Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 20:8
They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.
8. They are brought down ] R.V., They are bowed down; the same word as in Psa 18:39. It is still the language of faith, anticipating the entire subjugation of the enemy, and the triumph of Israel.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
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 – kara – 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.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 8. 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.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
They are brought down from their horses and chariots, to which they trusted. Heb. They bowed down, as being unable to stand longer, because of their mortal wounds. Compare Jdg 5:27.
But we stand firmly upon our legs, and keep the field, as conquerors use to do.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
8. Theythat is, who trust inhorses, &c.
stand uprightliterally,”we have straightened ourselves up from our distress and fears.”
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
They are brought down and fallen,…. These are they that rode in chariots and on horses, and trusted in them; who are brought down from their places of honour and safety; and fall, not into the hands of their enemies, and into a low and mean estate, but to the ground by death; as also such who, being like Capernaum, lifted up to heaven with their own outward attainments, and think to get thither by them, are brought down to hell, and fall into the pit of corruption;
but we are risen, and stand upright; who remember the name of the Lord, and trust in him; the church is sometimes in a very low and depressed condition; it consists of a poor and an afflicted people, and who are persecuted by men; so the church has been under the Heathen Roman emperors, and under the Papacy, and will be as long as she is in the wilderness, and the witnesses prophesy in sackcloth; and especially when they will be slain, and their bodies lie on the earth unburied; but these shall rise and stand upright, and ascend to heaven; there will be a glorious state of the church; there will be a reviving of the interest of Christ, through the bringing in the fulness and forces of the Gentiles, and the conversion of the Jews; the dry bones will live again, and stand upon their feet, an exceeding great army; in those days the righteous will flourish and have abundance of peace and prosperity. This may also include the first resurrection, which the saints will have a part in; the dead in Christ will rise first, and will stand before the Lord with confidence, and not be ashamed; when the ungodly shall not stand in judgment, nor sinners in, the congregation of the righteous; for though these words are expressed in the present tense, because of the certainty of them, they belong to future times; hence the following petitions.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
8. They are bowed down. It is probable that there is here pointed out, as it were with the finger, the enemies of Israel, whom God had overthrown, when they regarded no event as less likely to happen. There is contained in the words a tacit contrast between the cruel pride with which they had been lifted up for a time when they audaciously rushed forward to make havoc of all things on the one hand, and the oppression of the people of God on the other. The expression, to rise, is applied only to those who were before sunk or fallen; and, on the other hand, the expression, bowed down and fallen, is with propriety applied to those who were lifted up with pride and presumption. The prophet therefore teaches by the event, how much more advantageous it is for us to place all our confidence in God than to depend upon our own strength.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(8) Stand upright.We seem to see a whole battle fought before our eyes, in which those formerly struck down rise, and returning to the fight, beat off their foes, and in their turn lay them low. We were fallen, but have risen, and stand upright.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Beautiful and striking contrast! and which is manifested in the experience of the world every day, in the different characters: the faithful in their deliverances, and the ungodly in their false confidences. Hence the Psalm ends, as it begun, with faith in God’s covenant love in Jesus. Save us, is like the Hosanna of the Gospel, and is indeed the same word. Mat 21:9 . Keeping a constant eye, through the whole of this beautiful Psalm, upon the person and victories of Jesus, will be the only way to enjoy by faith a blessed participation in what is here recorded. But after this, in a secondary and subordinate sense, it forms a very suitable prayer for kings, and for all that are in authority, that, as the apostle exhorts, prayers may be offered for them, so by the Lord’s blessing, under their government, we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, in all godliness and honesty. 1Ti 2:1 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 20:8 They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.
Ver. 8. They are brought down, &c. ] They lie flat by the fall they have taken, being confuted in their confidences, as Benhadad was of old; as of late, the French at the battle of Agincourt, Sigismund the young king of Hungary, and many others.
But we are risen
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
stand upright = are established.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
They: Psa 34:21, Psa 34:22, Jdg 5:31
but we: Psa 125:1, Psa 146:5-9, Jer 17:7, Jer 17:8
Reciprocal: Jos 11:6 – horses 2Ki 7:7 – their horses 2Ki 18:24 – chariots 1Ch 5:20 – because Est 9:5 – smote Psa 21:7 – For the Isa 36:8 – and I Isa 50:11 – all ye Jer 50:37 – their horses Hos 14:3 – we will not Mic 5:10 – that I
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
20:8 {g} They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.
(g) The worldlings who do not put their trust in God alone.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
The king was sure of success. Often in the psalms the writers expressed strong confidence by describing an event yet future as already having taken place with the desired result, as here.