Psalm 47[a]
The Lord, King of All Nations
1 For the director.[b] A psalm of the sons of Korah.
2 All you peoples, clap your hands,[c]
shout to God with cries of gladness.
3 For the Lord, the Most High, is awesome;
he is the great King over all the earth.
4 He subdued nations under us
and brought peoples under our feet.
5 He chose our inheritance for us,
the pride of Jacob,[d] whom he loved. Selah
6 [e]God has ascended amid shouts of joy;
the Lord, amid the sound of trumpets.
7 Sing praises to God, sing praises;
sing praises to our King, sing praises.
8 For God is the King of the entire earth;
sing hymns of praise to him.
9 God reigns over all the nations;
God is seated on his holy throne.
10 The princes of the nations assemble
with the people of the God of Abraham;
for the rulers[f] of the earth belong to God,
and he is exalted on high.
Footnotes
- Psalm 47:1 This psalm is concerned with the Feast of the New Year. The Ark is transported: “God has ascended . . .” and, during the procession, this chant of the kingdom (see note on Ps 93) goes forth. Israel proclaims the kingship of God (see Ex 15:18; Isa 52:7; Zep 3:15), who has handed over to his people the land of Canaan and the city of Jerusalem while also defeating the nearby peoples. The ancient chant remains, but it appears as a prelude to the Lord’s reign over the whole universe (see Jer 10:7). The pagans will be converted and join God’s people in acclaiming the only true King (see Ezr 6:21; Isa 19:23-25; 25:6; 60:11).
The Roman and Byzantine liturgies see in this text a psalm for the Ascension of Christ: Christ “has ascended amid shouts of joy” and “is seated on his holy throne” as Lord at the right hand of the Father; from there salvation is offered to all peoples (see Acts 2:34; Phil 2:9-11; Rev 5:7-9, 12f). - Psalm 47:1 For the director: these words are thought to be a musical or liturgical notation. Sons of Korah: see note on Ps 42:1.
- Psalm 47:2 Clap your hands: a gesture used at occasions of great joy, e.g., at enthronements (see Ps 98:8; 2 Ki 11:12; Isa 55:12).
- Psalm 47:5 Our inheritance . . . the pride of Jacob: the Promised Land (see Gen 12:7; 17:8; Ex 3:8; Deut 1:8; Jer 3:18), which God gave Israel by a sovereign act.
- Psalm 47:6 God ascends liturgically to the temple in the Ark of the Covenant.
- Psalm 47:10 In Messianic times, the reconciled peoples will form only one people with God’s chosen ones. The covenant with Abraham (see Ps 105:6; Ex 3:6; Est C:2-5 [13:9-13]) will be extended to all humankind (see Ps 72:11; Gen 9:9; Isa 2:2; 45:20f; 56:6; Zec 8:20; 14:16). Princes . . . rulers: some suggest that these terms refer to the angelic spirits who watch over the nations (see Deut 32:8f; Dan 10:13).