Psalms 132:11-12

132:11 The Lord made a reliable promise to David;

he will not go back on his word.

He said, “I will place one of your descendants on your throne.

132:12 If your sons keep my covenant

and the rules I teach them,

their sons will also sit on your throne forever.”

Psalms 132:17

132:17 There I will make David strong;

I have determined that my chosen king’s dynasty will continue.


tn Heb “the Lord swore an oath to David [in] truth.”

tn Heb “he will not turn back from it.”

tn The words “he said” are supplied in the translation to clarify that what follows are the Lord’s words.

tn Heb “the fruit of your body.”

tn Heb “there I will cause a horn to sprout for David.” The horn of an ox underlies the metaphor (cf. Deut 33:17; 1 Kgs 22:11; Pss 18:2; 92:10). The horn of the wild ox is frequently a metaphor for military strength; the idiom “exalt the horn” signifies military victory (see 1 Sam 2:10; Pss 89:17, 24; 92:10; Lam 2:17). In the ancient Near East powerful warrior-kings would sometimes compare themselves to a goring bull that used its horns to kill its enemies. For examples, see P. Miller, “El the Warrior,” HTR 60 (1967): 422-25, and R. B. Chisholm, “An Exegetical and Theological Study of Psalm 18/2 Samuel 22” (Th.D. diss., Dallas Theological Seminary, 1983), 135-36.

tn Heb “I have arranged a lamp for my anointed one.” Here the “lamp” is a metaphor for the Davidic dynasty (see 1 Kgs 11:36).