Psalms 46:8
Psalms 46:8 in Multiple Translations
Come, see the works of the LORD, who brings devastation upon the earth.
Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth.
Come, behold the works of Jehovah, What desolations he hath made in the earth.
Come, see the works of the Lord, the destruction which he has made in the earth.
Come and see what the Lord has achieved! See the amazing things he has done on the earth!
Come, and behold the workes of the Lord, what desolations he hath made in the earth.
Come ye, see the works of Jehovah, Who hath done astonishing things in the earth,
Come, see the LORD’s works, what desolations he has made in the earth.
Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth.
For God is the king of all the earth: sing ye wisely.
Come and ◄see/think about► the amazing things that Yahweh has done [DOU]!
Come and look at what God does. He does things on the earth that will shock you.
Berean Amplified Bible — Psalms 46:8
BAB
Word Study
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Psalms 46:8 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
יְהוָ֣ה
צְבָא֣וֹת
עִמָּ֑/נוּ
מִשְׂגָּֽב
לָ֝/נוּ
אֱלֹהֵ֖י
יַעֲקֹ֣ב
סֶֽלָה
יְהוָ֣ה
Yᵉhôvâh
H3068
The Lord
N-proper
צְבָא֣וֹת
tsâbâʼ
H6635
army
N-cp
עִמָּ֑/נוּ
ʻim
H5973
with
Prep | Suff
מִשְׂגָּֽב
misgâb
H4869
high refuge
N-ms
לָ֝/נוּ
Prep | Suff
אֱלֹהֵ֖י
ʼĕlôhîym
H430
God
N-mp
יַעֲקֹ֣ב
Yaʻăqôb
H3290
Jacob
N-proper
סֶֽלָה
çelâh
H5542
Selah
Part
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Psalms 46:8
יְהוָ֣ה
Yᵉhôvâh
H3068
"The Lord"
N-proper
Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.
Definition: Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
Usage: Occurs in 5522 OT verses. KJV: Jehovah, the Lord. Compare H3050 (יָהּ), H3069 (יְהֹוִה). See also: Genesis 2:4; Genesis 24:42; Exodus 8:8.
צְבָא֣וֹת
tsâbâʼ
H6635
"army"
N-cp
This Hebrew word means a large group of people or things, often referring to an army or a campaign, and is also used to describe the Lord's hosts. It appears in the Bible as a name for God, emphasizing His power and authority. In the KJV, it's translated as 'host' or 'army'.
Definition: : army 1) that which goes forth, army, war, warfare, host 1a) army, host 1a1) host (of organised army) 1a2) host (of angels) 1a3) of sun, moon, and stars 1a4) of whole creation 1b) war, warfare, service, go out to war 1c) service
Usage: Occurs in 463 OT verses. KJV: appointed time, ([phrase]) army, ([phrase]) battle, company, host, service, soldiers, waiting upon, war(-fare). See also: Genesis 2:1; 1 Samuel 17:55; Psalms 24:10.
עִמָּ֑/נוּ
ʻim
H5973
"with"
Prep | Suff
This Hebrew word means with or together, like when God is with his people in Exodus 33:14-15. It's used to describe accompaniment or association, and can also mean against or beside. The word is used to convey a sense of relationship or proximity between people or things.
Definition: 1) with 1a) with 1b) against 1c) toward 1d) as long as
Usage: Occurs in 919 OT verses. KJV: accompanying, against, and, as ([idiom] long as), before, beside, by (reason of), for all, from (among, between), in, like, more than, of, (un-) to, with(-al). See also: Genesis 3:6; Exodus 21:14; Deuteronomy 29:11.
מִשְׂגָּֽב
misgâb
H4869
"high refuge"
N-ms
Misgab refers to a high place or tower that provides defense and refuge, like a fortress. It is also the name of a place in Moab, mentioned in Jeremiah 48:1. The KJV translates it as Misgab.
