It has often been set to music, notably by Heinrich Schütz, Ralph Vaughan Williams, John Rutter and Oskar Gottlieb Blarr.

[9] The connection is explained in the Midrash: Yehuda bar Nahmani began in the name of Shimon ben Lakish: "Elohim ascends amidst shouting, YHWH to the blast of the shofar" (Psalms 47:6).

[2]Verse 6 also alludes to the trumpet or shofar blowing at the conclusion of the holiday of Yom Kippur, when the Divine Presence, which has rested upon the Jewish people throughout the day of atonement, returns to heaven.

Heinrich Schütz set the psalm in German as part with the text from the Becker Psalter, "Frohlockt mit Freud, ihr Völker all", for choir as his SWV 144.

Marc-Antoine Charpentier set in 1683 - 85 one "Omnes gentes plaudite manibus" H.192, for 3 voices, 2 treble instruments and continuo.

Johann Sebastian Bach began a cantata for Ascension with three verses from the psalm, Gott fähret auf mit Jauchzen, BWV 43, first performed in 1726.

[6] Carl Martin Reinthaler set the complete psalm in German for choir, Frohlocket mit Händen, alle Völker.

In 1904, Florent Schmitt composed a setting for soprano solo, choir, organ and orchestra, called Psaume XLVII.

[21] Ralph Vaughan Williams set the psalm in English in 1920 as O clap your hands, a motet for chorus and orchestra.

Rory Cooney set Psalm 47 for Ascension, subtitled God Mounts His Throne in 2003, scored for soloist, three-part choir, the assembly, and brass.

[27] Even more hymns pick up topics from Psalm 47, including "Praise to the Lord, the Almighty", which paraphrases verses 6–9.