Psalms 48:1-3

The Beauty and Glory of Zion.

1 1Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, In the 2city of our God, His 3holy mountain.
2 4Beautiful in elevation, 5the joy of the whole earth, Is Mount Zion in the far north, The 6city of the great King.
3 God, in her palaces, Has made Himself known as a 7stronghold.

Psalms 48:1-3 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 48

\\<>\\. This psalm is entitled a "song psalm", a psalm to be sung vocally; or "a song and psalm" to be sung both vocally and instrumentally; and is one of the spiritual songs the apostle speaks of, Eph 5:19; It was occasioned, as some think, by David's spoiling the Philistines, 2Sa 5:17-21; or, as others, by the deliverance of the people from the Moabites and Ammonites in the times of Jehoshaphat, 2Ch 20:27,28; or, as others, by the deliverance of the inhabitants of Jerusalem from Sennacherib in the times of Hezekiah, 2Ki 19:34,35; though as Kimchi, a celebrated Jewish commentator, owns, it belongs to the times of the Messiah, as the other preceding psalms; and treats of his greatness, and of the praise and glory due to him, and gives large encomiums of his church.

Cross References 7

  • 1. 1 Chronicles 16:25; Psalms 96:4; Psalms 145:3
  • 2. Psalms 46:4
  • 3. Psalms 2:6; Psalms 87:1; Isaiah 2:3; Micah 4:1; Zechariah 8:3
  • 4. Psalms 50:2
  • 5. Lamentations 2:15
  • 6. Matthew 5:35
  • 7. Psalms 46:7
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