Christian Standard Bible
Psalms 44:3
3For they did not take the land by their sword — their arm did not bring them victory — but by your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, because you were favorable toward 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
1God, we have heard with our ears — our ancestors have told us — the work you accomplished in their days, in days long ago: 2In order to plant them, you displaced the nations by your hand; in order to settle them, you brought disaster on the peoples. For they did not take the land by their sword — their arm did not bring them victory — but by your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, because you were favorable toward them. 4You are my King, my God, who ordains victories for Jacob. 5Through you we drive back our foes; through your name we trample our enemies.
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 4:37Because he loved your ancestors, he chose their descendants after them and brought you out of Egypt by his presence and great power,
- Deuteronomy 8:17You may say to yourself, ‘My power and my own ability have gained this wealth for me,’
- Joshua 24:12I sent hornets ahead of you, and they drove out the two Amorite kings before you. It was not by your sword or bow.
- Zechariah 4:6So he answered me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by strength or by might, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord of Armies.
- 2 Corinthians 4:7Now we have this treasure in clay jars, so that this extraordinary power may be from God and not from us.
- Psalms 17:7Display the wonders of your faithful love, Savior of all who seek refuge from those who rebel against your right hand.
- Psalms 20:6Now I know that the Lord gives victory to his anointed; he will answer him from his holy heaven with mighty victories from his right hand.
- Psalms 74:11Why do you hold back your hand? Stretch out your right hand and destroy them!
- Exodus 15:16terror and dread will fall on them. They will be as still as a stone because of your powerful arm until your people pass by, Lord, until the people whom you purchased pass by.
- Isaiah 63:12He made his glorious strength available at the right hand of Moses, divided the water before them to make an eternal name for himself,
- Psalms 42:5Why, my soul, are you so dejected? Why are you in such turmoil? Put your hope in God, for I will still praise him, my Savior and my God.
- Psalms 80:16It was cut down and burned; they perish at the rebuke of your countenance.
- Numbers 14:8If the Lord is pleased with us, he will bring us into this land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and give it to us.
- Deuteronomy 7:7“The Lord had his heart set on you and chose you, not because you were more numerous than all peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples.
- 1 Samuel 12:22The Lord will not abandon his people, because of his great name and because he has determined to make you his own people.
- Malachi 1:2“I have loved you,” says the Lord. Yet you ask, “How have you loved us?” “Wasn’t Esau Jacob’s brother?” This is the Lord’s declaration. “Even so, I loved Jacob,
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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