Psalms 48 · Verse 4

Psalms 48:4

For, lo, the kings were assembled, they passed by together.
Psalms 48:4, King James Version

Psalms 48:4 in other translations

BSBFor behold, the kings assembled; they all advanced together.
WEBFor, behold, the kings assembled themselves, they passed by together.
ASVFor, lo, the kings assembled themselves, They passed by together.
YLTFor, lo, the kings met, they passed by together,
DARBYFor behold, the kings assembled themselves, they passed by together;
BBEFor see! the kings came together by agreement, they were joined together.
WebsterFor lo, the kings were assembled, they passed by together.

What does Psalms 48:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 48:4-6
4-6. For--The reason is given. Though the kings (perhaps of Moab and Ammon, compare Psa 83:3-5) combined, a conviction of God's presence with His people, evinced by the unusual courage with which the prophets (compare 2Ch 20:12-20) had inspired them, seized on their minds, and smitten with sudden and intense alarm, they fled astonished.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 4 For, lo, the kings were assembled - Many of the neighboring potentates, at different times, envied the prosperity of the Jewish nation, and coveted the riches of the temple; but they had no power against it till the cup of Jewish transgression was full. In vain did they assemble - confederate, and invade the land. Saw it - reconnoitered the place; marvelled at its excellence and strength, for they were troubled - struck with fear; hasted away for fear of destruction, for fear took hold on them as pains seize on a woman to travail. Those who came to destroy were glad to make their own escape.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 48:1-7

The glories of the church of Christ. Verses 1-7 Jerusalem is the city of our God: none on earth render him due honour except the citizens of the spiritual Jerusalem. Happy the kingdom, the city, the family, the heart, in which God is great, in which he is all. There God is known. The clearer discoveries are made to us of the Lord and his greatness, the more it is expected that we should abound in his praises. The…

Read the full comment on Psalms 48:1-7 →

Psalms 48:4 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.

כִּֽי\־ki-forH3588
הִנֵּ֣הhi.Nehthere!H2009
הַ֭מְּלָכִיםHa.me.la.khimthe kingsH4428
נֽוֹעֲד֑וּno.'a.Duthey assembledH3259
עָבְר֥וּ'a.ve.Ruthey passed onH5674
יַחְדָּֽו\׃yach.DavtogetherH3162

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

Cross references for Psalms 48:4

  • Revelation 20:8-9

    And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.

  • 2 Samuel 10:6-19

    And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank before David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Beth–rehob, and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, and of king Maacah a thousand men, and of Ish–tob twelve thousand men. And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men. And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entering in of the gate: and the Syrians of Zoba, and of Rehob, and Ish–tob, and Maacah, were by themselves in the field. When Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians: …

  • Revelation 17:12-14

    And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

  • Isaiah 7:1

    And it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up toward Jerusalem to war against it, but could not prevail against it.

  • Isaiah 29:5-8

    Moreover the multitude of thy strangers shall be like small dust, and the multitude of the terrible ones shall be as chaff that passeth away: yea, it shall be at an instant suddenly. Thou shalt be visited of the Lord of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire. And the multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel, even all that fight against her and her munition, and that distress her, shall be as a dream of a night vision. It shall even be as when an hungry man dreameth, and, behold, he eateth; but he awaketh, and his soul is empty: or as when a thirsty man dreameth, and, behold, he drinketh; but he awaketh, and, behold, he is faint, and his soul hath appetite: so shall the multitude of all the nations be, that fight against mount Zion.

  • Isaiah 10:8

    For he saith, Are not my princes altogether kings?

  • Revelation 19:20

    And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

  • Isaiah 8:8-10

    And he shall pass through Judah; he shall overflow and go over, he shall reach even to the neck; and the stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel. Associate yourselves, O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces; and give ear, all ye of far countries: gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces. Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us.

  • Psalms 83:2-8

    For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head. They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones. They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance. For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee: …

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
83:2-8; 2Sa 10:6,14,16-19; Isa 7:1; 8:8-10; 10:8; 29:5-8
Re 17:12-14; 19:20; 20:8,9

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

Context

  • Psalms 48:3

    God is known in her palaces for a refuge.

  • Psalms 48:4

    For, lo, the kings were assembled, they passed by together.

  • Psalms 48:5

    They saw it, and so they marvelled; they were troubled, and hasted away.

Read all of Psalms 48

Psalms 48:4 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porque he aquí los reyes de la tierra se reunieron; pasaron todos.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Dieu est connu dans ses palais pour une haute retraite.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Denn siehe, die Könige hatten sich versammelt, waren herangezogen allesamt.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Os meum loquetur sapientiam, et meditatio cordis mei prudentiam.