Definition: 1) high place, refuge, secure height, retreat 1a) stronghold 1b) refuge (of God)
Usage: Occurs in 16 OT verses. KJV: Misgab. See also: 2 Samuel 22:3; Psalms 59:18; Psalms 9:10.
לָ֝/נוּ
""
Prep | Suff
אֱלֹהֵ֖י
ʼĕlôhîym
H430
"God"
N-mp
The Hebrew word for God, elohim, refers to the one supreme God, and is sometimes used to show respect to judges or magistrates. It is also used to describe angels or mighty beings. This word is closely related to the name of the Lord, Yahweh, and is often translated as God or gods in the Bible.
Definition: This name means "gods" (plural intensive-singular meaning), "God" Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)
Usage: Occurs in 2246 OT verses. KJV: angels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty. See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 22:12; Exodus 3:11.
יַעֲקֹ֣ב
Yaʻăqôb
H3290
"Jacob"
N-proper
This word is the name of a person, Jacob, a key figure in the Bible. He was the son of Isaac and Rebekah, and the father of many tribes of Israel. The KJV simply translates it as Jacob.
Definition: A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.25.26; son of: Isaac (H3327) and Rebekah (H7259); brother of: Esau (H6215); married to Rachel (H7354), Leah (H3812), Zilpah (H2153) and Bilhah (H1090A); father of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Judah (H3063), Dan (H1835H), Naphtali (H5321), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074), Dinah (H1783), Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144); also called Jacob frequently Another name of yis.ra.el (יִשְׂרָאֵל "Israel" H3478) § Jacob = "heel holder" or "supplanter" son of Isaac, grandson of Abraham, and father of the 12 patriarchs of the tribes of Israel
Usage: Occurs in 319 OT verses. KJV: Jacob. See also: Genesis 25:26; Genesis 34:1; Psalms 14:7.
סֶֽלָה
çelâh
H5542
"Selah"
Part
Selah is a musical term in the Bible that signals a pause or interruption in the music, like a rest in a song, often used in Psalms. It is a technical term that sets a moment for reflection and contemplation, as seen in Psalm 3:2.
Definition: § 1) to lift up, exalt 1a) Selah 1a1) a technical musical term probably showing accentuation, pause, interruption
Usage: Occurs in 74 OT verses. KJV: Selah. See also: Psalms 3:3; Psalms 62:5; Psalms 3:5.
Study Notes — Psalms 46:8
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Psalms 46:8 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Psalms 46:8
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 46:8
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 46:8
- Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 46:8
- Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 46:8
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 46:8
- Cambridge Bible on Psalms 46:8
- Barnes' Notes on Psalms 46:8
- Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 46:8
- Sermons on Psalms 46:8
Context — God Is Our Refuge and Strength
6Nations rage, kingdoms crumble; the earth melts when He lifts His voice.
7The LORD of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
8Come, see the works of the LORD, who brings devastation upon the earth.
