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Selected Verse: Psalms 46:4 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Ps 46:4	Strong Concordance	There is a river [05104], the streams [06388] whereof shall make glad [08055] the city [05892] of God [0430], the holy [06918] place of the tabernacles [04908] of the most High [05945].
	King James	There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
God's favor is denoted by a river (compare Psa 36:8; Zac 14:8; Rev 22:1). city of God, the holy place--His earthly residence, Jerusalem and the temple (compare Psa 2:6; Psa 3:4; Psa 20:2; Psa 48:2, &c.). God's favor, like a river whose waters are conducted in channels, is distributed to all parts of His Church. most High--denoting His supremacy (Psa 17:2).

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

God's favor is denoted by a river (compare Psa 36:8; Zac 14:8; Rev 22:1).

city of God, the holy place--His earthly residence, Jerusalem and the temple (compare Psa 2:6; Psa 3:4; Psa 20:2; Psa 48:2, &c.). God's favor, like a river whose waters are conducted in channels, is distributed to all parts of His Church.

most High--denoting His supremacy (Psa 17:2).

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
There is a river - There is no allusion here to any particular stream or river, but the image is designed to represent a state of peace and calm security in contrast with the rough and troubled ocean. While the ocean rages, and foams, and dashes against the mountains as if it would overturn them, the state of Jerusalem, the city of God, was well represented by a calm and gently-flowing river; a river of full banks, diffusing joy and fertility and beauty wherever it flowed. This image, to represent happiness, abundance, peace, joy, is one that is often employed in the Scriptures. Compare Isa 32:2; Isa 33:21; Isa 41:18; Psa 1:3; Rev 22:1; Psa 36:8. The "idea" here is simply that Jerusalem would be calm and serene amidst all the external agitations in the world - calm as a gently-flowing stream. The streams - the canals - the water-courses of such a river flowing around each dwelling and along each garden, would diffuse happiness and beauty everywhere. The streams whereof - The allusion here is undoubtedly to the canals, watercourses, or rivulets that were led off from the main stream for the purpose of supplying fountains and watering gardens. Thus the city of Damascus is watered by streams or canals cut from the river Barrady, that flows down from the regions of Anti-Libanus. The greenness - the beauty - the fertility - of Damascus is owing wholly to the waters of the river thus conducted to every house and garden in the city. Compare introduction to Isa 17:1-14. So here, the flowing river of divine mercy and goodness is conveyed, as in smaller canals or streams, to each home and heart, producing peace, calmness, joy - while the world around is full of commotion and trouble. Shall make glad the city of God - Jerusalem, considered as the place where God was worshipped, and where he was supposed especially to dwell: Psa 48:1. The holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High - Of the "tent" where the Most High is supposed to abide. The word is applicable to any habitation or dwelling-place; but in the Scriptures it is applied especially to the sacred tent erected by Moses in the wilderness, and ultimately removed to Mount Zion by David, as the divine abode on earth. It is sometimes, also, applied to the temple; and if this psalm was written, as I have supposed, in the time of Hezekiah, it would be applicable to that. Compare Psa 84:2; Psa 132:5. The tabernacle and the temple were alike divided into two parts - the holy and the most holy place - and hence the "plural" term is sometimes applied to them. Compare the notes at Heb 9:2-3.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

There is a river - There is no allusion here to any particular stream or river, but the image is designed to represent a state of peace and calm security in contrast with the rough and troubled ocean. While the ocean rages, and foams, and dashes against the mountains as if it would overturn them, the state of Jerusalem, the city of God, was well represented by a calm and gently-flowing river; a river of full banks, diffusing joy and fertility and beauty wherever it flowed. This image, to represent happiness, abundance, peace, joy, is one that is often employed in the Scriptures. Compare Isa 32:2; Isa 33:21; Isa 41:18; Psa 1:3; Rev 22:1; Psa 36:8. The "idea" here is simply that Jerusalem would be calm and serene amidst all the external agitations in the world - calm as a gently-flowing stream. The streams - the canals - the water-courses of such a river flowing around each dwelling and along each garden, would diffuse happiness and beauty everywhere.

