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

1O God, we have clearly heard; our ancestors have told us what you did in their days, in ancient times. 2You, by your power, defeated nations and settled our fathers on their land; you crushed the people living there and enabled our ancestors to occupy it. For they did not conquer the land by their swords, and they did not prevail by their strength, but rather by your power, strength and good favor, for you were partial to them. 4You are my king, O God! Decree Jacob’s deliverance! 5By your power we will drive back our enemies; by your strength we will trample down our foes!

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 4:37Moreover, because he loved your ancestors, he chose their descendants who followed them and personally brought you out of Egypt with his great power
• Deuteronomy 8:17Be careful not to say, “My own ability and skill have gotten me this wealth.”
• Joshua 24:12I sent terror ahead of you to drive out before you the two Amorite kings. I gave you the victory; it was not by your swords or bows.
• Zechariah 4:6Therefore he told me, “These signify the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by strength and not by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord who rules over all.”
• 2 Corinthians 4:7But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that the extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.
• Psalms 17:7Accomplish awesome, faithful deeds, you who powerfully deliver those who look to you for protection from their enemies.
• Psalms 20:6Now I am sure that the Lord will deliver his chosen king; he will intervene for him from his holy heavenly temple, and display his mighty ability to deliver.
• Psalms 74:11Why do you remain inactive? Intervene and destroy him!
• Exodus 15:16Fear and dread will fall on them; by the greatness of your arm they will be as still as stone until your people pass by, O Lord, until the people whom you have bought pass by.
• Isaiah 63:12the one who made his majestic power available to Moses, who divided the water before them, gaining for himself a lasting reputation,
• Psalms 42:5Why are you depressed, O my soul? Why are you upset? Wait for God! For I will again give thanks to my God for his saving intervention.
• Psalms 80:16It is burned and cut down. They die because you are displeased with them.
• Numbers 14:8If the Lord delights in us, then he will bring us into this land and give it to us – a land that is flowing with milk and honey.
• Deuteronomy 7:7It is not because you were more numerous than all the other peoples that the Lord favored and chose you – for in fact you were the least numerous of all peoples.
• 1 Samuel 12:22The Lord will not abandon his people because he wants to uphold his great reputation. The Lord was pleased to make you his own people.
• Malachi 1:2“I have shown love to you,” says the Lord, but you say, “How have you shown love to us?” “Esau was Jacob’s brother,” the Lord explains, “yet I chose 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

• 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