Psalms 47:2-9

2 For the LORD, the Most High, 1is to be feared, 2a great king over all the earth.
3 He 3subdued peoples under us, and nations under our feet.
4 He chose our 4heritage for us, 5the pride of Jacob whom he loves. Selah
5 God 6has gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.
6 Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises!
7 For God is 7the King of all the earth; sing praises 8with a psalm![a]
8 God 9reigns over the nations; God sits on his holy throne.
9 10The princes of the peoples gather as the people of the God of Abraham. For 11the shields of the earth belong to God; he is highly exalted!

Psalms 47:2-9 Meaning and Commentary

To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. Thus psalm is thought by some to be written on occasion of the ark being brought from the house of Obededom to the city of David, to the place he had prepared for it; which was attended with singing and dancing, with shouting, and the sound of a trumpet, 2 Samuel 6:12; but it rather seems to be penned on account of the ascension of Christ to heaven, prophetically spoken of in this psalm; and of the spread of the Gospel, and the conquests it made in the Gentile world upon Christ's ascension; as the whole psalm shows: and even Aben Ezra and Kimchi apply it to the times of the Messiah; and so do some of their most ancient writers, who particularly interpret Psalm 47:5 of him, as may be seen in the note upon it.

Cross References 11

  • 1. Psalms 66:3, 5; Psalms 68:35; Deuteronomy 7:21
  • 2. Malachi 1:14
  • 3. See Psalms 18:47
  • 4. Psalms 2:8; [1 Peter 1:4]
  • 5. Amos 6:8; Amos 8:7; Nahum 2:2
  • 6. 2 Samuel 6:15; [Psalms 68:18]
  • 7. Zechariah 14:9
  • 8. 1 Corinthians 14:15
  • 9. Psalms 22:28; 1 Chronicles 16:31
  • 10. [Psalms 72:11; Isaiah 49:7, 23]
  • 11. Psalms 89:18

Footnotes 1

The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.