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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0;"/><title>Psalm 46 Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/commentaries/expositors/psalms/46.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/5001com.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 4800px), only screen and (max-device-width: 4800px)" href="/4801.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 1550px), only screen and (max-device-width: 1550px)" href="/1551.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 1250px), only screen and (max-device-width: 1250px)" href="/1251.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 1050px), only screen and (max-device-width: 1050px)" href="/1051.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 900px), only screen and (max-device-width: 900px)" href="/901.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 800px), only screen and (max-device-width: 800px)" href="/801.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 575px), only screen and (max-device-width: 575px)" href="/501.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-height: 450px), only screen and (max-device-height: 450px)" href="/h451.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/psalms/46.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="//biblehu.com/bmcom/psalms/46-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="//biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="/commentaries/">Commentary</a> > <a href="../">Ellicott</a> > <a href="../psalms/">Psalm</a></div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../psalms/45.htm" title="Psalm 45">◄</a> Psalm 46 <a href="../psalms/47.htm" title="Psalm 47">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</div><div class="chap"><span class= "bld"> XLVI.</span><p>This psalm reflects the feelings with which a people, secure in the sense of Divine protection, looks on while surrounding nations are convulsed, and calmly awaits the issue. Such a situation was that of Israel in the seventh century B.C, while the giant powers of Egypt and Assyria were rending the East by their rivalries, and also during the wars of the Ptolemies and Seleucidæ. The former period suggests itself as the more probable date of the psalm, from its resemblance to much of the language of Isaiah when dealing with events that culminated in the destruction of Sennacherib’s army. Compare especially the recurrence of the expression, “God is with us,” <span class= "ital">Elohîm immānû, </span>with the prophet’s use of the name <span class= "ital">Immanuel. </span>The refrain, though missing after the first stanza, marks the regular poetical form.<p><span class= "ital">Title.</span>—For the first part see titles Psalms 4, 42, <span class= "ital">A song upon ‘alāmôth. </span>This plainly is a musical direction, but the precise meaning must still remain matter of conjecture. Since <span class= "ital">‘alāmôth </span>means maidens, the most natural and now generally received interpretation is “a song for sopranos.” (Comp. title Psalms 6)<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/psalms/46-1.htm">Psalm 46:1</a></div><div class="verse">To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth. God <i>is</i> our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.</div>(1) <span class= "bld">Refuge and strength.</span>—Better, <span class= "ital">a refuge and stronghold, </span>or <span class= "ital">a sure stronghold, </span>as in Luther’s hymn,<p>Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott.<p><span class= "bld">A very present help.</span>—Better, <span class= "ital">often found a help.</span><p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/psalms/46-2.htm">Psalm 46:2</a></div><div class="verse">Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;</div>(2) <span class= "bld">Though the earth be removed.</span>—Literally, <span class= "ital">at the changing of the earth. </span>Possibly with the same figure implied, which is expressed, <a href="/psalms/102-26.htm" title="They shall perish, but you shall endure: yes, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a clothing shall you change them, and they shall be changed:">Psalm 102:26</a>, of the worn-out or soiled vesture. The psalmist was thinking of the sudden convulsion of earthquake, and figures Israel fearless amid the tottering kingdoms and falling dynasties. Travellers all remark on the signs of tremendous volcanic agency in Palestine.<p>It is interesting to compare the heathen poet’s conception of the fearlessness supplied by virtue (Hor. <span class= "ital">Ode </span>3:3).<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/psalms/46-3.htm">Psalm 46:3</a></div><div class="verse"><i>Though</i> the waters thereof roar <i>and</i> be troubled, <i>though</i> the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.</div>(3) <span class= "bld">Though the waters . . .</span>—The original is very expressive in its conciseness:<p>“They roar, they foam, its waters.”