Psalm 46 Introduction

Structure and Formatting

Psalm 46 is a psalm of trust. See the discussion of the types of psalms in the introduction to the book of Psalms. 1. First stanza (1–3): God as a refuge in an earthquake and an ocean storm 2. Second stanza (4–6): God as a helper in the turmoil of the nations 3. First refrain (7): Statement of trust 4. Third stanza (8–10): Yahweh as the one who ends wars 5. Second refrain (11): Statement of trust

Religious and Cultural Concepts in This Psalm

What “stream” is the psalmist describing in verse 4?

Like Psalm 44, this psalm could have been written during the Assyrian invasion of Judah and siege of Jerusalem in 701 B.C. During a siege, the attacking army tried to cut off supplies of food and water to the people inside a city to make them surrender. But Jerusalem had its own water supply. The Gihon spring higher up on Mount Zion produced a steady stream of water. Kings such as Hezekiah engineered channels to bring its water safely into the city even during a siege. The psalmist is most likely referring to the life-giving stream of water from the Gihon spring and using it as a symbol of Yahweh’s care and provision for the people. The contrast between the images of this quiet stream and the violent ocean storm portrayed in the previous verse highlights the main theme of the psalm. Even in the midst of tumultuous and threatening events, Yahweh is always helping his people.

Translation Issues in This Psalm

Intentionally repeated terms

The psalmist uses the same verb for “roared” in verse 6 as he does for “roar” in verse 3. He uses the same verb for “shook” in verse 6 as he does for “shaking” in verse 2. He expects readers to realize as a result that he was using the sea in verse 3 to represent the “nations” he describes in verse 6 and that he was using the mountains in verse 2 to represent the “kingdoms” he describes in verse 6. So that your readers can appreciate this, we encourage you to use the same terms in your language for “roared” and “shook” in verse 6 that you use in verses 2 and 3 for “roar” and “shaking.”

Note 1 topic: translate-unknown

לַ⁠מְנַצֵּ֥חַ

(la⁠mənaʦʦēaḩ)

The word translated as chief musician likely refers to the person in charge of music for worship. Some languages may have a term for a music leader. Alternate translation: [For the music director] or [For the leader of worship music]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

לַ⁠מְנַצֵּ֥חַ לִ⁠בְנֵי־קֹ֑רַח עַֽל־עֲלָמ֥וֹת שִֽׁיר

(la⁠mənaʦʦēaḩ li⁠ⱱənēy-qoraḩ ˊal-ˊₐlāmōt shiׁyr)

If it would be more natural in your language, you may want to put the information that this is a song with the information that one of the sons of Korah wrote it. Alternate translation: [A song of the sons of Korah. On Alamoth]

Note 3 topic: translate-unknown

לַ⁠מְנַצֵּ֥חַ

(la⁠mənaʦʦēaḩ)

The word translated as chief musician likely refers to the person in charge of music for worship. Some languages may have a term for a music leader. See how you translated the term “chief musician” in the superscription to Psalm 4. Alternate translation: [For the leader of worship music] or [For the music director]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

לִ⁠בְנֵי־קֹ֑רַח

(li⁠ⱱənēy-qoraḩ)

See how you translated the expression “the sons of Korah” in the superscription to Psalm 42. Alternate translation: [Of the descendants of Korah] or [Of the Korahites]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

עַֽל־עֲלָמ֥וֹת

(ˊal-ˊₐlāmōt)

See how you translated the similar expression “On Sheminith” in the superscription to Psalm 6. Alternate translation: [Set to the tune Alamoth]

Note 6 topic: translate-names

עַֽל־עֲלָמ֥וֹת

(ˊal-ˊₐlāmōt)

The term that the ULT translates as Maidens could be the name of the tune of this psalm. It might also be a musical instruction indicating that singers should perform the song in a higher range. Alternate translation: [Perform in a higher range]