Psalms 46–11
Psalm 46:1-11
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Psa.46.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- למנצח: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לבני: PREP
- קרח: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- על: PREP
- עלמות: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- שיר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Ps.42.1 (structural): Superscription likewise addresses the leader and is attributed to 'the sons of Korah'—same performer/authorial designation as Ps 46:1.
- Ps.44.1 (verbal): Heading explicitly begins 'למנצח לבני־קרח' (to the leader, to the sons of Korah), closely matching the verbal phrasing of Ps 46:1.
- Ps.84.1 (structural): Also attributed to the sons of Korah and directed to the chief musician; parallels Ps 46:1 in its liturgical/performative superscription.
- Ps.85.1 (thematic): Another Korahite psalm with a similar musical/temple orientation in its heading, reflecting the same cultic context implied by Ps 46:1.
Alternative generated candidates
- For the leader; of the sons of Korah—upon Alamoth. A song.
- For the leader; of the sons of Korah; upon Alamoth. A song.
Psa.46.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- אלהים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- לנו: PREP+PRON,1,pl
- מחסה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ועז: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עזרה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- בצרות: ADJ,ptc,pass,f,pl
- נמצא: VERB,nip,perf,3,m,sg
- מאד: ADV
Parallels
- Psalm 46:1 (English numbering) (structural): Same declaration across translations/numberings: 'God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.' (identical claim of God as refuge and help).
- Psalm 18:2 (verbal): Uses closely related refuge/strength vocabulary: 'The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer... my strength'—echoes God as protector and strength.
- Psalm 91:2 (verbal): Confessional language—'My refuge and my fortress; my God; in him will I trust'—shares the 'refuge/fortress' and trust motif.
- Nahum 1:7 (thematic): 'The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble'—the theme of God as a present help/stronghold in times of distress parallels Psalm 46:2.
- Psalm 27:5 (thematic): 'He will hide me in his pavilion in the day of trouble'—another Psalmic promise of God's protection and refuge in trouble, resonating with Psalm 46:2.
Alternative generated candidates
- God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
- God is for us a refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Psa.46.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- על: PREP
- כן: ADV
- לא: PART_NEG
- נירא: VERB,qal,impf,1,pl
- בהמיר: PREP+VERB,qal,perf,3,sg
- ארץ: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ובמוט: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הרים: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- בלב: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ימים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
Parallels
- Isaiah 54:10 (verbal): Uses similar language about mountains/hills being removed (‘mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed’), echoing the image of cosmic upheaval but divine constancy.
- Nahum 1:5 (verbal): Describes mountains quaking and hills melting because of God’s presence—parallel imagery of natural forces responding to divine action.
- Psalm 97:5 (verbal): Depicts mountains melting like wax before the LORD, a comparable metaphor of mountains dissolving in the face of God’s power.
- Psalm 114:5–6 (thematic): Narrates the earth’s and mountains’ dramatic response to the LORD (mountains skipping, sea fleeing), thematically related to upheaval of sea and mountains in Psalm 46:3.
- Matthew 8:27 (thematic): Jesus’ calming of the storm prompts awe at authority over sea and winds; thematically connects to the Psalm’s confidence amid chaos of sea and mountains.
Alternative generated candidates
- Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the heart of the seas.
- Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be changed and the mountains be moved into the very heart of the seas.
Psa.46.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- יהמו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- יחמרו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- מימיו: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs,3ms
- ירעשו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- הרים: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- בגאותו: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,suff
- סלה: MISC
Parallels
- Ps.93:3-4 (verbal): Uses the same motif of flooding/roaring waters and their mighty sound; both passages celebrate the tumult of waters while asserting God’s supremacy over them.
- Ps.29:3-9 (thematic): Describes the ‘voice of the LORD’ in storm imagery that shakes mountains and shakes the wilderness—parallel theophanic language linking divine presence with roaring waters and convulsed hills.
- Habakkuk 3:10-11 (thematic): A theophany in which mountains tremble and waters overflow at God’s presence; closely parallels the image of mountains quaking before surging waters.
- Ps.18:7-16 (2 Sam.22:8-16) (structural): A crisis/theophany passage where earth trembles, mountains shake and waters are involved in God’s upheaval—structurally and thematically akin to the upheaval pictured in Ps.46.
Alternative generated candidates
- The waters roar and foam; the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah.
- The waters roar and foam; the mountains tremble at their swelling. Selah.
