Psalms 63:11 · Bible study
Psalms 63:11 Commentary: Study, The King’s Joy and God’s Victory
Hebrew · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Explore Psalm 63:11's meaning: Does 'the king' refer to David or the Messiah? Commentators weigh in on the silencing of liars and the triumph of God's truth.
Research Summary
- Meaning: The anointed king rejoices in God, loyal worshippers share that joy, and liars are finally silenced.
- Key words: king, rejoice, swears, glory, lies, stopped.
- Main debate: Whether “the king” is David speaking of himself or a messianic figure.
- Theological theme: God’s faithfulness to His covenant and the ultimate triumph of truth over falsehood.
- Best use: Comfort for those falsely accused and encouragement to trust God’s timing for vindication.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
But the king will rejoice in God; all who swear by Him will exult, for the mouths of liars will be shut.
WEB World English Bible 2000
But the king shall rejoice in God. Everyone who swears by him will praise him, for the mouth of those who speak lies shall be silenced.
KJV King James Version 1769
But the king shall rejoice in God; every one that sweareth by him shall glory: but the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
But the king shall rejoice in God: Every one that sweareth by him shall glory; For the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And the king doth rejoice in God, Boast himself doth every one swearing by Him, But stopped is the mouth of those speaking lies!
Darby Darby Bible 1890
But the king shall rejoice in God; every one that sweareth by him shall glory: for the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
The just shall rejoice in the Lord, and shall hope in him: and all the upright in heart shall be praised.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Empero el rey se alegrará en Dios; será alabado cualquiera que por él jura: porque la boca de los que hablan mentira, será cerrada.
Mas o Rei se alegrará em Deus; todo o que por ele jurar se alegrará, porque a boca dos mentirosos será tapada.
Ils seront livrés au glaive,
Aber der König freut sich in Gott. Wer bei ihm schwört, wird gerühmt werden; denn die Lügenmäuler sollen verstopft werden.
Men zal hen storten door het geweld des zwaards; zij zullen de vossen ten deel worden. Maar de koning zal zich in God verblijden; een iegelijk, die bij Hem zweert, zal zich beroemen; want de mond der leugensprekers zal gestopt worden.
Ma il re si rallegrerà in Dio; chiunque giura per lui si glorierà, perché la bocca di quelli che dicon menzogne sarà turata.
Zabije każdego z nich ostrość miecza, i przyjdą liszkom na podział. Lecz król będzie się weselił w Bogu, a będzie się chlubił każdy, kto przezeń przysięga; albowiem zatkane będą usta mówiących kłamstwo.
А праведник возвеселится о Господе и будет уповать на Него; и похвалятся все правые сердцем.
但是王必因 神 歡喜。凡 指著他 發誓的 必要誇口，因為 說 謊 之人的口 必被塞住。
But the king will have joy in God; everyone who takes an oath by him will have cause for pride; but the false mouth will be stopped.
Verse in Context
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that this verse expresses the Psalmist’s complete confidence in God’s deliverance. The king, whether David speaking prophetically of himself as the anointed ruler, or a foreshadowing of the Messiah, will rejoice in God. Those who swear by God (or, as some argue, by the king as God’s representative) are the loyal worshippers who share in that joy. The mouth of those who speak lies, whether false accusers, rebels, or those who worship false gods, will be stopped. Barnes stresses that the king is David himself, driven from his throne but still the true king. Gill and Clarke see the Messiah, with Clarke citing the Targum’s rendering “the King shall rejoice in the Word of God.” Calvin and Matthew Henry focus on David’s assurance that God will vindicate him. All agree on the outcome: truth prevails, and those who trust God will ultimately celebrate.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Historical-grammatical (David as king): Connects the verse to David’s specific experience of exile and his confidence in God’s promise of restoration (Barnes, Calvin, Lange).
- Christological / messianic: Points to the ultimate King, the Messiah, who rejoices in God and silences all falsehood (Gill, Clarke, Targum).
