Psalms 47:3 — Word Study
WLCיַדְבֵּ֣ר עַמִּ֣ים תַּחְתֵּ֑ינוּ וּ֝לְאֻמִּ֗ים תַּ֣חַת רַגְלֵֽינוּ׃
BSAforkîy The LordYᵉhôvâh highʻelyôwn to fearyârêʼ King'smelek Great (Sea)gâdôwl uponʻal allkôl landʼerets
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| יַדְבֵּ֣ר | he subdues | Verb, Hiphil, jussive third person masculine singular |
| עַמִּ֣ים | peoples | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
| תַּחְתֵּ֑ינוּ | under us | Noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
| וּ֝לְאֻמִּ֗ים | and peoples | Conjunction, noun common masculine plural absolute |
| תַּ֣חַת | under | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| רַגְלֵֽינוּ׃ | feet our | Noun common feminine dual construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | He subdues nations beneath us, and peoples under our feet. |
| KJV | He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet. |
| ASV | He subdueth peoples under us, And nations under our feet. |
| YLT | He leadeth peoples under us, and nations under our feet. |
| WEB | He subdues nations under us, and peoples under our feet. |
| BBE | He will put down the peoples under us, and the nations under our feet. |
The translations agree on the meaning of God's subjugation of nations.
The structure is straightforward, with a main clause followed by prepositional phrases that clarify the positions of the nations and peoples.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbכִּי
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Psalms 47:3
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Sovereignty of Godgenerated
Psalm 47:3 speaks of God's power to subdue nations and peoples, emphasizing His authority over all the earth. This psalm is a celebration of God's kingship, highlighting His role in leading and controlling the affairs of nations. It reflects the belief that God is not only a protector of Israel but also sovereign over all peoples, as seen in the verses surrounding it, which express awe for God's greatness and His choice of Israel as His inheritance.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 18:47 | the God who avenges me and subdues nations beneath me, |
| 2 | Psalm 81:14 | how soon I would subdue their enemies and turn My hand against their foes! |
| 3 | Deuteronomy 33:29 | Blessed are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD? He is the shield that protects you, the sword in which you boast. Your enemies will cower before you, and you shall trample their high places.” |
| 4 | Joshua 21:44 | And the LORD gave them rest on every side, just as He had sworn to their fathers. None of their enemies could stand against them, for the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand. |
| 5 | Philippians 3:21 | who, by the power that enables Him to subject all things to Himself, will transform our lowly bodies to be like His glorious body. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 8 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — יַדְבֵּ֣ר, yad.Bergenerated
The verb יַדְבֵּ֣ר (yad.Ber) comes from the root דָבַר (dabar), which primarily means 'to speak.' In this context, it conveys the idea of subduing or bringing nations under control, akin to a king issuing commands. The jussive form indicates a strong intention or desire, suggesting that God actively subdues nations.
This word encompasses a range of actions, including commanding and declaring. The nuance here implies that God's speech has the power to enact His will, leading to the subjugation of nations and peoples beneath His authority.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The translations agree that God subdues nations and peoples.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The verse contains a finite verb, יַדְבֵּ֣ר (he subdues), which governs the objects עַמִּ֣ים (peoples) and לְאֻמִּ֗ים (and peoples). The structure emphasizes God's active role in subduing nations, with the prepositional phrases indicating the position of these peoples in relation to His people.
Hebrew word order places the verb at the beginning, highlighting God's action as the central focus of the verse.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the Hebrew verb יַדְבֵּ֣ר is rendered as ὅτι (that), which shifts the focus slightly from the action of subduing to a statement of fact. This choice indicates a more declarative approach to God's sovereignty over nations.
The translation reflects a broader understanding of God's authority, emphasizing His role as the ultimate ruler.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 47:3 tells us that God subdues nations and peoples, placing them beneath His people. This verse highlights God's authority over all the earth, showing that He has control over the nations and is sovereign in His rule.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It means that God has the power to bring nations under His authority, ensuring that they are subject to His will.
This verse illustrates that God is not just a local deity but the supreme ruler over all nations and peoples.
Being 'under our feet' symbolizes dominion and authority, indicating that God places nations in subjection to His people.
We can see that God remains sovereign over all nations, guiding their paths and influencing their leaders according to His divine plan.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways have I seen God's authority in my life or community?
- How can I better understand my role as someone under God's authority?
- What does it mean for me to have nations under my feet in a spiritual sense?
- How can I share the message of God's sovereignty with others?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early Church Fathers comment on this verse to illustrate God's power and authority over nations, emphasizing His role in subduing them under His people.
