Psalm 47 is the 47th psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "O clap your hands". The Book of Psalms is the third section of the Hebrew Bible, and a book of the Christian Old Testament. In the slightly different numbering system used in the Greek Septuagint and Latin Vulgate translations of the Bible, this psalm is Psalm 46. In Latin, it is known as "Omnes gentes plaudite manibus". The psalm is a hymn psalm. It is one of twelve psalms attributed to the sons of Korah, and one of fifty-five psalms addressed to the "Chief Musician" or "Conductor".
The psalm forms a regular part of Jewish, Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican and other Protestant liturgies. It has often been set to music, notably by Heinrich Schütz, Ralph Vaughan Williams, John Rutter and Oskar Gottlieb Blarr.
Background
In Jewish tradition, Psalm 47 is one of 12 psalms attributed to the sons of Korah. It is also classified as part of the "Elohistic Psalter" (Psalms 42–83), which includes psalms referring to God as Elohim rather than YHWH. Psalm 47 is also grouped with other psalms that declare God's kingship, as stated in verse 7.
In Christian scholarship, Psalm 47 is one of seven "enthronement psalms" which refer to the crowning of God as king at a festive occasion. It has also been suggested that the theme of Psalm 47 is "universal rejoicing for God's universal reign".
According to Christian scholars, verse 6 (verse 5 in the KJV), "God has gone up with a shout", indicates that the psalm was written when King David brought the Ark of the Covenant to Mount Zion. Alternately, it is an allusion to the Ascension of Jesus to the heavenly Zion after completing his mission on earth.
Themes
This psalm is an expansion of the thought underlying Psalm 46:10: Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! It is all the nations of the world who are addressed.
Psalm 47 includes allusions to Rosh Hashanah, the day of judgment in Judaism. Verse 6, which cites the shofar that is blown on Rosh Hashanah, further hints at God ascending his thrones of judgment and mercy, themes that resonate with the day of judgment. The connection is explained in the Midrash: Yehuda bar Nahmani began in the name of Shimon ben Lakish: "Elohim ascends amidst shouting, YHWH to the blast of the shofar" (Psalms 47:6). When the Holy One ascends to sit on the throne of judgment, it is in order to render strict justice, as it says, "Elohim ascends amidst shouting". When the Jews take up their shofars and sound them, immediately "YHWH to the blast of the shofar". What does the Holy One do? Arises from the throne of judgment, sits on the throne of mercy, is filled with mercy towards them and transforms the attribute of strict justice into the attribute of mercy for their sake. When? On Rosh Hashanah (Leviticus Rabbah 29:3).
Verse 6 also alludes to the trumpet or shofar blowing at the conclusion of the holiday of Yom Kippur, when the Divine Presence, which has rested upon the Jewish people throughout the day of atonement, returns to heaven. This verse can be translated, "God ascends with a teruah", teruah being a reference to the sound of the shofar.
Text
Hebrew Bible version
Following is the Hebrew text of Psalm 47:
Christian Standard Bible
Clap your hands all you peoples; shout to God with a jubilant cry. For the LORD, the Most High is awe-inspiring; a great King over the whole earth. He subdues peoples under us, and nations under our feet. He chooses for us our inheritance- the pride of Jacob, whom he loves. Selah. God ascends among shouts of joy, the LORD, with the sound of trumpets. Sing praise to God, sing praise: sing praise to our King, sing praise. Sing a song of wisdom, for God is King of the whole earth. God reigns over the nations: God is seated on his holy throne. The nobles of the peoples have assembled with the people of the God of Abraham. For the leaders of the earth belong to God; he is greatly exalted.