What is clear: God will ensure that the faithful rejoice and that those who speak lies are silenced, vindicating His truth and His anointed.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Identity of the king | The king is God’s anointed, who will rejoice in God and be vindicated. | David as the speaker (Barnes, Calvin, Lange) vs. a direct messianic prophecy (Gill, Clarke, Targum). |
| Swearing by him | It signifies loyalty and worship, marking the faithful community. | Whether the oath is made to the king (allegiance) or to God (worship). Cambridge and Poole argue for God, while some older interpreters allow the king. |
| Silencing liars | God will put an end to false speech and deception. | Immediate historical fulfillment in David’s restoration vs. eschatological judgment at the end of the age. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The psalm’s superscription sets it “when David was in the wilderness of Judah.” Two main settings are possible. First, the earlier flight from Saul, when David was anointed but not yet reigning (1 Samuel 23, 24). Second, and more likely given the use of “the king” in verse 11, the rebellion of Absalom, when David was king but forced to flee Jerusalem (2 Samuel 15, 17). Barnes and Lange argue that “the king” makes best sense during Absalom’s revolt, since David could rightly call himself king even while exiled. Calvin notes that David may have used the title to express his confidence in God’s promise of the throne.
Swearing by God was a common sign of covenant loyalty in ancient Israel (Deuteronomy 6:13). The phrase “everyone who swears by him” denotes those who acknowledge God’s authority and bind themselves to Him. In contrast, “those who speak lies” refers to enemies who used false words, deceptive oaths, slander, or rebellion against God’s anointed. This theme of lying lips being silenced recurs in the Psalms (31:18; 107:42) and connects to the broader biblical pattern where God defends the oppressed and humbles the proud.
Literarily, the verse concludes the psalm with a strong note of eschatological hope. The imagery of the king rejoicing looks both to David’s restoration and, for many Christian readers, to the ultimate victory of Christ the King over all falsehood.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for this verse. The Hebrew text is stable across manuscripts, and the ancient versions (Septuagint, Syriac, Targum) agree on the essential sense. The only noteworthy variation is in the Douay-Rheims translation, which reads “The just shall rejoice in the Lord” instead of “the king,” reflecting a different interpretive tradition rather than a textual difference.
Reception History
This verse has been read both historically and messianically across church history. The Targum (Aramaic paraphrase) renders “the king” as rejoicing in the Word of God, a reading Clarke highlights as pointing to Christ. Early Christian writers often saw the king as a type of Christ, the true King who rejoices in the Father. In the Reformation, Calvin and Matthew Henry applied the verse to David’s personal trust, while Gill maintained a messianic interpretation. The verse has been used in prayers for vindication and as a confession that God will silence all lies. Modern readers often find comfort in it when facing slander or injustice, trusting that truth ultimately prevails.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The King’s Certain Joy: The anointed king (David or Christ) finds his joy not in circumstances but in God. This joy is grounded in God’s character and faithfulness.
- The Reward of Loyal Worship: Those who swear by God, who pledge their allegiance and worship in truth, will share in the king’s exultation. Their hope is not in vain.
- The End of Falsehood: God silences those who speak lies. Slander, broken oaths, and rebellion against His truth will not stand. Justice ultimately speaks louder than lies.
Five-point outline
- Context of Crisis: The psalm emerges from a moment of threat and exile; the king is not yet on the throne.
- Confidence in God’s Promise: The king’s identity is tied to God’s anointing, not to present power.
- Solidarity of the Faithful: All who honor God (swear by Him) are part of the same story of deliverance.
- Divine Vindication: The silencing of liars is God’s act, not human revenge.
- A Future Celebration: The verse ends with a note of joy, anticipating the final victory of truth.
Illustration hooks
- Vindication in the workplace: A colleague is passed over for a promotion after being falsely accused, but in time the truth comes out, and their reputation is restored.
- A promise kept under pressure: A person in a crisis renews their commitment to honesty and integrity, trusting God rather than cutting corners.
- News headlines that lie: When public figures spread misinformation, many feel powerless; this verse reminds us that God is the ultimate truth-teller.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why does God let liars succeed for so long?
- How can I find joy when my name is being dragged through the mud?
- What does it really mean to “swear by God” in daily life?
