Psalms 48:1

Psalms 48:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness.
• New International Version (NIV)Great is the Lord, and most worthy of praise, in the city of our God, his holy mountain.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised in the city of our God! His holy mountain,
• New King James Version (NKJV)Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised In the city of our God, In His holy mountain.

Context of Psalms 48:1

The Lord is great and certainly worthy of praise in the city of our God, his holy hill. 2It is lofty and pleasing to look at, a source of joy to the whole earth. Mount Zion resembles the peaks of Zaphon; it is the city of the great king. 3God is in its fortresses; he reveals himself as its defender.

Psalms 48:1 word by word

גָּ֘ד֤וֹל יְהוָ֣ה וּמְהֻלָּ֣ל מְאֹ֑ד בְּעִ֥יר אֱ֝לֹהֵ֗ינוּ הַר־קָדְשֽׁוֹ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Greatגָּדוֹלgâdôl gâdôl · great: largeH1419
• the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• and greatlyמְאֹדme'ôd · muchH3966
• to be praisedהָלַלhâlal · to boast: praiseH1984
• in the cityעִיר‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar · cityH5892
• of our Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
• the mountainהַרhar · mountain: mountH2022
• of his holinessקֹ֫דֶשׁqôdesh · holinessH6944

Cross-references for Psalms 48:1

• Psalms 46:1God is our strong refuge; he is truly our helper in times of trouble.
• Psalms 86:10For you are great and do amazing things. You alone are God.
• Psalms 99:3Let them praise your great and awesome name! He is holy!
• Psalms 145:3The Lord is great and certainly worthy of praise! No one can fathom his greatness!
• Psalms 147:5Our Lord is great and has awesome power; there is no limit to his wisdom.
• Psalms 89:1I will sing continually about the Lord’s faithful deeds; to future generations I will proclaim your faithfulness.
• Nehemiah 9:5The Levites – Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah – said, “Stand up and bless the lord your God!” “May you be blessed, O lord our God, from age to age. May your glorious name be blessed; may it be lifted up above all blessing and praise.
• Revelation 15:3They sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb: “Great and astounding are your deeds, Lord God, the All-Powerful! Just and true are your ways, King over the nations!
• Revelation 19:5Then a voice came from the throne, saying: “Praise our God all you his servants, and all you who fear Him, both the small and the great!”
• Psalms 46:4The river’s channels bring joy to the city of God, the special, holy dwelling place of the sovereign One.
• Psalms 65:1Praise awaits you, O God, in Zion. Vows made to you are fulfilled.
• Psalms 78:68He chose the tribe of Judah, and Mount Zion, which he loves.
• Psalms 87:3People say wonderful things about you, O city of God. (Selah)
• Hebrews 12:22But you have come to Mount Zion, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the assembly
• Revelation 21:2And I saw the holy city – the new Jerusalem – descending out of heaven from God, made ready like a bride adorned for her husband.
• Psalms 47:8God reigns over the nations! God sits on his holy throne!

Commentaries on Psalms 48:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Great is the Lord - This verse should be joined to the last verse of the preceding Psalm, as it is a continuation of the same subject; and indeed in some of Kennicott's MSS. it is written as a part of the foregoing. That concluded with He is greatly exalted; this begins with Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; i.e., He should be praised according to his greatness; no common praise is suited to the nature and dignity of the Supreme God. In the…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1Great is the Lord - That is, he is high and exalted; he is a Being of great power and glory. He is not weak and feeble, like the idols worshipped by other nations. He is able to defend his people; he has shown his great power in overthrowing the mighty forces that were gathered together against the city where he dwells. And greatly to be praised - Worthy to be praised. In his own nature, he is worthy of adoration; in interposing to save the city from its…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1The glories of the church of Christ. Verses 1-7 Jerusalem is the city of our God: none on earth render him due honour except the citizens of the spiritual Jerusalem. Happy the kingdom, the city, the family, the heart, in which God is great, in which he is all. There God is known. The clearer discoveries are made to us of the Lord and his greatness, the more it is expected that we should abound in his praises. The earth is, by sin, covered with deformity…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. 1-141. to be praised--always: it is an epithet, as in Psa 18:3. mountain of his holiness--His Church (compare Is 2:2, 3; 25:6, 7, 10); the sanctuary was erected first on Mount Zion, then (as the temple) on Moriah; hence the figure.Read the comment

Topics related to Psalms 48:1

• Church
• God Continued...
• Praise

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Guide
• Hasted
• Psalms
• Bible, the
• Great; Greatness
• Korahites; Sons of Korah
• Pentateuch
• Psalms, Book of

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