Psalm-47
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Please Note: Some alterations or (additions) have been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’ of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, having been corrected like it once was pre the “Masoretic Text”.
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Remember the following two
truth’s from our beloved Scriptures!
“Ye
shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM IT, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem, which I command you”. Davarim -
Deuteronomy 4:2.
Remember we are Never Alone!
Davarim - Deuteronomy Chapter 31, verse 6.
JPS-1917 version of the Torah.
חִזְקוּ וְאִמְצוּ, אַל-תִּירְאוּ וְאַל-תַּעַרְצוּ מִפְּנֵיהֶם: כִּי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ, הוּא הַהֹלֵךְ עִמָּךְ-לֹא יַרְפְּךָ, וְלֹא יַעַזְבֶךָּ
“Be strong and of good courage, fear not, nor be affrighted at them; for יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ - the LORD thy Eloheycha (God), He it is that doth go with thee; He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee’”.
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With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
Introduction:
Tehillim -
Psalm 47 is a short, ‘exuberant hymn’ of ‘universal kingship and communal
praise’. Attributed to the sons of Korah, it blends a
call to worship with royal and liturgical imagery: ‘clapping’, ‘shouting’,
‘horns’, and a ‘repeated injunction to sing’. The Psalm celebrates אֱלֹהִים
- Elohim’s (God’s) sovereignty over nations, Israel’s chosen status, and אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s Powerful Intervention that invites the whole earth to respond in
joyful, confident praise.
Tehillim
- Psalms Chapter 47: (JPS-1917 version of the Tanakh).
1. “For the Leader; a Psalm for the sons of Korah.
2. O clap your hands, all ye
peoples; shout unto אֱלֹהִים with the voice of
triumph.
3. For יְהוָה
- the LORD is most high, awful; a great King over all
the earth.
4. He subdueth peoples
under us, and nations under our feet.
5. He chooseth our
inheritance for us, the pride of Jacob whom He loveth.
Selah
6. אֱלֹהִים is
gone up amidst shouting, יְהוָה
- the LORD amidst the sound of the horn.
7. Sing praises to אֱלֹהִים, sing praises; sing
praises unto our King, sing praises.
8. For אֱלֹהִים is the King of all the
earth; sing ye praises in a skilful song.
9. אֱלֹהִים reigneth
over the nations; אֱלֹהִים sitteth
upon His holy throne.
10. The princes of the peoples are gathered
together, the people of the אֱלֹהִים of Avraham;
for unto אֱלֹהִים belong the shields of the
earth; He is greatly exalted”.
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Let us once again look at it in a verse by verse basis, with descriptions:
Verses 1-2: Call to the nations:
Verse:
“O clap your hands, all ye peoples; shout unto אֱלֹהִים
with the voice of triumph”.
The psalm
opens with a public summons: praise is not private but communal and
international. The verbs ‘clap’, ‘shout’, ‘triumph’ – ‘stress bodily’, ‘audible
worship; praise is energetic and visible. This sets the tone: what follows is
not a theological treatise but a festival proclamation!
Verse 3: אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s exalted status:
Verse: “For יְהוָה
- the LORD is most
high, awful; a great King over all the earth”.
Here the reason for the summons is given: אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s transcendent majesty. The language combines reverence (“most
high,” “awful” in the older sense of awe-inspiring) with
royal title אֱלֹהִים
- Elohim as great King whose rule extends beyond Israel to the whole earth.
Verses 4-5: Dominion and chosen inheritance:
Verses: “He subdueth
peoples under us … He chooseth our inheritance for us,
the pride of Jacob whom He loveth. Selah”.
These lines
reflect a corporate identity: Israel’s victories and inheritance are presented
as אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s action on behalf of the community. The “us” and “our” emphasize solidarity אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s rule brings political and territorial realities under divine
purpose. The Selah invites a pause to reflect on the mystery and gratitude of
being chosen.
