Psalmen 46:1-10

1 Een lied op Alamoth, voor den opperzangmeester, onder de kinderen van Korach.

2 God is ons een Toevlucht en Sterkte; Hij is krachtelijk bevonden een Hulp in benauwdheden.

3 Daarom zullen wij niet vrezen, al veranderde de aarde haar plaats, en al werden de bergen verzet in het hart der zeeen;

4 Laat haar wateren bruisen, laat ze beroerd worden; laat de bergen daveren, door derzelver verheffing! Sela.

5 De beekjes der rivier zullen verblijden de stad Gods, het heiligdom der woningen des Allerhoogsten.

6 God is in het midden van haar, zij zal niet wankelen; God zal haar helpen in het aanbreken van den morgenstond.

7 De heidenen raasden, de koninkrijken bewogen zich; Hij verhief Zijn stem, de aarde versmolt.

8 De HEERE der heirscharen is met ons; de God van Jakob is ons een Hoog Vertrek. Sela.

9 Komt, aanschouwt de daden des HEEREN, Die verwoestingen op aarde aanricht.

10 Die de oorlogen doet ophouden tot aan het einde der aarde, de boog verbreekt, en de spies aan twee slaat, de wagenen met vuur verbrandt.

Psalmen 46:1-10 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.