Psalm 75:7 kjv
But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.
Psalm 75:7 nkjv
But God is the Judge: He puts down one, And exalts another.
Psalm 75:7 niv
It is God who judges: He brings one down, he exalts another.
Psalm 75:7 esv
but it is God who executes judgment, putting down one and lifting up another.
Psalm 75:7 nlt
It is God alone who judges;
he decides who will rise and who will fall.
Psalm 75 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 2:7-8 | The LORD makes poor and makes rich; he brings low and lifts up. He raises the poor from the dust... | God controls wealth and status. |
| Psa 113:7-8 | He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes, with the princes of his people. | God exalts the humble. |
| Dan 2:21 | He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; | God's sovereignty over rulers and times. |
| Luke 1:52 | He has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; | God's reversal of status. |
| Rom 13:1 | Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. | All authority is from God. |
| Prov 8:15 | By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just; | Wisdom (from God) enables righteous rule. |
| John 19:11 | Jesus answered him, "You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above." | Pilate's authority was divinely granted. |
| Jer 9:23-24 | Thus says the LORD: "Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight," declares the LORD. | Do not boast in human power or achievements. |
| Jam 4:10 | Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. | Humility is a path to divine exaltation. |
| 1 Pet 5:6 | Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, | God exalts those who humble themselves. |
| Matt 23:12 | Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. | Principle of divine humbling and exalting. |
| Luke 14:11 | For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. | Reiterates the principle of divine reversal. |
| Psa 75:2 | "At the set time that I appoint, I will judge with equity." | God judges justly. |
| Psa 9:7-8 | But the LORD sits enthroned forever; he has established his throne for justice, and he judges the world with righteousness; he judges the peoples with uprightness. | God's eternal righteous judgment. |
| Acts 17:31 | because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead." | God's appointed judgment day. |
| Psa 50:6 | The heavens declare his righteousness, for God himself is judge! | God is the ultimate Judge. |
| Deut 32:39 | "'See now that I, I am he; there is no god besides me. I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand." | God alone possesses ultimate power. |
| Job 5:11 | He sets on high those who are lowly, and those who mourn are lifted to safety. | God lifts the downtrodden. |
| 2 Chron 26:16 | But when he was strong, he grew proud, to his destruction. For he acted unfaithfully against the LORD his God and entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense. | Pride leads to downfall, contrary to God's ways. |
| Phil 2:9 | Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, | Example of God's supreme exaltation (of Christ). |
| Psa 18:27 | For you save a humble people, but the haughty eyes you bring down. | God's active role in humbling the proud. |
| Psa 73:18 | Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin. | God's judgment leads to the downfall of the wicked. |
| Luke 16:15 | But he said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God." | Human standards of exaltation are contrary to God's. |
Psalm 75 verses
Psalm 75 7 Meaning
Psalm 75:7 declares that all authority, status, and elevation—"promotion" or "exaltation"—do not originate from earthly sources, human endeavor, or geopolitical powers. It definitively asserts that the power to raise up or cast down resides solely with God. This verse serves as a crucial reminder of divine sovereignty over all human affairs, challenging any belief in self-made success or destiny determined by worldly might.
Psalm 75 7 Context
Psalm 75 is a Psalm of Asaph, likely intended for public worship. The immediate context of verse 7 follows statements acknowledging God as the righteous Judge who will "deal justly" (v. 2) and rebuke the wicked, whose horns (symbols of strength/pride) God will cut off (v. 4-5). There's also an explicit warning against boasting (v. 4). Psalm 75:6 (in some translations, combining with 7) speaks about no human agency, from any direction, being the source of exaltation. Historically, the psalm may reflect a time of national threat or arrogance, prompting a declaration of God's ultimate authority over kingdoms and individuals. It serves as a strong declaration of God's omnipotence and impartiality in judgment, directly challenging the notion that human might or geopolitical power dictates destiny.
Psalm 75 7 Word analysis
- For: (כִּי - Ki) - A conjunction often translated as "for" or "because," introducing a reason or explanation. Here, it signifies that the subsequent statement explains why boasting is futile and why God’s judgment is absolute.
