Psalms 46:1-5

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to alamoth. A song.

1 ^[a][b]God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

3 though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.^[c]

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells.

5 God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.

Psalms 46:1-5 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. Psalms 9:9; Psalms 14:6; Psalms 37:39; Psalms 61:3; Psalms 73:26; Psalms 91:2,9; Psalms 142:5; Isaiah 33:16; Jeremiah 16:19; Jeremiah 17:17; Joel 3:16; Nahum 1:7
• 2. Psalms 18:1
• 3. Psalms 34:18; Lamentations 3:57; Deuteronomy 4:7
• 4. Psalms 18:6; Luke 1:54
• 5. S Deuteronomy 4:30; Psalms 25:17
• 6. S Genesis 4:7; Psalms 3:6; Psalms 23:4
• 7. Psalms 82:5; Isaiah 13:13; Isaiah 24:1,19,20; Jeremiah 4:23; Daniel 11:19; Amos 8:14; S Revelation 6:14
• 8. ver 6; Psalms 18:7; Psalms 97:5; Isaiah 54:10; Amos 9:5; Micah 1:4; Nahum 1:5; Habakkuk 3:6
• 9. Exodus 15:8
• 10. Psalms 93:3; Isaiah 17:13; Jeremiah 5:22; Ezekiel 1:24; Revelation 19:6
• 11. S Job 9:26
• 12. S Judges 5:5
• 13. S Genesis 2:10; Revelation 22:1
• 14. S Psalms 1:3
• 15. Psalms 48:1,8; Psalms 87:3; Psalms 101:8; Revelation 3:12; Isaiah 60:14
• 16. Genesis 14:18
• 17. S 2 Samuel 15:25
• 18. Deuteronomy 23:14; S Psalms 26:8; Isaiah 12:6; Ezekiel 43:7; Zechariah 2:5
• 19. Psalms 125:1
• 20. S 1 Chronicles 5:20; Psalms 37:40

Footnotes

• [a]. In Hebrew texts 46:1-11 is numbered 46:2-12.
• [b]. Title: Probably a musical term
• [c]. The Hebrew has "Selah" (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verses 7 and 11.