The Meaning of Psalms 47:1 Explained

Psalms 47:1

KJV: {To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah.} O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.

YLT: To the Overseer. -- By sons of Korah. A Psalm. All ye peoples, clap the hand, Shout to God with a voice of singing,

Darby: {To the chief Musician. Of the sons of Korah. A Psalm.} All ye peoples, clap your hands; shout unto God with the voice of triumph!

ASV: Oh clap your hands, all ye peoples; Shout unto God with the voice of triumph.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

{{To the chief Musician,  A Psalm  for the sons  of Korah.  }} O clap  your hands,  all ye people;  shout  unto God  with the voice  of triumph. 

What does Psalms 47:1 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalm 47:1-9 - "king Over All The Earth"
This psalm may have been sung in the valley of Berachah, where Jehoshaphat celebrated his victory over the Moabites. See 2 Chronicles 20:1-37. When some great deliverance has been granted, we should break out in blessing and praise. Notice Psalms 47:3-4! They are rightly placed side by side; because God will not subdue our enemies under us, unless we have allowed Him to choose our life-plan. Live on that plan and you are unconquerable.
In the second division, Psalms 47:5-9, Jehovah is depicted as returning from the war to his dwelling-place in the height of Zion. This seems to anticipate the Ascension, when Jesus became the enthroned King of men. They fail to recognize Him now, but some day the princes of the people shall be gathered together, and the kingdoms of the world shall have become the one kingdom of the Christ, Revelation 15:4. The shields of the earth, Psalms 47:9, are its princes and leaders. See Hosea 4:18, r.v., margin. The kings of wealth, science, art, literature, and power will one day bring their glory and honor into the gates of the New Jerusalem, Revelation 1:5; Revelation 21:24. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalm 47

1  The nations are exhorted cheerfully to entertain the kingdom of Christ

What do the individual words in Psalms 47:1 mean?

To the Chief Musician of the sons of Korah A Psalm all you peoples Oh clap your hands Shout to God with the voice of triumph
לַמְנַצֵּ֬חַ ׀ לִבְנֵי־ קֹ֬רַח מִזְמֽוֹר כָּֽל־ הָ֭עַמִּים תִּקְעוּ־ כָ֑ף הָרִ֥יעוּ לֵ֝אלֹהִ֗ים בְּק֣וֹל רִנָּֽה

לַמְנַצֵּ֬חַ ׀  To  the  Chief  Musician 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Verb, Piel, Participle, masculine singular
Root: נָצַח  
Sense: to excel, be bright, be preeminent, be perpetual, be overseer, be enduring.
לִבְנֵי־  of  the  sons 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
קֹ֬רַח  of  Korah 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: קֹרַח  
Sense: son of Izhar, grandson of Kohath, great grandson of Levi and leader of the rebellion of the Israelites against Moses and Aaron while in the wilderness; punished and died by an earthquake and flames of fire.
מִזְמֽוֹר  A  Psalm 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִזְמֹור  
Sense: melody, psalm.
הָ֭עַמִּים  you  peoples 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
תִּקְעוּ־  Oh  clap 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: תֹּוקְעִים 
Sense: to blow, clap, strike, sound, thrust, give a blow, blast.
כָ֑ף  your  hands 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: כַּף  
Sense: palm, hand, sole, palm of the hand, hollow or flat of the hand.
הָרִ֥יעוּ  Shout 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: רוּעַ  
Sense: to shout, raise a sound, cry out, give a blast.
לֵ֝אלֹהִ֗ים  to  God 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
בְּק֣וֹל  with  the  voice 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: קֹול 
Sense: voice, sound, noise.
רִנָּֽה  of  triumph 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: רִנָּה  
Sense: ringing cry.