Psa.46.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- נהר: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- פלגיו: NOUN,m,pl,abs,3ms
- ישמחו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- עיר: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- אלהים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- קדש: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- משכני: NOUN,m,sg,abs,1cs
- עליון: ADJ,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Ezekiel 47:1-12 (structural): A river issues from the temple and flows to renew the land, with trees on its banks — closely parallels the temple/city river imagery that brings life and joy to God’s holy city.
- Revelation 22:1-2 (verbal): ‘A river of the water of life’ flows from the throne through the New Jerusalem; echoes Psalm’s motif of a life-giving river enlivening the holy city.
- Zechariah 14:8 (verbal): ‘Living waters shall go out from Jerusalem’ — a prophetic image of waters issuing from the city that heal and refresh, paralleling the city’s gladdening stream in the psalm.
- Psalm 36:8-9 (thematic): God’s house/fountain gives drink from a river or fountain of delights/life; the motif of God’s provision as water that satisfies and brings joy mirrors Psalm 46’s river imagery.
- Isaiah 12:3 (thematic): ‘With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation’ — connects the psalm’s image of streams that make the city glad with joyfully receiving life and salvation from God’s waters.
Alternative generated candidates
- A river—its streams make glad the city of God, the holy dwelling-place of the Most High.
- There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High.
Psa.46.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- אלהים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- בקרבה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs+PRON,3,f,sg
- בל: PART
- תמוט: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,f,sg
- יעזרה: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg+PRON,3,f,sg
- אלהים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- לפנות: PREP+VERB,qal,inf
- בקר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Ps.46:7 (verbal): Same psalm: repeats the theme of God's presence as protective help — 'The LORD of hosts is with us' echoes 'God is in the midst of her.'
- Ps.46:1 (thematic): Opening refrain — 'God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble' parallels the assurance that God’s presence prevents shaking and provides help.
- Ps.125:1 (thematic): 'Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved' echoes the motif of immovability because God is present.
- Zephaniah 3:17 (allusion): 'The LORD your God is in your midst' parallels the explicit language of divine presence and its saving, comforting effect.
- Isaiah 41:10 (thematic): 'Fear not, for I am with you… I will strengthen you' parallels the promise of divine presence and assistance that removes fear and instability.
Alternative generated candidates
- God is in her midst; she shall not be moved. God will help her at the break of morning.
- God is within her; she shall not be moved—God will help her at the break of day.
Psa.46.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- המו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- גוים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- מטו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- ממלכות: NOUN,f,pl,cs
- נתן: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- בקולו: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs,3,m,sg
- תמוג: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
- ארץ: NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Psalm 29:3-9 (verbal): Both passages emphasize 'the voice of the Lord' that thunders over the waters and breaks cedars, producing seismic and natural chaos (mountains/earth shaken) as a manifestation of God's power.
- Habakkuk 3:6 (thematic): Describes God standing to shake the earth and causing nations to tremble—parallels the image of kingdoms thrown into disorder by God's voice in Ps 46:7.
- Nahum 1:5-6 (thematic): Speaks of mountains quaking and the earth being shaken at God's presence and anger; thematically parallels the upheaval of nations and the earth at God's command in Ps 46:7.
- Psalm 97:5 (verbal): Uses the striking image of mountains melting (like wax) before the Lord, echoing Ps 46:7's language of the earth melting at God's voice.
Alternative generated candidates
- Nations make uproar, kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts.
- The nations made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered; at his voice the earth melted.
Psa.46.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- צבאות: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- עמנו: PREP+PRON,1,pl
- משגב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לנו: PREP+PRON,1,pl
- אלהי: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- יעקב: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- סלה: MISC
Parallels
- Psalm 46:1 (thematic): Both verses present God as refuge/strength in trouble — Psalm 46:1 declares God a refuge and very present help, echoing the fortress/safeguard language of 46:8.
- Psalm 46:11 (or v.7 in some numberings) (quotation): The line 'The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah.' is repeated verbatim later in the psalm (serves as a refrain).
- Psalm 18:2 (verbal): Uses parallel imagery — 'The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer' echoes the fortress/stronghold metaphor applied to God.
- Psalm 91:2 (thematic): Declares 'My refuge and my fortress, my God; in him will I trust,' echoing the trust-in-God-as-fortress theme of Psalm 46:8.
- Nahum 1:7 (thematic): Describes the LORD as a stronghold and protector in trouble ('The LORD is good... a stronghold in the day of trouble'), paralleling the fortress/protection motif.
