Psalms 20:7 Meaning and Explanation
“Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →When everyone else is counting their weapons, this verse chooses to remember God instead.
The Context of Psalms 20:7
Psalm 20 is a prayer for the king as he goes out to battle, the people interceding for him before the fight (verses 1 to 5). In the ancient world, chariots and horses were the most fearsome military power a nation could field, the tanks of their day. This verse names exactly what everyone around them was counting on, and quietly sets it down.
What Does Psalms 20:7 Mean?
The contrast is drawn in a single breath. Some put their confidence in iron and horseflesh, in the things they can see and number on the field. The people of God make a different choice: they will remember the name of the LORD. To remember a name in Hebrew is to call to mind everything that name has proven to be, every past rescue, every kept promise. They face the battle well armed, leaning on a strength older and surer than any chariot.
Centuries on, the world still trusts in its chariots, the things that look powerful and permanent. Jesus walked a road that looked like weakness and turned out to hold all the strength there is. He went to a cross with no army and rose with power over death itself. He shows us that the name of the LORD is the safest thing to lean our whole weight on, stronger than anything we could build or count.
Psalms 20:7 in the Original Language
zakar (זָכַר), 'remember' -- to call to mind and act upon, to bring God's proven faithfulness to bear on the present.
How to Apply Psalms 20:7 Today
We all have our chariots, the things we lean on to feel safe: savings, plans, our own strength. This verse honors them yet puts our deepest trust somewhere steadier. We can remember the name of the LORD, naming His past faithfulness as the ground we stand on today.
Frequently Asked Questions About Psalms 20:7
What does Psalms 20:7 mean?
When everyone else is counting their weapons, this verse chooses to remember God instead.
What is the context of Psalms 20:7?
Psalm 20 is a prayer for the king as he goes out to battle, the people interceding for him before the fight (verses 1 to 5). In the ancient world, chariots and horses were the most fearsome military power a nation could field, the tanks of their day. This verse names exactly what everyone around them was counting on, and quietly sets it down.
How can I apply Psalms 20:7 today?
We all have our chariots, the things we lean on to feel safe: savings, plans, our own strength. This verse honors them yet puts our deepest trust somewhere steadier. We can remember the name of the LORD, naming His past faithfulness as the ground we stand on today.