The streams whereof - The allusion here is undoubtedly to the canals, watercourses, or rivulets that were led off from the main stream for the purpose of supplying fountains and watering gardens. Thus the city of Damascus is watered by streams or canals cut from the river Barrady, that flows down from the regions of Anti-Libanus. The greenness - the beauty - the fertility - of Damascus is owing wholly to the waters of the river thus conducted to every house and garden in the city. Compare introduction to Isa 17:1-14. So here, the flowing river of divine mercy and goodness is conveyed, as in smaller canals or streams, to each home and heart, producing peace, calmness, joy - while the world around is full of commotion and trouble.

Shall make glad the city of God - Jerusalem, considered as the place where God was worshipped, and where he was supposed especially to dwell: Psa 48:1.

The holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High - Of the "tent" where the Most High is supposed to abide. The word is applicable to any habitation or dwelling-place; but in the Scriptures it is applied especially to the sacred tent erected by Moses in the wilderness, and ultimately removed to Mount Zion by David, as the divine abode on earth. It is sometimes, also, applied to the temple; and if this psalm was written, as I have supposed, in the time of Hezekiah, it would be applicable to that. Compare Psa 84:2; Psa 132:5. The tabernacle and the temple were alike divided into two parts - the holy and the most holy place - and hence the "plural" term is sometimes applied to them. Compare the notes at Heb 9:2-3.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]
(Heb.: 46:5-8) Just as, according to Gen 2:10, a stream issued from Eden, to water the whole garden, so a stream makes Jerusalem as it were into another paradise: a river - whose streams make glad the city of Elohim (Psa 87:3; Psa 48:9, cf. Psa 101:8); פּלגיו (used of the windings and branches of the main-stream) is a second permutative subject (Psa 44:3). What is intended is the river of grace, which is also likened to a river of paradise in Psa 36:9. When the city of God is threatened and encompassed by foes, still she shall not hunger and thirst, nor fear and despair; for the river of grace and of her ordinances and promises flows with its rippling waves through the holy place, where the dwelling-place or tabernacle of the Most High is pitched. קדשׁ, Sanctum (cf. el-Ḳuds as a name of Jerusalem), as in Psa 65:5, Isa 57:15; גּדל, Exo 15:16. משׁכּני, dwellings, like משׁכּנות, Psa 43:3; Psa 84:2; Psa 132:5, Psa 132:7, equivalent to "a glorious dwelling." In Psa 46:6 in the place of the river we find Him from whom the river issues forth. Elohim helps her לפנותבּקר - there is only a night of trouble, the return of the morning is also the sunrise of speedy help. The preterites in Psa 46:7 are hypothetical: if peoples and kingdoms become enraged with enmity and totter, so that the church is in danger of being involved in this overthrow - all that God need to is to make a rumbling with His almighty voice of thunder (נתן בּקולו, as in Psa 68:34; Jer 12:8, cf. הרים בּמּטּה, to make a lifting with the rod, Exo 7:20), and forthwith the earth melts (muwg, as in Amo 9:5, Niph. Isa 14:31, and frequently), i.e., their titanic defiance becomes cowardice, the bonds of their confederation slacken, and the strength they have put forth is destroyed - it is manifest that Jahve Tsebaoth is with His people. This name of God is, so to speak, indigenous to the Korahitic Psalms, for it is the proper name of God belonging to the time of the kings (vid., on Psa 24:10; Psa 59:6), on the very verge of which it occurs first of all in the mouth of Hannah (Sa1 1:11), and the Korahitic Psalms have a royal impress upon them. In the God, at whose summons all created powers are obliged to marshal themselves like the hosts of war, Israel has a steep stronghold, משׂגּב, which cannot be scaled by any foe - the army of the confederate peoples and kingdoms, ere it has reached Jerusalem, is become a field of the dead.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]

