Psalms 47:8
in Psalms 47God reigns over the nations; God is seated on His holy throne.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
God reigneth over the nations: God sitteth upon his holy throne.
KJV
God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness.
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This verse in Psalms 47
Commentary
11 notes on this verseNow at this moment, over the most debased idolaters, God holds a secret rule; here is work for faith. How we ought to long for the day when this truth shall be changed in its aspect, and the rule now unrecognised shall be delighted in! The great truth that God reigneth in providence is the guarantee that in a gracious gospel sense his promises shall be fulfilled, and his kingdom shall come. He sitteth upon the throne of his holiness. Unmoved he occupies an undisputed throne, whose decrees, acts, and commands are holiness itself. What other throne is like this?
This site's exposition
God is King of all the earth
on Psalms 47:7-9
God is King of all the earth is the psalm's own summary, and verse 8 seats Him on His holy throne over the nations. The nobles of the nations assemble as Abraham's own people. The shields of the earth belong to Him, and He is highly exalted.
This site's exposition
God reigns over the nations
Augustine noted that God once was King over one nation, and he heard a promise here of His reign over all the nations. Barnes took the holy throne as a government set in justice. Spurgeon called His rule over the idol worshippers of the earth a secret one.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
"God shall reign over all nations" [Psalm 47:8]. Who reigned over one nation, "shall reign" (says He) "over all nations." When this was said, God reigned over one nation. It was a prophecy, the thing was not yet shown. Thanks be to God, we now see fulfilled what before was prophesied. A written promise God sent unto us before the time, the time fulfilled He has repaid us. "God shall reign over all nations," is a promise. "God sits upon His Holy Seat." What then was promised to come, now being fulfilled, is acknowledged and held. "God sits upon His Holy Seat." What is His Holy Seat? Haply says one, The Heavens, and he understands well. For Christ has gone up, [Acts 1:2] as we know, with the Body, wherein He was crucified, and sits at the right hand of the Father; thence we expect Him to come to judge the quick and the dead. [2 Timothy 4:1] "God sits upon His Holy Seat." The Heavens are His Holy Seat. Will you also be His Seat? Think not that you can not be; prepare for Him a place in your heart. He comes, and willingly sits. The same Christ is surely "the Power of God, and the Wisdom of God:" [1 Corinthians 1:24] and what says the Scripture of Wisdom Herself? The soul of the righteous is the seat of Wisdom. [Wisdom 7:27] If then the soul of the righteous is the seat of Wisdom, be your soul righteous, and you shall be a royal seat of Wisdom. And truly, brethren, all men who live well, who act well, converse in godly charity, does not God sit in them, and Himself command? Your soul obeys God sitting in it, and itself commands the members. For your soul commands your members, that so may move the foot, the hand, the eye, the ear, and itself commands the members as its servants, but yet itself serves its Lord sitting within. It cannot well rule its inferior, unless its superior it have not disdained to serve.
The throne of God is Christ. The throne of Christ is the reasonable nature.
The Medieval Church1 voice
Then he makes manifest how He is king of all the earth. And first he foretells the reign of Christ over all nations. Second, over all the princes of the nations. As if to say: I say that He is king of all the earth, …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
The throne - Heaven is often called God's throne, whence God is said to behold and to rule all nations; of which general dominion of God, he here speaks. And Christ sits at his father's right-hand, for that purpose.
God reigneth over the Heathen,....
3 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
Now at this moment, over the most debased idolaters, God holds a secret rule; here is work for faith. How we ought to long for the day when this truth shall be changed in its aspect, and the rule now unrecognised shall be delighted in! The great truth that God reigneth in providence is the guarantee that in a gracious gospel sense his promises shall be fulfilled, and his kingdom shall come. He sitteth upon the throne of his holiness. Unmoved he occupies an undisputed throne, whose decrees, acts, and commands are holiness itself. What other throne is like this? Never was it stained with injustice, or defiled with sin. Neither is he who sits upon it dismayed, or in a dilemma. He sits in serenity, for he knows his own power, and sees that his purposes will not miscarry. Here is reason enough for holy song.