Verse 6: Ascension and trumpet imagery:
Verse: “אֱלֹהִים - Elohim is gone up amidst shouting, יְהוָה - the LORD amidst
the sound of the horn”.
This verse introduces enthronement/ascension
imagery: אֱלֹהִים
“goes up” amid acclamation and trumpet blasts. The horn signals royal ceremony
and victory; the scene is liturgical and theophanic,
portraying אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s enthronement as a public,
celebratory event.
Verses 7-8: Refrain of praise and musical skill:
Verses:
“Sing praises to אֱלֹהִים … sing praises unto our King … sing ye praises in a skilful song”.
The triple
refrain intensifies the call to worship and highlights music as central to the
response. The phrase “skilful song” suggests liturgical professionalism,
trained singers, instruments, and artistry reminding us that worship combines
passion with craft.
Verses 9-10: Universal reign and gathered princes:
Verses:
“אֱלֹהִים
reigneth over the nations; אֱלֹהִים
sitteth upon His holy throne… The princes of the
peoples are gathered together… for unto אֱלֹהִים
belong the shields of the earth.”
The psalm closes by restating אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s sovereign rule and depicting the submission of earthly
powers. Princes gathered may imply recognition or subordination; “shields
of the earth”
belonging to אֱלֹהִים
symbolizes divine ownership of power and protection. The final note is
exaltation: אֱלֹהִים
is greatly exalted.
Conclusion and application:
Tehillim -
Psalm 47 is a compact ‘festival hymn’ that fuses political theology with
liturgical exuberance: אֱלֹהִים
is King of all, Israel’s fortunes are אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s doing, and the proper human response is communal, musical
praise. Practically, the Psalm invites congregations to celebrate אֱלֹהִים
- Elohim’s sovereignty with whole body worship in ‘song’, ‘instruments’, and
public acclamation, while remembering that earthly power is ultimately under
Divine authority. For teaching, it offers rich themes: the ‘universality of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s reign’, the ‘corporate nature of covenant blessing’, ‘the
role of music in worship’, and the confidence that even rulers and shields
belong to אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה
- the LORD Elohim,
blessed be His Sanctified Name!
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This site was originally created, for those who desired to return to our blessed and wonderful faith. Thus be wise and work on your faith and pray at least two or three times a day (if possible) and always seek our beloved אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s guidance, for His love is always with us, especially when we seek Him, blessed be He! However this site has become very much a teaching site with hundreds of studies!
Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim,
blessed be He, said the following via several of our prophets...
“Return unto Me, and I will return unto you, saith צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה- the LORD of hosts”. Mal’a’chi - Malachi 3:7. (JPS).
And Remember ...
Enjoy your Sabbath Rest, Shabbat Shalom!
אֲנִי יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, בְּחֻקּוֹתַי
לֵכוּ; וְאֶת-מִשְׁפָּטַי
שִׁמְרוּ, וַעֲשׂוּ
אוֹתָם
וְאֶת-שַׁבְּתוֹתַי, קַדֵּשׁוּ; וְהָיוּ
לְאוֹת, בֵּינִי
וּבֵינֵיכֶם-לָדַעַת, כִּי
אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם
“I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה -
the LORD your Eloheichem; walk in My statutes, and keep Mine ordinances, and do them; and
hallow My Sabbaths, and they shall be a sign between Me and you, that ye may
know that I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - the LORD your Eloheichem”.
Yechezkel - Ezekiel 20:19-20. (JPS).
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More Life”
For אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, Blessed be His Sanctified Name,,
He
is the one who gave us our Life!”
May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה= the LORD of hosts. be with
you, and please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat, as well as
the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim -
Feasts, and continue saying your daily תְּפִלָּה - Tefeelah’s (Prayers)
and regular בְּרָכָה - Be’ra’chah’s
(blessings) before food and drinks, etc!
שָׁלוֹם
עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom
Aleichem - Peace be with you!
Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
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