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Psalms 47

BSB·9 verses ·Old Testament
✦ Tap any verse to open Scripture Explorer — original Hebrew/Greek, commentary, notes & highlights
1Clapתִּקְעוּ־tiq·‘ū- — to blow, sound, thrust, or strike with forceH8628 — Full Word Study → your handsכָ֑ףḵāp̄ — Palm of the hand; hollow of anything; power or controlH3709 — Full Word Study →, all you peoplesכָּֽל־kāl- — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study →; shoutהָרִ֥יעוּhā·rî·‘ū — to shout, cry out, make a loud noiseH7321 — Full Word Study → unto Godלֵ֝אלֹהִ֗יםlê·lō·hîm — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study → with a voiceבְּק֣וֹלbə·qō·wl — voice, sound, or cryH6963 — Full Word Study → of triumphרִנָּֽה׃rin·nāh — joyful cry, shout of rejoicingH7440 — Full Word Study →. 2Howכִּֽי־kî- — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → awesome is the LORDיְהוָ֣הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study → Most Highעֶלְי֣וֹן‘el·yō·wn — Most High, elevated, supremeH5945 — Full Word Study →, the greatגָּ֝דוֹלgā·ḏō·wl — Great, mighty, large in size or significanceH1419 — Full Word Study → Kingמֶ֥לֶךְme·leḵ — A male ruler or sovereign who governs a nation or kingdomH4428 — Full Word Study → overעַל־‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → allכָּל־kāl- — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → the earthהָאָֽרֶץ׃hā·’ā·reṣ — Land, earth, or countryH776 — Full Word Study →! 3He subduesיַדְבֵּ֣רyaḏ·bêr — to speak, say, or declareH1696 — Full Word Study → nationsעַמִּ֣ים‘am·mîm — a people; nation; communityH5971 — Full Word Study → beneath usתַּחְתֵּ֑ינוּtaḥ·tê·nū — Under, beneath, instead of, in place ofH8478 — Full Word Study →, and peoplesוּ֝לְאֻמִּ֗יםū·lə·’um·mîm — A people or nation; ethnic or political communityH3816 — Full Word Study → underתַּ֣חַתta·ḥaṯ — Under, beneath, instead of, in place ofH8478 — Full Word Study → our feetרַגְלֵֽינוּ׃raḡ·lê·nū — Foot; by extension, journey, way, or standingH7272 — Full Word Study →. 4He choosesיִבְחַר־yiḇ·ḥar- — To choose, select, or preferH977 — Full Word Study → our inheritanceנַחֲלָתֵ֑נוּna·ḥă·lā·ṯê·nū — Inheritance; received possession or propertyH5159 — Full Word Study → for us, the prideגְּא֨וֹןgə·’ō·wn — Pride, arrogance, majesty, or splendorH1347 — Full Word Study → of Jacobיַעֲקֹ֖בya·‘ă·qōḇ — He grasps the heelH3290 — Full Word Study →, whomאֲשֶׁר־’ă·šer- — who, which, that; when, where, becauseH834 — Full Word Study → He lovesאָהֵ֣ב’ā·hêḇ — To love; affection, attachment, or preferenceH157 — Full Word Study →. Selahסֶֽלָה׃se·lāh — Pause or SelahH5542 — Full Word Study → 5Godאֱ֭לֹהִים’ĕ·lō·hîm — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study → has ascendedעָלָ֣ה‘ā·lāh — to ascend, rise up, go upH5927 — Full Word Study → amid shouts of joyבִּתְרוּעָ֑הbiṯ·rū·‘āh — Loud shout or trumpet blast of joyH8643 — Full Word Study →, the LORDיְ֝הֹוָ֗הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study → with the soundבְּק֣וֹלbə·qō·wl — voice, sound, or cryH6963 — Full Word Study → of the hornשׁוֹפָֽר׃šō·w·p̄ār — Ram's horn trumpet; shofarH7782 — Full Word Study →. 6Sing praisesזַמְּר֣וּzam·mə·rū — To sing praises, make music to GodH2167 — Full Word Study → to Godאֱלֹהִ֣ים’ĕ·lō·hîm — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study →, sing praisesזַמֵּ֑רוּzam·mê·rū — To sing praises, make music to GodH2167 — Full Word Study →; sing praisesזַמְּר֖וּzam·mə·rū — To sing praises, make music to GodH2167 — Full Word Study → to our Kingלְמַלְכֵּ֣נוּlə·mal·kê·nū — A male ruler or sovereign who governs a nation or kingdomH4428 — Full Word Study →, sing praisesזַמֵּֽרוּ׃zam·mê·rū — To sing praises, make music to GodH2167 — Full Word Study →! 7Forכִּ֤יkî — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → Godאֱלֹהִ֗ים’ĕ·lō·hîm — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study → is Kingמֶ֖לֶךְme·leḵ — A male ruler or sovereign who governs a nation or kingdomH4428 — Full Word Study → of allכָּל־kāl- — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → the earthהָאָ֥רֶץhā·’ā·reṣ — Land, earth, or countryH776 — Full Word Study →; sing profound praises to Him. 8Godאֱ֭לֹהִים’ĕ·lō·hîm — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study → reignsמָלַ֣ךְmā·laḵ — to reign; to rule as kingH4427 — Full Word Study → overעַל־‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → the nationsגּוֹיִ֑םgō·w·yim — Nation; a people or ethnic groupH1471 — Full Word Study →; Godאֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים’ĕ·lō·hîm — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study → is seatedיָשַׁ֤ב׀yā·šaḇ — to dwell, inhabit, settle, remainH3427 — Full Word Study → onעַל־‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → His holyקָדְשֽׁוֹ׃qā·ḏə·šōw — Holiness, sacred, consecrated, set apartH6944 — Full Word Study → throneכִּסֵּ֬אkis·sê — Throne; seat of authority and rulershipH3678 — Full Word Study →. 9The noblesנְדִ֘יבֵ֤יnə·ḏî·ḇê — Noble, willing, generous person or heartH5081 — Full Word Study → of the nationsעַמִּ֨ים׀‘am·mîm — a people; nation; communityH5971 — Full Word Study → have assembledנֶאֱסָ֗פוּne·’ĕ·sā·p̄ū — to gather, assemble, collectH622 — Full Word Study → as the peopleעַם֮‘am — a people; nation; communityH5971 — Full Word Study → of the Godאֱלֹהֵ֪י’ĕ·lō·hê — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study → of Abrahamאַבְרָ֫הָ֥ם’aḇ·rā·hām — Father of many nationsH85 — Full Word Study →; forכִּ֣יkî — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → the shieldsמָֽגִנֵּי־mā·ḡin·nê- — Shield; protection, defenseH4043 — Full Word Study → of the earthאֶ֗רֶץ’e·reṣ — Land, earth, or countryH776 — Full Word Study → belong to Godלֵֽ֭אלֹהִיםlê·lō·hîm — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study →; He is highlyמְאֹ֣דmə·’ōḏ — Much, greatly, very, exceedinglyH3966 — Full Word Study → exaltedנַעֲלָֽה׃na·‘ă·lāh — to ascend, rise up, go upH5927 — Full Word Study →.
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Chapter Commentary — Psalms 47
Chapter Overview

