Psalm 46 6

Psalm 46:6 kjv

The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.

Psalm 46:6 nkjv

The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted.

Psalm 46:6 niv

Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

Psalm 46:6 esv

The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts.

Psalm 46:6 nlt

The nations are in chaos,
and their kingdoms crumble!
God's voice thunders,
and the earth melts!

Psalm 46 verses

Psalm 46 6 Meaning

Psalm 46:6 powerfully illustrates the absolute sovereignty of God over all earthly powers and even the physical world. It depicts a dramatic shift: while human nations rage in futile rebellion and their established kingdoms are on the verge of collapse due to their own instability and internal strife, God's mere utterance or presence fundamentally transforms the chaotic landscape. His voice carries such irresistible authority and power that it causes the earth itself to "melt" or dissolve, signifying a complete breakdown and disintegration of all that opposes Him or stands apart from His divine order. This verse serves as a declaration of God's ultimate control and swift judgment over all global tumult and human arrogance.

Psalm 46 6 Context

Psalm 46 is a song of confidence and security in God, particularly in times of global distress and natural calamity. It belongs to a collection of "Songs of Zion" or "Korahite Psalms," celebrating God's presence in Jerusalem. The psalm is structured to show a progression from global chaos and natural disaster (verses 1-3) to God's calm presence in His city (verses 4-5), culminating in God's powerful and decisive intervention that ends the turmoil (verse 6). The subsequent verses (7-11) affirm God's continued protective presence, summarizing the psalm with the repeated refrain, "The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress." Verse 6 is thus the central point of divine intervention, directly responding to the previous imagery of a world in upheaval and reinforcing the profound trust stated at the outset. Historically, it could reflect events such as Sennacherib's siege of Jerusalem (Isa 36-37), where Judah faced imminent destruction from a raging kingdom, only for God to intervene dramatically.

Psalm 46 6 Word analysis

• The nations (גּוֹיִם, goyim):

  • Significance: Often refers to Gentile nations, non-Israelite peoples. In a prophetic and psalmic context, goyim frequently represent those who are hostile or opposed to God and His people, often in rebellious uproar against divine authority.
  • Original Context: In the ancient Near East, surrounding nations often posed threats to Israel. The term distinguishes them from God's covenant people.
  • Polemics: Implicitly contrasts with the pagan idea of independent, powerful empires acting autonomously, asserting that their "rage" is ultimately futile before Yahweh.

• raged (הָמוּ, hāmu):

  • Meaning: To make an uproar, be in commotion, roar, growl, be tumultuous. It describes a violent, chaotic, and loud activity, typical of nations preparing for or engaged in warfare.
  • Significance: Evokes a scene of overwhelming chaos and aggression from human powers, highlighting the scale of the world's rebellion or threat.

• the kingdoms (מַמְלָכוֹת, mamlakhot):

  • Meaning: Empires, realms, sovereignties. This word specifically points to established political structures and powerful governmental entities.
  • Significance: Emphasizes that it is not just individual groups but organized, established powers that are subject to God's dominion.

• tottered (מָטוּ, matu):

  • Meaning: To be moved, shaken, made to waver, overthrown, cast down. Implies instability and collapse from a position of power or firmness.
  • Significance: Suggests an internal weakness or impending downfall, perhaps caused by their own actions or merely by the force of divine decree, even before God explicitly acts.
  • Original Context: Kings and empires of the ancient world were seen as powerful and stable, but here their stability is shown to be illusory.

• He uttered His voice (נָתַן בְּקוֹלֹו, natan bəqōlô):

  • Meaning: Literally "He gave with His voice," meaning to raise His voice, to speak forth powerfully, or to send out His voice. The word qol (voice) often signifies more than just sound; it embodies divine presence, decree, and active power in the Bible (e.g., God's creative word in Gen 1, His commands from Sinai).
  • Significance: This is the turning point of the verse and the psalm's conflict. It signifies immediate and decisive divine action. God's intervention is not through physical might (like armies) but through the sheer power of His sovereign decree. This single phrase transforms the chaotic scene into one of divine control.
  • Polemics: Directly contrasts with pagan idols that "have mouths but do not speak" (Ps 115:5) and are utterly powerless. Yahweh’s voice alone has ultimate efficacy.

