Anakalypsis / Unveiling the Word
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⚙ Annotations & References ▾
Themes 3 ▾
Holiness 1 Worship 1 Glory of God 1
People 4 ▾
Tarshish Primeval 7 Judah Patriarchal 11 Judah Life of Christ 11 Mark Apostolic Age 13
Places 1 ▾
Mount Zion Judah 2
Symbols 2 ▾
Mountain natural 1 City architectural 8
Typology 1 ▾
Jerusalem → Heavenly Jerusalem 1-2
Historic voices 11 ▾
City of God 4× 1-2, 8 Church History (Historia Ecclesiastica) 1× 1-2 Homilies on the Epistle to the Romans 1× 6, 17 Homilies on the Epistle to the Hebrews 4× 6-8 Homilies on the Gospel of John 2× 7 Summa Theologica 2× 13, 21 Homilies on the First Epistle to the Corinthians 2× 16, 20 John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible 1× 1-12 Keil and Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament 1× 1, 9, 12 Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary 1× 1, 8 Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary 1× 2-4, 7-12
Manuscript witnesses 5 ▾
Codex Sinaiticus Aleph c. AD 330-360 Codex Vaticanus B c. AD 300-325 Codex Alexandrinus A c. AD 400-440 Aleppo Codex (Crown of Aleppo) c. AD 930 Leningrad Codex (Codex Leningradensis) AD 1008
Cross-references 107 ▾
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What is Psalms 48 about?

The Korahite songs turn back to Zion, the mountain of God's holiness and the city of the great King. Its beauty and its safety are celebrated as the poet recalls how assembled kings looked, were troubled, and fled in fear before her God. Worshipers are invited to walk about Zion, to count her towers, and to tell the coming generation that this God is their God for ever. The praise binds the people to the LORD who guards His dwelling, and points ahead to the city that cannot be shaken.

Historical backdrop

These are the songbook of a nation, sung across a thousand years of Israel's worship, from Moses in the wilderness to the exiles returned from Babylon. They were carried from the tabernacle to Solomon's temple to the second temple rebuilt under Persia, set to the lyre and the harp and the clash of cymbals in the courts of the LORD.

Matthew Henry on Psalms 48
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Psalms 48
The Church Fathers on Psalms 48

Psalms 48

Psalms Chapter 48
48
1Great is Jehovah, and greatly to be praised, In the city of our God, in his holy mountain.
2Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, Is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, The city of the great King.
3God hath made himself known in her palaces for a refuge.
4For, lo, the kings assembled themselves, They passed by together.
5They saw it, then were they amazed; They were dismayed, they hasted away.
6Trembling took hold of them there, Pain, as of a woman in travail.
7With the east wind Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish.
8As we have heard, so have we seen In the city of Jehovah of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it for ever. [Selah
9We have thought on thy lovingkindness, O God, In the midst of thy temple.
10As is thy name, O God, So is thy praise unto the ends of the earth: Thy right hand is full of righteousness.
11Let mount Zion be glad, Let the daughters of Judah rejoice, Because of thy judgments.
12Walk about Zion, and go round about her; Number the towers thereof;
13Mark ye well her bulwarks; Consider her palaces: That ye may tell it to the generation following.
14For this God is our God for ever and ever: He will be our guide even unto death.
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What is Psalms 48 about?

The Korahite songs turn back to Zion, the mountain of God's holiness and the city of the great King. Its beauty and its safety are celebrated as the poet recalls how assembled kings looked, were troubled, and fled in fear before her God. Worshipers are invited to walk about Zion, to count her towers, and to tell the coming generation that this God is their God for ever. The praise binds the people to the LORD who guards His dwelling, and points ahead to the city that cannot be shaken.