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Psalms 46

BSB·11 verses ·Old Testament
✦ Tap any verse to open Scripture Explorer — original Hebrew/Greek, commentary, notes & highlights
1Godאֱלֹהִ֣ים’ĕ·lō·hîm — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study → is our refugeמַחֲסֶ֣הma·ḥă·seh — Refuge, shelter, or place of safetyH4268 — Full Word Study → and strengthוָעֹ֑זwā·‘ōz — Strength, power, or mightH5797 — Full Word Study →, an ever-presentנִמְצָ֥אnim·ṣā — to find, discover, obtainH4672 — Full Word Study → helpעֶזְרָ֥ה‘ez·rāh — help, assistance, aidH5833 — Full Word Study → in times of troubleבְ֝צָר֗וֹתḇə·ṣā·rō·wṯ — Distress, trouble, adversityH6869 — Full Word Study →. 2Thereforeעַל־‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → we will notלֹא־lō- — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → fearנִ֭ירָאnî·rā — to fear, revere, or be afraidH3372 — Full Word Study →, though the earthאָ֑רֶץ’ā·reṣ — Land, earth, or countryH776 — Full Word Study → is transformedבְּהָמִ֣ירbə·hā·mîr — to change, exchange, or alterH4171 — Full Word Study → and the mountainsהָ֝רִ֗יםhā·rîm — Mountain, hill, or elevated land massH2022 — Full Word Study → are toppledוּבְמ֥וֹטū·ḇə·mō·wṭ — to shake, move, slip, or fall awayH4131 — Full Word Study → into the depthsבְּלֵ֣בbə·lêḇ — Heart; the center of emotion, will, and intellectH3820 — Full Word Study → of the seasיַמִּֽים׃yam·mîm — Sea, body of water; also directional (west, south)H3220 — Full Word Study →, 3though their watersמֵימָ֑יוmê·māw — Water; liquid; fluidsH4325 — Full Word Study → roarיֶהֱמ֣וּye·hĕ·mū — to roar, murmur, or sound with tumultH1993 — Full Word Study → and foamיֶחְמְר֣וּyeḥ·mə·rū — to smear, daub, or ferment; to trouble or polluteH2560 — Full Word Study → and the mountainsהָרִ֖יםhā·rîm — Mountain, hill, or elevated land massH2022 — Full Word Study → quakeיִֽרְעֲשֽׁוּ־yir·‘ă·šū- — To shake, tremble, or quake with forceH7493 — Full Word Study → in the surgeבְּגַאֲוָת֣וֹbə·ḡa·’ă·wā·ṯōw — Pride, arrogance, haughtiness of spiritH1346 — Full Word Study →. Selahסֶֽלָה׃se·lāh — Pause or SelahH5542 — Full Word Study → 4There is a riverנָהָ֗רnā·hār — River, StreamH5104 — Full Word Study → whose streamsפְּלָגָ֗יוpə·lā·ḡāw — Stream, watercourse, or flowing water channelH6388 — Full Word Study → delightיְשַׂמְּח֥וּyə·śam·mə·ḥū — To rejoice, be glad, make merryH8055 — Full Word Study → the cityעִיר־‘îr- — City; fortified settlement or townH5892 — Full Word Study → of Godאֱלֹהִ֑ים’ĕ·lō·hîm — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study →, the holy place where the Most Highעֶלְיֽוֹן׃‘el·yō·wn — Most High, elevated, supremeH5945 — Full Word Study → dwellsמִשְׁכְּנֵ֥יmiš·kə·nê — Tabernacle, dwelling place, sanctuaryH4908 — Full Word Study →. 5Godאֱלֹהִ֣ים’ĕ·lō·hîm — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study → is within herבְּ֭קִרְבָּהּbə·qir·bāh — midst, inner part, heart, inward beingH7130 — Full Word Study →; she will notבַּל־bal- — not, lest, nothingH1077 — Full Word Study → be movedתִּמּ֑וֹטtim·mō·wṭ — to shake, move, slip, or fall awayH4131 — Full Word Study →. Godאֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים’ĕ·lō·hîm — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study → will help herיַעְזְרֶ֥הָya‘·zə·re·hā — to help, aid, supportH5826 — Full Word Study → when morningבֹּֽקֶר׃bō·qer — Morning; daybreak; the early part of the dayH1242 — Full Word Study → dawnsלִפְנ֥וֹתlip̄·nō·wṯ — to turn, face, or direct attentionH6437 — Full Word Study →. 6Nationsג֭וֹיִםḡō·w·yim — Nation; a people or ethnic groupH1471 — Full Word Study → rageהָמ֣וּhā·mū — to roar, murmur, or sound with tumultH1993 — Full Word Study →, kingdomsמַמְלָכ֑וֹתmam·lā·ḵō·wṯ — Kingdom; sovereign rule or realmH4467 — Full Word Study → crumbleמָ֣טוּmā·ṭū — to shake, move, slip, or fall awayH4131 — Full Word Study →; the earthאָֽרֶץ׃’ā·reṣ — Land, earth, or countryH776 — Full Word Study → meltsתָּמ֥וּגtā·mūḡ — to melt, dissolve, soften, or become weakH4127 — Full Word Study → when He liftsנָתַ֥ןnā·ṯan — to give, grant, or bestowH5414 — Full Word Study → His voiceבְּ֝קוֹל֗וֹbə·qō·w·lōw — voice, sound, or cryH6963 — Full Word Study →. 