God Is Our Refuge and Strength
Psalm 46 summary: what it means
Psalm 46 is a song of confidence under pressure. It opens with its main claim, God is our refuge and strength, and tests it against the worst it can imagine: the earth changing, mountains shaken into the sea, waters roaring. The psalm says we won't be afraid anyway. Verse 4 then switches to a quiet river whose streams make the city of God glad, and the city stands because God is within her.
The second half moves from nature to war. Nations rage and kingdoms are moved, but God speaks and the earth melts. The reader is invited to come and see how he ends wars by breaking bows, spears and chariots. Only then does God speak for himself: be still, and know that I am God. A refrain appears twice, in verses 7 and 11: the LORD of Armies is with us.
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Psalm 46: God Is Our Refuge and Strength
World English Bible, public domain. allpsalms.com/psalm-46
Psalm 46 commentary: explained verse by verse
God is our refuge and strength,a very present help in trouble.
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
The psalm states its conclusion first. God is a refuge to run to, strength to rely on, and help that is very present when trouble comes.
Also read Psalm 46:11, 1 Chronicles 15:20, Psalm 145:18, Psalm 46:7
Therefore we won’t be afraid, though the earth changes,though the mountains are shaken into the heart of the seas;
Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
Therefore links the calm to verse 1. The speaker imagines the earth changing and mountains shaken into the heart of the seas, the most stable things giving way, and still says we won't be afraid.
Also read Luke 21:33, Psalm 82:5, Luke 21:9-11, Matthew 8:24-26
though its waters roar and are troubled,though the mountains tremble with their swelling. Selah.
Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
The chaos continues with roaring waters and trembling mountains. The verse ends with Selah, the first of three in the psalm.
Also read 1 Kings 19:11, Jeremiah 5:22, Judges 5:4-5, Micah 1:4
There is a river, the streams of which make the city of God glad,the holy place of the tents of the Most High.
There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
The roaring waters of verse 3 give way to a river whose streams make the city of God glad. It is the holy place where the Most High dwells. The change in tone from verse 3 is sharp.
Also read Psalm 92:8, Ecclesiastes 5:8, Psalm 43:3, Isaiah 37:35-36
God is within her. She shall not be moved.God will help her at dawn.
God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.
The city is safe for one reason: God is within her. She will not be moved, while the mountains of verse 2 are shaken. God will help her at dawn, as the night ends.
Also read Zechariah 2:5, Psalm 62:6, Exodus 14:27, Psalm 30:5
The nations raged. The kingdoms were moved.He lifted his voice and the earth melted.
The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.
The threat is now human. Nations rage and kingdoms are moved, yet one word from God is enough: he lifts his voice and the earth melts.
Also read Jeremiah 25:30, Habakkuk 3:10-11, Isaiah 14:12-16, Psalm 68:33
The LORD of Armies is with us.The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
This is the psalm's refrain. The LORD of Armies is with us, and the God of Jacob is our refuge. It restates verse 1 in the language of presence.
Also read Romans 8:31, Numbers 14:9, 2 Chronicles 13:12, Psalm 9:9
Come, see the LORD’s works,what desolations he has made on the earth.
Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth.
The reader is invited to come and look at what the LORD has done on the earth. The desolations he has made are described in the next verse.
Also read 2 Chronicles 20:23-24, Exodus 10:7, Psalm 66:5, Exodus 12:30
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth.He breaks the bow, and shatters the spear.He burns the chariots in the fire.
He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.
God's work here is the end of war. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth, breaks the bow, shatters the spear and burns the chariots. The weapons are destroyed, not captured.
Also read Isaiah 11:9, Ezekiel 39:9-10, 1 Samuel 2:4, Joshua 11:6
“Be still, and know that I am God.I will be exalted among the nations.I will be exalted on the earth.”
Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
Here God speaks directly. Coming straight after the ending of wars in verse 9, be still reads as a command to stop and recognise who is God, as well as an invitation to be calm. God adds that he will be exalted among the nations and on the earth.
Also read Isaiah 5:16, 1 Samuel 17:46, Isaiah 2:11, Isaiah 2:17
The LORD of Armies is with us.The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
The refrain from verse 7 closes the psalm. After God's own words, the people answer with the same confession: the LORD of Armies is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge.
