The Meaning of Psalms 44:3 Explained

Psalms 44:3

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.

YLT: For, not by their sword Possessed they the land, And their arm gave not salvation to them, But Thy right hand, and Thine arm, And the light of Thy countenance, Because Thou hadst accepted them.

Darby: For not by their own sword did they take possession of the land, neither did their own arm save them; but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst delight in them.

ASV: For they gat 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 wast favorable unto them.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Psalms 44:3 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 44:1-8 - Courage From Former Deliverances
This psalm, like Psalms 60:1-12, came out of one of the early wars in David's reign, as described in 2 Samuel 8:13-14. Some refer it to 2 Chronicles 20:1-37. It befits the Church when her former prosperous state contrasts sadly with her depressed and suffering condition.
It is a great argument in prayer when we can quote to God the mighty things of the past, and ask that He should do the same again. The great revivals and advances of the past were not achieved by human wisdom or might, but by faith. It is always God's right hand and the light of Hiscountenance that win the land in possession; but why should He not command similar deliverances again! And what is true of the Church is equally true of the individual. Why not lift thy heart to God, O defeated soul, and claim that He should command victories for thee? Psalms 44:2, r.v., margin. Make thy boast in God and thou wilt have reason to give thanks unto Him forever! But before we can claim God's deliverances, we must be able to say, Thou art my King, Psalms 44:4. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 44

1  The church, in memory of former favors
7  complains of her present evils
17  professing her integrity,
24  she fervently prays for helpfulness

What do the individual words in Psalms 44:3 mean?

For not by their own sword they did gain possession of the land and their own arm nor did save them but it was Your right hand and Your arm and the light of Your countenance because You favored them
כִּ֤י לֹ֪א בְחַרְבָּ֡ם יָ֥רְשׁוּ אָ֗רֶץ וּזְרוֹעָם֮ לֹא־ הוֹשִׁ֪יעָ֫ה לָּ֥מוֹ כִּֽי־ יְמִֽינְךָ֣ וּ֭זְרוֹעֲךָ וְא֥וֹר פָּנֶ֗יךָ כִּ֣י רְצִיתָֽם

בְחַרְבָּ֡ם  by  their  own  sword 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: חֶרֶב  
Sense: sword, knife.
יָ֥רְשׁוּ  they  did  gain  possession 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: יָרַשׁ  
Sense: to seize, dispossess, take possession off, inherit, disinherit, occupy, impoverish, be an heir.
אָ֗רֶץ  of  the  land 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
וּזְרוֹעָם֮  and  their  own  arm 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: זְרֹועַ  
Sense: arm, forearm, shoulder, strength.
לֹא־  nor 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
הוֹשִׁ֪יעָ֫ה  did  save 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, third person feminine singular
Root: יָשַׁע 
Sense: to save, be saved, be delivered.
יְמִֽינְךָ֣  it  was  Your  right  hand 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: יָמִין  
Sense: right, right hand, right side.
וּ֭זְרוֹעֲךָ  and  Your  arm 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: זְרֹועַ  
Sense: arm, forearm, shoulder, strength.
וְא֥וֹר  and  the  light 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, common singular construct
Root: אֹור  
Sense: light.
פָּנֶ֗יךָ  of  Your  countenance 
Parse: Noun, common plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
כִּ֣י  because 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
רְצִיתָֽם  You  favored  them 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular, third person masculine plural
Root: רָצָא 
Sense: to be pleased with, be favourable to, accept favourably.