Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy! For the LORD, the Most High, is to be feared, a great king over all the earth.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This isn't just a general call to praise; it's a specific command for "all peoples" – not just the Israelites, but the Gentiles too – to erupt in joyful celebration. This instruction, to "clap your hands" and "shout with a voice of triumph," anticipates Christ's victory and universal reign, making it a powerful announcement of His kingdom extending to all nations.
Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy! For the LORD, the Most High, is to be feared, a great king over all the earth.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This psalm begins by calling all peoples, not just Israel, to clap and shout joyfully to God. It describes God as a great King over the whole earth, a truth that would be powerfully revealed as God established His kingdom, not through forced submission but through the willing hearts of all nations united under Christ's reign. The context here isn't just a historical celebration but a prophetic vision of God's universal dominion and the joyful response it inspires.
The call to clap and shout isn't just for one nation, but for everyone! Why is this Psalm so inclusive?
Psalm 47:1 opens with a command directed not just to the people of Israel, but to 'all peoples' and 'all nations.' This broad invitation is significant. While it could refer to all the tribes of Israel, the context and later verses (like 8-9) strongly suggest a call to both Jews and Gentiles. This points to a future reality where God's reign is recognized universally. The actions described – clapping hands and shouting with triumph – are expressions of immense joy and acknowledgment of victory, similar to how people would celebrate a king's coronation or a military triumph. This isn't a quiet, reserved praise; it's loud, exuberant, and public.
Why the massive celebration? It's all about who God is and what He's done.
The reason for this ecstatic praise is rooted in God's identity and authority. Verse 2 clarifies: 'For the LORD Most High is to be feared, a great King over all the earth.' This psalm isn't just celebrating a past victory; it's proclaiming God's ultimate sovereignty. He is 'Most High,' above all other powers, and a 'great King over all the earth.' This declaration is the foundation for the joyful shouts. It’s the recognition that the God of Israel is the universal monarch, whose reign brings justice, order, and salvation. The 'triumph' is not just military, but the triumph of God's righteous rule being established.
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This ancient psalm wasn't just about historical events; it pointed forward to something even greater.
Scholars see this psalm as having a dual fulfillment. While it could have been inspired by specific historical events like the bringing of the Ark to Zion, its prophetic scope extends much further. The commentators highlight that the 'peoples' and 'nations' called to praise are not limited to Israel. This points directly to the reign of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. His ascension into heaven (as mentioned in verse 5) is the ultimate coronation, confirming His status as 'King over all the earth.' The Gospel's spread to the Gentiles, fulfilling this psalm's inclusive call, is a direct result of Christ's victory over sin and death. The 'triumph' is ultimately Christ's victory, which believers now share in.
Understand the original words
taqa' · Hebrew Verb
An act of rhythmic striking of palms, often used in the Bible as a physical expression of celebration, victory, or praise before God.
ranan/rinnah · Hebrew Verb/Noun
A joyful, resonant cry, often associated with a war cry of victory or a communal shout of acclamation honoring a king.
YHWH · Hebrew Noun
The personal, covenantal name of God revealed to Israel; it signifies His eternal existence, faithfulness, and self-revelation.
elyon · Hebrew Adjective/Noun
A title denoting God's supremacy, transcendence, and absolute authority over all created beings and powers.
yare' · Hebrew Verb
A posture of profound reverence, awe, and humble submission before the holiness and majesty of God.
melek · Hebrew Noun
A title emphasizing God's sovereignty, rule, and rightful dominion over all nations and creation.
While Psalm 47 likely found immediate application in key moments of Israel's history like the bringing of the Ark to Zion or the return from exile, its ultimate, prophetic scope points to the ascension of Jesus Christ. The call for all peoples to clap their hands and shout with triumph finds its fullest meaning in the universal reign of the ascended King and the spread of His Gospel to every nation.
c. 1000 BC
David Brings Ark to Jerusalem
King David successfully brings the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, a pivotal moment in establishing Jerusalem as the religious and political center of Israel. This event served as a precursor and type for future divine enthronements and victories.
c. 960 BC
Solomon's Temple Completed
The First Temple in Jerusalem is completed by King Solomon. This magnificent structure becomes the central place of worship and a powerful symbol of God's presence and sovereignty over Israel.