- promotion: This is an interpretive rendering by the KJV. The Hebrew word is (הָרִים - harim), which literally means "mountains" (plural). However, in this context, it is widely understood by scholars to be connected to the verb root rum (רוּם), meaning "to be high," "to be exalted," "to lift up." Therefore, many modern translations render it as "exaltation" or "lifting up." The KJV's "promotion" captures the derived sense of elevation in status or position. This interpretation implies that no natural geographical feature or region is the source of true elevation.
- cometh: The verb "cometh" (or "comes") is implied in the original Hebrew, derived from the flow of the sentence structure. The emphasis is on the origin or source of promotion/exaltation.
- neither from the east: (מִמּוֹצָא - mimmoẓa) - Literally, "from the rising (of the sun)," indicating the East. Historically, the East was the source of powerful empires (Babylon, Assyria, Persia) that posed threats or exerted influence over Israel. This phrase denies that power or favor originates from these formidable earthly kingdoms.
- nor from the west: (וּמִמַּעֲרָב - u'mimma'arav) - Literally, "from the setting (of the sun)," indicating the West. This might refer to Egypt or powers across the Mediterranean, reinforcing that no power block, whether near or far, is the ultimate source of one's standing.
- nor yet from the south: (וְלֹ֥א מִ֝מִּדְבַּ֗ר הָרִ֥ים - v'lo mimmidbar harim) - This phrase is the most complex.
- Mimmidbar (מִמִּדְבַּר): "from the wilderness" or "from the desert." This typically refers to the sparsely populated regions, especially to the south of Judah (e.g., the Negeb desert). It implies that power does not arise from desolate, unconventional, or less obvious places either.
- Harim (הָרִים): As discussed, while literally "mountains," the KJV links it with the theme of "promotion" or "exaltation." Some scholarly views suggest "wilderness of mountains" as a specific region (perhaps linking midbar and harim). However, given the parallel structure with "east" and "west" (directions/sources), interpreting harim here as "exaltation" (the subject of the verse) rather than "mountains" (a geographic feature in the south) maintains thematic coherence and directness. The lack of "north" often points to a complete geographical scope being negated, implying that the true source (God) is distinct from all earthly directions.
Words-group analysis:
- "neither from the east, nor from the west, nor yet from the south": This triple negation powerfully emphasizes the universal scope of the assertion. It covers all major cardinal directions from which human authority or threat might originate, indicating that no worldly source can confer true status or power. It highlights the exclusivity of God's role in granting "promotion." This is a polemic against reliance on geopolitical alliances or human military strength for national security or personal advancement.
Psalm 75 7 Bonus section
While Psalm 75:7 explicitly mentions East, West, and South, the absence of "North" is often noted in theological discussions. Some interpreters suggest that since Mount Zion (God's dwelling place, source of divine decrees) is metaphorically or actually to the north of many perspectives in ancient Israel, the omission implies that while no human source or earthly direction provides promotion, God (from the symbolic "North" of Zion/Heaven) is indeed the true and only source. This further solidifies the theme that "promotion" isn't a random occurrence or a product of human geopolitics, but a direct result of divine will. This perspective contrasts earthly reliance with heavenly decree.
Psalm 75 7 Commentary
Psalm 75:7 provides a stark, decisive declaration regarding the origin of authority and elevation. It is a direct refutation of any notion that human status or power is a result of geography, political alliances, personal cunning, or military might originating from various earthly regions (east, west, or south). The verse asserts God's absolute and unrivaled sovereignty. Whether one rises in influence, leadership, or prosperity, or is brought low, this divine appointment transcends all human endeavors and calculations. The message is one of profound humility before the Most High, encouraging a trust in God alone for one's destiny and discouraging pride based on worldly achievements. It implies that true, lasting "promotion" comes solely from Him, echoing themes found throughout Scripture about God setting up and taking down kings, humbling the proud, and exalting the humble.