(Heb.: 46:5-8) Just as, according to Gen 2:10, a stream issued from Eden, to water the whole garden, so a stream makes Jerusalem as it were into another paradise: a river - whose streams make glad the city of Elohim (Psa 87:3; Psa 48:9, cf. Psa 101:8); פּלגיו (used of the windings and branches of the main-stream) is a second permutative subject (Psa 44:3). What is intended is the river of grace, which is also likened to a river of paradise in Psa 36:9. When the city of God is threatened and encompassed by foes, still she shall not hunger and thirst, nor fear and despair; for the river of grace and of her ordinances and promises flows with its rippling waves through the holy place, where the dwelling-place or tabernacle of the Most High is pitched. קדשׁ, Sanctum (cf. el-Ḳuds as a name of Jerusalem), as in Psa 65:5, Isa 57:15; גּדל, Exo 15:16. משׁכּני, dwellings, like משׁכּנות, Psa 43:3; Psa 84:2; Psa 132:5, Psa 132:7, equivalent to "a glorious dwelling." In Psa 46:6 in the place of the river we find Him from whom the river issues forth. Elohim helps her לפנותבּקר - there is only a night of trouble, the return of the morning is also the sunrise of speedy help. The preterites in Psa 46:7 are hypothetical: if peoples and kingdoms become enraged with enmity and totter, so that the church is in danger of being involved in this overthrow - all that God need to is to make a rumbling with His almighty voice of thunder (נתן בּקולו, as in Psa 68:34; Jer 12:8, cf. הרים בּמּטּה, to make a lifting with the rod, Exo 7:20), and forthwith the earth melts (muwg, as in Amo 9:5, Niph. Isa 14:31, and frequently), i.e., their titanic defiance becomes cowardice, the bonds of their confederation slacken, and the strength they have put forth is destroyed - it is manifest that Jahve Tsebaoth is with His people. This name of God is, so to speak, indigenous to the Korahitic Psalms, for it is the proper name of God belonging to the time of the kings (vid., on Psa 24:10; Psa 59:6), on the very verge of which it occurs first of all in the mouth of Hannah (Sa1 1:11), and the Korahitic Psalms have a royal impress upon them. In the God, at whose summons all created powers are obliged to marshal themselves like the hosts of war, Israel has a steep stronghold, משׂגּב, which cannot be scaled by any foe - the army of the confederate peoples and kingdoms, ere it has reached Jerusalem, is become a field of the dead.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
A river - This may design the gracious presence, and blessing of the Lord, which is frequently described under the name of waters. Make glad - Shall not barely preserve it from danger, but give great occasion for rejoicing and thanksgiving. The city - Jerusalem, the place where God's holy tabernacle is settled.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
There is a river, the streams whereof - The Chaldee understands the river, and its streams or divisions, as pointing out various peoples who should be converted to the faith and thus make glad the city of God, Jerusalem by their flowing together to the worship of the true God. But the river may refer to the vast Medo-Persian army and its divisions: those branches which took Babylon; and, instead of ruining and destroying the poor Jews, preserved them alive, and gave them their liberty; and thus the city of God, and the tabernacle of the Most High, were gladdened.

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² Let my sentence [04941] come forth [03318] from thy presence [06440]; let thine eyes [05869] behold [02372] the things that are equal [04339].

² Beautiful [03303] for situation [05131], the joy [04885] of the whole earth [0776], is mount [02022] Zion [06726], on the sides [03411] of the north [06828], the city [07151] of the great [07227] King [04428].

² Send [07971] thee help [05828] from the sanctuary [06944], and strengthen [05582] thee out of Zion [06726];

⁴ I cried [07121] unto the LORD [03068] with my voice [06963], and he heard [06030] me out of his holy [06944] hill [02022]. Selah [05542].

⁶ Yet have I set [05258] my king [04428] upon my holy [06944] hill [02022] of Zion [06726].

¹ And [2532] he shewed [1166] me [3427] a pure [2513] river [4215] of water [5204] of life [2222], clear [2986] as [5613] crystal [2930], proceeding [1607] out of [1537] the throne [2362] of God [2316] and [2532] of the Lamb [721].

⁸ And it shall be in that day [03117], that living [02416] waters [04325] shall go out [03318] from Jerusalem [03389]; half [02677] of them toward the former [06931] sea [03220], and half [02677] of them toward the hinder [0314] sea [03220]: in summer [07019] and in winter [02779] shall it be.

⁸ They shall be abundantly satisfied [07301] with the fatness [01880] of thy house [01004]; and thou shalt make them drink [08248] of the river [05158] of thy pleasures [05730].

² For [1063] there was [2680] a tabernacle [4633] made [2680]; the first [4413], wherein [1722] [3739] [5037] was the candlestick [3087], and [2532] the table [5132], and [2532] the shewbread [4286] [740]; which [3748] is called [3004] the sanctuary [39].
³ And [1161] after [3326] the second [1208] veil [2665], the tabernacle [4633] which [3588] is called [3004] the Holiest of all [39] [39];

⁵ Until I find out [04672] a place [04725] for the LORD [03068], an habitation [04908] for the mighty [046] God of Jacob [03290].

² My soul [05315] longeth [03700], yea, even fainteth [03615] for the courts [02691] of the LORD [03068]: my heart [03820] and my flesh [01320] crieth out [07442] for the living [02416] God [0410].

¹ A Song [07892] and Psalm [04210] for the sons [01121] of Korah [07141]. Great [01419] is the LORD [03068], and greatly [03966] to be praised [01984] in the city [05892] of our God [0430], in the mountain [02022] of his holiness [06944].

¹ The burden [04853] of Damascus [01834]. Behold, Damascus [01834] is taken away [05493] from being a city [05892], and it shall be a ruinous [04654] heap [04596].
² The cities [05892] of Aroer [06177] are forsaken [05800]: they shall be for flocks [05739], which shall lie down [07257], and none shall make them afraid [02729].
³ The fortress [04013] also shall cease [07673] from Ephraim [0669], and the kingdom [04467] from Damascus [01834], and the remnant [07605] of Syria [0758]: they shall be as the glory [03519] of the children [01121] of Israel [03478], saith [05002] the LORD [03068] of hosts [06635].
⁴ And in that day [03117] it shall come to pass, that the glory [03519] of Jacob [03290] shall be made thin [01809], and the fatness [04924] of his flesh [01320] shall wax lean [07329].
⁵ And it shall be as when the harvestman [07105] gathereth [0622] the corn [07054], and reapeth [07114] the ears [07641] with his arm [02220]; and it shall be as he that gathereth [03950] ears [07641] in the valley [06010] of Rephaim [07497].
⁶ Yet gleaning grapes [05955] shall be left [07604] in it, as the shaking [05363] of an olive tree [02132], two [08147] or three [07969] berries [01620] in the top [07218] of the uppermost bough [0534], four [0702] or five [02568] in the outmost fruitful [06509] branches [05585] thereof, saith [05002] the LORD [03068] God [0430] of Israel [03478].
⁷ At that day [03117] shall a man [0120] look [08159] to his Maker [06213], and his eyes [05869] shall have respect [07200] to the Holy [06918] One of Israel [03478].
⁸ And he shall not look [08159] to the altars [04196], the work [04639] of his hands [03027], neither shall respect [07200] that which his fingers [0676] have made [06213], either the groves [0842], or the images [02553].
⁹ In that day [03117] shall his strong [04581] cities [05892] be as a forsaken [05800] bough [02793], and an uppermost branch [0534], which they left [05800] because [06440] of the children [01121] of Israel [03478]: and there shall be desolation [08077].
¹⁰ Because thou hast forgotten [07911] the God [0430] of thy salvation [03468], and hast not been mindful [02142] of the rock [06697] of thy strength [04581], therefore shalt thou plant [05193] pleasant [05282] plants [05194], and shalt set [02232] it with strange [02114] slips [02156]:
¹¹ In the day [03117] shalt thou make thy plant [05194] to grow [07735], and in the morning [01242] shalt thou make thy seed [02233] to flourish [06524]: but the harvest [07105] shall be a heap [05067] in the day [03117] of grief [02470] and of desperate [0605] sorrow [03511].
¹² Woe [01945] to the multitude [01995] of many [07227] people [05971], which make a noise [01993] like the noise [01993] of the seas [03220]; and to the rushing [07588] of nations [03816], that make a rushing like the rushing [07582] of mighty [03524] waters [04325]!
¹³ The nations [03816] shall rush [07582] like the rushing [07588] of many [07227] waters [04325]: but God shall rebuke [01605] them, and they shall flee [05127] far off [04801], and shall be chased [07291] as the chaff [04671] of the mountains [02022] before [06440] the wind [07307], and like a rolling thing [01534] before [06440] the whirlwind [05492].
¹⁴ And behold at eveningtide [06256] [06153] trouble [01091]; and before the morning [01242] he is not. This is the portion [02506] of them that spoil [08154] us, and the lot [01486] of them that rob [0962] us.

⁸ They shall be abundantly satisfied [07301] with the fatness [01880] of thy house [01004]; and thou shalt make them drink [08248] of the river [05158] of thy pleasures [05730].

³ And he shall be like a tree [06086] planted [08362] by the rivers [06388] of water [04325], that bringeth forth [05414] his fruit [06529] in his season [06256]; his leaf [05929] also shall not wither [05034]; and whatsoever he doeth [06213] shall prosper [06743].

¹⁸ I will open [06605] rivers [05104] in high places [08205], and fountains [04599] in the midst [08432] of the valleys [01237]: I will make [07760] the wilderness [04057] a pool [098] of water [04325], and the dry [06723] land [0776] springs [04161] of water [04325].

²¹ But there the glorious [0117] LORD [03068] will be unto us a place [04725] of broad [07342] [03027] rivers [05104] and streams [02975]; wherein shall go [03212] no [01077] galley [0590] with oars [07885], neither shall gallant [0117] ship [06716] pass [05674] thereby.

² And a man [0376] shall be as an hiding place [04224] from the wind [07307], and a covert [05643] from the tempest [02230]; as rivers [06388] of water [04325] in a dry place [06724], as the shadow [06738] of a great [03515] rock [05553] in a weary [05889] land [0776].

¹¹ And she vowed [05087] a vow [05088], and said [0559], O LORD [03068] of hosts [06635], if thou wilt indeed [07200] look [07200] on the affliction [06040] of thine handmaid [0519], and remember [02142] me, and not forget [07911] thine handmaid [0519], but wilt give [05414] unto thine handmaid [0519] a man [0582] child [02233], then I will give [05414] him unto the LORD [03068] all the days [03117] of his life [02416], and there shall no razor [04177] come [05927] upon his head [07218].

⁶ They return [07725] at evening [06153]: they make a noise [01993] like a dog [03611], and go round about [05437] the city [05892].

¹⁰ Who is this King [04428] of glory [03519]? The LORD [03068] of hosts [06635], he is the King [04428] of glory [03519]. Selah [05542].

³¹ Howl [03213], O gate [08179]; cry [02199], O city [05892]; thou, whole Palestina [06429], art dissolved [04127]: for there shall come [0935] from the north [06828] a smoke [06227], and none shall be alone [0909] in his appointed times [04151].

⁵ And the Lord [0136] GOD [03069] of hosts [06635] is he that toucheth [05060] the land [0776], and it shall melt [04127], and all that dwell [03427] therein shall mourn [056]: and it shall rise up [05927] wholly like a flood [02975]; and shall be drowned [08257], as by the flood [02975] of Egypt [04714].

²⁰ And Moses [04872] and Aaron [0175] did [06213] so, as the LORD [03068] commanded [06680]; and he lifted up [07311] the rod [04294], and smote [05221] the waters [04325] that were in the river [02975], in the sight [05869] of Pharaoh [06547], and in the sight [05869] of his servants [05650]; and all the waters [04325] that were in the river [02975] were turned [02015] to blood [01818].

⁸ Mine heritage [05159] is unto me as a lion [0738] in the forest [03293]; it crieth out [05414] [06963] against me: therefore have I hated [08130] it.

³⁴ Ascribe [05414] ye strength [05797] unto God [0430]: his excellency [01346] is over Israel [03478], and his strength [05797] is in the clouds [07834].

⁷ The LORD [03068] of hosts [06635] is with us; the God [0430] of Jacob [03290] is our refuge [04869]. Selah [05542].

⁶ The heathen [01471] raged [01993], the kingdoms [04467] were moved [04131]: he uttered [05414] his voice [06963], the earth [0776] melted [04127].

⁷ We will go [0935] into his tabernacles [04908]: we will worship [07812] at his footstool [01916] [07272].

⁵ Until I find out [04672] a place [04725] for the LORD [03068], an habitation [04908] for the mighty [046] God of Jacob [03290].

² My soul [05315] longeth [03700], yea, even fainteth [03615] for the courts [02691] of the LORD [03068]: my heart [03820] and my flesh [01320] crieth out [07442] for the living [02416] God [0410].

³ O send out [07971] thy light [0216] and thy truth [0571]: let them lead [05148] me; let them bring [0935] me unto thy holy [06944] hill [02022], and to thy tabernacles [04908].

¹⁶ Fear [0367] and dread [06343] shall fall [05307] upon them; by the greatness [01419] of thine arm [02220] they shall be as still [01826] as a stone [068]; till thy people [05971] pass over [05674], O LORD [03068], till the people [05971] pass over [05674], which [02098] thou hast purchased [07069].

¹⁵ For thus saith [0559] the high [07311] and lofty One [05375] that inhabiteth [07931] eternity [05703], whose name [08034] is Holy [06918]; I dwell [07931] in the high [04791] and holy [06918] place, with him also that is of a contrite [01793] and humble [08217] spirit [07307], to revive [02421] the spirit [07307] of the humble [08217], and to revive [02421] the heart [03820] of the contrite ones [01792].

⁵ By terrible things [03372] in righteousness [06664] wilt thou answer [06030] us, O God [0430] of our salvation [03468]; who art the confidence [04009] of all the ends [07099] of the earth [0776], and of them that are afar off [07350] upon the sea [03220]:

⁹ For with thee is the fountain [04726] of life [02416]: in thy light [0216] shall we see [07200] light [0216].

³ For they got [03423] not the land [0776] in possession [03423] by their own sword [02719], neither did their own arm [02220] save [03467] them: but thy right hand [03225], and thine arm [02220], and the light [0216] of thy countenance [06440], because thou hadst a favour [07521] unto them.

⁸ I will early [01242] destroy [06789] all the wicked [07563] of the land [0776]; that I may cut off [03772] all wicked [0205] doers [06466] from the city [05892] of the LORD [03068].

⁹ We have thought [01819] of thy lovingkindness [02617], O God [0430], in the midst [07130] of thy temple [01964].

³ Glorious things [03513] are spoken [01696] of thee, O city [05892] of God [0430]. Selah [05542].

¹⁰ And a river [05104] went out [03318] of Eden [05731] to water [08248] the garden [01588]; and from thence it was parted [06504], and became into four [0702] heads [07218].