God reigneth over the heathen - Though this is literally true in God’s universal dominion, yet more is here meant. God reigns over the heathen when, by the preaching of the Gospel, they are brought into the Church of Christ. God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness - He is a holy God; he proclaims holiness. His laws are holy, he requires holiness, and his genuine people are all holy. The throne of his holiness is the heaven of heavens; also the temple at Jerusalem; and, lastly, the hearts of the faithful.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
God reigneth over the heathen - Over the “nations;” not over the “heathen” in the sense in which that term is understood now. It does not mean that God reigns, or that he has set up his throne over the people that have not the true religion, but that he is exalted over the “nations” of the earth as such; or, that he has universal dominion. See the notes at Psa 46:10. God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness - Upon his holy throne, The idea is, that his government is established in holiness or justice.
The words behind it
9 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| מָלַ֣ךְ | malakh | he reigns | H4427 → | 348 times |
| אֱ֭לֹהִים | ʾelohim | God | H430 → | 2601 times |
| עַל־ | ʾal- | over | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| גּוֹיִ֑ם | goyim | nations | H1471 → | 561 times |
| אֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים | ʾelohim | God | H430 → | 2601 times |
| יָשַׁ֤ב׀ | yashav | he sits | H3427 → | 1079 times |
| עַל־ | ʾal- | on | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| כִּסֵּ֬א | kise' | [the] throne of | H3678 → | 135 times |
| קָדְשֽׁוֹ׃ | kadesho | holiness his | H6944 → | 469 times |
מָלַ֣ךְhe reigns
malakhH4427 →348 times
אֱ֭לֹהִיםGod
ʾelohimH430 →2601 times
עַל־over
ʾal-H5921 →5755 times
גּוֹיִ֑םnations
goyimH1471 →561 times
אֱ֝לֹהִ֗יםGod
ʾelohimH430 →2601 times
יָשַׁ֤ב׀he sits
yashavH3427 →1079 times
עַל־on
ʾal-H5921 →5755 times
כִּסֵּ֬א[the] throne of
kise'H3678 →135 times
קָדְשֽׁוֹ׃holiness his
kadeshoH6944 →469 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Psalms 93:1The LORD reigns! He is robed in majesty; the LORD has clothed and armed Himself with strength. The world indeed is firmly established; it cannot be moved.
it leads to
- Psalms 96:10
Declare among the nations: “The LORD reigns!” The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved; He will judge the peoples with equity.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Psalms 99:1
The LORD reigns; let the nations tremble! He is enthroned above the cherubim; let the earth quake!
Reached by 3 separate paths from here.
- Revelation 19:6
And I heard a sound like the roar of a great multitude, like the rushing of many waters, and like a mighty rumbling of thunder, crying out: “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 Chronicles 29:12
Both riches and honor come from You, and You are the ruler over all. In Your hands are power and might to exalt and give strength to all.
- Psalms 103:19
The LORD has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all.
- Psalms 96:10
Through
Psalms 96:10Declare among the nations: “The LORD reigns!” The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved; He will judge the peoples with equity.
it leads to
- Psalms 93:1
The LORD reigns! He is robed in majesty; the LORD has clothed and armed Himself with strength. The world indeed is firmly established; it cannot be moved.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Psalms 67:4
Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for You judge the peoples justly and lead the nations of the earth. Selah
- Psalms 93:1
Through
Revelation 19:6And I heard a sound like the roar of a great multitude, like the rushing of many waters, and like a mighty rumbling of thunder, crying out: “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the…
it leads to
- Psalms 97:1
The LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the distant shores be glad.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Psalms 97:1
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About Psalms
This page draws on 12 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Augustine of Hippo, Exposition on Psalm 47; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 2; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David; Evagrius Ponticus, NOTES ON THE PSALMS 46[47].9; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Thomas Aquinas, Exposition on the Psalms of David.