Also read Psalm 46:7, Psalm 48:3, Deuteronomy 33:27, Jeremiah 16:19
A prayer from Psalm 46
God, you are our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Help me not to be afraid, even when the ground seems to shift and the waters roar and the mountains tremble. There is a river that makes your city glad, and you are within her. When the nations rage and kingdoms are moved, you lift your voice. You make wars cease, you break the bow and shatter the spear. In the middle of all the noise, help me to be still, and to know that you are God. The LORD of Armies is with us. The God of Jacob is our refuge. Amen.
Psalm 46 Bible study questions
- In verses 2 and 3, what things are shaken or troubled, and what does the psalm say the people will not do?
- Verses 7 and 11 repeat the same line; what does it say about God, and where does it fall in the psalm?
- Verse 10 says be still, and know that I am God; what might being still look like in the middle of the upheaval the psalm describes?
- Verse 4 places a river that makes the city glad right after the roaring waters of verse 3; what does that contrast suggest to you?
- Psalm 48:3 also calls God a refuge within his city; what do Psalm 46 and Psalm 48 share in how they picture God's presence there?
Questions about Psalm 46
Who wrote Psalm 46?
The heading attributes it to the sons of Korah and says it is for the Chief Musician, according to Alamoth. The text does not name a single author.
What does Psalm 46:10 mean?
In context, God speaks after the psalm describes him ending wars and breaking weapons. Be still, and know that I am God tells the listener to stop and recognise who God is, and he adds that he will be exalted among the nations and on the earth.
What is Psalm 46 about?
It is about trusting God as refuge when everything else shakes, first in nature, then in war. It pictures his city as secure because God is within her.
What does Psalm 46:1 say in the KJV?
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." The WEB wording is the same.
What does Psalm 46:10 say in the KJV?
"Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth." The WEB has nations where the KJV has heathen.
What does Psalm 46:5 mean?
It says God is within his city, so she will not be moved, and that God will help her at dawn.
Psalm 46 KJV: the King James Version
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.1
Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;2
Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.3
There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.4
God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.5
The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.6
The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.7
Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth.8
He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.9
Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.10
The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.11
Psalm 46 in Hebrew
The Hebrew text from the Westminster Leningrad Codex, public domain. Verse numbers follow the Hebrew Bible, which counts a psalm's heading as verse 1, so they can run one ahead of English Bibles.
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1 לַמְנַצֵּ֥חַ לִבְנֵי־קֹ֑רַח עַֽל־עֲלָמ֥וֹת שִֽׁיר׃
2 אֱלֹהִ֣ים לָ֭נוּ מַחֲסֶ֣ה וָעֹ֑ז עֶזְרָ֥ה בְ֝צָר֗וֹת נִמְצָ֥א מְאֹֽד׃
3 עַל־כֵּ֣ן לֹא־נִ֭ירָא בְּהָמִ֣יר אָ֑רֶץ וּבְמ֥וֹט הָ֝רִ֗ים בְּלֵ֣ב יַמִּֽים׃
4 יֶהֱמ֣וּ יֶחְמְר֣וּ מֵימָ֑יו יִֽרְעֲשֽׁוּ־הָרִ֖ים בְּגַאֲוָת֣וֹ סֶֽלָה׃
5 נָהָ֗ר פְּלָגָ֗יו יְשַׂמְּח֥וּ עִיר־אֱלֹהִ֑ים קְ֝דֹ֗שׁ מִשְׁכְּנֵ֥י עֶלְיֽוֹן׃
6 אֱלֹהִ֣ים בְּ֭קִרְבָּהּ בַּל־תִּמּ֑וֹט יַעְזְרֶ֥הָ אֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים לִפְנ֥וֹת בֹּֽקֶר׃
7 הָמ֣וּ ג֭וֹיִם מָ֣טוּ מַמְלָכ֑וֹת נָתַ֥ן בְּ֝קוֹל֗וֹ תָּמ֥וּג אָֽרֶץ׃
8 יְהוָ֣ה צְבָא֣וֹת עִמָּ֑נוּ מִשְׂגָּֽב־לָ֝נוּ אֱלֹהֵ֖י יַעֲקֹ֣ב סֶֽלָה׃
9 לְֽכוּ־חֲ֭זוּ מִפְעֲל֣וֹת יְהוָ֑ה אֲשֶׁר־שָׂ֖ם שַׁמּ֣וֹת בָּאָֽרֶץ׃
10 מַשְׁבִּ֥ית מִלְחָמוֹת֮ עַד־קְצֵ֪ה הָ֫אָ֥רֶץ קֶ֣שֶׁת יְ֭שַׁבֵּר וְקִצֵּ֣ץ חֲנִ֑ית עֲ֝גָל֗וֹת יִשְׂרֹ֥ף בָּאֵֽשׁ׃
11 הַרְפּ֣וּ וּ֭דְעוּ כִּי־אָנֹכִ֣י אֱלֹהִ֑ים אָר֥וּם בַּ֝גּוֹיִ֗ם אָר֥וּם בָּאָֽרֶץ׃
12 יְהוָ֣ה צְבָא֣וֹת עִמָּ֑נוּ מִשְׂגָּֽב־לָ֝נוּ אֱלֹהֵ֖י יַעֲקֹ֣ב סֶֽלָה׃
Psalm 46 in the Catholic Douay-Rheims Bible
The Douay-Rheims Bible, 1899 edition, public domain. It follows the Greek and Latin numbering, so this psalm is Psalm 45 there.
