Psalms 48:8
Psalms 48:8 in Multiple Translations
As we have heard, so we have seen in the city of the LORD of Hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish her forever. Selah
As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it for ever. Selah.
As we have heard, so have we seen In the city of Jehovah of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it for ever. [Selah
As it came to our ears so have we seen it, in the town of the Lord of armies, in the town of our God; God will keep it fixed for ever. (Selah.)
Just as we had heard, but now we have seen the city of the Lord Almighty. This is the city of our God; he makes it secure forever. Selah.
As we haue heard, so haue we seene in the citie of the Lord of hostes, in the Citie of our God: God will stablish it for euer. Selah.
As we have heard, so we have seen, In the city of Jehovah of hosts, In the city of our God, God doth establish her — to the age. Selah.
As we have heard, so we have seen, in the city of the LORD of Armies, in the city of our God. God will establish it forever. Selah.
As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it for ever. Selah.
No brother can redeem, nor shall man redeem: he shall not give to God his ransom,
We had heard that this city is glorious, and now we have seen that it is. It is the city in which Yahweh, the almighty one, lives. It is the city which God will preserve/protect forever. (Think about that!)
Berean Amplified Bible — Psalms 48:8
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Psalms 48:8 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
בְּ/ר֥וּחַ
קָדִ֑ים
תְּ֝שַׁבֵּ֗ר
אֳנִיּ֥וֹת
תַּרְשִֽׁישׁ
בְּ/ר֥וּחַ
rûwach
H7307
spirit
Prep | N-cs
קָדִ֑ים
qâdîym
H6921
east
N-ms
תְּ֝שַׁבֵּ֗ר
shâbar
H7665
to break
V-Piel-Imperf-2ms
אֳנִיּ֥וֹת
ʼŏnîyâh
H591
fleet
N-fp
תַּרְשִֽׁישׁ
Tarshîysh
H8659
Tarshish
N-proper
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Psalms 48:8
בְּ/ר֥וּחַ
rûwach
H7307
"spirit"
Prep | N-cs
In the Bible, this word for spirit refers to the breath of life, the wind, or a person's mind and emotions, as seen in the book of Ezekiel.
Definition: : spirit 1) wind, breath, mind, spirit 1a) breath 1b) wind 1b1) of heaven 1b2) quarter (of wind), side 1b3) breath of air 1b4) air, gas 1b5) vain, empty thing 1c) spirit (as that which breathes quickly in animation or agitation) 1c1) spirit, animation, vivacity, vigour 1c2) courage 1c3) temper, anger 1c4) impatience, patience 1c5) spirit, disposition (as troubled, bitter, discontented) 1c6) disposition (of various kinds), unaccountable or uncontrollable impulse 1c7) prophetic spirit 1d) spirit (of the living, breathing being in man and animals) 1d1) as gift, preserved by God, God's spirit, departing at death, disembodied being 1e) spirit (as seat of emotion) 1e1) desire 1e2) sorrow, trouble 1f) spirit 1f1) as seat or organ of mental acts 1f2) rarely of the will 1f3) as seat especially of moral character 1g) Spirit of God, the third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit, coequal, coeternal with the Father and the Son 1g1) as inspiring ecstatic state of prophecy 1g2) as impelling prophet to utter instruction or warning 1g3) imparting warlike energy and executive and administrative power 1g4) as endowing men with various gifts 1g5) as energy of life 1g6) as manifest in the Shekinah glory 1g7) never referred to as a depersonalised force
Usage: Occurs in 348 OT verses. KJV: air, anger, blast, breath, [idiom] cool, courage, mind, [idiom] quarter, [idiom] side, spirit(-ual), tempest, [idiom] vain, (whirl-) wind(-y). See also: Genesis 1:2; Job 6:26; Psalms 1:4.
קָדִ֑ים
qâdîym
H6921
"east"
N-ms
In the Bible, this word means the direction east or the east wind, often used to describe geographical locations or the direction of the wind.
Definition: 1) east, east wind 1a) east (of direction) 1b) east wind
Usage: Occurs in 64 OT verses. KJV: east(-ward, wind). See also: Genesis 41:6; Ezekiel 43:17; Psalms 48:8.
תְּ֝שַׁבֵּ֗ר
shâbar
H7665
"to break"
V-Piel-Imperf-2ms
This word means to break or shatter something, either physically or emotionally. It can also mean to burst or rupture, and is often used to describe intense violence or destruction. In the Bible, it's translated as break or crush.
Definition: 1) to break, break in pieces 1a) (Qal) 1a1) break, break in or down, rend violently, wreck, crush, quench 1a2) to break, rupture (fig) 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be broken, be maimed, be crippled, be wrecked 1b2) to be broken, be crushed (fig) 1c) (Piel) to shatter, break 1d) (Hiphil) to cause to break out, bring to the birth 1e) (Hophal) to be broken, be shattered Aramaic equivalent: te.var (תְּבַר "to break" H8406)
Usage: Occurs in 143 OT verses. KJV: break (down, off, in pieces, up), broken (-hearted), bring to the birth, crush, destroy, hurt, quench, [idiom] quite, tear, view (by mistake for H7663 (שָׂבַר)). See also: Genesis 19:9; Isaiah 27:11; Psalms 3:8.
