Psalms 44:3

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 it for ourselves. Our ancestors told us what you did for them a long time ago. 2You used your power to chase away the other nations, so that our ancestors could live in their land. You punished those nations, and you helped our ancestors to be free. Our ancestors did not get the land by the power of their own swords. Their own strength did not win the fight. It was your own power and strength that did it! You were kind to them because you were their friend. 4God, you are my king! You command that Jacob's descendants must win against their enemies. 5Because of your power, we can knock down our enemies. Because of your strength, we can beat them down.

Psalms 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 4:37He chose you as his special people because he loved your ancestors. You are their descendants so he rescued you out of Egypt. He himself showed you his great power.
• Deuteronomy 8:17You must never say to yourself, ‘I have got all these valuable things because I am strong and clever!’
• Joshua 24:12I sent great fear on your enemies as you moved into the land. I chased them all away, as well as the two kings of the Amorites. You did not win because of your strong weapons, but because of me.
• Zechariah 4:6Then the angel said to me, ‘The Lord said this to Zerubbabel: “You will need my Spirit. You yourself are too weak. And you do not have enough power.” This is what the Lord Almighty says:
• 2 Corinthians 4:7God has given to us the gift to speak his message. But we ourselves are very weak. It is like we are keeping his valuable gift in clay pots. So it is clear that the great power of God's message comes from God himself. It does not come from us.
• Psalms 17:7Do great things that show your faithful love! You have the power to keep people safe from their enemies. You help them when they trust you for help.
• Psalms 20:6Now I know that the Lord will save the king that he has chosen. God will agree to help him from his holy place in heaven. God will use his great power to make his king safe.
• Psalms 74:11Why do you do nothing to help us? Use your power now to punish them!
• Exodus 15:16They will all be afraid. Because of your great power they will want to run away. But they cannot move! They will remain still, like stones, until your people go on past them. They will stand and watch as the people you have saved, Lord, pass by.
• Isaiah 63:12He caused his power to be with Moses, as Moses raised his arm over the sea. He caused the waters to become separate so that his people could go across. In that way, he caused his name always to be famous.
• Psalms 42:5Now I ask myself, ‘Why am I so sad and upset?’ I must wait patiently for God to help me. Then I will praise my God once again, because he is the one who saves me.
• Psalms 80:16But now the enemy has cut down your vine, and they have burned it with fire. Show them that you are angry with them, and destroy them!
• Numbers 14:8If the Lord is happy with us, he will bring us into this land. And he will give it to us. In that land there is plenty of food and drink, enough for everyone.
• Deuteronomy 7:7Why did the Lord choose you as the people who would give him pleasure? It was not because you were the largest nation on the earth. No, you were the smallest of all nations!
• 1 Samuel 12:22The Lord was pleased to choose you to be his own people. He will show that he is faithful and he will not leave you alone.
• Malachi 1:2The Lord says, ‘I have loved you.’ But you ask, ‘How have you loved us?’ The Lord says, ‘I chose to love Jacob and his descendants. Esau was Jacob's brother.

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

• Blessing
• Canaan
• Countenance
• God

In the dictionaries

• Face
• Naught
• Psalms
• Scorn
• Bible, the
• Countenance
• Grace
• Korahites; Sons of Korah
• Light
• Pentateuch

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