Psalm 48:1 kjv
Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness.
Psalm 48:1 nkjv
A Song. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised In the city of our God, In His holy mountain.
Psalm 48:1 niv
A song. A psalm of the Sons of Korah. Great is the LORD, and most worthy of praise, in the city of our God, his holy mountain.
Psalm 48:1 esv
Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised in the city of our God! His holy mountain,
Psalm 48:1 nlt
How great is the LORD,
how deserving of praise,
in the city of our God,
which sits on his holy mountain!
Psalm 48 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 96:4 | For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise... | Echoes the praise for God's greatness. |
| Ps 145:3 | Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; His greatness no one can fathom. | Emphasizes unfathomable greatness. |
| Isa 12:4 | Declare His works among the nations; proclaim that His name is exalted. | Proclaims God's name and deeds worthy of praise. |
| Jer 10:6 | No one is like You, LORD; You are great, and Your name is mighty in power. | Confirms God's uniqueness and power. |
| Rev 15:3 | Great and marvelous are Your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are Your ways... | Future worship echoing God's great deeds. |
| Ps 18:3 | I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise... | Praiseworthiness of God. |
| Ps 95:1-3 | Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD... for the LORD is the great God... | Call to worship and God's greatness. |
| Ps 46:4 | There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High. | Highlights Jerusalem as God's dwelling. |
| Ps 76:2 | His tent is in Salem, His dwelling place in Zion. | Specifies Zion as God's abode. |
| Ps 87:3 | Glorious things are said of you, city of God. | Affirmation of Zion's divine significance. |
| Isa 2:2-3 | ...the mountain of the LORD’s temple will be established... all nations will stream to it. | Prophecy of Zion as a spiritual center. |
| Isa 60:14 | They will call you The City of the LORD, Zion of the Holy One of Israel. | Prophetic naming of Jerusalem. |
| Zec 8:3 | Thus says the LORD: ‘I will return to Zion and will dwell in Jerusalem.’ | God's promise of future presence in Zion. |
| Heb 12:22 | But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. | New Covenant understanding of Zion as spiritual reality. |
| Rev 21:2-3 | I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem... God's dwelling place is now among the people... | Final fulfillment of the "City of God" concept. |
| Rev 21:10 | ...He carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. | Vision of the New Jerusalem. |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation... that you may declare the praises of Him... | People called to praise God's excellencies. |
| Ex 15:11 | Who among the gods is like You, LORD? Who is like You—majestic in holiness...? | God's unparalleled holiness and majesty. |
| Ps 99:9 | Exalt the LORD our God and worship at His holy mountain... for the LORD our God is holy. | Calls for worship at the holy mountain due to God's holiness. |
| Phil 2:9-11 | Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name... that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow... | Exaltation of God in Christ, leading to praise. |
Psalm 48 verses
Psalm 48 1 Meaning
Psalm 48:1 proclaims the supreme greatness and immense praiseworthiness of Yahweh, the Lord. This praise is fittingly rendered within His sacred dwelling, the city of Jerusalem, known as the "city of our God" and "His holy mountain." The verse underscores both God's majestic character and His covenant presence among His people in Zion.
Psalm 48 1 Context
Psalm 48 is one of the "Songs of Zion," which celebrate Jerusalem as the city chosen by God for His dwelling place, thus becoming the source of security and joy for His people. Historically, this psalm might have been composed after a significant deliverance of Jerusalem from an invading army, likely highlighting the invincibility of God's city due to His active presence. It serves as a hymn of thanksgiving and triumph, emphasizing God's role as King and Protector. The verse establishes the foundational truth that the city's greatness stems directly from the greatness of God who dwells within it.
Psalm 48 1 Word Analysis
- Great (גָּדוֹל - gadol): Denotes immensity, vastness, significance, and power. It points to God's transcendent nature, His preeminence above all things. His "greatness" implies His sovereignty, might, and uncontainable nature, exceeding human comprehension or any earthly limitation. It implicitly counters the limited powers of pagan deities.
- is the LORD (יְהוָה - Yahweh): Refers to the personal, covenant God of Israel. This name signifies His eternal, self-existent nature, His faithfulness, and His commitment to His promises and His people. It distinguishes Him as the true God, distinct from any false gods.
- and most worthy of praise (מְאֹד מְהֻלָּל - me'od mehullal): Me'od means "very" or "exceedingly," serving as an intensive. Mehullal is a Pual participle of halal (הָלַל), which means "to praise," "to laud," "to boast," or "to shine forth." The repetition and intensive adverb indicate the superlative degree: God is not merely worthy of praise but deserving of the highest, most fervent, and abundant praise. His character is so excellent it evokes overwhelming praise from creation and His people.
- in the city of our God (עִיר אֱלֹהֵינוּ - ‘Ir Elohenu): This is Jerusalem, or Zion. Calling it "our God's city" signifies that it is not merely a political capital but a sacred space consecrated by God's presence. It is the place where His rule is tangibly expressed on Earth and where His people find their identity and security under His watch. This is a theological rather than purely geographical designation.
- his holy mountain (הַר קָדְשׁוֹ - har kodsho): Refers to Mount Zion, where the Temple stood. "Holy" (קֹדֶשׁ - kodesh) implies separation and dedication to God, belonging uniquely to Him and infused with His presence. This mountain, while physical, is symbolically significant as the focal point of God's dwelling, a place of divine encounter, worship, and where God reveals His power and salvation. Its holiness is derived entirely from God Himself.
- Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise": This phrase combines God's inherent, unapproachable greatness (transcendence) with His praiseworthiness, which flows from that very greatness and His manifest works (His immanence and redemptive actions). It forms the foundational truth that demands universal acclamation.
- "in the city of our God, his holy mountain": This clarifies the specific context for this praise. While God is universally great, He has chosen a particular place for His visible dwelling and the corporate praise of His people. This highlights the unique theological significance of Jerusalem/Zion, where the divine presence creates a center for worship and salvation for His chosen people.
Psalm 48 1 Bonus Section
The concept of "the city of our God, His holy mountain" foreshadows the New Testament understanding of God's dwelling not primarily in a physical temple or city, but among His redeemed people, the Church (Eph 2:19-22; 1 Pet 2:5). Ultimately, it finds its consummation in the "new Jerusalem" (Rev 21:2-3), where God truly dwells among humanity, removing the need for a specific temple. The praise offered to Yahweh in Zion, therefore, serves as a type for the everlasting worship directed towards God and the Lamb in the eternal heavenly city. The intensity of "most worthy of praise" indicates a full-hearted, joyous, and boasting praise (in the sense of glorifying) that recognizes God's peerless worth.
Psalm 48 1 Commentary
Psalm 48:1 serves as a declarative statement of faith and a summons to worship. It opens by declaring God's absolute preeminence ("Great is the LORD") and His intrinsic right to be honored ("most worthy of praise"). This greatness is not abstract but vividly experienced in His specific dealings with His people, particularly His protective presence in Jerusalem. The "city of our God" and "his holy mountain" are not just geographical markers but theological symbols of God's chosen dwelling place, where His attributes are displayed, and His glory recognized. The psalm sets forth a worldview where God's transcendent majesty is intrinsically linked to His immanent presence among His people. The emphasis on corporate praise within this specific sacred context establishes Zion as the hub of true worship, challenging the localized cults of pagan nations by presenting a universally powerful yet uniquely resident God. It affirms that the source of true security and identity for God's people lies in the reality of His active presence among them, prompting heartfelt and communal adoration.