Psalms 47
King James Version (KJV) · English
1 O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph. 2 For the Lord most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth. 3 He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet. 4 He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved. Selah. 5 God is gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet. 6 Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises. 7 For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding. 8 God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness. 9 The princes of the people are gathered together, even the people of the God of Abraham: for the shields of the earth belong unto God: he is greatly exalted.
Commentary — not Bible text
Psalms 47:1
PSALM 47
Psa 47:1-9. Praise is given to God for victory, perhaps that recorded (2Ch 20:20-30); and His dominions over all people, Jews and Gentiles, is asserted.
1. clap ... hands ... people--literally, "peoples," or "nations" (compare De 32:43; Psa 18:49; 98:9).
Psalms 47:2-3
2-3. His universal sovereignty now exists, and will be made known.
Psalms 47:4
4. He shall ... inheritance--the heathen to be possessed by His Church (Psa 2:8), as Canaan by the Jews.
excellency of Jacob--literally, "pride," or, that in which he glories (not necessarily, though often, in a bad sense), the privileges of the chosen people--
whom he loved--His love being the sole cause of granting them.
Psalms 47:5-7
5-7. God, victorious over His enemies, reascends to heaven, amid the triumphant praises of His people, who celebrate His sovereign dominion. This sovereignty is what the Psalm teaches; hence he adds,
sing ... praises with understanding--literally, "sing and play an instructive (Psalm)." The whole typifies Christ's ascension (compare Psa 68:18).
Psalms 47:8-9
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