Great Is the LORD
Psalm 48 summary: what it means
Psalm 48 praises God by praising his city. It opens with the LORD great and greatly to be praised in the city of God, and calls Mount Zion the joy of the whole earth and the city of the great King. Then it tells a short story: kings gathered and passed by, saw the city, and hurried away in fear, seized by trembling like a woman in labor.
The second half moves inside the temple, where the people think about God's loving kindness. It then invites the reader to walk around Zion, count its towers and study its bulwarks, so they can tell the next generation. The last verse turns from the city to God himself: this God is our God forever, and he will be our guide even to death.
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Psalm 48: Great Is the LORD
World English Bible, public domain. allpsalms.com/psalm-48
Psalm 48 commentary: explained verse by verse
Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised,in the city of our God, in his holy mountain.
Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness.
The psalm opens with praise and gives it a place: the LORD is great in the city of our God, on his holy mountain. Praise of God and praise of the place where he is worshipped are joined from the first line.
Also read Obadiah 1:17, Isaiah 2:2-3, Hebrews 12:22, Psalm 99:3-4
Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth,is Mount Zion, on the north sides,the city of the great King.
Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.
Mount Zion is praised for its height and called the joy of the whole earth. It is named the city of the great King. The mention of the north sides places the city with care.
Also read Lamentations 2:15, Psalm 50:2, Hebrews 12:22, Isaiah 66:10
God has shown himself in her citadels as a refuge.
God is known in her palaces for a refuge.
God has shown himself in the citadels of Zion as a refuge. The safety of the city is credited to God's presence, not to its walls alone.
Also read Zechariah 2:4-5, Isaiah 37:33-36, Psalm 76:1-5, Psalm 125:1
For, behold, the kings assembled themselves,they passed by together.
For, lo, the kings were assembled, they passed by together.
Also read Isaiah 7:1, Revelation 20:8-9, Isaiah 8:8-10, Revelation 19:20
They saw it, then they were amazed.They were dismayed.They hurried away.
They saw it, and so they marvelled; they were troubled, and hasted away.
Also read 2 Kings 7:6-7, Exodus 14:25, 2 Kings 19:35-37
Trembling took hold of them there,pain, as of a woman in travail.
Fear took hold upon them there, and pain, as of a woman in travail.
Also read Isaiah 21:3, Isaiah 13:6-8, Jeremiah 30:6-7, Daniel 5:6
With the east wind, you break the ships of Tarshish.
Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with an east wind.
Also read 1 Kings 22:48, Ezekiel 27:25-26, Isaiah 2:16, 1 Kings 10:22
As we have heard, so we have seen,in the city of the LORD of Armies, in the city of our God.God will establish it forever. Selah.
As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it for ever. Selah.
The people say that what they had heard, they have now seen. Reports about God and his city have been confirmed by experience. The verse ends with confidence that God will establish the city forever.
Also read Micah 4:1, Psalm 48:1-2, Psalm 87:5, Psalm 44:1-2
We have thought about your loving kindness, God,in the middle of your temple.
We have thought of thy lovingkindness, O God, in the midst of thy temple.
The scene moves into the temple. The people have thought about God's loving kindness in the middle of it. After the drama of fleeing kings, this is a quiet verse about reflection.
Also read Psalm 104:34, Luke 22:19-20, Psalm 63:2-3, 2 Chronicles 20:5-13
As is your name, God,so is your praise to the ends of the earth.Your right hand is full of righteousness.
According to thy name, O God, so is thy praise unto the ends of the earth: thy right hand is full of righteousness.
God's praise reaches as far as his name does, to the ends of the earth. His right hand is full of righteousness. The city is one place, but the praise is not local.
Also read Isaiah 41:10, Psalm 138:2-4, Psalm 145:17, Deuteronomy 28:58
Let Mount Zion be glad!Let the daughters of Judah rejoice because of your judgments.
Let mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of thy judgments.
Mount Zion is told to be glad and the daughters of Judah to rejoice. The reason is God's judgments, the way he has acted on their behalf.
Also read Song of Songs 2:7, Revelation 16:5-7, Luke 23:28, Revelation 19:1-3
Walk about Zion, and go around her.Number its towers.
Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof.
The reader is invited to walk about Zion, go around her and number her towers. It is a practical, physical instruction. The city is to be looked at closely, not taken for granted.
Also read Matthew 24:1-2, Isaiah 33:18-20, Nehemiah 12:31-40
Notice her bulwarks.Consider her palaces,that you may tell it to the next generation.
Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generation following.
The walk continues: notice her bulwarks and consider her palaces. The purpose comes at the end, to tell the next generation. What is seen is meant to be passed on.
