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 heard it with our own ears— our ancestors have told us of all you did in their day, in days long ago: 2You drove out the pagan nations by your power and gave all the land to our ancestors. You crushed their enemies and set our ancestors free. 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. 4You are my King and my God. You command victories for Israel. 5Only by your power can we push back our enemies; only in your name can 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, he chose to bless their descendants, and he personally brought you out of Egypt with a great display of power.
• Deuteronomy 8:17He did all this so you would never say to yourself, ‘I have achieved this wealth with my own strength and energy.’
• Joshua 24:12And I sent terror ahead of you to drive out the two kings of the Amorites. It was not your swords or bows that brought you victory.
• Zechariah 4:6Then he said to me, “This is what the Lord says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
• 2 Corinthians 4:7We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.
• Psalms 17:7Show me your unfailing love in wonderful ways. By your mighty power you rescue those who seek refuge from their enemies.
• Psalms 20:6Now I know that the Lord rescues his anointed king. He will answer him from his holy heaven and rescue him by his great power.
• Psalms 74:11Why do you hold back your strong right hand? Unleash your powerful fist and destroy them.
• Exodus 15:16terror and dread fall upon them. The power of your arm makes them lifeless as stone until your people pass by, O Lord, until the people you purchased pass by.
• Isaiah 63:12Where is the one whose power was displayed when Moses lifted up his hand— the one who divided the sea before them, making himself famous forever?
• Psalms 42:5Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and
• Psalms 80:16For we are chopped up and burned by our enemies. May they perish at the sight of your frown.
• Numbers 14:8And if the Lord is pleased with us, he will bring us safely into that land and give it to us. It is a rich land flowing with milk and honey.
• Deuteronomy 7:7“The Lord did not set his heart on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other nations, for you were the smallest of all nations!
• 1 Samuel 12:22The Lord will not abandon his people, because that would dishonor his great name. For it has pleased the Lord to make you his very own people.
• Malachi 1:2“I have always loved you,” says the Lord. But you retort, “Really? How have you loved us?” And the Lord replies, “This is how I showed my love for you: I loved your ancestor 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