Psalm 47:1-2

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 47:1-4

The psalmist, having his own heart filled with great and good thoughts of God, endeavours to engage all about him in the blessed work of praise, as one convinced that God is worthy of all blessing and praise, and as one grieved at his own and others? backwardness to and barrenness in this work. Observe, in these verses, I. Who are called upon to praise God: ?All you people, all you people of Israel;? those were his own subjects, and under his charge, and therefore he will engage them to praise... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 47:1

O clap your hands, all ye people , Meaning the Gentiles more especially; see Psalm 117:1 compared with Romans 15:9 ; who had reason to rejoice and be glad, since the ascended Lord and King here spoken of was given to be their Saviour, was the propitiation for their sins, and had given himself a ransom price for them; and now the Gospel was preached among them, by an order from him after his resurrection; and upon his ascension gifts were bestowed on his apostles, qualifying them for it;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 47:2

For the Lord most high is terrible ,.... Christ is not only the Son of the Highest, but he himself is the most high God, God over all, blessed for ever. He is higher than the highest, than the angels in heaven, or any of the sons of men on earth. He is the high and lofty One, that dwells in the high and lofty place. And even this character agrees with him as the ascended Lord and King in his human nature; he is ascended on high, is set down on the right hand of the Majesty on high. He is... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 47:1

O clap your hands, all ye people - Let both Jews and Gentiles magnify the Lord: the Jews, for being delivered from the Babylonish captivity; the Gentiles, for being called to enter into the glorious liberty of the children of God. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 47:2

For the Lord most high is terrible - He has insufferable majesty, and is a great King - the mightiest of all emperors, for he is Sovereign over the whole earth. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 47:1

Verse 1 1.Clap your hands, all ye peoples As the Psalmist requires the nations, in token of their joy and of their thanksgiving; to God, to clap their hands, or rather exhorts them to a more than ordinary joy, the vehemence of which breaks forth and manifests itself by external expressions, it is certain that he is here speaking of the deliverance which God had wrought for them. Had God erected among the Gentiles some formidable kingdom, this would rather have deprived all of their courage, and... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 47:2

Verse 2 Since, then, no servitude is happy and desirable but that by which God subdues and brings under the standard and authority of Christ his Son those who before were rebels, it follows that this language is applicable only to the kingdom of Christ, who is called a high and terrible King, (verse 2;) not that he makes the wretched beings over whom he reigns to tremble by the tyranny and violence of his sway, but because his majesty, which before had been held in contempt, will suffice to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 47:1

O clap your hands, all ye people ; rather, all ye peoples. The nations of the earth generally—not Israel only—are addressed. The events which have taken place—the great extension of God's kingdom, by David's conquests, are for the advantage of all, and all ought to be thankful for them. Shout unto God with the voice of triumph; or, with a voice of joy. Professor Cheyne renders, "in ringing tones." read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 47:1-9

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 47:1-9

A song for all the peoples! That it is possible this psalm may have been penned immediately after some specific victory, such as that of Jehoshaphat over the formidable combination of peoples that came up against him ( 2 Chronicles 20:1-37 .), we may admit; but we can scarcely understand how the peoples should have been invited to clap their hands at their own humiliating defeat. And it seems to us altogether unworthy of the sublime elevation of this psalm to look at it solely, or even... read more

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