Also read Psalm 78:4-6, Psalm 71:18, Amos 9:11, Joel 1:3
For this God is our God forever and ever.He will be our guide even to death.
For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.
The last verse turns from the city to God. This God is our God forever and ever, and he will be our guide even to death. The walls were the evidence, but God is the point, and his guidance lasts as long as life does.
Also read Psalm 31:14, Proverbs 8:20, Psalm 73:26, Lamentations 3:21
A prayer from Psalm 48
Great are you, LORD, and greatly to be praised. You have shown yourself in the citadels of your city as a refuge. When the kings gathered, they saw it and hurried away. What we have heard, we have also seen. I think about your loving kindness, God, as your people did in the middle of your temple. Your right hand is full of righteousness, and your praise reaches the ends of the earth. Help me to notice what you have done, so that I can tell it to the next generation. You are our God forever and ever. Be our guide even to death. Amen.
Psalm 48 Bible study questions
- In verses 4 to 6, what happens to the kings when they see the city?
- In verses 12 and 13, what are readers told to walk around, count and notice, and for what purpose?
- Verse 8 says as we have heard, so we have seen; when has something you were told about God been matched, or not matched, by what you have seen?
- Verse 14 calls God a guide even to death; what does it mean to you to think of guidance that reaches that far?
- Psalm 46:5 says God is within his city and she shall not be moved; what do Psalm 46 and Psalm 48 share in how they picture that city?
Questions about Psalm 48
What is Psalm 48 about?
It praises God as the great King of Zion, the city of God. It tells how gathered kings saw the city and fled, then invites people to walk around it and tell the next generation that this God is our God forever.
Who wrote Psalm 48?
The heading attributes it to the sons of Korah and calls it a song and a psalm.
What does Psalm 48:9 mean?
It says the people have thought about God's loving kindness in the middle of his temple. It is a moment of reflection inside the place of worship.
What does Psalm 48:14 mean?
It says this God is our God forever and ever, and he will be our guide even to death. The psalm ends by promising guidance for the whole of life.
What does Psalm 48:1 say?
Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, in the city of our God, in his holy mountain.
What does Psalm 48:10 mean?
It says God's praise reaches the ends of the earth, just as his name does, and that his right hand is full of righteousness.
Psalm 48 KJV: the King James Version
Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness.1
Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.2
God is known in her palaces for a refuge.3
For, lo, the kings were assembled, they passed by together.4
They saw it, and so they marvelled; they were troubled, and hasted away.5
Fear took hold upon them there, and pain, as of a woman in travail.6
Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with an east wind.7
As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it for ever. Selah.8
We have thought of thy lovingkindness, O God, in the midst of thy temple.9
According to thy name, O God, so is thy praise unto the ends of the earth: thy right hand is full of righteousness.10
Let mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of thy judgments.11
Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof.12
Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generation following.13
For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.14
Psalm 48 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 שִׁ֥יר מִ֝זְמוֹר לִבְנֵי־קֹֽרַח׃
2 גָּ֘ד֤וֹל יְהוָ֣ה וּמְהֻלָּ֣ל מְאֹ֑ד בְּעִ֥יר אֱ֝לֹהֵ֗ינוּ הַר־קָדְשֽׁוֹ׃
3 יְפֵ֥ה נוֹף֮ מְשׂ֪וֹשׂ כָּל־הָ֫אָ֥רֶץ הַר־צִ֭יּוֹן יַרְכְּתֵ֣י צָפ֑וֹן קִ֝רְיַ֗ת מֶ֣לֶךְ רָֽב׃
4 אֱלֹהִ֥ים בְּאַרְמְנוֹתֶ֗יהָ נוֹדַ֥ע לְמִשְׂגָּֽב׃
5 כִּֽי־הִנֵּ֣ה הַ֭מְּלָכִים נֽוֹעֲד֑וּ עָבְר֥וּ יַחְדָּֽו׃
6 הֵ֣מָּה רָ֭אוּ כֵּ֣ן תָּמָ֑הוּ נִבְהֲל֥וּ נֶחְפָּֽזוּ׃
