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Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:
Psalms 144:1 · King James Version
Parallel translations
  • WEB By David. Blessed be Yahweh, my rock, who teaches my hands to war, and my fingers to battle:
  • BSB Of David. Blessed be the LORD, my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.
  • NKJV Blessed be the Lord my Rock, Who trains my hands for war, And my fingers for battle—
  • NASB Blessed be the Lord, my rock, Who trains my hands for war, And my fingers for battle;
  • NLT Praise the Lord, who is my rock. He trains my hands for war and gives my fingers skill for battle.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

David blesses Yahweh as his rock who trains his hands for war. It gives God the credit for every ability and victory in battle.

Overview

David praises God as the unshakable rock and the true source of his skill and strength for conflict. He recognizes that even his warrior capability is a gift from God. The deeper warfare of God's people is spiritual, fought with God's strength and weapons in Christ (Ephesians 6:10-12).

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 13

  • Ps 18:34He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.
  • Ps 18:2The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
  • 2 Sam 22:35He teacheth my hands to war; so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.
  • Ps 44:3–4For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour unto them.
  • Eph 6:10–11Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
  • 2 Cor 10:4(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
  • Isa 45:24Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed.
  • Deut 32:30–31How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up?
  • Ps 60:12Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.
  • Ps 18:31For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God?
  • Ps 95:1O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
  • Ps 71:3Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.
  • Isa 26:4Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (2)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Psalms videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Psalms 144:1YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on PsalmsMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.

How Psalms 144:1 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.