<p>Comp. Homer’s equally concise description, including in three words the “rush,” the “swell,” and the “roar” of ocean (<span class= "ital">Iliad, xxiii.</span> 230).<p><span class= "bld">Swelling.</span>—Or, <span class= "ital">pride. </span>(Comp. <a href="/job/38-11.htm" title="And said, Till now shall you come, but no further: and here shall your proud waves be stayed?">Job 38:11</a>.) The change in construction in this verse seems to confirm the suspicion that the refrain has dropped away.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/psalms/46-4.htm">Psalm 46:4</a></div><div class="verse"><i>There is</i> a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy <i>place</i> of the tabernacles of the most High.</div>(4) <span class= "bld">A river . . .</span>—Heb., <span class= "ital">nāhar, i.e., </span>a perennial stream, as distinguished from <span class= "ital">nāchal, </span>a torrent bed dry except in the rainy season. Plainly, then, the “Cedron” is not here alluded to. But many commentators think “Siloam” is intended. (See Stanley, <span class= "ital">Sinai and Palestine, </span>p. 180, and comp. <a href="/isaiah/12-3.htm" title="Therefore with joy shall you draw water out of the wells of salvation.">Isaiah 12:3</a>; <a href="/context/ezekiel/47-1.htm" title="Afterward he brought me again to the door of the house; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar.">Ezekiel 47:1-5</a>; <a href="/john/7-37.htm" title="In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come to me, and drink.">John 7:37</a>.)<p>There may not, however, be any such local allusion. The river, flowing calmly and smoothly along, may be only a symbol of the peace and blessing of the Divine presence, as the tumult and tempest of the sea in the last verse are of the world’s noisy troubles. Indeed, the LXX. (comp. Prayer Book version) seems to connect the river of this verse with the waters of the preceding.<p><span class= "bld">Streams.</span>—See Note on <a href="/psalms/1-3.htm" title="And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.">Psalm 1:3</a>, where the same word occurs.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/psalms/46-5.htm">Psalm 46:5</a></div><div class="verse">God <i>is</i> in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, <i>and that</i> right early.</div>(5) <span class= "bld">Right early.</span>—Literally, <span class= "ital">at the turning of the morning. </span>Evidently metaphorical of the dawn of a brighter day.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/psalms/46-6.htm">Psalm 46:6</a></div><div class="verse">The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.</div>(6) The absence of conjunctions, and sudden change from the preterite to the future, lends a vividness to the picture.<p>“Raged heathen, tottered kingdoms<p>Gave with His voice (the signal) (and lo !)<p>Melts the earth.”<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/psalms/46-7.htm">Psalm 46:7</a></div><div class="verse">The LORD of hosts <i>is</i> with us; the God of Jacob <i>is</i> our refuge. Selah.</div>(7) <span class= "bld">Lord of hosts.</span>—See Note on <a href="/psalms/24-10.htm" title="Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.">Psalm 24:10</a>.<p><span class= "bld">Refuge.</span>—Rightly in the margin with idea of height, as giving security.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/psalms/46-8.htm">Psalm 46:8</a></div><div class="verse">Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth.</div>(8) <span class= "bld">The Lord.</span>—Many MSS. read <span class= "ital">Elohîm </span>instead of “Jehovah.”<p><span class= "bld">Desolations . . .</span>—Either, <span class= "ital">silence of desolation, “</span>silence” being the primary sense of the word, or (as in <a href="/jeremiah/19-8.htm" title="And I will make this city desolate, and an hissing; every one that passes thereby shall be astonished and hiss because of all the plagues thereof.">Jeremiah 19:8</a>), <span class= "ital">wonders, </span>which silence by their suddenness and marvel. So LXX. and Vulg., and this is confirmed by <a href="/psalms/46-10.htm" title="Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.">Psalm 46:10</a>.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/psalms/46-9.htm">Psalm 46:9</a></div><div class="verse">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.</div>(9) <span class= "bld">He maketh.</span>—Comp. <span class= "ital">Virg. Æn., </span>3:560.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/psalms/46-10.htm">Psalm 46:10</a></div><div class="verse">Be still, and know that I <i>am</i> God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.</div>(10) <span class= "bld">I</span> <span class= "bld">am God.</span>—The introduction of the Divine Protector Himself speaking just before the refrain is a fine touch of art.<p> <div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers<br /><br />Text Courtesy of <a href="//biblesupport.com" target="_top">BibleSupport.com</a>. 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