What a marvel! He convinced those who crucified him to bow down in worship; those who mocked and blasphemed, those addicted to idol worship he taught to let their souls yield to his will.Early Church Fathers on Psalms 47 →
"He has subdued the people under us, and the nations under our feet" [Psalms 47:3].Early Church Fathers on Psalms 47 →
When did he subject people under our feet? When he chose his inheritance for us from the person of Mary, whom the Holy Spirit chose. Then, he ascended with a shout and voice of trumpet.… Glory to God on high, angels tell the shepherds.Early Church Fathers on Psalms 47 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 47:3 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleHe shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet.
Read John Gill on Psalms 47 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryHe shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 47 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleOr, he shall lead like sheep; or, bring into the fold; as divers render the word, by comparing . He seems to speak of such a subjugation of them, as was for the good of the people subdued, because this is matter of rejoicing to them, ; which is true both of these people whom David subdued, who thereby had opportunities, obligations, and encouragements to own and worship the true God, which was the only way to their true and lasting happiness; and especially of those Gentiles who were subdued to Christ by the preaching of the gospel. The Gentile converts were in some sort brought under the Jews, because they were subjected to Christ, and to his apostles, and to the primitive church, which…
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 47 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 47:3 He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet.Ver. 3. He shall subdue the people under us] This was typified in the government of the Israelites, then ascendant in David’ s days, but fulfilled when Christ rode abroad on his white horse, the apostles, conquering and to conquer, Revelation 6:2 Quando Britannorum inaccessa Romanis loca Christo patuerint, as Tertullian hath it: Christ subdued the Britons and others, whom the victorious Romans could never come at. The Chaldee hath it, He shall kill the people under us, sc. with the sword of the Spirit, the word; "when the law came, sin revived, and I died," Romans 7:9. The Hebrew is, He shall speak the people…
Read John Trapp on Psalms 47 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(3, 4) Shall subdue . . . shall choose.—Rather, subdues, chooses, indicating a continued manifestation of the Divine favour.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 47 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 3. He shall subdue the people under us] He shall do again for us what he had done for our forefathers-give us dominion over our enemies, and establish us in our own land. I would rather read this in the past tense, relative to what God did for their fathers in destroying the Canaanites, and giving them the promised land for their possession, and taking the people for his own inheritance. This is also applied to the conversion of the Gentiles, who, on the rejection of the Jews, have become his inheritance; and whom he has chosen to inherit all those spiritual blessings typified by the sacrifices and other significant rites and ceremonies of the Jewish Church.
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 47 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges1–4. A summons to all nations to acknowledge Jehovah as their King. He has proved His sovereignty by subjecting the nations to His own people and assigning to it the choicest land for its inheritance.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 47 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleHe shall subdue the people under us - Compare Psalms 18:39, note; Psalms 18:47, note.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 47 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
He subdues nations beneath us, and peoples under our feet.
He subdues nations under us, and peoples under our feet.
He subdues nations beneath us, and peoples under our feet.
He subdued nations beneath us and countries under our feet.
Tyndale line
He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet.
He subdueth peoples under us, And nations under our feet.
He shall subdue the peoples under us, and the nations under our feet.
He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet.
He hath subdued the people vnder vs, and the nations vnder our feete.
Strictly literal
He subdueth the peoples under us, and the nations under our feet.
He leadeth peoples under us, and nations under our feet.
He leads peoples under us, and nations under our feet.
(47:4) He will subdue people under us, and nations under our feet.
He subdues peoples under us and nations under our feet.
From the Latin
With the joy of the whole earth is mount Sion founded, on the sides of the north, the city of the great king.
Simplified
He subdues other peoples under us; he puts nations under our feet.
He will put down the peoples under us, and the nations under our feet.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree in the essential wording of יַדְבֵּ֣ר עַמִּ֣ים תַּחְתֵּ֑ינוּ וּ֝לְאֻמִּ֗ים תַּ֣חַת רַגְלֵֽינוּ׃. The Septuagint's word order and articles differ but retain the same meaning.
יַדְבֵּ֣ר עַמִּ֣ים תַּחְתֵּ֑ינוּ וּ֝לְאֻמִּ֗ים תַּ֣חַת רַגְלֵֽינוּ׃
6 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Psalms 47:3
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
דָבַר (dabar) is a Hebrew verb primarily meaning 'to speak.' It encompasses a range of actions including declaring, commanding, and conversing. The root suggests a figurative use of words, with some entries noting a rare destructive sense of subduing. Various forms of the verb indicate different nuances, such as speaking with one another or making promises.
[דָבַר] 1142 vb. speak (original mng. dub.)
