Psalms 47:4 Meaning: He Chooses Our Inheritance
He chooses our inheritance for us, the glory of Jacob whom he loved. Selah.
He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved. Selah.
He chooseth our inheritance for us, The glory of Jacob whom he loved. [Selah
He doth choose for us our inheritance, The excellency of Jacob that He loves. Selah.
He hath chosen our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved. Selah.
Meaning in one sentence
Psalm 47:4 meaning: God chooses the inheritance for His people, the land as the pride of Jacob, because of His love. See the verse's context and application.
Context
Psalm 47 is a coronation song. It calls all nations to clap and shout because Yahweh is the great King over all the earth. The psalm looks back to a victory God has won, subduing nations under Israel's feet. In that setting, verse 4 stands as the reason for praise: God chose the inheritance for His people. That inheritance is the land of Canaan, the promised possession flowing with milk and honey. The psalmist calls it the glory of Jacob, the land that Jacob's descendants would take pride in. And the motive behind God's choice is not Israel's worth. It is simply that He loved them. The verse ends with Selah, a pause to let that truth settle.
Key Words
Three English words carry the weight of this verse. First, inheritance. In the Old Testament, this often refers to the land of Canaan, given as a permanent possession to the families of Israel. But the word suggests something received, not earned, a gift from the Father to His children. Second, the word translated glory, excellency, or pride. It is the source of confidence and beauty. The land itself was something the people could boast in, not because they had taken it, but because God had given it. That is the only kind of pride that lasts, pride in what God has done. Third, loved. The same verb appears in Deuteronomy 7:8: because Yahweh loves you. This is covenant love, the free choice of the heart. God did not choose the land for Israel because they were numerous or good. He chose because He loved. That love is the root of everything.
How Christians Read This Verse
Most Christian readers see this verse as celebrating God's choice of the land of Canaan for Israel, a sign of His covenant love. The phrase 'glory of Jacob' has been understood as the land itself, the source of the nation's pride. John Calvin and others see the psalm as a prophecy of Christ's kingdom, where the inheritance expands to include all nations. Matthew Henry applies it to the spiritual inheritance of believers, the presence and blessing of God. Whether read as a historical celebration of the promised land or as a type of the eternal inheritance, Christians agree on the central point: God chooses for His people out of love, not because of what they bring.
A common misunderstanding
A common misreading is to think that 'whom he loved' refers to the love the people have for God. The grammar of the verse points the other way: God loved Jacob. The land and the inheritance are gifts that flow from God's love for the patriarch and his descendants. It is not that Israel first loved God; God loved first, and that love chose their home.
Living This Out
Most of us face decisions about where to live, what to do, how to provide. We want to choose well for ourselves and our families. This verse offers a different posture: God chooses our inheritance. That does not mean we stop making plans. It means the final shape of our lives is in His hands. When you are tempted to envy the life someone else has, or to fret that you settled for less, remember that God chose this portion for you because He loves you. The land He gave Israel was not perfect, it had battles and droughts, but it was the place of His presence and promise. Your current season, with its limits and gifts, is the inheritance He has appointed. You can rest in that.
Main takeaway: God chooses our inheritance for us out of love, not because we deserve it, and that is our true glory.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
God chose a special place for His people to live. He did it because He loves them. You can trust that God knows what is good for you.
For ages 9, 12
In Psalm 47:4, the psalmist says God chooses our inheritance. Inheritance is something you receive, not something you earn. For Israel, that was the land of Canaan, a good land full of milk and honey. God gave it to them because He loved them, not because they were perfect. Sometimes we wish we had different circumstances, but this verse reminds us that God has placed us exactly where He wants us. He is the King over all the earth, and He chooses well. You can be grateful for what He gives, knowing it comes from His love.
Questions People Ask
What is the inheritance in Psalm 47:4?
In the immediate historical context, the inheritance is the land of Canaan, which God promised to Abraham and gave to the people of Israel. The whole land was their possession, divided among the twelve tribes. Many Christian readers also see a larger meaning: the inheritance represents all the blessings God gives His people, culminating in eternal life in His kingdom.
What does 'the glory of Jacob' mean?
The phrase refers to the land itself, which was the source of pride and glory for Jacob's descendants. In the Hebrew, the word can mean excellency, pride, or beauty. The land was a gift that made the people boast, not in themselves, but in what God had done for them. Some also interpret it as the people themselves being God's pride.
Who is 'whom he loved' referring to?
The grammar of the verse shows that 'whom he loved' refers to Jacob, the patriarch. God's love for Jacob is the reason He chose the land as an inheritance for his descendants. This echoes Deuteronomy 7:7-8, where God says He loved the fathers and chose their offspring. It emphasizes that God's choice is rooted in His love, not human merit.
For pastors & researchers
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