TRV
Translation
King James Version
The princes of the people are gathered together, even the people of the God of Abraham: for the shields of the earth belong unto God: he is greatly exalted.
Complete Jewish Bible
The leaders of the people gather together, the people of the God of Avraham; for the rulers of the earth belong to God, who is exalted on high.
Berean Standard Bible
The nobles of the nations have assembled as the people of the God of Abraham; for the shields of the earth belong to God; He is highly exalted.
American Standard Version
The princes of the peoples are gathered together To bethe people of the God of Abraham; For the shields of the earth belong unto God: He is greatly exalted.
World English Bible Messianic
The princes of the peoples are gathered together, the people of the God of Abraham. For the shields of the earth belong to God. He is greatly exalted!
Geneva Bible (1599)
The princes of the people are gathered vnto the people of the God of Abraham: for the shields of the world belong to God: he is greatly to be exalted.
Young's Literal Translation
Nobles of peoples have been gathered, With the people of the God of Abraham, For to God are the shields of earth, Greatly hath He been exalted!
In the KJVVerse 14,635 of 31,102
Study This Verse
Commentary on Psalms 47 verses 5–9
5 ¶ God is gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.
6 Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises.
7 For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding.
8 God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness.
9 The princes of the people are gathered together, even the people of the God of Abraham: for the shields of the earth belong unto God: he is greatly exalted.
We are here most earnestly pressed to praise God, and to sing his praises; so backward are we to this duty that we have need to be urged to it by precept upon precept, and line upon line; so we are here (Psa 47:6): Sing praises to God, and again, Sing praises, Sing praises to our King, and again, Sing praises. This intimates that it is a very necessary and excellent duty, that it is a duty we ought to be frequent and abundant in; we may sing praises again and again in the same words, and it is no vain repetition if it be done with new affections. Should not a people praise their God? Dan 5:4. Should not subjects praise their king? God is our God, our King, and therefore we must praise him; we must sing his praises, as those that are pleased with them and that are not ashamed of them. But here is a needful rule subjoined (Psa 47:7): Sing you praises with understanding, with Maschil. 1. "Intelligently; as those that do yourselves understand why and for what reasons you praise God and what is the meaning of the service." This is the gospel-rule (Co1 14:15), to sing with the spirit and with the understanding also; it is only with the heart that we make melody to the Lord, Eph 5:19. It is not an acceptable service if it be not a reasonable service. 2. "Instructively, as those that desire to make others understand God's glorious perfections, and to teach them to praise him." Three things are mentioned in these verses as just matter for our praises, and each of them will admit of a double sense: -
I. We must praise God going up (Psa 47:5): God has gone up with a shout, which may refer, 1. To the carrying up of the ark to the hill of Zion, which was done with great solemnity, David himself dancing before it, the priests, it is likely, blowing the trumpets, and the people following with their loud huzzas. The ark being the instituted token of God's special presence with them, when that was brought up by warrant from him he might be said to go up. The emerging of God's ordinances out of obscurity, in order to the more public and solemn administration of them, is a great favour to any people, which they have reason to rejoice in and give thanks for. 2. To the ascension of our Lord Jesus into heaven, when he had finished his work on earth, Act 1:9. Then God went up with a shout, the shout of a King, of a conqueror, as one who, having spoiled principalities and powers, then led captivity captive, Psa 68:18. He went up as a Mediator, typified by the ark and the mercy-seat over it, and was brought as the ark was into the most holy place, into heaven itself; see Heb 9:24. We read not of a shout, or of the sound of a trumpet, at the ascension of Christ, but they were the inhabitants of the upper world, those sons of God, that then shouted for joy, Job 38:7. He shall come again in the same manner as he went (Act 1:11) and we are sure that he shall come again with a shout and the sound of a trumpet.
II. We must praise God reigning, Psa 47:7. 8. God is not only our King, and therefore we owe our homage to him, but he is King of all the earth (Psa 47:7), over all the kings of the earth, and therefore in every place the incense of praise is to be offered up to him. Now this may be understood, 1. Of the kingdom of providence. God, as Creator, and the God of nature, reigns over the heathen, disposes of them and all their affairs, as he pleases, though they know him not, nor have any regard to him: He sits upon the throne of his holiness, which he has prepared in the heavens, and there he rules over all, even over the heathen, serving his own purposes by them and upon them. See here the extent of God's government; all are born within his allegiance; even the heathen that serve other gods are ruled by the true God, our God, whether they will or no. See the equity of his government; it is a throne of holiness, on which he sits, whence he gives warrants, orders, and judgment, in which we are sure there is no iniquity. 2. Of the kingdom of the Messiah. Jesus Christ, who is God, and whose throne is for ever and ever reigns over the heathen; not only he is entrusted with the administration of the providential kingdom, but he shall set up the kingdom of his grace in the Gentile world, and rule in the hearts of multitudes that were bred up in heathenism, Eph 2:12, Eph 2:13. This the apostle speaks of as a great mystery that the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, Eph 3:6. Christ sits upon the throne of his holiness, his throne in the heavens, where all the administrations of his government are intended to show forth God's holiness and to advance holiness among the children of men.