9He makes wars to cease throughout the earth; He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; He burns the shields in the fire. 10“Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted over the earth.”Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalms 66:5 | Come and see the works of God; how awesome are His deeds toward mankind. |
| 2 | Isaiah 24:1 | Behold, the LORD lays waste the earth and leaves it in ruins. He will twist its surface and scatter its inhabitants— |
| 3 | Isaiah 61:4 | They will rebuild the ancient ruins; they will restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities, the desolations of many generations. |
| 4 | Psalms 92:4–6 | For You, O LORD, have made me glad by Your deeds; I sing for joy at the works of Your hands. How great are Your works, O LORD, how deep are Your thoughts! A senseless man does not know, and a fool does not understand, |
| 5 | Isaiah 34:2–17 | The LORD is angry with all the nations and furious with all their armies. He will devote them to destruction; He will give them over to slaughter. Their slain will be left unburied, and the stench of their corpses will rise; the mountains will flow with their blood. All the stars of heaven will be dissolved. The skies will be rolled up like a scroll, and all their stars will fall like withered leaves from the vine, like foliage from the fig tree. When My sword has drunk its fill in the heavens, then it will come down upon Edom, upon the people I have devoted to destruction. The sword of the LORD is bathed in blood. It drips with fat— with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams. For the LORD has a sacrifice in Bozrah, a great slaughter in the land of Edom. And the wild oxen will fall with them, the young bulls with the strong ones. Their land will be drenched with blood, and their soil will be soaked with fat. For the LORD has a day of vengeance, a year of recompense for the cause of Zion. Edom’s streams will be turned to tar, and her soil to sulfur; her land will become a blazing pitch. It will not be quenched—day or night. Its smoke will ascend forever. From generation to generation it will lie desolate; no one will ever again pass through it. The desert owl and screech owl will possess it, and the great owl and raven will dwell in it. The LORD will stretch out over Edom a measuring line of chaos and a plumb line of destruction. No nobles will be left to proclaim a king, and all her princes will come to nothing. Her towers will be overgrown with thorns, her fortresses with thistles and briers. She will become a haunt for jackals, an abode for ostriches. The desert creatures will meet with hyenas, and one wild goat will call to another. There the night creature will settle and find her place of repose. There the owl will make her nest; she will lay and hatch her eggs and gather her brood under her shadow. Even there the birds of prey will gather, each with its mate. Search and read the scroll of the LORD: Not one of these will go missing, not one will lack her mate, because He has ordered it by His mouth, and He will gather them by His Spirit. He has allotted their portion; His hand has distributed it by measure. They will possess it forever; they will dwell in it from generation to generation. |
| 6 | Psalms 111:2–3 | Great are the works of the LORD; they are pondered by all who delight in them. Splendid and majestic is His work; His righteousness endures forever. |
| 7 | 2 Chronicles 20:23–24 | The Ammonites and Moabites rose up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, devoting them to destruction. And when they had made an end to the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another. When the men of Judah came to a place overlooking the wilderness, they looked for the vast army, but there were only corpses lying on the ground; no one had escaped. |
| 8 | Exodus 12:30 | During the night Pharaoh got up—he and all his officials and all the Egyptians—and there was loud wailing in Egypt; for there was no house without someone dead. |
| 9 | Joshua 11:20 | For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts to engage Israel in battle, so that they would be set apart for destruction and would receive no mercy, being annihilated as the LORD had commanded Moses. |
| 10 | Exodus 10:7 | Pharaoh’s officials asked him, “How long will this man be a snare to us? Let the people go, so that they may worship the LORD their God. Do you not yet realize that Egypt is in ruins?” |
Psalms 46:8 Summary
This verse, Psalms 46:8, is an invitation to come and see the amazing things God has done, including His power to bring judgment and destruction upon the earth. This is not a cruel or heartless act, but rather a demonstration of God's holiness and justice, as seen in other parts of the Bible, such as Isaiah 13:11 and Jeremiah 25:31. It reminds us that God is all-powerful and in control, and that we can trust in His goodness and care for us, as promised in Jeremiah 29:11 and Romans 8:28. By looking at God's works, we can gain a deeper understanding of His character and develop a stronger faith in Him.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean for the LORD to bring devastation upon the earth?
This phrase refers to God's judgment and discipline upon the nations, as seen in Psalms 46:8, and is a demonstration of His power and authority, similar to what is described in Isaiah 13:11 and Jeremiah 25:31.
Is God's destruction of the earth a contradiction to His love?
No, God's judgment is an expression of His holy and just character, as stated in Deuteronomy 32:4, and is necessary to ultimately bring about redemption and restoration, as promised in Revelation 21:1-4.
How can we 'come and see' the works of the LORD in our lives?
We can see God's works by looking at His creation, as in Psalms 19:1-6, and by experiencing His presence and guidance in our daily lives, as in Proverbs 3:5-6.
What is the relationship between God's power and our trust in Him?
