Psalms 18:34
in Psalms 18He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
He teacheth my hands to war; So that mine arms do bend a bow of brass.
KJV
He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.
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This verse in Psalms 18
Commentary
10 notes on this verse"He teacheth my hands to war." Martial prowess and skill in the use of weapons are gratefully acknowledged to be the result of divine teaching; no sacrifice is offered at the shrine of self in praise of natural dexterity, or acquired skilfulness; but, regarding all warlike prowess as a gift of heavenly favour, thankfulness is presented to the Giver. The Holy Spirit is the great Drillmaster of heavenly soldiers. "So that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms."
This site's exposition
who is God besides the LORD
on Psalms 18:31-34
Verse 31 leaves one God and one Rock, the LORD. God arms him with strength, makes his way clear, makes his feet like a deer's and stations him on the heights. The hands trained for battle are trained by God.
This site's exposition
bend a bow of bronze
The hands follow the feet in the list. Albert Barnes took the metal bow as a sign of extraordinary strength, the word naming a metal worked before steel was known. Charles Spurgeon added that such bows could scarcely be bent by the arms alone, so the archer used his foot.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
"Who teaches my hands for battle" [Psalm 18:34]. Who teaches me to work for the overthrow of mine enemies, who strive to shut the kingdom of heaven against us. "And You have made mine arms as a bow of steel." And You have made my earnest striving after good works unwearied.
The Medieval Church1 voice
"Who." Here agility is set forth, which is necessary for fighting. 1 Sam. 24 says that Saul went out against David over the most precipitous rocks, which are passable only by deer; as if to say: God conferred such agility upon me that I went …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
He teacheth my hands to war,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
"He teacheth my hands to war." Martial prowess and skill in the use of weapons are gratefully acknowledged to be the result of divine teaching; no sacrifice is offered at the shrine of self in praise of natural dexterity, or acquired skilfulness; but, regarding all warlike prowess as a gift of heavenly favour, thankfulness is presented to the Giver. The Holy Spirit is the great Drillmaster of heavenly soldiers. "So that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms." A bow of brass is probably meant, and these bows could scarcely be bent by the arms alone, the archer had to gain the assistance of his foot; it was, therefore, a great feat of strength to bend the bow, so far as even to snap it in halves. This was meant of the enemies' bow, which he not only snatched from his grasp, but rendered useless by breaking it in pieces. Jesus not only destroyed the fiery suggestions of Satan, but he broke his arguments with which he shot them, by using Holy Scripture against him; by the same means we may win a like triumph, breaking the bow and cutting the spear in sunder by the sharp edge of revealed truth. Probably David had by nature a vigorous bodily frame; but it is even more likely that, like Samson, he was at times clothed with more than common strength; at any rate, he ascribes the honour of his feats entirely to his God. Let us never wickedly rob the Lord of his due, but faithfully give unto him the glory which is due unto his name.
Some repetitions are not vain repetitions. Second thoughts upon God's mercy should be and often are the best. Like wines on the lees our gratitude grows stronger and sweeter as we meditate upon divine goodness. The verses which we have now to consider are the ripe fruit of a thankful spirit; they are apples of gold as to matter, and they are placed in baskets of silver as to their language. They describe the believer's victorious career and his enemies' confusion.
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
He teacheth my hands to war - The success which I have had in my military exercises I owe to the Divine help. How few of the conquerors of mankind can say so! And how few among those who call themselves Christian warriors dare to say so! War is as contrary to the spirit of Christianity as murder. Nothing can justify Christian nations in shedding each other’s blood! All men should live in peace; all men might live in peace; and the nation that is first to break it is under a heavy curse. A bow of steel is broken by mine arms - All the versions render this: “Thou hast made my arm like a brazen bow.” A bow of steel is out of the question. In the days of David it is not likely that the method of making steel was known. The method of making brass out of copper was known at a very early period of the world; and the ancients had the art of hardening it, so as to work it into the most efficient swords. From his own account David was swift, courageous, and strong.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
He teacheth my hands to war - Compare Psa 144:1. The skill which David had in the use of the bow, the sword, or the spear - all of which depends on the hands - he ascribes entirely to God. So that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms - This is mentioned as an instance of extraordinary strength, as if he were able to break a bow made of metal. The original word rendered steel means properly brass. Wood was doubtless first used in constructing the bow, but metals came afterward to be employed, and brass would naturally be used before the manufacture of steel was discovered. Rosenmuller in loc.
The words behind it
7 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| מְלַמֵּ֣ד | melamed | [he has] trained | H3925 → | 85 times |
| יָ֭דַי | yadai | hands my | H3027 → | 1618 times |
| לַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה | lamilchamah | for <the> battle | H4421 → | 320 times |
| וְֽנִחֲתָ֥ה | venichatah | and it will stretch | H5181 → | 11 times |
| קֶֽשֶׁת־ | keshet- | a bow of | H7198 → | 76 times |
| נְ֝חוּשָׁ֗ה | nechushah | bronze | H5154 → | |
| זְרוֹעֹתָֽי׃ | zerootai | arms my | H2220 → | 91 times |
מְלַמֵּ֣ד[he has] trained
melamedH3925 →85 times
יָ֭דַיhands my
yadaiH3027 →1618 times
לַמִּלְחָמָ֑הfor <the> battle
lamilchamahH4421 →320 times
וְֽנִחֲתָ֥הand it will stretch
venichatahH5181 →11 times
קֶֽשֶׁת־a bow of
keshet-H7198 →76 times
נְ֝חוּשָׁ֗הbronze
nechushahH5154 →
זְרוֹעֹתָֽי׃arms my
zerootaiH2220 →91 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Psalms 144:1Blessed be the LORD, my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.
it leads to
- 2 Samuel 22:35
He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
- Psalms 18:2
The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer. My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
- Psalms 44:3–4
For it was not by their sword that they took the land; their arm did not bring them victory. It was by Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your face, because…
- Ephesians 6:10–11
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.
- 2 Corinthians 10:4
The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the world. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
- 2 Samuel 22:35
Through
Psalms 46:9He makes wars to cease throughout the earth; He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; He burns the shields in the fire.
it leads to
- Isaiah 2:4
Then He will judge between the nations and arbitrate for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer take up the sword against…
- Micah 4:3–4
Then He will judge between many peoples and arbitrate for strong nations far and wide. Then they will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer take…
- Isaiah 2:4
Through
Isaiah 45:1This is what the LORD says to Cyrus His anointed, whose right hand I have grasped to subdue nations before him, to disarm kings, to open the doors before him, so that the gates…
it leads to
- Jeremiah 51:20–24
“You are My war club, My weapon for battle. With you I shatter nations; with you I bring kingdoms to ruin.
- Jeremiah 51:20–24
Where this verse is studied
About Psalms
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the Book of Psalms; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Augustine of Hippo, Exposition on Psalm 18; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 1; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Thomas Aquinas, Exposition on the Psalms of David.