Psalms 48:4

4 When the kings joined forces, when they advanced together,

Psalms 48:4 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
4 For, lo, the kings were assembled, they passed by together.
English Standard Version (ESV)
4 For behold, the kings assembled; they came on together.
New Living Translation (NLT)
4 The kings of the earth joined forces and advanced against the city.
The Message Bible (MSG)
4 The kings got together, they united and came.
American Standard Version (ASV)
4 For, lo, the kings assembled themselves, They passed by together.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
4 The kings have gathered. They marched together.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
4 Look! The kings assembled; they advanced together.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
4 Many kings joined forces. They entered Israel together.

Psalms 48:4 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 48:4

For, lo, the kings were assembled
As the princes of the Philistines to seek for David, when in the strong hold of Zion, ( 2 Samuel 5:17 ) ; as the Ethiopians in the time of Asa, ( 2 Chronicles 14:9 ) ; and the Moabites and Ammonites in the times of Jehoshaphat, ( 2 Chronicles 20:1 ) ; and the kings of Syria and Israel in the times of Ahaz, ( Isaiah 7:1 ) ; and Sennacherib with his princes, who, in his esteem, were kings, in the times of Hezekiah, ( 2 Kings 18:17 ) ; which are instances of the kings, of the nations' gathering together against Zion, the city of Jerusalem, and people of the Jews, who were typical of the church of Christ; and that without success, and to their own confusion and destruction; though this seems to refer to the latter day of the Gospel dispensation, when all the kings of the earth, Pagan, Papal, and Mahometan, will be gathered together at the instigation of Satan, to the battle of the great day of the Lord God Almighty, in a place called Armageddon, where they will be defeated by Christ the King of kings, ( Revelation 16:13 Revelation 16:14 Revelation 16:16 ) ( 19:19-21 ) . Jarchi and Kimchi interpret the passage of Gog and Magog gathering together to fight against Jerusalem, with which compare ( Revelation 20:8 Revelation 20:9 ) ;

they passed by together;
either to the battle, as Jarchi explains it; or they passed by Jerusalem, the city of our God, the church, without entering into it, or doing it any harm.

Psalms 48:4 In-Context

2 Beautiful in its loftiness, the joy of the whole earth, like the heights of Zaphon is Mount Zion, the city of the Great King.
3 God is in her citadels; he has shown himself to be her fortress.
4 When the kings joined forces, when they advanced together,
5 they saw her and were astounded; they fled in terror.
6 Trembling seized them there, pain like that of a woman in labor.

Cross References 1

  • 1. 2 Samuel 10:1-19
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