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Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Psalms 46:6

The heathen raged Or, the nations roared; a word commonly used of the tumultuous noise of a multitude or an army (Psalms 83:2; Isaiah 17:12). The same words (roared … were moved), which were used in Psalms 46:2 of convulsions of the earth, are applied to commotions among the nations; but the change of tense shews that while Psalms 46:2 are hypothetical, Psalms 46:6 refers to an actual experience.

he uttered his voice God has but to speak with His voice of thunder, and earth melts in terror: its inhabitants with all their proud Titanic boastings are dissolved. Cp. Isaiah 29:6; Isaiah 30:30 f; Exodus 15:15; Amos 9:5; Psalms 75:3; Psalms 76:8. The rhythm of short abrupt clauses without a conjunction recalls that of Exodus 15:9-10.

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See also Psalms 46:6 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Psalms 46:6. _THE HEATHEN RAGED_] There had been terrible wars on all hands, and mighty states were crushed, when the poor Jews were, by the especial favour of God, kept in peace and safety. Kin...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    THE HEATHEN RAGED - The nations were in commotion, or were agitated like the waves of the sea. This language would well describe the consternation of the nations when the Assyrians went forth to conqu...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    Psalms 46 The Deliverance and What Follows _ 1. God is our Refuge and Strength (Psalms 46:1)_ 2. His coming in power and glory (Psalms 46:4) 3. What follows His manifestation ...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    XLVI. GOD THE REFUGE OF HIS PEOPLE. The poem is divided into three parts by the word Selah, which also marks its close. It was further divided by the refrain which occurs after Psalms 46:6 and Psalms...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    HEATHEN. nations. RAGED. Same word as "roar", Psalms 46:3. WERE MOVED. moved. Same word as in Psalms 46:5....

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    PSALMS 46 DESCRIPTIVE TITLE Trust in God, Joyfully Maintained in Face of Peril, Speedily Rewarded. ANALYSIS Stanza I., Psalms 46:1-3, Trust in God held fast in presence of National Troubles that ar...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _THE HEATHEN RAGED, THE KINGDOMS WERE MOVED: HE UTTERED HIS VOICE, THE EARTH MELTED._ The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved - (Isaiah 17:12.) Hengstenberg, instead of "raged," translates 'roar;'...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    HEATHEN] RV 'nations.' So in Psalms 46:10....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    Psalms 46-48 form a group which we may assign with little doubt to the reign of Hezekiah, when Sennacherib's army was suddenly destroyed (2 Kings 19:35). They all strike the same note of gratitude, co...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    PSALMS 42:72 _GORDON CHURCHYARD_ Words in boxes are from the Bible. Words marked with a *star are described in the word list at the end. The translated Bible text has yet to go through Advanced Che...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    The absence of conjunctions, and sudden change from the preterite to the future, lends a vividness to the picture. “Raged heathen, tottered kingdoms Gave with His voice (the signal) (and lo!) Melts t...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    _[Psalms 46:7]_ הָמ֣וּ גֹ֖ויִם מָ֣טוּ מַמְלָכֹ֑ות נָתַ֥ן...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    Psalms 46:1 THERE are two events, one or other of which probably supplies the historical basis of this and the two following psalms. One is Jehoshaphat's deliverance from the combined forces of the bo...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    “OUR REFUGE AND STRENGTH” Psalms 46:1 The historical origin of this psalm cannot be certainly determined. Probably it was composed when Jerusalem was beleaguered by Sennacherib's hosts, 2 Kings 18:1....

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    Comment on this great song of confidence seems almost unnecessary so powerfully has it taken hold on the heart of humanity, and so perfectly does it set forth the experience of trusting souls in all a...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Trumpet. Christ ascended, accompanied by choirs of angels. His apostles proclaimed his truths. (Calmet) --- They were not left desolate, but joyful; having the Paraclete sent the them._...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    How was this accomplished in the wars of Joshua? Joshua 10:12. How was it in the wars of our spiritual Joshua? John 18:6. Reader, how is it now when God the Holy Ghost speaks in the hearts, and to the...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    6_The peoples raged _Since the Church of God is never without enemies, and these very powerful, and such as consequently fight against her with cruel and unbridled fury, the prophet now confirms from...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    Psalms 46. The remnant, now that Messiah has appeared in glory, can celebrate what God is in favor of His people, and with the special knowledge acquired through what He has been for them in trouble....

