Great deliverance giveth he to his king; and sheweth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed for evermore.

PSALMS 18:50KJV
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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.

Where else these words appear

“anointed” Hebrew H4899 · used in 38 verses

  • Leviticus 4:3 If the priest that is anointed do sin according to the sin of the people; then let him bring for his sin, which he hath sinned, a young bullock without blemish unto the LORD for a sin offering.
  • 1 Samuel 26:11 The LORD forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the LORD'S anointed: but, I pray thee, take thou now the spear that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go.
  • Psalms 20:6 Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand.

“deliverance” Hebrew H3444 · used in 77 verses

  • Genesis 49:18 I have waited for thy salvation, O LORD.
  • Psalms 42:11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
  • Psalms 119:123 Mine eyes fail for thy salvation, and for the word of thy righteousness.

“for” Hebrew H5704 · used in 97 verses

  • Genesis 3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
  • 1 Samuel 20:15 But also thou shalt not cut off thy kindness from my house for ever: no, not when the LORD hath cut off the enemies of David every one from the face of the earth.
  • Job 18:2 How long will it be ere ye make an end of words? mark, and afterwards we will speak.

“Great” Hebrew H1431 · used in 112 verses

  • Genesis 12:2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
  • 1 Chronicles 17:24 Let it even be established, that thy name may be magnified for ever, saying, The LORD of hosts is the God of Israel, even a God to Israel: and let the house of David thy servant be established before thee.
  • Isaiah 23:4 Be thou ashamed, O Zidon: for the sea hath spoken, even the strength of the sea, saying, I travail not, nor bring forth children, neither do I nourish up young men, nor bring up virgins.