Qal speak
Niph. reciprocal sense, speak with one another, talk
Pi. speak
Pu. in the day when she may be spoken for
Hithp. speaking this word
Hiph. either leads subject, or puts to flight, fig. for subdues
base
H1696 דָבַר speak (original mng. dub.)
1696 dabar daw-bar'
a primitive root; perhaps properly, to arrange; but used
figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive
sense) to subdue:--answer, appoint, bid, command, commune,
declare, destroy, give, name, promise, pronounce, rehearse,
say, speak, be spokesman, subdue, talk, teach, tell, think,
use (entreaties), utter, X well, X work.
דָבַר (da.var) — to speak: speak.
: speak/tell/command
1) to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing
1a) (Qal) to speak
1b) (Niphal) to speak with one another, talk
1c) (Piel)
1c1) to speak
1c2) to promise
1d) (Pual) to be spoken
1e) (Hithpael) to speak
1f) (Hiphil) to lead away, put to flight
דָבַר (da.var) — to speak: subdue.
: subdue
1) to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing
1a) (Qal) to speak
1b) (Niphal) to speak with one another, talk
1c) (Piel)
1c1) to speak
1c2) to promise
1d) (Pual) to be spoken
1e) (Hithpael) to speak
1f) (Hiphil) to lead away, put to flight
דָבַר (da.var) — to speak: promise.
: promise/declare
1) to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing
1a) (Qal) to speak
1b) (Niphal) to speak with one another, talk
1c) (Piel)
1c1) to speak
1c2) to promise
1d) (Pual) to be spoken
1e) (Hithpael) to speak
HVhj3ms — Verb · Hiphil · jussive third person masculine singularHVhj3ms
עַם (am) primarily means 'people' or 'nation,' referring to a collective group, often in the context of tribes such as those of Israel. It can also denote kinsmen or compatriots. The term appears in various contexts, including military and familial references. There is a mention of a specific individual named Ammi in Song of Solomon 6:12.
עַם, עָם 1810 n.m. people
a people, nation
= smaller units
= common people
people in gen., persons
phrases
base
[עַם] n.[m.] kinsman (on father's side)
base
H5971a עַם, עָם people H5971b עַם kinsman (on father's side)
5971 `am am
from 6004; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a
tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or
attendants; figuratively, a flock:--folk, men, nation,
people.
see HEBREW for 06004
עַם (am) — people.
: people/nation
1) nation, people
1a) people, nation
1b) persons, members of one's people, compatriots, country-men
עַם (am) — kinsman.
kinsman, kindred
עַם (am) — Ammi.
A man living at the time of United Monarchy, only mentioned at Sng.6.12
§ kinsman, kindred
עַם (am) — People's (Gate).
§ kinsman, kindred
עַם (am) — (Ibleam)-am.
Combined with yiv.le.am (יִבְלְעָם "Ibleam" H2991)
§ kinsman, kindred
עַם (am) — Amaw.
This name means nation, people
עַם (am) — people: soldiers.
: soldiers/army
1) nation, people
1a) people, nation
1b) persons, members of one's people, compatriots, country-men
עַם (am) — people: creatures.
: creatures
1) nation, people
1a) people, nation
1b) persons, members of one's people, compatriots, country-men
HNcmpa — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
תַּחַת (tachath) refers to the concept of being underneath or below. It can function as a noun meaning 'the under part,' or as an adverb and preposition indicating position or substitution, such as 'instead of' or 'for the sake of.' The word encompasses various uses, including physical placement and metaphorical meanings related to subjection or exchange.
תַּחַת n.[m.] the under part, hence as adv. accus. and prep. underneath, below, instead of
base
H8478 תַּחַת the under part, hence as adv. accus. and prep. underneath, below, instead of
8478 tachath takh'-ath
from the same as 8430; the bottom (as depressed); only
adverbially, below (often with prepositional prefix
underneath), in lieu of, etc.:--as, beneath, X flat,
in(-stead), (same) place (where...is), room, for...sake, stead
of, under, X unto, X when...was mine, whereas, (where-)fore,
with.
see HEBREW for 08430
תַּחַת (ta.chat) — underneath: under.
: under/below
1) the under part, beneath, instead of, as, for, for the sake of, flat, unto, where, whereas n m
1a) the under part adv accus
1b) beneath prep
1c) under, beneath
1c1) at the foot of (idiom)
1c2) sweetness, subjection, woman, being burdened or oppressed (fig)
1c3) of subjection or conquest
1d) what is under one, the place in which one stands
1d1) in one's place, the place in which one stands (idiom with reflexive pronoun)
1d2) in place of, instead of (in transferred sense)
1d3) in place of, in exchange or return for (of things mutually interchanged)
conj
1e) instead of, instead of that
1f) in return for that, because that in compounds
1g) in, under, into the place of (after verbs of motion)
1h) from under, from beneath, from under the hand of, from his place, under, beneath
תַּחַת (ta.chat) — underneath: instead.