III. We must praise God as attended and honoured by the princes of the people, Psa 47:9. This may be understood, 1. Of the congress or convention of the states of Israel, the heads and rulers of the several tribes, at the solemn feasts, or to despatch the public business of the nation. It was the honour of Israel that they were the people of the God of Abraham, as they were Abraham's seed and taken into his covenant; and, thanks be to God, this blessing of Abraham has come upon the isles of the Gentiles, Gal 3:14. It was their happiness that they had a settled government, princes of their people, who were the shields of their land. Magistracy is the shield of a nation, and it is a great mercy to any people to have this shield, especially when their princes, their shields, belong unto the Lord, are devoted to his honour, and their power is employed in his service, for then he is greatly exalted. It is likewise the honour of God that, in another sense, the shields of the earth do belong to him; magistracy is his institution, and he serves his own purposes by it in the government of the world, turning the hearts of kings as the rivers of water, which way soever he pleases. It was well with Israel when the princes of their people were gathered together to consult for the public welfare. The unanimous agreement of the great ones of a nation in the things that belong to its peace is a very happy omen, which promises abundance of blessings. 2. It may be applied to the calling of the Gentiles into the church of Christ, and taken as a prophecy that in the days of the Messiah the kings of the earth and their people should join themselves to the church, and bring their glory and power into the New Jerusalem, that they should all become the people of the God of Abraham, to whom it was promised that he should be the father of many nations. The volunteers of the people (so it may be read); it is the same word that is used in Psa 110:3, Thy people shall be willing; for those that are gathered to Christ are not forced, but made freely willing, to be his. When the shields of the earth, the ensigns of royal dignity ( Kg1 14:27, Kg1 14:28,), are surrendered to the Lord Jesus, as the keys of a city are presented to the conqueror or sovereign, when princes use their power for the advancement of the interests of religion, then Christ is greatly exalted.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 5–9. Public domain.
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John ChrysostomAD 407
COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS 47:6
Here he shows the extent of the gospel’s influence, reaching not only simple people but even the very wearers of the crown and those seated on a royal throne.
Augustine of HippoAD 430
Exposition on Psalm 47
"The princes of the peoples are gathered together unto the God of Abraham" [Psalm 47:9]. The God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. [Exodus 3:6] True it is, God said this, and thereupon the Jews prided themselves, and said, "We are Abraham's children;" [John 8:33] priding themselves in their father's name, carrying his flesh, not holding his faith; by seed cleaving to Him, in manners degenerating. But the Lord, what said He to them so priding themselves? "If you are Abraham's children, do the works of Abraham." [John 8:39] Again..."The princes of the peoples:" the princes of the nations: not the princes of one people, but the princes of all people have "gathered together unto the God of Abraham." Of these princes was that Centurion too, of whom but now when the Gospel was read ye heard. For he was a Centurion having honour and power among men, he was a prince among the princes of the peoples. Christ coming to him, he sent his friends to meet Him, nay unto Christ truly passing over to him he sent his friends, and asked that He would heal his servant who was dangerously sick. And when the Lord would come, he sent to Him this message: "I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof, but say in a word only, and my servant shall be healed." "For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers." [Luke 7:6-7] See how he kept his rank! First he mentioned that he was under another, and afterwards that another was under him. I am under authority, and I am in authority; both under some I am, and over some I am....As though he said, If I being set under authority command those who are under me, You who is set under no man's authority, canst not Thou command Your creature, since all things were made by You, and without You was nothing made. "Say," then, said he, "in a word, and my servant shall be healed. For I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof."...Admiring at his faith, Jesus reprobates the Jews' misbelief. For sound to themselves they seemed, whereas they were dangerously sick, when their Physician not knowing they slew. Therefore when He reprobated, and repudiated their pride what said he? "I say unto you, that many shall come from the east and west," not belonging to the kindred of Israel: many shall come to whom He said, "O clap your hands, all you nations;" "and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven." Abraham begot them not of his own flesh; yet shall they come and sit down with him in the kingdom of heaven, and be his sons. Whereby his sons? Not as born of his flesh, but by following his faith. "But the children of the kingdom," that is, the Jews, "shall be cast into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." [Matthew 8:12] They shall be condemned to outer darkness who are born of the flesh of Abraham, and they shall sit down with him in the kingdom of heaven, who have imitated Abraham's faith.
