Be thou exalted, LORD, in thine own strength: so will we sing and praise thy power.

PSALMS 21:13KJV
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Psalms 21:13 (KJV)

What does Psalms 21:13 mean?

Psalms 21:13 is a closing prayer that asks the LORD to show his greatness through his own strength. The speakers answer that display with singing and praise, giving the LORD credit for the power behind the victory celebrated in the psalm.

The verse moves from a direct request, “Be thou exalted,” to the shared response, “we sing and praise.” After the picture of enemies turning back in verse 12, the closing words turn attention from the battle to the one being praised.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 21:13

  • “exalted” — רוּם (rum): This word carries the sense of being raised high. Here, the request pictures the LORD’s greatness being made prominent.
  • “praise” — זָמַר (zamar): This word can mean making music or singing praise. Alongside “sing,” it gives the closing response a musical character.

Why Psalms 21:13 matters

  • The verse credits the LORD’s own strength, rather than the king’s strength alone. The request says, “in thine own strength.”
  • The closing words draw a group into the song. The speakers say “we,” joining their voices in praise of the LORD’s power.

Where else these words appear

“praise” Hebrew H2167 · used in 41 verses

  • Judges 5:3 Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, even I, will sing unto the LORD; I will sing praise to the LORD God of Israel.
  • Psalms 57:7 My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.
  • Psalms 98:5 Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm.

“power” Hebrew H1369 · used in 61 verses

  • Exodus 32:18 And he said, It is not the voice of them that shout for mastery, neither is it the voice of them that cry for being overcome: but the noise of them that sing do I hear.
  • Job 12:13 With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.
  • Proverbs 8:14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.

“sing” Hebrew H7891 · used in 79 verses

  • Exodus 15:1 Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.
  • Ezra 7:7 And there went up some of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.
  • Psalms 68:4 Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him.

“strength” Hebrew H5797 · used in 92 verses

  • Exodus 15:2 The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him.
  • Psalms 62:7 In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.
  • Proverbs 10:15 The rich man's wealth is his strong city: the destruction of the poor is their poverty.