Psalm 47

Psalm 47
Ascension of the Lord ABC

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To the leader.A Of the Korahites.B A Psalm.C

Notes on superscript

A “leader” = natsach. Properly, something that glitters from a distance. So, something that stands out, excels, has status/standing (such as a chief musician or superintendent of Temple services). This can also mean to be permanent or enduring.
B “Korahites” = ben + Qorach. Literally “sons of Korah.” Ben is son, age, child. It is son in a literal or figurative sense. Qorach is from qarach (to shave bald, perhaps freeze). This is Korah, perhaps meaning “ice.”
C “Psalm” = mizmor. From zamar (making music; used specially of music to worship God; music with singing, singing praise, singing psalms); may be from zamar (to trim or prune). This is a melody or a psalm.

1 ClapD your hands,E all you peoples;F

Notes on verse 1a

D “clap” = taqa. This is to clap, clatter, thrust, sound an instrument, hammer a nail, be a bondsman.
E “hands” = kaph. From kaphaph (to bend – from a root meaning curve or bend down). This is palm of the hand or sole of the foot, footstep, grasp. Figuratively, it can also mean power.
F “peoples” = am. From amam (to darken, hide, associate; creating shadows by huddling together). This is people or nation. It can be used specifically for a tribe, collectively of troops or armies, or figuratively to refer to a flock of animals.

    shoutG to GodH with loudI songs of joy.J

Notes on verse 1b

G “shout” = rua. To break or destroy something so figuratively, an ear splitting sound such as a call of alarm or a joyful sound.
H “God” = Elohim.
I “loud” = qol. This is a sound, used often for human voices. Also used when God speaks or angels, animals or instruments. It can be a cry or a noise, thunder or earthquakes and so on.
J “songs of joy” = rinnah. From ranan (a cry of joy or a joyful song; properly, emitting a shrill sound, especially one of joy). This is a song, shout, cry of joy, or proclamation. It could also be a shout of grief.

For the Lord,K the Most High,L is awesome,M
    a greatN king over all the earth.O

Notes on verse 2

K “Lord” = YHVH. From havah (to be, become) or hayah (to come to pass, become, be). This is the name of the God of Israel, the self-existent and eternal one, the tetragrammaton. This pronunciation has been lost to time so “Lord” is generally used in its place.
L “Most High” = Elyon. From alah (to go up, ascend, be high, be a priority; to arise in a literal or figurative sense). This is most high, upper. It refers to elevation – so, lofty.
M “awesome” = yare. This is to fear, be afraid, dreadful. It can also refer to fearful reverence – to fear in a moral sense is to say to revere, respect.
N “great” = gadol. From gadal (to grow up, become great, become wealthy – to advance. The root meaning may be to twist in the sense of the process of growing). This is great, high, bigger, noble, old, marvelous. It can also refer to someone who is powerful or distinguished.
O “earth” = erets. Root may mean to be firm. This is earth, ground, field land, or country.

He subduedP peoples under us,
    and nationsQ under our feet.R

Notes on verse 3

P “subdued” = dabar. This is generally to speak, answer, declare, or command. It might mean to arrange and so to speak in a figurative sense as arranging words. In this verb form, it can mean to set to flight or subdue.
Q “nations” = leom. Root may refer to gathering. This is people, a community, or a nation.
R “feet” = regel. This is foot, endurance, or journey. It is a foot as the means of walking and so it implies a step or a greater journey. It can be used euphemistically for private parts.

