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Psalms 47:2-9 Bible in Basic English (BBE)

2 For the Lord Most High is to be feared; he is a great King over all the earth.

3 He will put down the peoples under us, and the nations under our feet.

4 He will give us our heritage, the glory of Jacob who is dear to him. (Selah.)

5 God has gone up with a glad cry, the Lord with the sound of the horn.

6 Give praises to God, make songs of praise; give praises to our King, make songs of praise.

7 For God is the King of all the earth; make songs of praise with knowledge.

8 God is the ruler over the nations; God is on the high seat of his holy rule.

9 The rulers of the peoples have come together, with the people of the God of Abraham; because the powers of the earth are God's: he is lifted up on high.

Commentary on Psalms 47 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible


PSALM 47

Ps 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; Ps 18:49; 98:9).

2, 3. His universal sovereignty now exists, and will be made known.

3. under us—that is, His saints; Israel's temporal victories were types of the spiritual conquests of the true Church.

4. He shall … inheritance—the heathen to be possessed by His Church (Ps 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.

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 Ps 68:18).

8, 9. The instruction continued.

throne of … holiness—or, "holy throne" (see on Ps 2:6; Ps 23:4).

9. princes—who represent peoples. For—

even—supply, "as," or, "to"—that is, they all become united under covenant with Abraham's God.

shields—as in Ho 4:18, "rulers" [Margin].