Psalms 46 · Verse 4

Psalms 46:4

There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
Psalms 46:4, King James Version

Psalms 46:4 in other translations

BSBThere is a river whose streams delight the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells.
WEBThere is a river, the streams of which make the city of God glad, the holy place of the tents of the Most High.
ASVThere is a river, the streams whereof make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High.
YLTA river--its rivulets rejoice the city of God, Thy holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High.
DARBYThere is a river the streams whereof make glad the city of God, the sanctuary of the habitations of the Most High.
BBEThere is a river whose streams make glad the resting-place of God, the holy place of the tents of the Most High.
WebsterThere is a river, the streams of which shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High.

What does Psalms 46:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
4. God's favor is denoted by a river (compare Psa 36:8; Zec 14:8; Re 22:1). city of God, the holy place--His earthly residence, Jerusalem and the temple (compare Psa 2:6; 3:4; 20:2; 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).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 4 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.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 46:1-5

This psalm encourages to hope and trust in God; in his power and providence, and his gracious presence with his church in the worst of times. We may apply it to spiritual enemies, and the encouragement we have that, through Christ, we shall be conquerors over them. He is a Help, a present Help, a Help found, one whom we have found to be so; a Help at hand, one that is always near; we cannot desire a better, nor…

Read the full comment on Psalms 46:1-5 →

Psalms 46:4 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

נָהָ֗רna.Hara riverH5104
פְּלָגָ֗יוpe.la.Gavstreams itsH6388
יְשַׂמְּח֥וּye.sa.me.Chuthey make gladH8055
עִיר\־'ir-[the] city ofH5892
אֱלֹהִ֑ים'E.lo.HimGodH430
קְ֝דֹ֗שׁke.Dosh[the] holy [place] ofH6918
מִשְׁכְּנֵ֥יmish.ke.Nei[the] dwellings ofH4908
עֶלְיֽוֹן\׃el.Yon[the] Most HighH5945

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Psalms 46:4

  • Revelation 22:1-3

    And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:

  • Ezekiel 47:1-12

    Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the house; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar. Then brought he me out of the way of the gate northward, and led me about the way without unto the utter gate by the way that looketh eastward; and, behold, there ran out waters on the right side. And when the man that had the line in his hand went forth eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the waters were to the ankles. Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through the waters; the waters were to the knees. Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through; the waters were to the loins. …

  • Psalms 36:8-9

    They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures. For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.

  • Psalms 87:3

    Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah.

  • 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.

  • 2 Chronicles 6:6

    But I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there; and have chosen David to be over my people Israel.

  • Isaiah 60:14

    The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee; and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet; and they shall call thee, The city of the Lord, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.

  • Psalms 65:9

    Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it.

  • Revelation 21:2-3

    And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

  • Psalms 23:2

    He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

  • Isaiah 48:18

    O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea:

  • Hebrews 12:22

    But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
a river.
23:2; 36:8,9; Isa 8:6,7; 48:18; Eze 47:1-12; Re 22:1-3
city.
48:1,8; 87:3; 2Ch 6:6; Isa 37:35,36; 60:14; Heb 12:22; Re 21:2,3,10
holy.
De 12:11,12
most.
91:1; 92:1,8; Ec 5:8; Mic 6:6

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Psalms 46:3

    Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

  • Psalms 46:4

    There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.

  • Psalms 46:5

    God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.

Read all of Psalms 46

Psalms 46:4 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Del río sus conductos alegrarán la ciudad de Dios, el santuario de las tiendas del Altísimo.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Quand ses eaux mugiraient, qu’elles écumeraient, et que les montagnes seraient ébranlées à cause de son emportement. Sélah.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Ein Strom-seine Bäche erfreuen die Stadt Gottes, das Heiligtum der Wohnungen des Höchsten.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Subjecit populos nobis, et gentes sub pedibus nostris.