Psalm 46:6-11

6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

7 The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

8 Come and see what the LORD has done, the desolations he has brought on the earth.

9 He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields^[a] with fire.

10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

11 The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Psalm 46:6-11 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. S Job 12:23; Psalms 2:1
• 2. Psalms 74:23; Isaiah 5:30; Isaiah 17:12
• 3. Psalms 68:32; Psalms 102:22; Isaiah 13:4,13; Isaiah 23:11; Ezekiel 26:18; Matthew 4:8
• 4. S Psalms 29:3; Isaiah 33:3
• 5. S ver 2; Micah 1:4
• 6. S 1 Samuel 1:11
• 7. S Genesis 21:22; 2 Chronicles 13:12
• 8. S Psalms 20:1
• 9. ver 11; Psalms 18:2; Psalms 9:9
• 10. Psalms 66:5
• 11. Isaiah 17:9; Isaiah 64:10; Daniel 9:26; Luke 21:20; Isaiah 61:4
• 12. Isaiah 2:4
• 13. S Psalms 37:15; S Isaiah 22:6; Psalms 76:3
• 14. Isaiah 9:5; Ezekiel 39:9; Hosea 2:18
• 15. Deuteronomy 4:35; 1 Kings 18:36,39; Psalms 100:3; Isaiah 37:16,20; Isaiah 43:11; Isaiah 45:21; Ezekiel 36:23
• 16. Psalms 18:46; Isaiah 2:11
• 17. S Psalms 20:1
• 18. S ver 7

Footnotes

• [a] Or "chariots"