God's power, as demonstrated in Psalms 46:8, is the foundation for our trust in Him, as expressed in Psalms 37:3-7 and Jeremiah 17:7-8, and is what allows us to have confidence in His goodness and care for us.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways you have seen God's power and authority at work in your life or in the world around you?
- How does the idea of God bringing devastation upon the earth make you feel, and what does it teach you about His character?
- In what ways can you 'come and see' the works of the LORD in your daily life, and how can you share that with others?
- What are some areas in your life where you need to trust in God's power and authority, and how can you apply the principles of this verse to those situations?
Gill's Exposition on Psalms 46:8
Come, behold the works of the Lord,.... Of nature and grace, especially those of Providence; both in a way of judgment, as in this verse; and of mercy, as in Psalms 46:9.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 46:8
Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 46:8
i.e. Among those people of the earth who were neighbouring and vexatious to God’ s people, and therefore were cut off by David, and their lands and cities in great part wasted.
Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 46:8
Psalms 46:8 Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth.Ver. 8. Come, behold the works of the Lord] Venite, videte. Come, see. God looks that his works should lie well observed, and especially when he hath wrought any great deliverance for his people. Of all things, he cannot abide to be forgotten. What desolations he hath made in the earth] How he hath dunged his vineyard with the dead carcasses of those wild boars out of the forest, that had infested it. Those four mighty monarchies had their times and their turns, their rise and their ruin; but the Church remains for ever.
Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 46:8
(8) The Lord.—Many MSS. read Elohîm instead of “Jehovah.” Desolations . . .—Either, silence of desolation, “silence” being the primary sense of the word, or (as in Jeremiah 19:8), wonders, which silence by their suddenness and marvel. So LXX. and Vulg., and this is confirmed by Psalms 46:10.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 46:8
Verse 8. Come, behold the works of the Lord] See empires destroyed and regenerated; and in such a way as to show that a supernatural agency has been at work. By the hand of God alone could these great changes be effected.
Cambridge Bible on Psalms 46:8
8–11. An exhortation to reflect upon this marvellous deliverance and learn its lesson.
Barnes' Notes on Psalms 46:8
Come, behold the works of the Lord - Go forth and see what the Lord has done. See, in what his hand has accomplished, how secure we are if we put our trust in him. What desolations he hath made in the earth - Or, in the land.
Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 46:8
8. Come, behold—An invitation to survey the fearful field of death. Read 2 Kings 19:35
Sermons on Psalms 46:8
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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Great Faith Over Great Fear - Psalm 46 by Michael Flowers | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the power and victory found in the word of God. They highlight the importance of understanding the prophetic message of Jesus and the impact |
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Quietness and Confidence by A.B. Simpson | A.B. Simpson emphasizes the profound truth found in Isaiah 30:15, that true strength comes from quietness and confidence in God rather than reliance on human alliances or resources |
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Isaiah Chapter 12 Quietness and Confidence by A.B. Simpson | A.B. Simpson emphasizes the profound truth found in Isaiah 30:15, that true strength comes from quietness and confidence in God, rather than reliance on human alliances or resource |
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Lessons From the Recent Earthquake by Samuel Davies | Samuel Davies preaches about the recent earthquake, drawing lessons from the Great Lisbon Earthquake of 1755. He emphasizes the majesty and power of God, the sinfulness of the worl |
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Psalm 46 by Henry Law | Henry Law preaches about the near protection of God as a stronghold against all fear, emphasizing how His mighty hand should evoke terror in His enemies and confidence in His peopl |
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The Cause and Cure of Earthquakes by John Wesley | John Wesley addresses the terrifying reality of earthquakes as divine judgments from God, emphasizing that they serve as a reminder of human sinfulness and the need for repentance. |
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Canaan on Earth by C.H. Spurgeon | The sermon transcript discusses the journey of a man who was initially an infidel but eventually found Christianity and became a preacher. The man went through a period of self-den |