He choseS our heritageT for us,
    the prideU of JacobV whom he loves.W SelahX

Notes on verse 4

S “chose” = bachar. This is to choose, appoint, try, excellent.
T “heritage” = nachalah. Related to nachal (to inherit, occupy, distribute, take as heritage). This is properly something that was inherited. It can mean occupancy generally or, more particularly, an heirloom or an estate. This can be an inheritance, gift, possession, or portion.
U “pride” = ga’own. From the same as ga’avah (majesty, excellency, pride, arrogance, ornament); from gaah (to rise up, be exalted, triumph; figuratively, be majestic). This is majesty, pride, redemption, pomp, excellency, swelling, or arrogance.
V “Jacob” = Yaaqob. From the same as aqeb (heel, hind part, hoof, rear guard of an army, one who lies in wait, usurper). This is Isaac’s son and his descendants. The name means heel-catcher or supplanter.
W “loves” = aheb. This is to love, beloved, friend. It is to have affection for sexually or otherwise.
X “Selah” = selah. From salal (to lift up, build, pile, extol, exalt; can also be used for opposing as a dam holds back water). This is to lift up or exalt. Also, “selah” in the psalms where its precise meaning is uncertain. It could be a pause in the music, a moment of silence. It could signal a change in the service or mean something akin to amen.

God has gone upY with a shout,Z
    the Lord with the soundAA of a trumpet.BB
Sing praisesCC to God, sing praises;
    sing praises to our King, sing praises.
For God is the king of all the earth;
    sing praises with a psalm.DD

Notes on verses 5-7

Y “gone up” = alah. Related to “Most High” in v2. See note L above.
Z “shout” = teruah. Related to “shout” in v1. From rua (see note G above). This is an alarm, trumpet sound, battle cry, rejoicing, joyful shout, or jubilee.
AA “sound” = qol. Same as “loud” in v1. See note I above.
BB “trumpet” = shophar. From shaphar (being beautiful or lovely). This is a ram’s horn, trumpet, or cornet. A shofar is still blown at Jewish festivals such as Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish new year celebration).
CC “sing praises” = zamar. Related to “Psalm” in superscript. See note C above.
DD “psalm” = sakal. This is to consider or be prudent and so it can mean to instruct or be an expert. It can also mean dealing prudently, which implies success and prospering. This verb presumes intelligence of the subject. In one form of the verb, it can mean laying cross-wise.

8 God is kingEE over the nations;FF
    God sitsGG on his holyHH throne.II

Notes on verse 8

EE “is king” = malak. Related to “king” in v2. To be or become king or queen, to rise to the throne, to be crowned. By implication, to take counsel. This word may be from the Hebrew word for king “melek” or vice versa.
FF “nations” = goy. Perhaps related to “pride” in v4. From the same root as gevah (the back, person, or body); related to gev (among); related to gaah (see note U above). This is nation or people. Often used to refer to Gentiles or foreign nations. It can also be used figuratively for a group of animals. This is where the Yiddish “goy” comes from.
GG “sits” = yashab. This is to sit and so to remain and so to dwell. It is sitting for any reason – as a judge, in order to ambush, or just sitting quietly. Causatively, this can mean settling or marrying. This can also mean continue, endure, or establish.
HH “holy” = qodesh. This is set apart and so sacred. God is different from us and so God is holy/set apart. Things we dedicate to God’s service are set apart for God and so they, too, are holy, etc.
II “throne” = kisse. From the same as kese (full moon); perhaps from kasah (to cover, conceal, overwhelm; to cover as clothes do or to hide a secret). This is throne – a seat that is covered or has a canopy. Thus, it is a seat that conveys authority.

The princesJJ of the peoples gatherKK
    as the people of the God of Abraham.LL
For the shieldsMM of the earth belong to God;
    he is highly exalted.NN

Notes on verse 9

JJ “princes” = nadib. From nadab (to offer willingly, volunteer, freely give, be willing). Properly, this is voluntary and so it implies generous, noble, magnanimous, or a generous person.
KK “gather” = asaph. This is to gather, assemble, or bring. It can also mean to take away, destroy, or remove.
LL “Abraham” = Abraham. From the same as Abiram (exalted father, a high father – lofty) {from ab (father literal or figurative) + rum (rise, bring up, being high, extol, exalt, haughty; to raise in a literal or figurative sense)}. This is Abraham, father of many nations or father of a multitude.
MM “shields” = magen. From ganan (to surround, cover, defend, protect). This is a shield, defense, or figuratively a protector. It can alszo be used for a crocodile’s hide.
NN “exalted” = alah. Same as “gone up” in v5. See note L above.


Image credit: “Moses and the Red Sea” by Sue Bentley.

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