Alternative generated candidates
- The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.
- The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.
Psa.46.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- לכו: VERB,qal,imp,2,m,pl
- חזו: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מפעלות: NOUN,f,pl,const
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אשר: PRON,rel
- שם: ADV
- שמות: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- בארץ: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,def
Parallels
- Psalm 111:2 (verbal): Uses the same key phrase about 'the works of the LORD' (great/wondrous works) and the human response of reflecting on or praising those works.
- Psalm 107:8 (thematic): Calls the worshiping community to thank the LORD for his 'wondrous works' on earth—similar exhortation to behold and acknowledge God's deeds among people.
- Psalm 46:10 (structural): Immediate contextual response within the same psalm: after calling people to behold God's works, the psalm issues the famous exhortation 'Be still, and know that I am God,' linking sight of God's acts to trust and awe.
- Isaiah 40:26 (thematic): Invites the audience to 'lift up your eyes' and see God's creative acts in the heavens—a parallel summons to observe and recognize God's mighty works in creation.
Alternative generated candidates
- Come, behold the works of the LORD—what desolations he has wrought in the earth.
- Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he has wrought on the earth.
Psa.46.10 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- משבית: VERB,hiph,part,3,m,sg
- מלחמות: NOUN,f,pl,construct
- עד: PREP
- קצה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הארץ: NOUN,f,sg,def
- קשת: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ישבר: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- וקצץ: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- חנית: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- עגלות: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- ישרף: VERB,niphal,impf,3,m,sg
- באש: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Isaiah 2:4 (thematic): Envisions the end of war and the transformation/cessation of weapons—‘they shall beat their swords into plowshares’—echoing the theme of weapons rendered useless and peace established.
- Micah 4:3 (thematic): Parallel prophecy to Isaiah 2:4 with the same imagery of nations no longer warring and instruments of war turned to peaceful use; shares the motif of universal cessation of conflict.
- Zechariah 9:10 (verbal): Uses closely related language—‘I will cut off the chariot…and the battle bow shall be cut off’—matching the imagery of bows, chariots, and the removal of military power.
- Nahum 2:13 (verbal): Speaks of God burning chariots (‘I will burn your chariots in smoke’), directly mirroring the Psalm’s image of chariots consumed by fire and the destruction of military implements.
- Exodus 15:4 (thematic): The Song of Moses celebrates God’s defeat of Pharaoh’s chariots and army at the sea, thematically resonant with divine power silencing human warfare and destroying chariots.
Alternative generated candidates
- He makes wars to cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow, shatters the spear, and burns the chariots with fire.
- He makes wars to cease to the ends of the earth; he shatters the bow, he cuts the spear in two; he burns the chariots with fire.
Psa.46.11 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- הרפו: VERB,qal,impv,2,pl
- ודעו: VERB,qal,impv,2,NA,pl
- כי: CONJ
- אנכי: PRON,1,sg
- אלהים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ארום: VERB,qal,impf,1,sg
- בגוים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ארום: VERB,qal,impf,1,sg
- בארץ: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,def
Parallels
- Exodus 14:14 (verbal): Both use the imperative to be still/silent before God (Exod. 14:14 'The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still'), linking trustful quiet to divine action.
- Psalm 37:7 (verbal): 'Be still before the LORD, and wait patiently for him' echoes the call to silence and knowing God found in Ps 46:11—an attitude of patient trust.
- Habakkuk 2:20 (thematic): 'The LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him' parallels the summons to stillness/silence and recognition of God's sovereign presence.
- Psalm 99:2 (thematic): 'The LORD is great in Zion... he is exalted over all the peoples' parallels Ps 46:11's declaration 'I will be exalted among the nations,' both affirming God's universal exaltation.
- Isaiah 2:11 (thematic): Isaiah speaks of humbling human pride so 'the LORD alone will be exalted,' resonating with Ps 46:11's proclamation that God will be exalted among the nations and the earth.
Alternative generated candidates
- Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.
- Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted on the earth.
For the leader; of the sons of Korah; on Alamoth. A song.
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth change, though the mountains be carried into the heart of the sea.
Though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah.
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy dwelling-place of the Most High.
God is in her midst; she shall not be moved; God will help her at the break of day.
The nations rage; the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts.
The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.
Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he has made on the earth.
He makes wars to cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow, shatters the spear, and burns the chariots with fire.
Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth.