Psalms 46:2-11

2 Therefore we shall not dread, while the earth shall be troubled; and the hills shall be borne over into the heart of the sea. (And so we shall not fear, when the earth be troubled; and the mountains be carried over into the heart of the sea.)

3 The waters of them sounded, and were troubled; hills were troubled (al)together in the strength of him. (And when the waters roar, and be troubled; and the mountains be altogether troubled by his strength, or his might.)

4 The fierceness of [the] flood maketh glad the city of God; the highest God hath hallowed his tabernacle. (There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God; and the Most High God hath hallowed his Temple.)

5 God in the midst thereof shall not be moved; God shall help it early in the gray morrowtide. (God is there in its midst, and that city shall not be shaken, or destroyed; God shall help it early in the gray morning/at the break of day.)

6 Heathen men were troubled (al)together, and realms were bowed down; God gave his voice, the earth was moved. (But the heathen were altogether troubled, and kingdoms were bowed down; yea, God gave his voice, and the earth shook.)

7 The Lord of virtues is with us; God of Jacob is our up-taker. (The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge/the God of Jacob is our stronghold, or our defender.)

8 Come ye, and see the works of the Lord; which wonders he hath set on the earth.

9 He doing away battles till to the end of the land; shall all-bruise bow, and he shall break (al)together armours, and he shall burn shields with fire. (He doeth away, or stoppeth, all the battles unto the ends of the earth; he altogether breaketh the bows, and the arms, or the weapons, and he burneth up the shields with fire.)

10 Give ye attention, and see ye, that I am God; I shall be enhanced among heathen men; and I shall be enhanced in earth. (And he saith, Give ye attention, and see ye, that I am God; I shall be exalted among the heathen; and I shall be exalted over all the earth.)

11 The Lord of virtues is with us; God of Jacob is our up-taker. (The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge/the God of Jacob is our stronghold, or our defender.)

Psalms 46:2-11 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.