What is the meaning of Psalm 89:23?

I will crush

• God Himself speaks, revealing that the victory is His work, not merely the king’s military skill.

• The verb is decisive—complete destruction, not a temporary setback (Genesis 3:15; Romans 16:20; Psalm 68:21).

• Because Scripture is true in every detail, we can rest in the certainty that what God says He will do, He will do—no enemy can withstand His resolve (Numbers 23:19).

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his foes

• “Foes” are the personal enemies of the Davidic king, yet they are also God’s enemies because they oppose His chosen servant (Psalm 110:1; 1 Samuel 2:10).

• By extension, all who resist the Messiah fit this category (Acts 4:25-28).

• The verse underscores God’s covenant loyalty: He defends those He has anointed (2 Samuel 7:9).

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before him

• The crushing happens “before him,” meaning right in the king’s presence. The anointed witness­es God’s power firsthand (Exodus 14:13-14; Deuteronomy 31:3).

• This visibility boosts faith, reminding the king—and us—that deliverance is not abstract but observable (Joshua 10:10).

• It also warns opponents: defiance will be publicly overturned.

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and strike down

• “Strike down” intensifies the promise—God not only disables, He eliminates resistance (Isaiah 11:4; Revelation 19:15).

• The phrase conveys swift, targeted action, leaving no doubt about the outcome (1 Samuel 17:50-51).

• For believers today, it assures us that evil will not merely be restrained; it will be decisively judged.

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those who hate him

• Hatred of God’s anointed springs from hostility toward God Himself (John 15:23-25).

• Psalm 81:15 notes, “Those who hate the LORD would pretend submission to Him, but their doom would last forever”, echoing the fate described here.

• Opposition is ultimately spiritual (Ephesians 6:12), yet God pledges to deal with every manifestation, whether human or demonic (Luke 19:27).

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summary

Psalm 89:23 delivers a triple assurance: God personally acts, He targets every adversary of His anointed, and He does so openly and conclusively. Because the promise rests on God’s unchanging character and covenant faithfulness, we can face opposition with confidence, knowing the Lord Himself will crush, strike down, and forever silence all who oppose His chosen King—and by extension, all who belong to Him.