God brings about final deliverance and judges evil with unfailing power.
David, who reigned as the second king of Israel from approximately 1010 to 970 BC, penned a song of triumph in Psalm 68. In the middle of this celebratory psalm, he highlights God’s power over the forces of evil when he declares, “Surely God will shatter the head of His enemies, The hairy crown of him who goes on in his guilty deeds” (v.21). By portraying the Lord as actively confronting wrongdoing, David emphasizes that the Almighty does not merely observe injustice—He intervenes in human affairs to vanquish those who persist in evil. This demonstration of God’s sovereignty and justice would have offered reassurance to an ancient Israelite audience, reminding them that the Lord who had delivered them from oppression before would continue to secure victory against any opposition.
When David mentions “shatter the head of His enemies” (v.21), the imagery powerfully depicts total defeat, likening the downfall of wickedness to the crushing blow against a vulnerable and vital part of the body. The graphic description points to the absolute authority of God, assuring readers that those who maintain a path of harm and rebellion cannot hope to escape His righteous judgment. Even the “hairy crown” (v.21)—a phrase that may connote pride or an outward display of strength—cannot stand when confronted by the one true Sovereign. The psalm thereby calls believers not only to revere God’s might but also to trust in His intention to bring about ultimate justice Revelation 19:11-16).
This focus on the Lord’s unassailable power to protect the innocent and judge the guilty resonates throughout the Bible, culminating in the New Testament theme of Christ’s victory over sin and death (John 16:33). Although this psalm was written centuries before Jesus’ birth, it anticipates the consistent biblical testimony that God is steadfast in defending His people and eradicating the enemy’s power. The victory assured in Psalm 68 is foundational to understanding how the entire scriptural narrative points to the Lord’s triumph, underscoring the hope that every believer can anchor themselves in God’s unstoppable justice.
Set to dark mode
Psalms 68:21 meaning
David, who reigned as the second king of Israel from approximately 1010 to 970 BC, penned a song of triumph in Psalm 68. In the middle of this celebratory psalm, he highlights God’s power over the forces of evil when he declares, “Surely God will shatter the head of His enemies, The hairy crown of him who goes on in his guilty deeds” (v.21). By portraying the Lord as actively confronting wrongdoing, David emphasizes that the Almighty does not merely observe injustice—He intervenes in human affairs to vanquish those who persist in evil. This demonstration of God’s sovereignty and justice would have offered reassurance to an ancient Israelite audience, reminding them that the Lord who had delivered them from oppression before would continue to secure victory against any opposition.
When David mentions “shatter the head of His enemies” (v.21), the imagery powerfully depicts total defeat, likening the downfall of wickedness to the crushing blow against a vulnerable and vital part of the body. The graphic description points to the absolute authority of God, assuring readers that those who maintain a path of harm and rebellion cannot hope to escape His righteous judgment. Even the “hairy crown” (v.21)—a phrase that may connote pride or an outward display of strength—cannot stand when confronted by the one true Sovereign. The psalm thereby calls believers not only to revere God’s might but also to trust in His intention to bring about ultimate justice Revelation 19:11-16).
This focus on the Lord’s unassailable power to protect the innocent and judge the guilty resonates throughout the Bible, culminating in the New Testament theme of Christ’s victory over sin and death (John 16:33). Although this psalm was written centuries before Jesus’ birth, it anticipates the consistent biblical testimony that God is steadfast in defending His people and eradicating the enemy’s power. The victory assured in Psalm 68 is foundational to understanding how the entire scriptural narrative points to the Lord’s triumph, underscoring the hope that every believer can anchor themselves in God’s unstoppable justice.