Psalm 47 Introduction

Structure and Formatting

Psalm 47 is a psalm of praise. It is a specific type of praise psalm, a divine enthronement psalm. See the discussion of the types of psalms in the introduction to the book of Psalms. 1. Call to worship (1) 2. Reason to worship (2–5) 3. Call to worship (6) 4. Reason to worship (7–9)

Religious and Cultural Concepts in This Psalm

What “peoples” and “nations” had Yahweh enabled the Israelites to subdue (v. 3)?

The psalmist does not give specific details of the victory he is celebrating. This might be a general song of praise to Yahweh, in which case verse 3 might be translated, “He subdues peoples under us and nations under our feet.” However, interpreters have suggested one likely historical occasion for the composition of this psalm. It is generally agreed that the Korahites wrote their psalms in the later years of the kingdom of Judah. During the reign of Jehoshaphat, as [2 Chronicles 20:1–30](../2ch/20/01.md) relates, a huge army of Moabite, Ammonite, and Meunite soldiers attacked Judah. The Judeans felt unable to defeat this army, but people from all over Judah gathered at the temple and Jehoshaphat prayed for Yahweh’s help. He appealed to him on the grounds that he had promised to give the land of Israel to the descendants of Abraham. Yahweh made the invading soldiers from the different countries fight against each other, so the enemy army destroyed itself. As a result, the people of the surrounding kingdoms came to fear and respect Yahweh greatly. The psalmist may be referring to this in verse 9 when he describes people from all nations worshiping “the God of Abraham.”

Translation Issues in This Psalm

The order of reasons and results

As the introduction to the book of Psalms discusses, the typical pattern of a psalm of praise is to issue a call to worship and then give a reason to worship. A psalm of praise may do this more than once. (This psalm does it twice.) It would be helpful to follow this pattern to show your readers how these psalms work. However, if, as a rule, your language would not give a reason after a result, you could create verse bridges for verses 1 and 2 and verses 6 and 7 in order to put the reasons before the results.In the ULT, which follows the Hebrew order, verses 1 and 2 read this way:Clap a palm, all peoples!Shout to God with a voice of rejoicing.For Yahweh, the Most High, is to be feared,the great king over all of the earth.In your translation, you might present them as verse 1–2 this way:Since Yahweh, the Most High,the great king over all of the earth, is to be feared,Clap a palm, all peoples!Shout to God with a voice of rejoicing.In the ULT, verses 6 and 7 read this way:Sing praise to God, sing praise!Sing praise to our King, sing praise! For God is the king of all of the earth.Sing praise with a maskil.In your translation, you might present them as verse 6–7 this way:Since God is the king of all of the earth,Sing praise to God, sing praise!Sing praise to our king, sing praise!Sing praise with a maskil.

Note 1 topic: translate-unknown

לַ⁠מְנַצֵּ֬חַ

(la⁠mənaʦʦēaḩ)

The word translated as chief musician likely refers to the person in charge of music for worship. Some languages may have a term for a music leader. See how you translated the term “chief musician” in the superscription to Psalm 4. Alternate translation: [For the leader of worship music] or [For the music director]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

לִ⁠בְנֵי־קֹ֬רַח

(li⁠ⱱənēy-qoraḩ)

See how you translated the expression “the sons of Korah” in the superscription to Psalm 42. Alternate translation: [of the descendants of Korah] or [of the Korahites]