Word Studies - Part 2

Psalm 3:3 – But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory and the One who lifts up my head. (NKJV)


Strong’s # 3519 kabod (kaw-bode´)


Lexicons/Bible Dictionaries

Strong’s – from kabad or kabed meaning to make weighty; to make glorious, to properly weight, and refers to splendor, honor, and glory.

Vine’s – honor, glory, splendor, refers to an imposing presence or position, to importance, can refer to the position of a person such as a social position, or a position of respect enjoyed by nobility and royalty, points to God’s sovereignty

Word Study (OT) – honor, glory, majesty, wealth – word used commonly to refer to God.

Brown-Driver-Briggs – abundance, honor, glory, splendor, external of conditions or circumstances

NIV Hebrew – glory, honor, splendor, wealth

NASB Hebrew – glorious, splendid, honor, glory

NIDOTTE – abundance, honor, glory

Translations

KJV – But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.

NASB95 – But You, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the One who lifts my head.

ESV – But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.

NLT – But you, O Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, and the one who lifts my head high.

AMP – But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.

NIV – But you are a shield around me, O Lord; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head.

MSG – But you, God, shield me on all sides; You ground my feet, you lift my head high.

NRSV – But you, O Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, and the one who lifts up my head.

Darby – But thou, Jehovah, art a shield about me; my glory, and the lifter up of my head.

Young’s – And Thou, O Jehovah, [art] a shield for me, My honour, and lifter up of my head.


Commentaries

Wesley – God is the only source of glory in the past, present, and future, and God bestows and reveals His glory according to His power and favor.

Spurgeon – This Psalm was written as David is fleeing his capital city in shame and scorn, yet he is looking forward to the time when God will again restore him to the glory he had known as king of Israel. There is a present glory in one’s afflictions that is often unperceivable in the midst of the circumstances, yet is evident in hindsight. While often one only sees the glory of God in blessings, one must also look for the glory of God in one’s tribulations.

Expositor’s – During this time of tribulation in David’s life he relied upon God, and was confident of the Lord’s promises, and nature, which is highlighted in this verse in the attribute of God: glory. In this passage the phrase glory signifies the Lord’s rule over His kingdom, and that rule is said to be glorious. It is this confidence in the Glorious Lord that gives David the confidence and inner strength to again lift his head.

Knight – In calling God his glory, David crying out to God for Him to rise up in His glory and majesty, with an uprising that is as unstoppable as the rising sun. David is calling on God to rid him of his enemies; something David cannot do for himself.

Wilcock – Running from Absalom’s revolt, David is no longer in control, and in this desperate situation he calls out to God. Even in this desperate situation David is confident that the Lord reigns and is sovereign.

Broyles – The manner in which David cries out to the Lord clearly indicates his belief that God is worthy of his trust, and one can rely on His protection. David is relying on God to restore him, and to overcome this shame for him, hence he calls God his glory.

Boice – In the face of trials and persecution, the believer must never think that God is not concerned about the situation within which one finds oneself. David was confident that God would once again bestow glory upon him.


Word Application

In modern corporate culture employees are taught to promote themselves, to advertise their accomplishments, and to politic for promotions by ensuring that all know how skilled they are. The modern corporate culture values an employee who makes everyone think they are busy and working all the time but are not over those who are working so hard that they do not promote themselves or let others know how busy they really are. Modern corporate culture encourages employees to glorify themselves, which is a sad and accurate reflection of the surrounding society.
David, who was a king and is still regarded as a hero to the Jewish people, could have easily have glorified himself, he certainly had many reasons to. Yet David relied completely on God to not only preserve him in this time of trial, to protect him, but also to once again bestow glory upon him by returning him to his throne. David understood that his glory on this earth did not come from what he could accomplish, who he was, or how he promoted himself; his glory came from the Lord.
David sets a strong example for today’s society. Rather than seeking to promote one’s self, or to seize glory for oneself, one is better off following David’s example by trusting the Lord, trusting in His power, majesty, and sovereignty rather than what one can accomplish through human effort. The only lasting and eternal source of glory is the Lord Himself, and He bestows His glory on those He chooses. One can be confident in the Lord to offer protection, and restoration, and therefore one can be confident that the Lord is indeed one’s glory.