538 BC
Return from Babylonian Exile
Following the Babylonian Exile, many Jews are permitted to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple. This return is a significant deliverance and a cause for national rejoicing and renewed worship.
c. 1st Century AD— this verse
Jesus' Ascension and Pentecost
After His resurrection, Jesus ascends to heaven and later sends the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. This event marks the inauguration of Christ's reign and the beginning of the universal spread of the Gospel to all nations.
c. AD 48-49
First Apostolic Journey
Paul and Barnabas embark on their first missionary journey, taking the Gospel to Gentile communities. This begins the fulfillment of the prophecy that nations would hear and respond to God's call.
This Psalm also calls for joyous shouts and clapping of hands from all the earth in response to God's salvation and righteousness, mirroring the jubilant praise in Psalm 47:1.
Isaiah 55:12This passage describes the natural world responding with joy to God's word, echoing the expansive call to 'all peoples' to express their joy outwardly in Psalm 47:1.
Zechariah 8:23This prophecy speaks of people from all nations seeking to join with the people of God, reflecting the universal call to worship in Psalm 47:1 and suggesting a future where all peoples unite in praise.
Acts 2:36This New Testament passage declares Jesus as Lord and Christ after His ascension, providing the ultimate fulfillment of the 'great King' proclaimed in Psalm 47 and giving all peoples a reason to shout in triumph.
Romans 15:9-11Quoting from Psalms like 117 and 18, this New Testament text explicitly calls for Gentiles to praise God alongside Israel, directly fulfilling the inclusive call to worship found in Psalm 47:1.
gillPsalms 47:1: "To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph."
O clap your hands, all ye people, Meaning the Gentiles more especially; see Psalm 117:1 compared with Romans 15:9 ; who had reason to rejoice and be glad, since the ascended Lord and King here spoken of was given to be their Saviour, was the propitiation for their sins, and had given himself a ransom price for them; and now the Gospel was preached amon…
bensonPsalms 47:1: "To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph."
Psalm 47:1-2 . O clap your hands, all ye people — All ye tribes of Israel, or, rather, all nations, not only Jews but Gentiles; for all of them would, or might have benefit, if not by the removal of the ark to mount Zion, or to the temple, yet by that which was represented thereby, the ascension of the Messiah into heaven. Shout unto God — Unto the glo…
This isn't just a general call to praise; it's a specific command for "all peoples" – not just the Israelites, but the Gentiles too – to erupt in joyful celebration. This instruction, to "clap your hands" and "shout with a voice of triumph," anticipates Christ's victory and universal reign, making it a powerful announcement of His kingdom extending to all nations.
This psalm begins by calling all peoples, not just Israel, to clap and shout joyfully to God. It describes God as a great King over the whole earth, a truth that would be powerfully revealed as God established His kingdom, not through forced submission but through the willing hearts of all nations united under Christ's reign. The context here isn't just a historical celebration but a prophetic vision of God's universal dominion and the joyful response it inspires.
This psalm begins by calling all peoples, not just Israel, to clap and shout joyfully to God. It describes God as a great King over the whole earth, a truth that would be powerfully revealed as God established His kingdom, not through forced submission but through the willing hearts of all nations united under Christ's reign. The context here isn't just a historical celebration but a prophetic vision of God's universal dominion and the joyful response it inspires.
"Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy! For the LORD, the Most High, is to be feared, a great king over all the earth." — This isn't just a general call to praise; it's a specific command for "all peoples" – not just the Israelites, but the Gentiles too – to erupt in joyful celebration. This instruction, to "clap your h…
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Last reviewed October 2026