King James Version

What Does Psalms 48:1 Mean?

Psalms 48:1 in the King James Version says “A Song and Psalm for the sons of Korah. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the moun...” — study this verse from Psalms chapter 48 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“A Song and Psalm for the sons of Korah. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness. for: or, of”

Psalms 48:1 · KJV

Context

1

A Song and Psalm for the sons of Korah. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness. for: or, of

2

Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.

3

God is known in her palaces for a refuge.

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness. This psalm opens with emphatic declaration of God's greatness. The Hebrew structure uses intensive forms: gadol (גָּדוֹל, "great") and mehullal me'od (מְהֻלָּל מְאֹד, "greatly to be praised"). The repetition emphasizes that God's magnitude demands proportionate worship—His greatness calls for great praise.

"The city of our God" refers to Jerusalem, specifically Zion, which held unique theological significance as God's chosen dwelling place. The phrase "mountain of his holiness" (har qodsho, הַר־קָדְשׁוֹ) identifies Mount Zion as set apart, consecrated by God's presence. In ancient Near Eastern thought, mountains represented divine dwelling places, but Israel's theology radically differed—Zion was holy not because of inherent sacredness but because the true God chose to manifest His presence there.

The possessive "our God" reveals covenant relationship—this great God has bound Himself to His people in faithful love. The psalm celebrates both God's transcendent greatness and His immanent accessibility to His covenant community. This paradox finds ultimate expression in Christ, who is both the transcendent Creator (Colossians 1:15-17) and Immanuel, "God with us" (Matthew 1:23). The New Testament reveals that God's dwelling is no longer limited to earthly Zion but extends to the church (1 Corinthians 3:16) and ultimately the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:2-3).

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Historical & Cultural Context

Psalm 48 is a "Song of Zion," celebrating God's protection of Jerusalem, likely composed after a specific deliverance from enemy assault. Many scholars link it to the miraculous defeat of Sennacherib's Assyrian army in 701 BCE during Hezekiah's reign (2 Kings 19:32-36, Isaiah 37:33-37), when 185,000 Assyrian soldiers died in one night, forcing Sennacherib to retreat.

Jerusalem (Hebrew Yerushalayim, possibly meaning "foundation of peace") became Israel's political and religious center under David (circa 1000 BCE) and gained its temple under Solomon (circa 960 BCE). Zion's theological significance grew through the Davidic covenant (2 Samuel 7) and the psalms that celebrated God's choice of this location as His earthly dwelling place.

For ancient Israelites, Jerusalem represented stability, security, and God's faithful presence. In a world of constantly shifting empires and military threats, the city stood as a visible reminder that Yahweh defended His people. The psalm would have been sung during temple worship and pilgrimage festivals, reinforcing corporate identity and faith. After the Babylonian destruction (586 BCE) and subsequent restoration, this psalm gained poignant meaning as testimony to God's faithfulness despite judgment.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does recognizing God's greatness shape the quality and intensity of our worship?
  2. What does it mean for God to dwell among His people today, and how should this truth affect our lives?
  3. In what ways does focusing on God's greatness rather than our problems change our perspective on difficulties?
  4. How does Christ fulfill and transcend the Old Testament concept of God dwelling in Jerusalem?
  5. What practical steps can we take to cultivate hearts that "greatly praise" rather than offer perfunctory worship?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 8 words
גָּ֘ד֤וֹל1 of 8

“Great”

H1419

great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent

יְהוָ֣ה2 of 8

“is the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

וּמְהֻלָּ֣ל3 of 8

“to be praised”

H1984

to be clear (orig. of sound, but usually of color); to shine; hence, to make a show, to boast; and thus to be (clamorously) foolish; to rave; causativ

מְאֹ֑ד4 of 8

“and greatly”

H3966

properly, vehemence, i.e., (with or without preposition) vehemently; by implication, wholly, speedily, etc. (often with other words as an intensive or

בְּעִ֥יר5 of 8

“in the city”

H5892

a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)

אֱ֝לֹהֵ֗ינוּ6 of 8

“of our God”

H430

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of

הַר7 of 8

“in the mountain”

H2022

a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)

קָדְשֽׁוֹ׃8 of 8

“of his holiness”

H6944

a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Psalms. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Psalms 48:1 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Psalms 48:1 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Micah 4:1Zechariah 8:3Isaiah 2:2-3Psalms 96:4Psalms 46:4Psalms 145:3

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