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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)They did not conquer the land with their swords; it was not their own strong arm that gave them victory. It was your right hand and strong arm and the blinding light from your face that helped them, for you loved them.

Context of Psalms 44:3

1We have heard it with our ears, O God; our ancestors have told us what you did in their days, in days long ago. 2With your hand you drove out the nations and planted our ancestors; you crushed the peoples and made our ancestors flourish. 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. 4You are my King and my God, who decrees victories for Jacob. 5Through you we push back our enemies; through your name we trample 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 4:37Because he loved your ancestors and chose their descendants after them, he brought you out of Egypt by his Presence and his great strength,
• Deuteronomy 8:17You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.”
• Joshua 24:12I sent the hornet ahead of you, which drove them out before you—also the two Amorite kings. You did not do it with your own sword and bow.
• Zechariah 4:6So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.
• 2 Corinthians 4:7But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.
• Psalms 17:7Show me the wonders of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes.
• Psalms 20:6Now this I know: The Lord gives victory to his anointed. He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary with the victorious power of his right hand.
• Psalms 74:11Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand? Take it from the folds of your garment and destroy them!
• Exodus 15:16terror and dread will fall on them. By the power of your arm they will be as still as a stone— until your people pass by, Lord, until the people you bought pass by.
• Isaiah 63:12who sent his glorious arm of power to be at Moses’ right hand, who divided the waters before them, to gain for himself everlasting renown,
• Psalms 42:5Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
• Psalms 80:16Your vine is cut down, it is burned with fire; at your rebuke your people perish.
• Numbers 14:8If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us.
• Deuteronomy 7:7The Lord did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples.
• 1 Samuel 12:22For the sake of his great name the Lord will not reject his people, because the Lord was pleased to make you his own.
• Malachi 1:2“I have loved you,” says the Lord. “But you ask, ‘How have you loved us?’ “Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I have 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

• 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