God’s Word Translation
Psalms 47:8
8God rules the nations. He sits upon his holy throne.
Psalms 47:8 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness.
- New International Version (NIV)God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne.
- English Standard Version (ESV)God reigns over the nations; God sits on his holy throne.
- New King James Version (NKJV)God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne.
Context of Psalms 47:8
6Make music to praise God. Play music for him! Make music to praise our king. Play music for him! 7God is the king of the whole earth. Make your best music for him! God rules the nations. He sits upon his holy throne. 9The influential people from the nations gather together as the people of the God of Abraham. The rulers of the earth belong to God. He rules everything.
Read all of Psalms 47Psalms 47:8 word by word
מָלַ֣ךְ אֱ֭לֹהִים עַל־גּוֹיִ֑ם אֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים יָשַׁ֤ב׀ עַל־כִּסֵּ֬א קָדְשֽׁוֹ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Psalms 47:8
- Psalms 22:27All the ends of the earth will remember and return to the Lord. All the families from all the nations will worship you
- Psalms 93:1The Lord rules as king! He is clothed with majesty. The Lord has clothed himself; he has armed himself with power. The world was set in place; it cannot be moved.
- Psalms 96:10Say to the nations, “The Lord rules as king!” The earth stands firm; it cannot be moved. He will judge people fairly.
- Psalms 97:1The Lord rules as king. Let the earth rejoice. Let all the islands be joyful.
- Psalms 99:1The Lord rules as king. Let the people tremble. He is enthroned over the angels. Let the earth quake.
- Psalms 110:6He will pass judgment on the nations and fill them with dead bodies. Throughout the earth he will crush ⌞their⌟ heads.
- 1 Chronicles 16:31Let the heavens rejoice and the earth be glad. Say to the nations, ‘The Lord rules as king!’
- Revelation 19:6I heard what sounded like the noise from a large crowd, like the noise of raging waters, like the noise of loud thunder, saying, “Hallelujah! The Lord our God, the Almighty, has become king.
- Psalms 9:4You have defended my just cause: You sat down on your throne as a fair judge.
- Psalms 45:6Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter in your kingdom is a scepter for justice.
- Psalms 48:1The Lord is great. He should be highly praised. His holy mountain is in the city of our God.
- Psalms 89:14Righteousness and justice are the foundations of your throne. Mercy and truth stand in front of you.
- Psalms 94:20Are wicked rulers who use the law to do unlawful things able to be your partners?
- Hebrews 4:16So we can go confidently to the throne of God’s kindness to receive mercy and find kindness, which will help us at the right time.
- Revelation 20:11I saw a large, white throne and the one who was sitting on it. The earth and the sky fled from his presence, but no place was found for them.
Commentaries on Psalms 47:8
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8God reigneth over the heathen - Though this is literally true in God's universal dominion, yet more is here meant. God reigns over the heathen when, by the preaching of the Gospel, they are brought into the Church of Christ. God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness - He is a holy God; he proclaims holiness. His laws are holy, he requires holiness, and his genuine people are all holy. The throne of his holiness is the heaven of heavens; also the temple…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8God reigneth over the heathen - Over the “nations;” not over the “heathen” in the sense in which that term is understood now. It does not mean that God reigns, or that he has set up his throne over the people that have not the true religion, but that he is exalted over the “nations” of the earth as such; or, that he has universal dominion. See the notes at Psalm 46:10. God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness - Upon his holy throne, The idea is, that…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 5-9Verses 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 the nations to the gospel of…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-9This psalm praises God's rule as king over the entire earth. It describes God's victory with Israel and other nations. Both Israel (Psalm 47:3–4) and the nations (47:9) are part of God's kingdom.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 8-98-9. The instruction continued. throne of ... holiness--or, "holy throne" (see on Psa 2:6; Psa 23:4).Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 47:8
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Psalms 47
- 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
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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