Psalms 46:1-6

1 God is our ¹refuge and strength, a very ²present^[a] help in ³trouble.

2 Therefore we will not fear ⁴though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into ⁵the heart of the sea,

3 though ⁶its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah

4 There is ⁷a river whose streams make glad ⁸the city of God, the holy ⁹habitation of the Most High.

5 ¹⁰God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns.

6 ¹¹The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he ¹²utters his voice, the earth ¹³melts.

Psalms 46:1-6 Meaning and Commentary

To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth. The word "Alamoth" is thought by some, as Aben Ezra, to be the beginning of a song, to which this psalm was set; and by others a high tune, such as virgins express; and by others the name of musical instruments, as Jarchi and Kimchi; which seems most likely, since it is mentioned with other instruments of music in 1 Chronicles 15:19; and may not unfitly be rendered "virginals," from the sound of them being like the shrill voice of virgins, which this word signifies; though others choose to render it "of hidden things," {s}, making it to design the subject matter of the psalm, the secret counsels and purposes of God, both in a way of love and grace to his people, and of judgment to his enemies. Some think this psalm was occasioned by the victories which David obtained over the Ammonites and Moabites, and other neighbouring countries; and others are of opinion that it was penned on account of the siege of Jerusalem by Sennacherib being raised, in the times of Hezekiah: but it seems rather to be a prophecy of the church in Gospel times, and is applicable to any time of confusion and distress the nations of the world may be in through any kind of calamity, when those that trust in the Lord have no reason in the least to be afraid. Kimchi says this psalm belongs to future times; either to the gathering of the captives, or to the war of Gog and Magog; to which also R. Obadiah refers it, and Jarchi interprets it of time to come; according to the Targum it was written by the sons of Korah, when their father was hid from them, and they were delivered.

{s} twmle le upev twn krufiwn, Sept. "pro arcanis," V. L.

Cross References

• 1. See Psalms 14:6
• 2. Psalms 145:18; Deuteronomy 4:7
• 3. Psalms 9:9
• 4. [Psalms 18:7]
• 5. Ezekiel 27:26
• 6. [Psalms 93:3, 4; Jeremiah 5:22]
• 7. Psalms 36:8; Psalms 65:9; [Isaiah 8:6; Isaiah 33:21; Revelation 22:1, 2]
• 8. Psalms 48:1; Psalms 87:3; [Isaiah 60:14]
• 9. Psalms 43:3; Psalms 84:1
• 10. Leviticus 26:12; Deuteronomy 23:14; Isaiah 12:6; Ezekiel 43:7, 9; Hosea 11:9; Joel 2:27; Zephaniah 3:15; Zech. 2:5, 10, 11; Zechariah 8:3
• 11. Psalms 2:1
• 12. Psalms 18:13; Psalms 68:33; Psalms 76:8; Jeremiah 25:30; Joel 2:11; Joel 3:16; Amos 1:2
• 13. Exodus 15:15; Joshua 2:9, 24; Amos 9:5

Footnotes

• [a]. Or well proved