Chapter Overview

Psalm 47 is a magnificent coronation psalm celebrating the universal kingship of God. Written in the context of Israel's covenant history, it calls God's people to joyful worship and testimony as they recognize the Lord's supreme authority over all nations and earthly powers. This psalm invites us to move beyond mere intellectual acknowledgment of God's sovereignty to active, exuberant celebration of His reign. It reminds us that faith in God's kingship naturally overflows in praise, and that His dominion extends far beyond our individual circumstances to encompass the entire cosmos.

Verses 1-4: A Call to Triumphant Praise

The psalmist opens with an urgent invitation: "O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph." This is worship that engages the whole body and soul. To clap and shout speaks of uninhibited joy—the kind that cannot be contained in silent meditation alone. The phrase "voice of triumph" indicates that this praise is rooted not in wishful thinking but in confident assurance of God's victory and power.

Verses 2-4 establish the theological foundation for this celebration. The Lord is described as both "terrible" (awesome, to be feared) and "a great King over all the earth." Unlike earthly rulers whose power is limited and temporary, God's dominion is boundless. The promise that He "shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet" speaks to God's protection of His covenant people and the ultimate triumph of His purposes. Even in a fallen world, believers can rest assured that God is actively working to establish His kingdom and secure victory for those who belong to Him.

Application: Do we worship God with our whole being, or do we keep our faith compartmentalized and quiet? The psalmist invites us to break free from restraint and praise God openly for His power and faithfulness in our lives.

Verses 5-7: Ascension and Ongoing Praise

Verse 5 presents a stunning image: "God is gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet." This language echoes the ark of the covenant being carried into the temple with celebratory fanfare, and some commentators see a foreshadowing of Christ's ascension. The picture is one of victorious processional—God takes His rightful throne amid the rejoicing of His people.

Responding to this glorious truth, verses 6-7 call for sustained, intelligent praise. The repetition of "sing praises" (six times in two verses) emphasizes both the abundance and centrality of worship in the believer's life. Crucially, verse 7 urges us to "sing ye praises with understanding." Our praise is not to be emotional mere noise, but thoughtful recognition grounded in knowledge of who God is and what He has done.

Application: When we gather for worship—in church, in prayer, or in private devotion—do we bring understanding to our praise? Take time to reflect on the specific reasons you have to thank God today.

Verses 8-9: Universal Sovereignty and Final Exaltation

The psalm concludes by affirming God's universal reign. "God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness." His rule extends beyond Israel to all nations; no earthly power escapes His oversight. Verse 9 brings together the scattered nations and their leaders—"the princes of the people are gathered together"—and declares them ultimately accountable to the God of Abraham. The final declaration, "he is greatly exalted," is the climactic affirmation: above all thrones, all armies, all wealth, and all human achievement stands the exalted King.

Application: When we feel overwhelmed by world events or earthly authority figures, this truth steadies us: God sits enthroned above all, and His kingdom will ultimately prevail.

Application for Today

Psalm 47 invites modern believers to embrace bold, joyful confidence in God's kingship over our lives and world. In a culture that often demands quiet, private faith, the psalmist calls us to public, exuberant worship. More importantly, he reminds us that our praise is not escapism—it is rooted in the solid reality of God's sovereign power. Whether you face personal trials or witness troubling world events, this psalm reassures you: the God who reigns over all the earth is also your King, and His purposes will ultimately prevail.

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