Leading a Discussion
Psalm 63:11 draws a sharp line between two groups: those who trust in God and those who speak lies. In the middle stands the king, a figure of hope, whether we read this as David’s personal testimony or a prediction of Christ. As you study, pay attention to the tense: the verbs point forward, making this a confident declaration of what God will do.
Discussion questions
- In the psalm’s original setting, why would David call himself “the king” even while he was in exile? What does this reveal about faith?
- The phrase “swear by him” could refer to swearing by God or by the king. Which do you think is meant, and why? (See Deuteronomy 6:13.)
- How does the silencing of liars bring glory to God? What kinds of “lies” might the psalmist have in mind beyond mere false statements?
- Where do you see the tension between God’s truth and human falsehood in your own community? How does this verse address that tension?
- Read Job 5:16 and Psalm 107:42. How do these parallel passages deepen your understanding of the promise that injustice will not have the last word?
- When have you experienced a situation where you felt your voice was silenced or your truth suppressed? How does this verse speak hope into that?
- In what ways can you “swear by” God this week, committing your words and actions to His authority?
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Deuteronomy 6:13 | You shall fear Yahweh your God; and you shall serve him, and shall swear by his name. |
| I Samuel 23:17 | He said to him, “Don’t be afraid, for the hand of Saul my father won’t find you; and you will be king over Israel, and I will be next to you; and Saul my father knows that also.” |
| I Samuel 24:20 | Now, behold, I know that you will surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand. |
| Job 5:16 | So the poor has hope, and injustice shuts her mouth. |
| Psalms 2:6 | “Yet I have set my King on my holy hill of Zion.” |
| Psalms 21:1 | For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. The king rejoices in your strength, Yahweh! How greatly he rejoices in your salvation! |
| Psalms 31:18 | Let the lying lips be mute, which speak against the righteous insolently, with pride and contempt. |
| Psalms 107:42 | The upright will see it, and be glad. All the wicked will shut their mouths. |
Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
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What the Commentators Say
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke presents two possible meanings: the king rejoicing refers to David's promised kingship, or the royal line preserved through Zerubbabel until the Messiah. He notes that swearing by the king was customary, but swearing by God acknowledges His supremacy. The Targum renders this as "in the Word of God," and Clarke concludes that all false religions will be silenced when Christ reigns.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes argues that David wrote this psalm while in exile, referring to himself as "the king" in the third person to assert his true, God-given title. Despite being driven from his throne, David expresses full confidence that God will restore him and silence those who broke their oaths of allegiance.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin argues that David calls himself king in this psalm not because he already holds the throne, but as an expression of confident trust that God will fulfill His promise to establish him. For Calvin, the title is a prophetic declaration of faith, not a claim to present authority.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator identifies the king with the psalmist, whose enemies are destroyed. Those who swear by God in their oaths are His loyal worshippers and share the king’s triumph, while those who speak lies rebel against God and His king, ultimately silenced.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note highlights that the king's joy comes from God himself, not from earthly power, and that all who faithfully swear by him share in that same rejoicing. The promise of silenced liars underscores the triumph of truth over falsehood.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill offers two readings for the king who rejoices in God: either David himself, grateful for deliverance after Saul's death, or the Messiah, rejoicing over his people's salvation. He then reads "everyone that sweareth by him" as believers who worship God and boast only in Christ, while liars—like Saul's flatterers and ultimately antichrist's followers—will finally be silenced.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB identifies the king in this verse as David himself, yet extends the promise to everyone who reveres God. Faithful believers will share a glorious portion, while their treacherous enemies are silenced forever—a contrast JFB draws from Psalm 62:4.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Matthew Henry finds the image of God's wings pointing two ways at once: to the cherubim over the ark representing covenant fellowship, and to a mother hen sheltering her young, which stresses God's tenderness. For Henry, taking refuge under those wings is the natural instinct of faith, and the believer's response is to be quiet from fear and rejoice in that protection.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley identifies the speaker as one already anointed king, not merely a future ruler. He defines "every one" as sincere worshippers who swear by God's name in