Psalm 48:1-11

1 Great is Jehovah, and greatly to be praised, In the city of our God, in his holy mountain.

2 Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, Is mount Zion, [on] the sides of the north, The city of the great King.

3 God hath made himself known in her palaces for a refuge.

4 For, lo, the kings assembled themselves, They passed by together.

5 They saw it, then were they amazed; They were dismayed, they hasted away.

6 Trembling took hold of them there, Pain, as of a woman in travail.

7 With the east wind Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish.

8 As we have heard, so have we seen In the city of Jehovah of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it for ever. [Selah

9 We have thought on thy lovingkindness, O God, In the midst of thy temple.

10 As is thy name, O God, So is thy praise unto the ends of the earth: Thy right hand is full of righteousness.

11 Let mount Zion be glad, Let the daughters of Judah rejoice, Because of thy judgments.

Psalm 48:1-11 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.