Psalms 47 · Verse 2

Psalms 47:2

For the Lord most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth.
Psalms 47:2, King James Version

Psalms 47:2 in other translations

BSBHow awesome is the LORD Most High, the great King over all the earth!
WEBFor the LORD Most High is awesome. He is a great King over all the earth.
ASVFor Jehovah Most High is terrible; He is a great King over all the earth.
YLTFor Jehovah Most High is fearful, A great king over all the earth.
DARBYFor Jehovah, the Most High, is terrible, a great king over all the earth.
BBEFor the Lord Most High is to be feared; he is a great King over all the earth.
WebsterFor the LORD most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth.

What does Psalms 47:2 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 47:2-3
2-3. His universal sovereignty now exists, and will be made known.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 2 For the Lord most high is terrible - He has insufferable majesty, and is a great King - the mightiest of all emperors, for he is Sovereign over the whole earth.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 47:1-4

The people exhorted to praise God. Verses 1-4 The God with whom we have to do, is a God of awful majesty. The universal and absolute sovereignty of a holy God would be too terrible for us even to think of, were it not exercised by his Son from a mercy-seat; but now it is only terrible to the workers of iniquity. While his people express confidence and joy, and animate each other in serving him, let sinners submit to…

Read the full comment on Psalms 47:1-4 →

Psalms 47:2 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

כִּֽי\־ki-forH3588
יְהוָ֣הYah.wehYahwehH3068
עֶלְי֣וֹןel.Yon[the] Most HighH5945
נוֹרָ֑אno.Ra'[is] to be fearedH3372
מֶ֥לֶךְMe.lekha kingH4428
גָּ֝דוֹלGa.dolgreatH1419
עַל\־'al-overH5921
כָּל\־kol-allH3605
הָאָֽרֶץ\׃ha.'A.retzthe earthH776

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Psalms 47:2

  • Psalms 95:3

    For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.

  • Psalms 99:3

    Let them praise thy great and terrible name; for it is holy.

  • Malachi 1:14

    But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing: for I am a great King, saith the Lord of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the heathen.

  • Deuteronomy 7:21

    Thou shalt not be affrighted at them: for the Lord thy God is among you, a mighty God and terrible.

  • Psalms 68:35

    O God, thou art terrible out of thy holy places: the God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people. Blessed be God.

  • Psalms 66:3-5

    Say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works! through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee. All the earth shall worship thee, and shall sing unto thee; they shall sing to thy name. Selah. Come and see the works of God: he is terrible in his doing toward the children of men.

  • Psalms 65:5

    By terrible things in righteousness wilt thou answer us, O God of our salvation; who art the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of them that are afar off upon the sea:

  • Nehemiah 1:5

    And said, I beseech thee, O Lord God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments:

  • Psalms 47:7

    For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding.

  • Philippians 2:9-11

    Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

  • Matthew 28:18

    And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

  • Psalms 22:27-29

    All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee. For the kingdom is the Lord’s: and he is the governor among the nations. All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
is terrible.
65:5; 66:3-5; 68:35; 76:12; 99:3; 145:6; De 7:21; 28:58; Ne 1:5
Na 1:6,7; Re 6:16,17
a great.
7; 22:27-29; 95:3; Da 7:13,14; Mal 1:14; Mt 28:18; Php 2:9-11

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Psalms 47:1

    To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.

  • Psalms 47:2

    For the Lord most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth.

  • Psalms 47:3

    He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet.

Read all of Psalms 47

Psalms 47:2 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Porque Jehová el Altísimo es terrible; Rey grande sobre toda la tierra.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Battez des mains, vous, tous les peuples; poussez des cris de joie vers Dieu avec une voix de triomphe;
German
Elberfelder 1871
Denn Jehova, der Höchste, ist furchtbar, ein großer König über die ganze Erde.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Magnus Dominus et laudabilis nimis, in civitate Dei nostri, in monte sancto ejus.