Read Psalm 47 at Bible Gateway.
See the Psa 47:1-9 {p} Chiastic structure here.
The matching elements from the structure all share common roots.
Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph! Psa 47:1
God is gone up amidst shouting, YHVH amidst the sound of the trumpet. Psa 47:5
TO SHOUT. Strong’s H7321 רוע rua, a primitive root meaning, “to split the ears.”
SHOUTING. Strong’s H8643, teruah, an abstract concept meaning, “tumult;” from Strong’s H7321 רוע rua, the above primitive root.
TO GO UP. Strong’s H5927 עלה alah.
TRUMPET. Strong’s H7782, shofar, a concrete object meaning, “trumpet;” from Strong’s H8231 שפר shaphar, a primitive root meaning, “to polish.”
*****
For YHVH is Most High, and awesome; a great King over all the earth. Psa 47:2
God reigns over the nations; God sits upon His holy throne. Psa 47:8
KING. Strong’s H4428, melek, a concrete object meaning, “king;” from Strong’s H4427 מלך malak, a primitive root meaning, “to reign.”
TO REIGN. Strong’s H4427 מלך malak, the above primitive root meaning, “to reign.”
*****
He chooses our inheritance for us, the excellence of Jacob whom He loves. Selah Psa 47:7, the central axis.
TO CHOOSE. Strong’s H977 בחר bachar. This verb has the meaning of picking out that which is the choicest of all, as in selecting the firstfruits sacrifice.
INHERITANCE. Strong’s H5159, nachalah, a concrete noun meaning, “inheritance,” from Strong’s H5157 נחל nachal, “to receive an inheritance.”
EXCELLENCE. Strong’s H1347 ga’own, an abstract concept meaning “exaltation, majesty, pride;” from Strong’s H1342 גאה ga’ah, a primitive root meaning, “to be lifted up, to be exalted.” The 3-letter root is gimel + aleph + hey.
gimel ג = the foot, thus foot, walk, gather
aleph א = the ox head, thus strength, power, leader
hey ה = man w/raised arms, so look, reveal, wonder, worship, breath
The story: To lift (gimel, i.e. something is lifted so that it can be carried by walking to another place) strongly (aleph) on high (hey, as the man’s upraised arms are held aloft).
In other words, Jacob is the firstfruits, the choicest of the nations, and our Father chooses the choicest for our inheritance!
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