Psalms 20:8
in Psalms 20They collapse and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
They are bowed down and fallen; But we are risen, and stand upright.
KJV
They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.
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This verse in Psalms 20
Commentary
14 notes on this verseThey say these things will happen in the time of the advent of that Savior. Then all the powers of the adversaries and those hidden and secret enemies of God who have turned their backs on the Savior will be laid low. All who receive that Savior will rise from the first fall. Therefore, Simeon says, "Behold, this child is destined to cause the rising and falling of many," namely, the ruin of his enemies and adversaries and the resurrection of those who, having fallen once, have been rescued by him.
This site's exposition
Some trust in chariots
on Psalms 20:7-8
Chariots and horses were the two arms of an army. The confession here puts trust in the name of the LORD instead, and the two outcomes follow at once. They collapse and fall, and the ones who trusted the name rise up and stand firm.
This site's exposition
They collapse and fall
Henry wrote that the chariots and horses of verse 7 helped their owners fall, making them easier prey, and cited 2 Samuel 8. Spurgeon observed that those who trust the LORD often fall at the first onset, then rise by an almighty arm and stand firm.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
"They have been bound, and fallen" [Psalm 20:8]. And therefore were they bound by the lust of temporal things, fearing to spare the Lord, lest they should lose their place by "the Romans:" [John 11:48] and rushing violently on the stone of offense and rock of stumbling, they fell from the heavenly hope: to whom the blindness in part of Israel has happened, being ignorant of God's righteousness, and wishing to establish their own. "But we are risen, and stand upright." But we, that the Gentile people might enter in, out of the stones raised up as children to Abraham, [Matthew 3:9] who followed not after righteousness, have attained to it, and are risen; [Romans 9:30] and not by our own strength, but being justified by faith, we stand upright.
Those who trust in human honors have been snared by their own perverse desires and have fallen into the pit of death.
A Christian is said to rise in two senses; first, when he is freed by grace from the death of vices in this life and he continues in God's grace of justification.… Second, there is also the general resurrection at which the just will receive …
We will rise upright as others are collapsing, because our King is saved, and arising from the dead he ascends into the heavens, and as he sits on the right hand of God the Father he hears us in the day we call him. To …
The Medieval Church1 voice
"They." Here the diverse outcome is set forth, which is the outcome of the wicked. Jerome has "bowed down," and then it is clear, because bowing down is the way to falling, and so the power of the world gradually fails. Or "bound," because temporal …
6 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
"Those that trusted in their chariots and horses are brought down and fallen, and their chariots and horses were so far from saving them that they helped to sink them, and made them the easier and the richer prey to the conqueror, 2 Sam. viii.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — odd-straight-quotes
They are brought down and fallen,....
The Nineteenth Century4 voices
How different the end of those whose trusts are different! The enemies of God are uppermost at first, but they ere long are brought down by force, or else fall of their own accord. Their foundation is rotten, and therefore when the time comes it gives way under them; their chariots are burned in the fire, and their horses die of pestilence, and where is their boasted strength? As for those who rest on Jehovah, they are often cast down at the first onset, but an Almighty arm uplifts them, and they joyfully stand upright.
How different the end of those whose trusts are different! The enemies of God are uppermost at first, but they ere long are brought down by force, or else fall of their own accord. Their foundation is rotten, and therefore when the time comes it gives way under them; their chariots are burned in the fire, and their horses die of pestilence, and where is their boasted strength? As for those who rest on Jehovah, they are often cast down at the first onset, but an Almighty arm uplifts them, and they joyfully stand upright. The victory of Jesus is the inheritance of his people. The world, death, Satan, and sin, shall all be trampled beneath the feet of the champions of faith; while those who rely upon an arm of flesh shall be ashamed and confounded for ever.
They are brought down and fallen - They were so confident of victory that they looked upon it as already gained. They who trusted in their horses and chariots are bowed down, and prostrated on the earth: they are all overthrown. But we are risen - We who have trusted in the name of Jehovah are raised up from all despondency; and we stand upright - we shall conquer, and go on to conquer.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
They are brought down and fallen - That is, those who trust in chariots and horses. The reference here is undoubtedly to the enemies against whom the king was about to wage war, and the language here is indicative of his certain conviction that they would be vanquished. So certain was he now of this that he could speak of it as if it were already done. “They “are” brought down.” He sees them in anticipation prostrate and subdued; he goes forth to war with the certainty on his mind that this would occur. The word rendered “brought down” - כרע kâra‛ - means “to bend,” “to bow” (as the knees); and then it refers to one who bows down before an enemy, that is, one who is subdued, Isa 10:4; Isa 65:12; Psa 72:9; Psa 78:31. But we are risen, and stand upright - That is, he sees this in anticipation. He is certain of success and triumph. Depressed though we may now be, yet we are certain of victory.
The words behind it
6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| הֵ֭מָּה | hemah | they | H1992 → | 553 times |
| כָּרְע֣וּ | kareu | they bow down | H3766 → | 36 times |
| וְנָפָ֑לוּ | venafalu | and they fall | H5307 → | 435 times |
| וַאֲנַ֥חְנוּ | vaanachnu | and we | H587 → | 120 times |
| קַּ֝֗מְנוּ | kamnu | we arise | H6965 → | 628 times |
| וַנִּתְעוֹדָֽד׃ | vanitodad | and we have kept upright | H5749 → | 44 times |
הֵ֭מָּהthey
hemahH1992 →553 times
כָּרְע֣וּthey bow down
kareuH3766 →36 times
וְנָפָ֑לוּand they fall
venafaluH5307 →435 times
וַאֲנַ֥חְנוּand we
vaanachnuH587 →120 times
קַּ֝֗מְנוּwe arise
kamnuH6965 →628 times
וַנִּתְעוֹדָֽד׃and we have kept upright
vanitodadH5749 →44 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 125:1Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion. It cannot be moved; it abides forever.
it leads to
- Jeremiah 17:7–8
But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him.
- Psalms 62:2
He alone is my rock and my salvation. He is my fortress; I will never be shaken.
- Proverbs 3:5–6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;
- Psalms 118:8–9
It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man.
- Jeremiah 17:7–8
Through
Micah 7:8Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will arise; though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light.
it leads to
- John 8:12
Once again, Jesus spoke to the people and said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”
- Psalms 27:1
The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— whom shall I dread?
- Isaiah 9:2
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.
- Psalms 112:4
Light dawns in the darkness for the upright— for the gracious, compassionate, and righteous.
- John 8:12
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About Psalms
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Arnobius the Younger, COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS 20; Augustine of Hippo, Exposition on Psalm 20; Cassiodorus, EXPLANATION OF THE PSALMS 20:9; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 1; Eusebius of Caesarea, COMMENTARY ON PSALMS 20:8-10; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Thomas Aquinas, Exposition on the Psalms of David.