King James Version

What Does Psalms 44:2 Mean?

“How thou didst drive out the heathen with thy hand, and plantedst them; how thou didst afflict the people, and cast them out.”

Context

To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, Maschil. We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what work thou didst in their days, in the times of old.

How thou didst drive out the heathen with thy hand, and plantedst them; how thou didst afflict the people, and cast them out.

For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour unto them.

Thou art my King, O God: command deliverances for Jacob.

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Commentary

Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(2) **Thou . . . with thy hand.**—Literally, *Thou, Thy hand, *which may be, as in the Authorised Version, taken as accusative of instrument, or as a repeated subject. **And cast them out.**—This entirely misses the meaning and destroys the parallelism. The Hebrew word is that used for a treo spreading its branches out; comp. Jeremiah 17:8; Ezekiel 17:6; Ezekiel 31:5, and especially Psalm 80:11, a passage which is simply an amplification of the figure in this verse, viz., of a vine or other exotic, planted in a soil cleared for its reception, and there caused to grow and flourish. The pronoun *them *in each clause plainly refers to Israel. Thou, with thine hand, didst dispossess the heathen, And planted *them *(Israel) in. Thou didst afflict the peoples. But didst make *them *to spread.

Charles John Ellicott (1819–1905). Public Domain.

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Psalms. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Psalms 44:2 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.