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1 Unto the end, for the sons of Core, for the hidden.
2 Our God is our refuge and strength: a helper in troubles, which have found us exceedingly.
3 Therefore we will not fear, when the earth shall be troubled; and the mountains shall be removed into the heart of the sea.
4 Their waters roared and were troubled: the mountains were troubled with his strength.
5 The stream of the river maketh the city of God joyful: the most High hath sanctified his own tabernacle.
6 God is in the midst thereof, it shall not be moved: God will help it in the morning early.
7 Nations were troubled, and kingdoms were bowed down: he uttered his voice, the earth trembled.
8 The Lord of armies is with us: the God of Jacob is our protector.
9 Come and behold ye the works of the Lord: what wonders he hath done upon earth,
10 Making wars to cease even to the end of the earth. He shall destroy the bow, and break the weapons: and the shield he shall burn in the fire.
11 Be still and see that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, and I will be exalted in the earth.
12 The Lord of armies is with us: the God of Jacob is our protector.
Psalm 46 in Latin
The Clementine Vulgate, public domain, where this psalm is Psalm 45.
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1 In finem, filiis Core, pro arcanis. Psalmus.
2 Deus noster refugium et virtus; adjutor in tribulationibus quæ invenerunt nos nimis.
3 Propterea non timebimus dum turbabitur terra, et transferentur montes in cor maris.
4 Sonuerunt, et turbatæ sunt aquæ eorum; conturbati sunt montes in fortitudine ejus.
5 Fluminis impetus lætificat civitatem Dei: sanctificavit tabernaculum suum Altissimus.
6 Deus in medio ejus, non commovebitur; adjuvabit eam Deus mane diluculo.
7 Conturbatæ sunt gentes, et inclinata sunt regna: dedit vocem suam, mota est terra.
8 Dominus virtutum nobiscum; susceptor noster Deus Jacob.
9 Venite, et videte opera Domini, quæ posuit prodigia super terram,
10 auferens bella usque ad finem terræ. Arcum conteret, et confringet arma, et scuta comburet igni.
11 Vacate, et videte quoniam ego sum Deus; exaltabor in gentibus, et exaltabor in terra.
12 Dominus virtutum nobiscum; susceptor noster Deus Jacob.
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Psalm 46 at a glance
| Verses | 11 |
| Heading in the text | For the Chief Musician. By the sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. |
| Attributed to | The heading attributes it to the sons of Korah. The King James Version heading reads "for the sons of Korah". |
| Type | Trust and Praise |
| Number in Greek and Latin Bibles | Psalm 45 |
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Psalm 46 in other translations
This page prints the World English Bible and the King James Version because both are public domain. The NIV, ESV, NKJV, NLT and NASB are under copyright, so they cannot be printed in full here. You can read Psalm 46 in those translations at Bible Gateway.
Where Psalm 46 belongs
Psalms of the sons of KorahBook 2 of the Psalms
How this page was made
The psalm text comes from public domain translations and is not edited. The summary, the verse notes and the answers are written for this page from the text of the psalm itself. Where a claim goes beyond the text, it is sourced below.
Sources
- Text: World English Bible and King James Version, both public domain, from ebible.org source
- Hebrew text: Westminster Leningrad Codex, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Douay-Rheims: Douay-Rheims Bible, 1899 edition, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Latin text: Clementine Vulgate, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Numbering: Greek and Latin psalm numbering, Wikipedia, Psalms source