7The LORDיְהוָ֣הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study → of Hostsצְבָא֣וֹתṣə·ḇā·’ō·wṯ — army, host, or organized military forceH6635 — Full Word Study → is with usעִמָּ֑נוּ‘im·mā·nū — with, together with, amongH5973 — Full Word Study →; the Godאֱלֹהֵ֖י’ĕ·lō·hê — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study → of Jacobיַעֲקֹ֣בya·‘ă·qōḇ — He grasps the heelH3290 — Full Word Study → is our fortressמִשְׂגָּֽב־miś·gāḇ- — Refuge, fortress, high place of safetyH4869 — Full Word Study →. Selahסֶֽלָה׃se·lāh — Pause or SelahH5542 — Full Word Study → 8Comeלְֽכוּ־lə·ḵū- — to go, walk, travel, proceedH1980 — Full Word Study →, seeחֲ֭זוּḥă·zū — to see, behold, perceive, or prophesyH2372 — Full Word Study → the worksמִפְעֲל֣וֹתmip̄·‘ă·lō·wṯ — work, deed, or performanceH4659 — Full Word Study → of the LORDיְהוָ֑הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →, whoאֲשֶׁר־’ă·šer- — who, which, that; when, where, becauseH834 — Full Word Study → bringsשָׂ֖םśām — to put, place, set, appointH7760 — Full Word Study → devastationשַׁמּ֣וֹתšam·mō·wṯ — desolation, horror, ruin, devastationH8047 — Full Word Study → upon the earthבָּאָֽרֶץ׃bā·’ā·reṣ — Land, earth, or countryH776 — Full Word Study →. 9He makes warsמִלְחָמוֹת֮mil·ḥā·mō·wṯ — Battle, warfare, combat, military conflictH4421 — Full Word Study → to ceaseמַשְׁבִּ֥יתmaš·bîṯ — to cease, rest, or desist from laborH7673 — Full Word Study → throughoutעַד־‘aḏ- — until, till, up to (temporal or spatial limit)H5704 — Full Word Study → the earthהָ֫אָ֥רֶץhā·’ā·reṣ — Land, earth, or countryH776 — Full Word Study →; He breaksיְ֭שַׁבֵּרyə·šab·bêr — to break, shatter, crushH7665 — Full Word Study → the bowקֶ֣שֶׁתqe·šeṯ — bow (weapon); arcH7198 — Full Word Study → and shattersוְקִצֵּ֣ץwə·qiṣ·ṣêṣ — To cut off; to sever; to cut asunderH7112 — Full Word Study → the spearחֲנִ֑יתḥă·nîṯ — Spear; a long-shafted weaponH2595 — Full Word Study →; He burnsיִשְׂרֹ֥ףyiś·rōp̄ — to burn, kindle, consume by fireH8313 — Full Word Study → the shieldsעֲ֝גָל֗וֹת‘ă·ḡā·lō·wṯ — Cart or wagon for transportH5699 — Full Word Study → in the fireבָּאֵֽשׁ׃bā·’êš — Fire; flame; burningH784 — Full Word Study →. 10Be stillהַרְפּ֣וּhar·pū — to slacken, weaken, or grow feebleH7503 — Full Word Study → and knowוּ֭דְעוּū·ḏə·‘ū — to know, understand, perceiveH3045 — Full Word Study → thatכִּי־kî- — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → Iאָנֹכִ֣י’ā·nō·ḵî — I, myself (first-person singular pronoun)H595 — Full Word Study → am Godאֱלֹהִ֑ים’ĕ·lō·hîm — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study →; I will be exaltedאָר֥וּם’ā·rūm — To raise, lift up, exalt; to be highH7311 — Full Word Study → among the nationsבַּ֝גּוֹיִ֗םbag·gō·w·yim — Nation; a people or ethnic groupH1471 — Full Word Study →, I will be exaltedאָר֥וּם’ā·rūm — To raise, lift up, exalt; to be highH7311 — Full Word Study → over the earthבָּאָֽרֶץ׃bā·’ā·reṣ — Land, earth, or countryH776 — Full Word Study →.” 11The LORDיְהוָ֣הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study → of Hostsצְבָא֣וֹתṣə·ḇā·’ō·wṯ — army, host, or organized military forceH6635 — Full Word Study → is with usעִמָּ֑נוּ‘im·mā·nū — with, together with, amongH5973 — Full Word Study →; the Godאֱלֹהֵ֖י’ĕ·lō·hê — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study → of Jacobיַעֲקֹ֣בya·‘ă·qōḇ — He grasps the heelH3290 — Full Word Study → is our fortressמִשְׂגָּֽב־miś·gāḇ- — Refuge, fortress, high place of safetyH4869 — Full Word Study →. Selahסֶֽלָה׃se·lāh — Pause or SelahH5542 — Full Word Study →
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Chapter Commentary — Psalms 46
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Chapter Overview

