Psalm 46 3

Psalm 46:3 kjv

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

Psalm 46:3 nkjv

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

Psalm 46:3 niv

though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.

Psalm 46:3 esv

though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah

Psalm 46:3 nlt

Let the oceans roar and foam.
Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! Interlude

Psalm 46 verses

Psalm 46 3 Meaning

Psalm 46:3 vividly describes a scene of cosmic upheaval, portraying nature's most powerful elements – roaring waters and trembling mountains – in a state of chaotic disturbance. Despite such cataclysmic events, the verse, read in context with Psalm 46:1-2, reinforces the unwavering truth that God's people remain secure because their God is an ever-present, all-powerful refuge and strength. The verse contrasts the earth's apparent instability with God's steadfastness, emphasizing that His ultimate control transcends any perceived natural or political chaos, demanding awe and profound trust from believers.

Psalm 46 3 Context

Psalm 46 is a "Psalm of the Sons of Korah" and a "Song for Alamoth," indicating its likely use in temple worship, possibly by a choir with high-pitched voices or specific instruments. This psalm is commonly linked to moments of national deliverance, most notably King Hezekiah's era when Jerusalem was besieged by the mighty Assyrian army under Sennacherib (2 Kgs 19, Isa 36-37). Despite overwhelming odds and the psychological terror of siege, God miraculously intervened. This verse, Psalm 46:3, extends the previous verse's imagery of earthly upheaval (mountains falling into the sea) to the chaotic, untamed forces of nature—roaring waters and trembling mountains. It provides the terrifying scenarios against which God’s unshakable refuge (Psalm 46:1) stands out. The psalm anticipates the cosmic instability but assures that Jerusalem, and metaphorically, God’s people, remain untouched due to God's presence "in her midst" (Psalm 46:5).

Psalm 46 3 Word analysis

• though its waters (מַיִם - mayim, "waters"): Refers to the "sea" from Psalm 46:2. In the ancient world, vast bodies of water often symbolized chaos, rebellion, or uncontrolled power, echoing primal creation myths. Yet, here they are "its" waters, implicitly under God's ultimate ownership and allowance.
• roar (יֶהֱמוּ - yehemû, "to roar, make a great noise"): Describes the turbulent, loud, and menacing sound of angry waters. This verb can also imply a crowd in tumult, bringing to mind both natural and human turmoil. It highlights a force seemingly out of control.
• and foam (יֶחְמְרוּ - yeḥmerû, "to be troubled, disturbed, agitated, ferment"): Suggests not just sound but physical agitation, bubbling, boiling, or violent disturbance of the water. The word is used elsewhere for the fermenting of wine or the darkening of the face with rage, underscoring intense disquiet.
• though the mountains (הָרִים - harim, "mountains"): Mountains, symbols of permanence, stability, and enduring strength, are here portrayed as vulnerable. Their shaking signifies profound, foundational upheaval, the very pillars of the earth being moved.
• tremble (יִרְעֲשׁוּ - yir'ashu, "to quake, shake, tremble"): Indicates violent shaking or convulsion. This term is often associated with the shaking of the earth or mountains in the presence of God or as a sign of divine judgment, emphasizing the sheer power exerted on these stable features.
• with its surging swell (בְּגַאוָתֹו - bəga'avato, "in its pride, majesty, arrogance, swelling"): A highly significant term. While often translated as "swell" or "raging," the root meaning refers to "pride" or "haughtiness." It attributes an arrogant, defiant character to the raging sea itself, suggesting an unbridled display of power. It is this "pride" of creation, even when expressing ultimate chaos, that is subject to God.
• Selah (סֶלָה - selah): A liturgical or musical instruction, signifying a pause for contemplation or musical interlude. Here, it prompts deep reflection on the magnitude of the preceding chaos and the steadfastness of God's presence amidst it. It calls the audience to internalize the contrast and the profound truth.

• its waters roar and foam: This phrase vividly paints a picture of uncontrollable aquatic chaos. It symbolizes any force—whether natural disaster, enemy aggression, or personal tribulation—that appears overwhelming and destructive. This imagery would be particularly potent to an ancient Near Eastern audience, for whom great waters often represented cosmic forces of disorder or even monstrous deities, subtly polemicizing against such pagan concepts by asserting Yahweh's implicit dominion.
• the mountains tremble with its surging swell: This imagery progresses from fluid chaos to the shaking of the most solid, enduring elements of the earth. Mountains as symbols of strength and security, when depicted as trembling, emphasize the totality of the potential devastation. The "surging swell" (pride) of the waters capable of making mountains tremble heightens the sense of an ultimate, seemingly unstoppable force, underscoring the absolute magnitude of the divine refuge from this terror.

Psalm 46 3 Bonus section

The "Selah" in Psalm 46:3 is part of a structural element of the psalm. This psalm is notable for its clear division by three occurrences of "Selah" (vv. 3, 7, 11) into four sections, each culminating in a statement of divine truth and reassurance. The second "Selah" in verse 7 similarly concludes a section about nations raging against Jerusalem, and the final "Selah" follows the culminating declaration of God's universal sovereignty. This tripartite division through "Selah" turns Psalm 46 into a prophetic oracle with recurring affirmations of God's help. It acts not just as a musical cue but a liturgical and theological marker, urging reflection on the deep contrast between human frailty and divine might. The Psalm's chiastic structure in its progression from universal cosmic threat to human conflict and then back to universal dominion highlights God's sovereignty over all dimensions of existence, visible and invisible.

Psalm 46 3 Commentary

Psalm 46:3 escalates the chaotic scenario presented in the preceding verses, intensifying the description of the world's dissolution. The shift from mountains falling into the sea to the roaring and foaming of the waters and the trembling of mountains indicates a comprehensive, multifaceted crisis affecting both land and sea, the stable and the volatile. This dramatic depiction serves a crucial purpose: to magnify the unwavering refuge found in God. The "roaring" and "foaming" speak to the perceived unruliness and destructive power of nature, forces beyond human control. The "mountains trembling" shatter the illusion of anything truly stable apart from the Creator. The use of "Selah" is pivotal, acting as an exclamation mark that invites the worshiper to pause and absorb the terrifying nature of these descriptions, making the subsequent affirmation of God's unwavering presence even more potent and profound. It reinforces that despite even the universe's foundational elements quaking in fear, God remains utterly secure and sovereign. This psalm is a timeless anchor, encouraging believers to root their hope not in the visible, seemingly stable world, but in the invisible, omnipotent God who transcends all created reality.Example: When financial markets crash or societal norms rapidly erode, just as waters roar and mountains tremble, believers can recall that true security is not found in earthly stability but in God.