Shared ground
Psalm 21:13 closes by shifting attention away from the king’s success and onto Yahweh himself. The speaker directly addresses Yahweh and asks that he be “exalted” in “your strength.” Explicitly, the verse assumes Yahweh already possesses that strength; the request is that it be recognized and honored.
The second line gives the community’s stated response: “So we will sing and praise your power.” The text’s clear claim is that public worship (especially sung praise) is the fitting conclusion when Yahweh has shown his might on behalf of his people.
Where interpretation differs (only where needed)
What “be exalted … in your strength” is aiming at. Some take the request mainly as “show your strength again,” meaning Yahweh’s power should be displayed through continued victory or deliverance. Others take it mainly as “be honored for your strength,” meaning the focus is public recognition in worship. The verse itself can hold both: the language asks for exaltation tied to Yahweh’s strength, and the next line immediately moves to praise.
Who the “we” is. The “we” could be the nation as a whole, a gathered worshiping assembly, or a specific group leading worship (like singers). The verse does not specify; it only requires a communal voice.
Whether “strength” and “power” are different ideas. Many readers treat them as near-synonyms that reinforce the theme. Others hear a slight nuance (strength as the source or capacity; power as the exercised might), but the verse does not depend on keeping them sharply separate.
Why the disagreement exists
The verse is short and poetic, so it compresses meaning. “Exalted” can refer both to being lifted up in honor and to being shown as greater through action. Also, “we” in psalms can speak for a whole people or for a worshiping subset without clarifying which.
What this passage clearly contributes
This closing line frames deliverance and security as ultimately pointing to Yahweh’s greatness, not merely to human leadership. It also links Yahweh’s demonstrated might (“your strength… your power”) to a communal, audible response (“we will sing and praise”), presenting worship as the psalm’s intended conclusion after victory (cf. Psalm 21:1–12).