Psalm 46 is a hymn of trust and confidence in God's protection and power during times of crisis and upheaval. The psalmist begins by declaring that God is our refuge and strength, then moves through vivid imagery of cosmic disturbance—earthquakes, floods, and mountains crumbling into the sea—to illustrate the kinds of catastrophic fears that threaten human security. Yet throughout these terrifying scenarios, the central message remains unwavering: God is present, God is in control, and His people need not fear. This psalm culminates in the famous call to "be still, and know that I am God," reminding us that faith means relinquishing our anxiety and trusting in the Lord's ultimate authority and peace.

Verses 1–3: God Is Our Refuge in Every Crisis

The psalm opens with one of Scripture's most foundational declarations of faith: "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." This verse establishes the bedrock upon which all the following confidence rests. The word "refuge" speaks of a fortified place of safety, while "strength" indicates both power and the ability to sustain us. The phrase "very present help" is especially precious—God is not distant or indifferent; He is here, now, actively engaged in our struggles.

Verses 2–3 paint a picture of ultimate catastrophe: the earth removed from its foundations, mountains cast into the sea, waters roaring and swelling. These images would have represented to ancient readers the most unimaginable disasters. Yet the psalmist insists, "Therefore will not we fear." This is not denial or naive optimism; it is faith built on the character of God. Because God is our refuge, we can face even the worst imaginable circumstances without being overcome by terror.

Verses 4–7: God's Presence Brings Stability and Joy

The tone shifts from external chaos to internal security. Verses 4–5 introduce the image of "a river" whose streams make glad "the city of God." While the world outside experiences flooding waters and upheaval, God's people find refreshment and joy in His presence. This river likely symbolizes God's life-giving grace and provision flowing through His people. "God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved," the psalmist declares—the church, represented as God's city, stands firm because the Lord dwells within her.

Verses 6–7 return to the external conflict. The nations rage and kingdoms tremble, but when the Lord speaks, the very earth melts before Him. The repetition of "The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge" (verse 7) reinforces the core promise: we have an all-powerful God who remembers His covenant people and stands as our stronghold.

Verses 8–11: Behold God's Works and Rest in His Authority

The psalmist invites us to observe God's mighty deeds—the desolations He has made to preserve His people and establish His kingdom. Verse 9 describes the ultimate end of all warfare: "He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder." This looks forward to Christ's final victory and the establishment of an eternal kingdom of peace.

Verse 10 contains perhaps the most liberating command in all of Scripture: "Be still, and know that I am God." To be still means to cease our striving, our anxious efforts, and our desperate attempts to control outcomes. To know that He is God means to acknowledge His sovereignty, wisdom, and supreme authority. This is the path to peace: surrender and trust, not through weakness, but through recognition of who truly holds all power.

Application for Today

In our modern world of uncertainty—economic instability, health crises, fractured relationships, and overwhelming global events—Psalm 46 calls us to anchor our hearts in God's unchanging character and presence. Like the psalmist, we are invited to exchange our fear and anxiety for the unshakeable confidence that comes from knowing God is with us, He is strong, and He is ultimately in control. Today, let us practice "being still"—setting aside our worried thoughts and resting in the knowledge that our Father reigns.

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