Amplified Bible
Psalms 44:3
3For our fathers did not possess the land [of Canaan] by their own sword, Nor did their own arm save them, But Your right hand and Your arm and the light of Your presence, Because You favored and delighted in them.
Psalms 44:3 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour unto them.
- New International Version (NIV)It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, for you loved them.
- English Standard Version (ESV)for not by their own sword did they win the land, nor did their own arm save them, but your right hand and your arm, and the light of your face, for you delighted in them.
- New King James Version (NKJV)For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword, Nor did their own arm save them; But it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your countenance, Because You favored them.
Context of Psalms 44:3
1We have heard with our ears, O God, Our fathers have told us The work You did in their days, In the days of old. 2You drove out the [pagan] nations with Your own hand; Then you planted and established them (Israel); [It was by Your power that] You uprooted the [pagan] peoples, Then You spread them abroad. For our fathers did not possess the land [of Canaan] by their own sword, Nor did their own arm save them, But Your right hand and Your arm and the light of Your presence, Because You favored and delighted in them. 4You are my King, O God; Command victories and deliverance for Jacob (Israel). 5Through You we will gore our enemies [like a bull]; Through Your name we will trample down those who rise up against us.
Read all of Psalms 44Psalms 44:3 word by word
כִּ֤י לֹ֪א בְחַרְבָּ֡ם יָ֥רְשׁוּ אָ֗רֶץ וּזְרוֹעָם֮ לֹא־הוֹשִׁ֪יעָ֫ה לָּ֥מוֹ כִּֽי־יְמִֽינְךָ֣ וּ֭זְרוֹעֲךָ וְא֥וֹר פָּנֶ֗יךָ כִּ֣י רְצִיתָֽם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- For they gotיָרַשׁyârash yârêsh · to possess: takeH3423
- not the landאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
- by their own swordחֶ֫רֶבchereb · swordH2719
- neither did their own armזְרוֹעַzerôa‛ zerôa‛ zerô‛âh zerô‛âh · armH2220
- saveיָשַׁעyâsha‛ · to saveH3467
- them: but thy right handיָמִיןyâmîyn · rightH3225
- and the lightאוֹר'ôr · lightH216
- of thy countenanceפָּנֶהpânîym · faceH6440
- because thou hadst a favourרָצָהrâtsâh · to acceptH7521
Cross-references for Psalms 44:3
- Deuteronomy 4:37And because He loved your fathers, He chose their descendants who followed them, and brought you from Egypt with His Presence, with His great and awesome power,
- Deuteronomy 8:17Otherwise, you may say in your heart, ‘My power and the strength of my hand made me this wealth.’
- Joshua 24:12I sent the hornet [that is, the terror of you] before you, which drove the two kings of the Amorites out before you; but it was not by your sword or by your bow.
- Zechariah 4:6Then he said to me, “This [continuous supply of oil] is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel [prince of Judah], saying, ‘Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit [of whom the oil is a symbol],’ says the Lord of hosts.
- 2 Corinthians 4:7But we have this precious treasure [the good news about salvation] in [unworthy] earthen vessels [of human frailty], so that the grandeur and surpassing greatness of the power will be [shown to be] from God [His sufficiency] and not from ourselves.
- Psalms 17:7Wondrously show Your [marvelous and amazing] lovingkindness, O Savior of those who take refuge at Your right hand From those who rise up against them.
- Psalms 20:6Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven With the saving strength of His right hand.
- Psalms 74:11Why do You withdraw Your hand, even Your right hand [from judging the enemy]? Remove Your hand from Your chest, destroy them!
- Exodus 15:16Terror and dread fall on them; Because of the greatness of Your arm they are as still as a stone; Until Your people pass by and [into Canaan], O Lord, Until the people pass by whom You have purchased.
- Isaiah 63:12Who caused His glorious arm and infinite power to go at the right hand of Moses, Dividing the waters before them to make for Himself an everlasting name,
- Psalms 42:5Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become restless and disturbed within me? Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him, for I shall again praise Him For the help of His presence.
- Psalms 80:16It is burned with fire, it is cut down; They perish at the rebuke of Your [angry] appearance.
- Numbers 14:8If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land which flows with milk and honey.
- Deuteronomy 7:7“The Lord did not love you and choose you because you were greater in number than any of the other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples.
- 1 Samuel 12:22The Lord will not abandon His people for His great name’s sake, because the Lord has been pleased to make you a people for Himself.
- Malachi 1:2“I have loved you,” says the Lord. But you say, “How and in what way have You loved us?” “Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I loved Jacob (Israel);
Commentaries on Psalms 44:3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3For they got not the land - Neither by their valor, nor cunning, nor for their merit; yet, they were obliged to fight. But how did they conquer? By the right hand of the Lord, and by his arm; by his strength alone, and the light of his countenance - his favor most manifestly shown unto them.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3For they got not the land in possession - The land of Canaan. The design of this verse is to illustrate the sentiment in the previous verse, that they owed their establishment in the promised land wholly to God. The fact that He had interposed in their behalf; that He had shown that he was able to discomfit their enemies, is appealed to as a reason why he should now interpose in a time of national danger and calamity. He who had driven out the nations in…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3Though the Israelites used swords and other weapons (Psalm 44:6), they would have lost their battles without the light of the Lord’s favor (see Psalms 18:25–29; 27:1; 89:15).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-261-3. This period is that of the settlement of Canaan (Jos 24:12; Jud 6:3). have told--or, "related" (compare Ex 10:2).Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 44:3
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Psalms 44
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- The Treasury of David
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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