֹול, gadol; H1431): This word means "great" or "magnificent." It emphasizes the scale of the deliverance God gives, not just an ordinary rescue but something remarkable.
• "Deliverance" (יְשׁוּעָה, yeshuah; H3444): This word means "salvation" or "rescue." It points to God’s act of saving David from danger, which is a central theme of the psalm.
• "Mercy" (חֶסֶד, chesed; H2617): This word is often understood as steadfast love, loyalty, or covenant faithfulness. It highlights not just a feeling but a committed, ongoing kindness from God to David and his family.
• "Anointed" (מָשִׁיחַ, mashiach; H4899): This word means "anointed one," referring to someone chosen and set apart by God, usually a king. Here, it directly refers to David as God’s chosen king.

Why Psalms 18:50 matters

• Psalms 18:50 clarifies that God’s promises to David are not just for his lifetime but extend to his descendants, showing the long-term nature of God’s commitment.
• The verse highlights the idea of "chesed"—God’s loyal love—which is a key theme throughout the Old Testament, especially in God’s dealings with Israel’s leaders.
• By ending the psalm with this statement, David shifts the focus from his personal story to the bigger picture of God’s faithfulness to his people through their king.