God’s Word Translation
Psalms 44:3
3It was not with their swords that they took possession of the land. They did not gain victory with their own strength. It was your right hand, your arm, and the light of your presence ⌞that did it⌟, because you were pleased with 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
1O God, we have heard it with our own ears. Our ancestors have told us about the miracle you performed in their day, in days long ago. 2By your power you forced nations ⌞out of the land⌟, but you planted our ancestors ⌞there⌟. You shattered many groups of people, but you set our ancestors free. It was not with their swords that they took possession of the land. They did not gain victory with their own strength. It was your right hand, your arm, and the light of your presence ⌞that did it⌟, because you were pleased with them. 4You alone are my king, O God. You won those victories for Jacob. 5With you we can walk over our enemies. With your name we can trample those who attack 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 4:37Because he loved your ancestors and chose their descendants, he was with you as he brought you out of Egypt by his great power.
- Deuteronomy 8:17You may say to yourselves, “I became wealthy because of my own ability and strength.”
- Joshua 24:12I sent hornets ahead of you to force out the two kings of the Amorites ahead of you. These things didn’t happen because of your battle skills or fighting ability.
- Zechariah 4:6Then he replied, “This is the word the Lord spoke to Zerubbabel: You won’t ⌞succeed⌟ by might or by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Armies.
- 2 Corinthians 4:7Our bodies are made of clay, yet we have the treasure of the Good News in them. This shows that the superior power of this treasure belongs to God and doesn’t come from us.
- Psalms 17:7Reveal your miraculous deeds of mercy, O Savior of those who find refuge by your side from those who attack them.
- Psalms 20:6Now I know that the Lord will give victory to his anointed king. He will answer him from his holy heaven with mighty deeds of his powerful hand.
- Psalms 74:11Why do you hold back your hand, especially your right hand? Take your hands out of your pockets. Destroy your enemies!
- Exodus 15:16Terror and dread will fall on them. Because of the power of your arm, they will be petrified until your people pass by, O Lord, until the people you purchased pass by.
- Isaiah 63:12Where is the one who sent his powerful arm to support the right hand of Moses? Where is the one who divided the water in front of them to make an everlasting name for himself?
- Psalms 42:5Why are you discouraged, my soul? Why are you so restless? Put your hope in God, because I will still praise him. He is my savior and my God.
- Psalms 80:16The vine has been cut down and burned. Let them be destroyed by the threatening look on your face.
- Numbers 14:8If the Lord is pleased with us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us. This is a land flowing with milk and honey!
- Deuteronomy 7:7The Lord set his heart on you and chose you, even though you didn’t outnumber all the other people. You were the smallest of all nations.
- 1 Samuel 12:22For the sake of his great name, the Lord will not abandon his people, because the Lord wants to make you his people.
- Malachi 1:2“I loved you,” says the Lord. “But you ask, ‘How did you love us?’ “Wasn’t Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the Lord. “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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