Theodoret of CyrusAD 458
COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS 47:5
The promises to the patriarch Abraham, he is saying, took effect. Now the Lord of all promised to bless all the nations in his progeny. Accordingly, both these nations and their rulers abandoned their ancestral gods and are assembled with the God of Abraham, and they call this God theirs.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Psalms 47:9 culminates a psalm celebrating God's kingship by declaring His universal sovereignty and the ultimate submission of all earthly powers. It presents a majestic vision where the leaders of the nations, recognizing the supreme authority of the God of Abraham, willingly gather in allegiance. This profound reality is grounded in the truth that all authority and protection on earth—symbolized by "shields"—belong exclusively to God, leading to His unparalleled and magnificent exaltation above all.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Psalms 47:9 employs several potent literary devices to convey its message of divine sovereignty. The most prominent is Metaphor, specifically in the phrase "the shields of the earth." Here, "shields" are not literal defensive armaments but stand metaphorically for the rulers, protectors, and governing authorities of the world. This powerful imagery communicates that all earthly power, security, and defense ultimately derive from and are under the control of God. The verse also utilizes Synecdoche by using "princes of the people" to represent the entirety of the Gentile nations or their highest authorities, indicating a universal scope of acknowledgment. Furthermore, there is an element of Anticipation or Prophecy, as the verse describes a future (or ideal present) state where all earthly powers willingly submit to the God of Abraham, foreshadowing the ultimate eschatological reign of God. The overall tone is one of Exaltation and Triumph, building to a powerful crescendo that celebrates God's supreme and undisputed authority.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 47:9 is a profound declaration of God's absolute sovereignty, extending His dominion beyond Israel to encompass all nations and their rulers. It underscores the universal scope of God's redemptive plan, rooted in the Abrahamic covenant, which promised that through Abraham's descendants, "all the families of the earth shall be blessed" Genesis 12:3. The verse challenges any notion of autonomous human authority, asserting that all earthly power, symbolized by "shields," ultimately belongs to God. This theological truth provides immense comfort and hope, reminding believers that even amidst political turmoil and the rise and fall of empires, God remains on His throne, orchestrating history according to His divine will. It anticipates a future where every knee will bow and every tongue confess His supreme Lordship, fulfilling His ultimate purpose for creation.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 47:9 calls us to a profound reorientation of our perspective on power, authority, and God's place in the world. In an age often characterized by political polarization, the rise and fall of leaders, and the pursuit of earthly power, this verse serves as a powerful anchor. It reminds us that no human government, no military might, and no political ideology holds ultimate sway; all "shields of the earth" belong to God. This truth should inspire unwavering confidence in His sovereign plan, even when circumstances seem chaotic or unjust. It compels us to worship the God who is "greatly exalted" above all, trusting that His purposes will prevail. Furthermore, it challenges us to pray for our leaders, knowing that their authority is divinely ordained, and to live as citizens of God's kingdom, reflecting His righteousness and justice in a world that desperately needs His transforming presence. This verse also fuels our hope for the future, anticipating a day when all nations will willingly acknowledge and worship the one true God, fulfilling His ancient promises.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Who are "the princes of the people" and why are they "gathered together"?
Answer: "The princes of the people" (Hebrew: nâdîyb ‘ammîm) refers to the nobles, leaders, or rulers of the various Gentile nations. Their "gathering together" signifies a voluntary assembly or submission to the God of Abraham. This is not necessarily a forced conquest but rather an acknowledgment of God's supreme authority and a willing alignment with His people. It points to a future or eschatological reality where all earthly powers recognize and pay homage to the one true God, fulfilling the global scope of the Abrahamic covenant, which promised that through Abraham's lineage, "all the families of the earth shall be blessed" Genesis 12:3.
What is the meaning of "the shields of the earth belong unto God"?
Answer: The phrase "the shields of the earth" is a powerful metaphor. A shield is a symbol of protection, defense, and authority. Therefore, "the shields of the earth" represent the rulers, mighty warriors, or governing authorities of the nations—those who are meant to protect and defend their people. The declaration that these "belong unto God" means that all earthly power, authority, and the very capacity for protection are ultimately God's possession. It asserts that all human governments and leaders derive their existence and function from Him and are ultimately accountable to Him. This echoes the New Testament teaching that "there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God" Romans 13:1.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 47:9 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. He is the true "God of Abraham," the promised Seed through whom all nations are blessed, embodying the covenant promises in His very being. The "princes of the people" gathering to the God of Abraham foreshadows the universal reign of Christ, to whom "all authority in heaven and on earth has been given" Matthew 28:18. The "shields of the earth" truly belong to Him, for He is the "King of kings and Lord of lords" Revelation 19:16. His ascension, celebrated in Psalm 47, is explicitly linked to His exaltation above all rule and authority, as God "seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named" Ephesians 1:20-21. The psalm's declaration that God is "greatly exalted" culminates in the New Testament's vision of a future where "at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" Philippians 2:10-11. Thus, Psalms 47:9 is not merely a historical or prophetic statement about God, but a vibrant anticipation of the universal dominion and worship that belongs to Christ, the ascended King.