Psalms 47 · Verse 9

Psalms 47:9

The 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.
Psalms 47:9, King James Version

Psalms 47:9 in other translations

BSBThe nobles of the nations have assembled as the people of the God of Abraham; for the shields of the earth belong to God; He is highly exalted.
WEBThe princes of the peoples are gathered together, the people of the God of Abraham. For the shields of the earth belong to God. He is greatly exalted!
ASVThe princes of the peoples are gathered together To be the people of the God of Abraham; For the shields of the earth belong unto God: He is greatly exalted.
YLTNobles of peoples have been gathered, With the people of the God of Abraham, For to God are the shields of earth, Greatly hath He been exalted!
DARBYThe willing-hearted of the peoples have gathered together, with the people of the God of Abraham. For unto God belong the shields of the earth: he is greatly exalted.
BBEThe rulers of the peoples have come together, with the people of the God of Abraham; because the powers of the earth are God's: he is lifted up on high.
WebsterThe princes of the people are assembled, even the people of the God of Abraham: for the shields of the earth belong to God: he is greatly exalted.

What does Psalms 47:9 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 47:8-9

8-9. The instruction continued. throne of ... holiness--or, "holy throne" (see on Psa 2:6; Psa 23:4).

Read the full comment on Psalms 47:8-9 →

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 9 The princes of the people are gathered together - נדיבי עמים nedibey ammim. The voluntary people - the princely, noble, or free-willed people; those who gladly receive the word of life; those who, like the Bereans, were of a noble or liberal disposition; and, when they heard the Gospel, searched the Scriptures to see whether these things were so. It is a similar word which is used Psa 100:3; and I believe both texts speak of the same people - the Gentiles who gladly come unto his light, and present themselves a free-will offering to the Lord. The people or the God of Abraham - Who were Abraham's people? Not the Jews; the covenant was made with him while yet in urcircumcision. Properly speaking, the Gentiles are those whom he represented; for the covenant was made with him while yet a Gentile; and in his seed all the nations - the Gentiles, of the earth were to be blessed. The people of the God of Abraham are the Gentiles who, receiving the Gospel, are made partakers of the faith of Abraham, and are his spiritual children. The God of Abraham has Abraham's spiritual posterity, the believing Gentiles, for his own people. The shields of the earth belong unto God - The Septuagint translate this οἱ κραταιοι, the strong ones of the earth. The Vulgate reads, Quoniam dii fortes terrae vehementer elevati sunt; "Because the strong gods of the earth are exceedingly exalted." These are supposed to mean kings and rulers of provinces which were present at the dedication of the temple; (for some suppose the Psalm to have been composed for this solemnity); and that they are said here to be greatly exalted, because they exercised a very high degree of power over their respective districts. The words refer to something by which the inhabitants of the earth are defended; God's providence, guardian angels, etc., etc. He is greatly exalted - Great as secular rulers are, God is greater, and is above all; King of kings and Lord of lords; and the hearts of kings and governors are in his hand; and he turns them whithersoever he pleases.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 47:5-9

Praise is a duty in which we ought to be frequent and abundant. But here is a needful rule; Sing ye praises with understanding. As those that understand why and for what reasons they praise God, and what is the meaning of the service. It is not an acceptable service, if it is not a reasonable service. We are never to forget the end of Messiah's exaltation, so continually do the prophets dwell upon the conversion of…

Read the full comment on Psalms 47:5-9 →

Psalms 47:9 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.

נְדִ֘יבֵ֤יne.Di.Veinoble [people] ofH5081
עַמִּ֨ים\׀'a.MimpeoplesH5971
נֶאֱסָ֗פוּne.'e.Sa.futhey have gatheredH622
עַם֮'am[the] people ofH5971
אֱלֹהֵ֪י'e.lo.Hei[the] God ofH430
אַבְרָ֫הָ֥ם'av.Ra.HamAbrahamH85
כִּ֣יkiforH3588
לֵֽ֭אלֹהִיםLe.lo.him[belong] to GodH430
מָֽגִנֵּי\־ma.gi.nei-[the] shields ofH4043
אֶ֗רֶץ'E.retzearthH776
מְאֹ֣דme.'OdexceedinglyH3966
נַעֲלָֽה\׃na.'a.Lahhe is exaltedH5927

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

Cross references for Psalms 47:9

  • Psalms 89:18

    For the Lord is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our king.

  • Genesis 49:10

    The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.

  • Psalms 72:7-9

    In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth. He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth. They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust.

  • Exodus 3:6

    Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.

  • Genesis 17:7-8

    And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.

  • Isaiah 41:8-10

    But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend. Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away. Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

  • Exodus 3:15

    And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.

  • Psalms 46:10

    Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

  • Galatians 3:29

    And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

  • Matthew 22:32

    I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.

  • Proverbs 30:5

    Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

  • Psalms 97:9

    For thou, Lord, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
The princes, etc. or, The voluntary of the people aregathered unto the people of, etc.
72:7-9; 110:2,3; Ge 49:10; Isa 11:10; 60:4,5; 66:19,20; Ro 11:25
the God.
Ge 17:7,8; Ex 3:6,15; Isa 41:8-10; Mt 22:32; Ro 4:11,12; Ga 3:29
shields.
89:18; Pr 30:5; *marg:
he is.
46:10

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

Context

  • Psalms 47:8

    God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness.

  • Psalms 47:9

    The 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.

Read all of Psalms 47

Psalms 47:9 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Los príncipes de los pueblos se juntaron al pueblo del Dios de Abraham: porque de Dios son los escudos de la tierra; él es muy ensalzado.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Dieu règne sur les nations, Dieu est assis sur le trône de sa sainteté.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Die Edlen der Völker haben sich versammelt und das Volk des Gottes Abrahams; denn die Schilde der Erde sind Gottes; er ist sehr erhaben.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Sicut audivimus, sic vidimus, in civitate Domini virtutum, in civitate Dei nostri: Deus fundavit eam in æternum.