אֳנִיּ֥וֹת
ʼŏnîyâh
H591
"fleet"
N-fp
The Hebrew word for ship or fleet is used in the Bible to describe a vessel that sails on the water. It appears in Numbers 24:24 and Proverbs 30:19, often referring to the men who sail on these ships, known as seamen.
Definition: 1) ship 1a) men of ships, seamen
Usage: Occurs in 28 OT verses. KJV: ship(-men). See also: Genesis 49:13; Proverbs 30:19; Psalms 48:8.
תַּרְשִֽׁישׁ
Tarshîysh
H8659
"Tarshish"
N-proper
Tarshish was a place on the Mediterranean, also the name of a Persian and an Israelite, and a term for a merchant vessel, as mentioned in 1 Chronicles 7:10.
Definition: A man of the tribe of Benjamin living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.7.10; son of: Bilhan (H1092H); brother of: Jeush (H3266H), Benjamin (H1144H), Ehud (H0164H), Chenaanah (H3668H), Zethan (H2133) and Ahishahar (H0300) § Tarshish or Tharshish = "yellow jasper" 1) son of Javan 2) a Benjamite, son of Bilhan 3) one of the wise men close to king Ahasuerus of Persia 4) a city of the Phoenicians in a distant part of the Mediterranean Sea to which the prophet Jonah was trying to flee 1a) perhaps in Cyprus or Spain 5) a city somewhere near and accessible to the Red Sea to which ships constructed at Ezion-geber on the Elanitic Gulf on the Red Sea were to sail
Usage: Occurs in 24 OT verses. KJV: Tarshish, Tharshish. See also: Genesis 10:4; Isaiah 23:1; Psalms 48:8.
Study Notes — Psalms 48:8
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Psalms 48:8 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Psalms 48:8
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 48:8
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 48:8
- Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 48:8
- Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 48:8
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 48:8
- Cambridge Bible on Psalms 48:8
- Barnes' Notes on Psalms 48:8
- Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 48:8
- Sermons on Psalms 48:8
Context — Broken Bondage
6Trembling seized them there, anguish like a woman in labor.
7With a wind from the east You wrecked the ships of Tarshish.
8As we have heard, so we have seen in the city of the LORD of Hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish her forever. Selah
9Within Your temple, O God, we contemplate Your loving devotion. 10Your name, O God, like Your praise, reaches to the ends of the earth; Your right hand is full of righteousness.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalms 87:5 | And it will be said of Zion: “This one and that one were born in her, and the Most High Himself will establish her.” |
| 2 | Psalms 78:3–6 | that we have heard and known and our fathers have relayed to us. We will not hide them from their children, but will declare to the next generation the praises of the LORD and His might, and the wonders He has performed. For He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers to teach to their children, that the coming generation would know them— even children yet to be born— to arise and tell their own children |
| 3 | Psalms 46:5 | God is within her; she will not be moved. God will help her when morning dawns. |
| 4 | Psalms 44:1–2 | We have heard with our ears, O God; our fathers have told us the work You did in their days, in the days of old. With Your hand You drove out the nations and planted our fathers there; You crushed the peoples and cast them out. |
| 5 | Micah 4:1 | In the last days the mountain of the house of the LORD will be established as the chief of the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and the peoples will stream to it. |
| 6 | Matthew 16:18 | And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. |
| 7 | Psalms 48:1–2 | Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, His holy mountain. Beautiful in loftiness, the joy of all the earth, like the peaks of Zaphon is Mount Zion, the city of the great King. |
| 8 | Isaiah 2:2 | In the last days the mountain of the house of the LORD will be established as the chief of the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. |
| 9 | Isaiah 38:19 | The living, only the living, can thank You, as I do today; fathers will tell their children about Your faithfulness. |
Psalms 48:8 Summary
[This verse is saying that God is faithful to His promises, and we can trust in His power to protect and preserve us. Just like the city of Jerusalem, God will establish us in His love and care, as seen in Deuteronomy 31:6, where it says 'Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you.' We can have confidence in God's goodness and sovereignty over our lives, and take time to pause and reflect on His faithfulness, just like the word 'Selah' suggests.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean that God will establish the city of the LORD of Hosts forever?
This refers to God's promise to protect and preserve Jerusalem, as seen in Psalms 46:5, where it says 'God is within her, she will not fall.'
How does this verse relate to our lives today?
Just as the psalmist trusted in God's power to establish Jerusalem, we can trust in God's sovereignty over our lives, as stated in Romans 8:28, where it says 'we know that all things work together for good to those who love God.'
What is the significance of the phrase 'As we have heard, so we have seen'?
This phrase emphasizes the reliability of God's promises, as seen in Isaiah 46:11, where God says 'I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it.'
What does the word 'Selah' mean at the end of the verse?
