Psalms 47 — with JFB Commentary
The King James text with the Jamieson-Fausset-Brown commentary (1871, public domain) directly beneath the verses it explains. Verses without a JFB note stand alone.
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1O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.
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).
2For the LORD most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth.
2-3. His universal sovereignty now exists, and will be made known.
3He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet.
2-3. His universal sovereignty now exists, and will be made known.
4He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved. Selah.
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.
5God is gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.
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).
6Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises.
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).
7For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding.
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).
8God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness.
8-9. The instruction continued.
throne of ... holiness--or, "holy throne" (see on Psa 2:6; Psa 23:4).
9The 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.
8-9. The instruction continued.
throne of ... holiness--or, "holy throne" (see on Psa 2:6; Psa 23:4).