: instead/in_place/exchange
HNcmpc/Sp1bp — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHNcmpc/Sp1bp
US, pronoun objective case of we.
Give us this day our daily bread.
Us , pron. [OE. us, AS. s; akin to OFries. & OS. s, D. ons, G. uns, Icel. & Sw. oss, Dan. os, Goth. uns, L. nos we, us, Gr. we, Skr. nas us. . Cf. Nostrum, Our.] The persons speaking, regarded as an object; ourselves; — the objective case of we. See We. “Tell us a tale.” Chaucer.
Give us this day our daily bread. Matt. vi. 11.
Us, pron. oblique case of we
לְאֹם, transliterated as lom, refers to a 'people' or 'nation.' It is derived from an unused root meaning to gather, indicating a sense of community. The term is noted as chiefly late in usage according to Brown-Driver-Briggs.
לְאֹם, לְאוֹם n.m. people, poet. and chiefly late
base
H3816 לְאֹם, לְאוֹם people, poet. and chiefly late
3816 lom leh-ome'
or l owm {leh-ome'}; from an unused root meaning to gather; a
community:--nation, people.
לְאֹם (le.om) — people.
a people, nation
HC/Ncmpa — Conjunction · noun common masculine plural absoluteHC/Ncmpa
תַּחַת (tachath) refers to the concept of being underneath or below. It can function as a noun meaning 'the under part,' or as an adverb and preposition indicating position or substitution, such as 'instead of' or 'for the sake of.' The word encompasses various uses, including physical placement and metaphorical meanings related to subjection or exchange.
תַּחַת n.[m.] the under part, hence as adv. accus. and prep. underneath, below, instead of
base
H8478 תַּחַת the under part, hence as adv. accus. and prep. underneath, below, instead of
8478 tachath takh'-ath
from the same as 8430; the bottom (as depressed); only
adverbially, below (often with prepositional prefix
underneath), in lieu of, etc.:--as, beneath, X flat,
in(-stead), (same) place (where...is), room, for...sake, stead
of, under, X unto, X when...was mine, whereas, (where-)fore,
with.
see HEBREW for 08430
תַּחַת (ta.chat) — underneath: under.
: under/below
1) the under part, beneath, instead of, as, for, for the sake of, flat, unto, where, whereas n m
1a) the under part adv accus
1b) beneath prep
1c) under, beneath
1c1) at the foot of (idiom)
1c2) sweetness, subjection, woman, being burdened or oppressed (fig)
1c3) of subjection or conquest
1d) what is under one, the place in which one stands
1d1) in one's place, the place in which one stands (idiom with reflexive pronoun)
1d2) in place of, instead of (in transferred sense)
1d3) in place of, in exchange or return for (of things mutually interchanged)
conj
1e) instead of, instead of that
1f) in return for that, because that in compounds
1g) in, under, into the place of (after verbs of motion)
1h) from under, from beneath, from under the hand of, from his place, under, beneath
תַּחַת (ta.chat) — underneath: instead.
: instead/in_place/exchange
HNcmsc — Noun common · masculine singular constructHNcmsc
רֶ֫גֶל (regel) means 'foot' and can refer to a foot or leg in various contexts, including anthropomorphic references to God and other beings. It also implies steps or paces. The word is derived from a root meaning related to walking, and it appears in multiple forms, such as feet and paces.
רֶ֫גֶל 247 n.f. foot
foot
three times (feet, paces)
base
H7272 רֶ֫גֶל foot . foot
. three times (feet, paces)
7272 regel reh'-gel
from 7270; a foot (as used in walking); by implication, a
step; by euphem. the pudenda:--X be able to endure, X
according as, X after, X coming, X follow,
((broken-))foot((-ed, -stool)), X great toe, X haunt, X
journey, leg, + piss, + possession, time.
see HEBREW for 07270
רֶ֫גֶל (re.gel) — foot.
1) foot
1a) foot, leg
1b) of God (anthropomorphic)
1c) of seraphim, cherubim, idols, animals, table
1d) according to the pace of (with prep)
1e) three times (feet, paces)
Aramaic equivalent: re.gal (רְגַל "foot" H7271)
HNcfdc/Sp1bp — Noun common feminine dual construct · suffixHNcfdc/Sp1bp