Psalms 75:7
in Psalms 75but it is God who judges; He brings down one and exalts another.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But God is the judge: He putteth down one, and lifteth up another.
KJV
But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.
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This verse in Psalms 75
Commentary
11 notes on this verseBut God is the judge. Even now he is actually judging. His seat is not vacant; his authority is not abdicated; the Lord reigneth evermore. He putteth down one, and setteth up another. Empires rise and fall at his bidding. A dungeon here, and there a throne, his will assigns. Assyria yields to Babylon, and Babylon to the Medes. Kings are but puppets in his hand; they serve his purpose when they rise and when they fall.
This site's exposition
exaltation comes neither from east
on Psalms 75:6-8
No direction on the map supplies the lifting up, and God is the one who judges, bringing one down and exalting another. The cup in the LORD's hand holds foaming wine, and the wicked drink it to the dregs. The same cup stands at Isaiah 51:17 and Revelation 14:10.
This site's exposition
He brings down one and exalts another
Verse 6 ruled out east, west and the desert. Barnes said exaltation comes from God alone, whatever a people's numbers, skill or alliances. Augustine saw God bring down the proud Pharisee and exalt the humble tax collector.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
"One He humbles, and another He exalts" [Psalm 75:7]. Whom humbles, whom exalts this Judge? Observe these two men in the temple, and you see whom He humbles and whom He exalts. "They went up into the Temple to pray," He says, the one a Pharisee, and the other a Publican...."Verily I say unto you, that Publican went down justified more than that Pharisee: for every one that exalts himself shall be humbled; and he that humbles himself shall be exalted." Thus has been explained a verse of this Psalm. God the Judge does what? "One He humbles, and another He exalts:" He humbles the proud, He exalts the humble.
Therefore here also in this Psalm (dearly beloved attend), whereas that which He said, "Do not speak iniquity against God," this He saw many men do in heart, He has also added, "for neither from East, nor from West, nor from the deserts of the mountains [Psalm 75:6], for God is Judge" [Psalm 75:7]. Of your iniquities God is Judge. If God He is, everywhere He is present. Whither will you take yourself away from the eyes of God, so that in some quarter you may speak that which He may not hear? If from the East God judges, withdraw into the West, and say what you will against God: if from the West, go into the East, and there speak: if from the deserts of the mountains He judges, go into the midst of the peoples, where you may murmur to yourself. From no place judges He that everywhere is secret, everywhere open; whom it is allowed no one to know as He is, and whom no one is permitted not to know. Take heed what you doest. You are speaking iniquity against God. "The Spirit of the Lord has filled the round world" (another Scripture says this), "and that which contains all things has knowledge of the voice: wherefore he that speaks unjust things cannot be hid." [Wisdom 1:7-8] Do not therefore think God to be in places: He is with you such an one as you shall have been. What is such an one as you shall have been? Good, if you shall have been good; and evil to you He will seem, if evil you shall have been; but a Helper, if good you shall have been; an Avenger, if evil you shall have been. There you have a Judge in your secret place. Willing to do something of evil, from the public you retire into your house, where no enemy may see; from those places of your house which are open and before the eyes of men, you remove yourself into a chamber; you fear even in your chamber some witness from some other quarter, you retire into your heart, there you meditate. […]
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
We see strange revolutions in states and kingdoms, and are surprised at the sudden disgrace of some and elevation of others; we are all full of such changes, when they happen; but here we are directed to look at the author of them, and are taught where the original of power is, and whence promotion comes. Whence comes preferment to kingdoms, to the sovereignty of them?
But God is the Judge,....
In singing this psalm we must give to God the glory of all the revolutions of states and kingdoms, believing that they are all according to his counsel and that he will make them all to work for the good of his church.
3 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Here the writer speaks in view of God's declaration, warning the wicked. Lift . . . up the horn--to exalt power, here, of the wicked himself--that is, to be arrogant or self-elated.
But God is the judge. Even now he is actually judging. His seat is not vacant; his authority is not abdicated; the Lord reigneth evermore. He putteth down one, and setteth up another. Empires rise and fall at his bidding. A dungeon here, and there a throne, his will assigns. Assyria yields to Babylon, and Babylon to the Medes. Kings are but puppets in his hand; they serve his purpose when they rise and when they fall. A certain author has issued a work called "Historic Ninepins, "(Timbs), a fit name of scorn for all the great ones of the earth. God only is; all power belongs to him; all else is shadow, coming and going, unsubstantial, misty, dream like.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
But God is the judge - All depends on him, not on the natural advantages of a country; not on human strength, human skill, or human prowess. Whatever may be the natural resources of a country; whatever may be the enterprise, the numbers, or the valor of its inhabitants; whatever alliances of peace or war they may form with other nations, yet success depends on God. He presides over all; he can give success when it is least expected; and he also can humble people when they have made the most ample preparations for success, and anticipate it in the most confident manner. He putteth down one, and setteth up another - Literal y, “This one he humbles, and this he exalts.” This is true alike of an individual or a nation. The word rendered “setteth up” is the same which is used in Psa 75:4-6, rendered “Lift up,” and “promotion.” The idea is, that in the matter of” lifting up,” or “promotion,” all depends on God. He is a sovereign, and he confers exaltation, whether of an individual or a nation, as he pleases.
The words behind it
7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| כִּֽי־ | ki- | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| אֱלֹהִ֥ים | ʾelohim | God | H430 → | 2601 times |
| שֹׁפֵ֑ט | shofet | [is the] judge | H8199 → | 202 times |
| זֶ֥ה | zeh | this one | H2088 → | 1180 times |
| יַ֝שְׁפִּ֗יל | yashpil | he brings low | H8213 → | 31 times |
| וְזֶ֣ה | vezeh | and this one | H2088 → | 1180 times |
| יָרִֽים׃ | yarim | he lifts up | H7311 → | 190 times |
כִּֽי־for
ki-H3588 →4482 times
אֱלֹהִ֥יםGod
ʾelohimH430 →2601 times
שֹׁפֵ֑ט[is the] judge
shofetH8199 →202 times
זֶ֥הthis one
zehH2088 →1180 times
יַ֝שְׁפִּ֗ילhe brings low
yashpilH8213 →31 times
וְזֶ֣הand this one
vezehH2088 →1180 times
יָרִֽים׃he lifts up
yarimH7311 →190 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
Luke 1:52He has brought down rulers from their thrones, but has exalted the humble.
it leads to
- James 4:10
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Ezekiel 17:24
Then all the trees of the field will know that I am the LORD. I bring the tall tree down and make the low tree tall. I dry up the green tree and make…
- Psalms 107:40–41
He pours out contempt on the nobles and makes them wander in a trackless wasteland.
- 1 Samuel 2:6–8
The LORD brings death and gives life; He brings down to Sheol and raises up.
- Luke 18:14
I tell you, this man, rather than the Pharisee, went home justified. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
- James 4:10
Through
Psalms 147:6The LORD sustains the humble, but casts the wicked to the ground.
it leads to
- Psalms 25:9
He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way.
- Psalms 146:8–9
the LORD opens the eyes of the blind, the LORD lifts those who are weighed down, the LORD loves the righteous.
- Psalms 25:9
Through
Psalms 50:6And the heavens proclaim His righteousness, for God Himself is Judge. Selah
it leads to
- Psalms 97:6
The heavens proclaim His righteousness; all the peoples see His glory.
- Psalms 97:6
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About Psalms
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes on the Book of Psalms; 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 75; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 3; Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Psalms; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.