7 רְ֭עָדָה אֲחָזָ֣תַם שָׁ֑ם חִ֝֗יל כַּיּוֹלֵֽדָה׃
8 בְּר֥וּחַ קָדִ֑ים תְּ֝שַׁבֵּ֗ר אֳנִיּ֥וֹת תַּרְשִֽׁישׁ׃
9 כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר שָׁמַ֨עְנוּ ׀ כֵּ֤ן רָאִ֗ינוּ בְּעִיר־יְהוָ֣ה צְ֭בָאוֹת בְּעִ֣יר אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ אֱלֹ֘הִ֤ים יְכוֹנְנֶ֖הָ עַד־עוֹלָ֣ם סֶֽלָה׃
10 דִּמִּ֣ינוּ אֱלֹהִ֣ים חַסְדֶּ֑ךָ בְּ֝קֶ֗רֶב הֵיכָלֶֽךָ׃
11 כְּשִׁמְךָ֤ אֱלֹהִ֗ים כֵּ֣ן תְּ֭הִלָּתְךָ עַל־קַצְוֵי־אֶ֑רֶץ צֶ֝֗דֶק מָלְאָ֥ה יְמִינֶֽךָ׃
12 יִשְׂמַ֤ח ׀ הַר־צִיּ֗וֹן תָּ֭גֵלְנָה בְּנ֣וֹת יְהוּדָ֑ה לְ֝מַ֗עַן מִשְׁפָּטֶֽיךָ׃
13 סֹ֣בּוּ צִ֭יּוֹן וְהַקִּיפ֑וּהָ סִ֝פְר֗וּ מִגְדָּלֶֽיהָ׃
14 שִׁ֤יתוּ לִבְּכֶ֨ם ׀ לְֽחֵילָ֗ה פַּסְּג֥וּ אַרְמְנוֹתֶ֑יהָ לְמַ֥עַן תְּ֝סַפְּר֗וּ לְד֣וֹר אַחֲרֽוֹן׃
15 כִּ֤י זֶ֨ה ׀ אֱלֹהִ֣ים אֱ֭לֹהֵינוּ עוֹלָ֣ם וָעֶ֑ד ה֖וּא יְנַהֲגֵ֣נוּ עַל־מֽוּת׃
Psalm 48 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 47 there.
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1 A psalm of a canticle, for the sons of Core, on the second day of the week.
2 Great is the Lord, and exceedingly to be praised in the city of our God, in his holy mountain.
3 With the joy of the whole earth is mount Sion founded, on the sides of the north, the city of the great king.
4 In her houses shall God be known, when he shall protect her.
5 For behold the kings of the earth assembled themselves: they gathered together.
6 So they saw, and they wondered, they were troubled, they were moved:
7 Trembling took hold of them. There were pains as of a woman in labour.
8 With a vehement wind thou shalt break in pieces the ships of Tharsis.
9 As we have heard, so have we seen, in the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God: God hath founded it for ever.
10 We have received thy mercy, O God, in the midst of thy temple.
11 According to thy name, O God, so also is thy praise unto the ends of the earth: thy right hand is full of justice.
12 Let mount Sion rejoice, and the daughters of Juda be glad; because of thy judgments, O Lord.
13 Surround Sion, and encompass her: tell ye in her towers.
14 Set your hearts on her strength; and distribute her houses, that ye may relate it in another generation.
15 For this is God, our God unto eternity, and for ever and ever: he shall rule us for evermore.
Psalm 48 in Latin
The Clementine Vulgate, public domain, where this psalm is Psalm 47.
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1 Psalmus cantici. Filiis Core, secunda sabbati.
2 Magnus Dominus et laudabilis nimis, in civitate Dei nostri, in monte sancto ejus.
3 Fundatur exsultatione universæ terræ mons Sion; latera aquilonis, civitas regis magni.
4 Deus in domibus ejus cognoscetur cum suscipiet eam.
5 Quoniam ecce reges terræ congregati sunt; convenerunt in unum.
6 Ipsi videntes, sic admirati sunt, conturbati sunt, commoti sunt.
7 Tremor apprehendit eos; ibi dolores ut parturientis:
8 in spiritu vehementi conteres naves Tharsis.
9 Sicut audivimus, sic vidimus, in civitate Domini virtutum, in civitate Dei nostri: Deus fundavit eam in æternum.
10 Suscepimus, Deus, misericordiam tuam in medio templi tui.
11 Secundum nomen tuum, Deus, sic et laus tua in fines terræ; justitia plena est dextera tua.
12 Lætetur mons Sion, et exsultent filiæ Judæ, propter judicia tua, Domine.
13 Circumdate Sion, et complectimini eam; narrate in turribus ejus.
14 Ponite corda vestra in virtute ejus, et distribuite domos ejus, ut enarretis in progenie altera.
15 Quoniam hic est Deus, Deus noster in æternum, et in sæculum sæculi: ipse reget nos in sæcula.
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Psalm 48 at a glance
| Verses | 14 |
| Heading in the text | A Song. A Psalm by the sons of Korah. |
| Attributed to | The heading attributes it to the sons of Korah and calls it a song and a psalm. |
| Type | Praise |
| Number in Greek and Latin Bibles | Psalm 47 |
Read Psalm 48 when you are facing
guidanceprotectiontrusting god
Psalm 48 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 48 in those translations at Bible Gateway.
Where Psalm 48 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