• the earth (אָרֶץ, ’āreṣ):

  • Meaning: Can mean dry land, ground, or the entire planet, the inhabited world. In this context, it refers to the totality of the physical world and possibly everything associated with earthly existence and human dominion.
  • Significance: Extends God's power beyond human kingdoms to the very fabric of creation itself.

• melted (מָגוּת, māgot):

  • Meaning: To melt, dissolve, fade away, be in panic, become feeble. This is a vivid, apocalyptic image of disintegration, not just quaking.
  • Significance: Conveys utter dissolution and lack of resistance in the face of God's power. When God speaks, everything that previously seemed solid, even the earth itself, loses its substance and cohesion, returning to chaos or being utterly reshaped. It signifies fear, loss of stability, and total surrender to divine will. It often carries eschatological connotations in the prophets.

Word-Group Analysis:

• "The nations raged, the kingdoms tottered":

  • This opening phrase presents the global context of human-centric chaos and political instability. It highlights the impotence of human strength and worldly ambition against a divine standard. The rage and tottering indicate that these powers are intrinsically unstable and ultimately unable to stand firm without divine support, or rather, they actively collapse in opposition to divine will. This sets the stage for the dramatic contrast.

• "He uttered His voice, the earth melted":

  • This phrase captures the swift, effortless, and overwhelming nature of God's power. It's a cause-and-effect relationship, emphasizing that God's word alone is potent action. There's no battle or prolonged effort; His mere "voice" — a verbal decree or the manifestation of His active presence — instantly collapses everything. It illustrates not only God's omnipotence but also His immanence and immediate readiness to intervene decisively. It portrays God as the supreme and undisputed authority over both creation and all earthly rule.

Psalm 46 6 Bonus section

• The contrast between the cacophony and violence of human actions ("nations raged") and the solitary, powerful, and decisive sound of God's "voice" (only one sound, God's).
• The use of anthropomorphism ("He uttered His voice") to describe divine action, emphasizing God's direct, personal, and impactful intervention in worldly affairs.
• The "melting" imagery is rich in ancient Near Eastern thought, often associated with a theophany—a visible manifestation of God's glory, which could terrify or cause the natural world to respond dramatically, sometimes violently.
• The "earth melted" implies that all foundations, physical or societal, upon which human power rests, are tenuous and dependent entirely on God's permission.
• The absolute nature of God's power is shown in the sequence: chaotic human actions -> single divine utterance -> immediate, total disintegration. This is the divine fiat in action, not only creating but also dis-creating or recreating.

Psalm 46 6 Commentary

Psalm 46:6 stands as a monumental declaration of God's sovereign authority amidst universal chaos. The vivid imagery contrasts the clamor and instability of the nations and kingdoms of this world, consumed by their own plots and self-destructive tendencies, with the tranquil, effortless power of God. The human realm's "rage" and "tottering" demonstrate its inherent futility and vulnerability. This worldly disarray finds its swift and decisive end when God simply "utters His voice." This is not a drawn-out battle but an instantaneous decree, signifying that divine intervention requires no laborious effort. The resulting "melting" of the earth is a dramatic metaphor, indicating not just an earthquake or superficial trembling, but a complete dissolution of the created order as we know it, or at least a profound disorientation and collapse in the face of His overwhelming presence.

This verse assures the believer that no global conflict, political upheaval, or even natural disaster is beyond God's ultimate and immediate control. It serves as a stark reminder that earthly power is transient and insignificant compared to the immutable sovereignty of the Creator. It promises judgment for rebellious humanity and reassurance for those who take refuge in Him. The "melting earth" speaks not only to immediate historical interventions, but also points forward to a final eschatological dissolution of the current heavens and earth as God prepares to establish His eternal kingdom (2 Pet 3:10). In a practical sense, it calls believers to rest not in the perceived stability of human systems but in the unchanging, all-powerful God.