The word 'Selah' is a musical term that likely indicates a pause or a moment of reflection, similar to the instruction in Psalms 1:2 to 'meditate on the law of the Lord day and night.'
Reflection Questions
- How have you seen God's promises fulfilled in your life, and how can you trust in His sovereignty over your circumstances?
- What does it mean to you that God will establish His city forever, and how does that impact your view of the world?
- In what ways can you apply the phrase 'As we have heard, so we have seen' to your own life, trusting in God's faithfulness to His promises?
- How can you use the concept of 'Selah' in your own prayer life, taking moments to pause and reflect on God's goodness and sovereignty?
Gill's Exposition on Psalms 48:8
As we have heard, so have we seen,.... These are the words of the people of God making their observations on the above things; and so Aben Ezra and Kimchi understand them of the people of Israel; and
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 48:8
As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it for ever. Selah.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 48:8
The predictions of the prophets, either , or , &c., have been verified by the events. Or, we have had late and fresh experiences of such wonderful works of God, as before we only heard of by the report of our fathers. From this miraculous deliverance we plainly see that God hath a singular love to it, and care of it, and therefore will defend her in all succeeding ages against all her enemies. And so God would have done, if Jerusalem had not forsaken God, and forfeited his favour and protection.
Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 48:8
Psalms 48:8 As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it for ever. Selah.Ver. 8. As we have heard] viz. By the relation of our forefathers, Psalms 44:1, or rather by the promises contained in the Holy Scriptures, which now we see verified and exemplified in our signal deliverances. Jerusalem’ s constant protection then is here assevered and assured, per comparationem promissionis et experientim simul, et similiter eam contestantium. See the like Job 42:5. In the city of our God] The Church is the city of the living God, Hebrews 12:22, a city that breedeth men, yea, conquerors, as Herodotus (Clio) saith of Ecbatana, the metropolis of the Medes, and as Pindarus (Nemeis, Od. 2) of another place, Yρεφαιφωταμαχατανδυνατος, &c. God will establish it for ever] There shall be a Church till the world’ s end, opposing all her enemies.
Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 48:8
(8) As we have heard.—The generations of a religious nation are “bound each to each by natural piety.” Probably here the ancient tale of the overthrow of Pharaoh and his host recurred to the poet’s mind. God will establish it.—Better, God will preserve her for ever, i.e., the holy city. This forms the refrain of the song, and probably should be restored between the parts of Psa 48:3.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 48:8
Verse 8. As we have heard, so have we seen] Our fathers have declared what mighty works thou didst in their time; and we have seen the same. God has often interposed and afforded us a most miraculous defence. So it was when they were invaded by the Assyrians, Syrians, Egyptians, Babylonians, Persians and the Greeks under Alexander. The city of the Lord of hosts] His hosts defended the city, and it was known to be the City of the great King. God will establish it for ever.] This must refer to the true temple, the Christian Church, of which the Jewish Church was a type. The type perished, but the antitype remained, and will remain till time shall be no more. Selah.] So be it; and so it will be for evermore.
Cambridge Bible on Psalms 48:8
8. Experience has confirmed what tradition (cp. Psalms 44:1) related of God’s marvellous works on behalf of His people, and justifies the confidence that He will never cease to guard the city of His choice. Cp. Psalms 87:5; Isaiah 62:7. But all such anticipations are conditional: Israel’s unfaithfulness made a literal fulfilment impossible.
Barnes' Notes on Psalms 48:8
As we have heard, so have we seen - That is, What has been told us, or handed down by tradition, in regard to the strength and safety of the city - what our fathers have told us respecting its
Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 48:8
4-8. In this division is noted the destruction of the people’s enemies. The kings were assembled—Pointing to a confederate army and a war council of the chiefs.
Sermons on Psalms 48:8
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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As We Have Heard, So Have We Seen by C.H. Spurgeon | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of listening to true witnesses in order to have a genuine understanding of God's word. He warns against believing false witne |
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The Church Is Beautiful by Stuart Briscoe | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of deliberating on eternal issues and focusing on God's loving kindness, faithfulness, righteousness, and carefulness. The fel |
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Citizenship in Heaven by George Kulp | George Kulp preaches about the heavenly citizenship of believers, drawing parallels from historical accounts of citizens being protected and freed due to their citizenship. He emph |
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A Spotless Bride by Hywel R. Jones | Hywel R. Jones preaches about the current state of institutions and professionals, emphasizing the lack of moral integrity leading to the crumbling of various realms in the western |
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Comfort for the Church by Thomas Watson | Thomas Watson preaches about the comforting presence of God in the midst of His church, emphasizing that despite external and internal enemies, God's refuge and strength are always |
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A Vision That Constitutes a Vocation by T. Austin-Sparks | T. Austin-Sparks emphasizes the necessity of having a divine vision to fulfill one's vocation in Christ, arguing that the people of Jerusalem, despite their knowledge of the Script |
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Jehovah-Jesus, the Security of Zion by Thomas Bradbury | Thomas Bradbury preaches about the unwavering presence and help of God in the midst of His people, emphasizing the security and comfort found in the covenant promises of God. He hi |