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    THE HEATHEN RAGED,.... As they did at Christ's first coming, against him, his Gospel, and people; and which continued during the three first centuries; and then the Pagan kingdoms belonging to the Rom...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted. Ver. 6. _The heathen raged_] Among themselves, and against the Church (Christ mystical, as Psa 2:1-2) with great th...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _The heathen raged_ At David's coming to the throne, and at the setting up of the kingdom of the Son of David. Compare Psalms 2:1. _The kingdoms were moved_ With indignation, and rose up in a tumultuo...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    THE CHURCH'S COMFORT AND SECURITY. To the chief musician, for use in the Temple-services, for the sons of Korah, composed by a member of this talented family, a song upon Alamoth, for soprano voices,...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    The heathen raged, now foaming in terror over the deliverance which the Lord sends to His people, THE KINGDOMS WERE MOVED, all their bulwarks tottering and falling with a mighty, booming noise; HE UTT...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    6-11 Come and see the effects of desolating judgments, and stand in awe of God. This shows the perfect security of the church, and is an assurance of lasting peace. Let us pray for the speedy approac...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    THE HEATHEN RAGED, to wit, against God, and against his people. HE UTTERED HIS VOICE; either he thundered, or he spake to them in his wrath, as is said, PSALMS 2:5. THE EARTH MELTED; the inhabitants o...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Psalms 46:6 nations H1471 raged H1993 (H8804) kingdoms H4467 moved H4131 (H8804) uttered H5414 (H8804) voice...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    IN CONTRAST WITH THE RAGING WATERS WHICH SEEK TO SHAKE THEM GOD IS TO BE SEEN AS LIKE A PEACEFUL RIVER MAKING GLAD HIS PEOPLE (PSALMS 46:4). Psalms 46:4 ‘There is a river, the streams whereof make g...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Psalms 46:4 It is probable that we have in this Psalm the devotional echo of the great deliverance of Israel from Assyria in the time of Hezekiah. We may call these verses the hymn of the defence and...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, Song upon Alamoth. This Psalm is often called «Martin Luther's Psalm.» Whenever there was any great trouble, Luther used to say, «Let us sing the forty-six...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: A psalm of holy confidence in God. CHARACTERS: God, Psalmist. CONCLUSION: God's people may count themselves safe and make themselves strong in Him in whom there is always help sufficient,...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Psalms 46:4. _A river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God._ This was the Gihon, a very copious fountain on the west of Jerusalem, like St. Winnefrid's well in Wales, or the spring at...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _God is our refuge and strength._ A PSALM OF WAR AND PEACE The psalm is divided into three parts, as the Selahs at the end of the third and seventh verses indicate. The first is shorter by one verse...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High._ THE CITY AND RIVER OF GOD There are two remarkable events in the history o...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    PSALM PSALM—NOTE ON PSALMS 46:1. The psalm is a hymn celebrating Zion as the special city. God has pledged himself to her, and through her he will bless the world. The psalm has two stanzas, marked by...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    INTRODUCTION _Superscription_.—“To the Chief Musician for the sons of Korah.” See Introduction to Psalms 42. “_A song upon Alamoth_.” Great uncertainty attaches to the meaning of “Alamoth.” Some are o...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION THIS is a psalm of consolation. Israel, in great peril (Psalms 46:1, Psalms 46:6, Psalms 46:8, Psalms 46:9), co

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea (Psalms 46:1-2);...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    2 Chronicles 14:9; 2 Chronicles 20:1; 2 Chronicles 20:20; 2 Peter 3:10;...

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