Bible Strands
Psalms 47:9
The nobles of the nations have assembled as the people of the God of Abraham; for the shields of the earth belong to God; He is highly exalted.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The psalmist declares to the gathered nations that their rulers are uniting under the God of Abraham, immediately following the statement that God reigns over all peoples and sits on His holy throne.
The words — נְדִ֘יבֵ֤י (ne.di.ve) means "nobles" or "rulers," and עַמִּ֨ים ('am.mim) denotes "peoples" or "nations," identifying the foreign leaders who have come together.
The thread — The declaration that earthly shields belong to God parallels the claim in Psalms 89:18, while the vision of nations gathering aligns with the universal scope of Psalms 72:7.
Why it lands — It requires the reader to acknowledge that political authority and military protection ultimately derive from God alone, demanding submission to His exalted rule rather than reliance on human power.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
The princes of the people are gathered together, even the people of the God of Abraham: for the shields of the earth belong unto God: he is greatly exalted.
Cross-references
- Psalms 89:18 Surely our shield belongs to the LORD, and our king to the Holy One of Israel.
- Genesis 49:10 The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes and the allegiance of the nations is his.
- Psalms 72:7 May the righteous flourish in his days and prosperity abound until the moon is no more.
- Genesis 17:7 I will establish My covenant as an everlasting covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.
- Exodus 3:6 Then He said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.
- Isaiah 41:8 “But you, O Israel, My servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, descendant of Abraham My friend—
- Exodus 3:15 God also told Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’ This is My name forever, and this is how I am to be remembered in every generation.
- Psalms 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted over the earth.”
- Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God is flawless; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.
- Matthew 22:32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”