God’s Word Translation
Psalms 48:6
6Trembling seized them like the trembling that a woman experiences during labor.
Psalms 48:6 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Fear took hold upon them there, and pain, as of a woman in travail.
- New International Version (NIV)Trembling seized them there, pain like that of a woman in labor.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Trembling took hold of them there, anguish as of a woman in labor.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Fear took hold of them there, And pain, as of a woman in birth pangs,
Context of Psalms 48:6
4The kings have gathered. They marched together. 5⌞When⌟ they saw ⌞Mount Zion⌟, they were astonished. They were terrified and ran away in fear. Trembling seized them like the trembling that a woman experiences during labor. 7With the east wind you smash the ships of Tarshish. 8The things we had only heard about, we have now seen in the city of the Lord of Armies, in the city of our God. God makes Zion stand firm forever. Selah
Read all of Psalms 48Psalms 48:6 word by word
רְ֭עָדָה אֲחָזָ֣תַם שָׁ֑ם חִ֝֗יל כַּיּוֹלֵֽדָה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Psalms 48:6
- Exodus 15:15The tribal leaders of Edom will be terrified. The powerful men of Moab will tremble. The people of Canaan will be deathly afraid.
- Isaiah 13:6Cry loudly, for the day of the Lord is near. It will come like destruction from the Almighty.
- Daniel 5:6Then the king turned pale, and his thoughts frightened him. His hip joints became loose, and his knees knocked against each other.
- Isaiah 21:3That is why my body is full of trembling. Pain grips me like the pain of childbirth. I’m disturbed by what I hear. I’m terrified by what I see.
- Jeremiah 30:6Ask now, and see: Can a man give birth to a child? Why, then, do I see every strong man holding his stomach in pain like a woman giving birth to a child? Why has every face turned pale?
- Hosea 13:13They have the opportunity to live again, but they are not smart enough to take it. They are like a baby who is about to be born but won’t come out of its mother’s womb.
Commentaries on Psalms 48:6
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 6Fear took hold upon them there - Trembling seized them; they were filled with sudden consternation. That is, as soon as they saw the city, or had a distinct view of it, they became alarmed. And pain - Distress; anguish. The distress arising from disappointed hopes, and perhaps from the apprehension of their own safety. They were filled with dismay. As of a woman in travail - This comparison is often used in the Scriptures to denote the severest kind of…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-14This song of Zion (see also Psalms 46, 76, 87, 122) clearly describes Jerusalem (Zion) as the city of the Great King, where the godly find protection (48:1–3). God rules from Zion with faithfulness, righteousness, and justice, inspiring his people with confidence and joy (Psalm 48:9–11). They dedicate themselves to witnessing Zion's glory so they can share it with the next generation (Psalm 48:8, 12–14).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 4-64-6. For--The reason is given. Though the kings (perhaps of Moab and Ammon, compare Psa 83:3-5) combined, a conviction of God's presence with His people, evinced by the unusual courage with which the prophets (compare 2Ch 20:12-20) had inspired them, seized on their minds, and smitten with sudden and intense alarm, they fled astonished.Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 48:6
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Psalms 48
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- The Treasury of David
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries