Psalms 46:1–3
God is refuge and strength; though the earth changes, we will not fear
Study it word by word1For the director. Of the sons of Korah. On Alamot. A song. Elohim is for us a refuge and strength, a help in distresses very easily found.
2Therefore we will not fear when the earth changes, and when the mountains are moved into the heart of the seas;
3its waters roar, foam; the mountains tremble at its pride. Selah.
In its context
…
4A river, its streams make glad the city of Elohim, the holy place of the dwellings of Elyon.
5Elohim is in her midst; she will not be moved; Elohim will help her at the break of morning.
Its words in the original
- מְנַצֵּחַmenatseach· direct, oversee
Direct: be in charge of a work or of the music of worship. From this word comes the title "for the director" of many psalms.
- בְנֵיvene· son
Son. In the plural it can include sons and daughters, and also grandsons and descendants. "Son of..." also says what group someone belongs to ("sons of Israel" = Israelites).
- קֹרַחkorach· Korah
Korah, the name of a son of Esau and Oholibamah and of other Edomites and Israelites, among them the Levite who rebelled against Moses (Numbers 16).
- עֲלָמוֹתalamot· Alamoth
Alamoth: a musical term of uncertain sense. The word means "young women"; perhaps it indicates high voices or instruments.
- שִׁירshir· song
Song, singing.
- אֱלֹהִיםelohim· Elohim, God, gods
The Hebrew word usually translated "God". This translation keeps "Elohim" when it speaks of the one true God, the Creator, the God of Israel. The word ends like a plural, but it does not mean several: for him the verb is singular ("Elohim created"); the plural form expresses greatness. The same word as a common noun names the "gods" of other peoples, and there it is a true plural, translated "gods". It is also used of mighty ones or judges.
- מַחֲסֶהmachase· refuge, shelter
A refuge, a place to take cover.
- עֹזoz· strength, might
Strength, power.
- עֶזְרָהezra· help
Help, aid.
- צָרוֹתtsarot· distress
Distress, trouble, anguish; also a rival wife.
- נִמְצָאnimtsa· find
Find, come upon; also obtain, reach; in the passive, be found, be present.
- מְאֹדmeod· very, much
Very, greatly, exceedingly; a word that strengthens what goes with it. As a noun, strength, might.
- נִירָאnira· fear
Fear. It can be fright before a danger or deep reverence before God ("fear YHWH"). In some forms, be fearsome, awesome.
- הָמִירhamir· exchange
Exchange one thing for another, substitute; also change.
- אָרֶץarets· earth, land
The earth, in two senses: the whole world in contrast with the heavens, or a particular country or region ("the land of Egypt").
- מוֹטmot· totter, slip
Totter, slip, lose one's footing.
- הָרִיםharim· mountain, hill country
Mountain, hill; hill country.
- לֵבlev· heart
Heart. In Hebrew it is not only the place of feelings: it is the center of the person, where one thinks, decides and wills; also the middle of something.
- יַמִּיםyamim· sea, west
Sea, or any great body of water (also a lake). Since the Mediterranean lies west of Israel, the word also means "west".
- יֶהֱמוּyehemu· roar, be in uproar
Make a great noise: roar, rage, be in turmoil. Said of the sea, of a crowd or of a stirred-up city; also of the heart that is moved.
- יֶחְמְרוּyechmru· coat with pitch; foam
Coat, smear with pitch. In other passages, foam, churn (Psalm 46:3), or be red (Job 16:16).
- מֵימָיmemay· water
Water. In Hebrew it is always plural ("waters").
- יִרְעֲשׁוּyirashu· quake, shake
Quake, shake; said of the earth, the heavens and the mountains.
- גַאֲוָתgaavat· majesty, pride
Majesty, greatness; said of people it can also be pride.
- סֶלָהsela· Selah
Selah: a word found at the end of some stanzas of the psalms. It is probably a direction for the music or a pause; its exact sense is unknown, so it is left in Hebrew.