Psalm 48 11

Psalm 48:11 kjv

Let mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of thy judgments.

Psalm 48:11 nkjv

Let Mount Zion rejoice, Let the daughters of Judah be glad, Because of Your judgments.

Psalm 48:11 niv

Mount Zion rejoices, the villages of Judah are glad because of your judgments.

Psalm 48:11 esv

Let Mount Zion be glad! Let the daughters of Judah rejoice because of your judgments!

Psalm 48:11 nlt

Let the people on Mount Zion rejoice.
Let all the towns of Judah be glad
because of your justice.

Psalm 48 verses

Psalm 48 11 Meaning

Psalm 48:11 is a prophetic call for rejoicing among God's people, specifically Mount Zion and the inhabitants of Judah. This rejoicing is rooted in and justified by God's divine judgments, which are understood here as His righteous acts of intervention, deliverance, and justice, especially His protection and vindication of Jerusalem from hostile forces, as previously described in the psalm. It signifies the profound gladness and celebration that results from experiencing God's sovereign rule and faithful defense of His covenant people.

Psalm 48 11 Context

Psalm 48 is a hymn praising Zion, the city of God. It is often referred to as a "Song of Zion," celebrating Jerusalem as God's chosen dwelling place and a secure sanctuary. The preceding verses (Psa 48:1-8) vividly describe God's powerful defense of Jerusalem against attacking kings, leading to their immediate defeat and flight. This particular deliverance (often associated with the historical account of Sennacherib's Assyrian army's miraculous defeat in Isa 36-37 and 2 Kgs 19) serves as the immediate historical and literary backdrop for the "judgments" mentioned in verse 11. The psalm emphasizes that God's presence makes Zion inviolable. Culturally, it reinforces the unique status of Jerusalem among the nations, not due to its military might, but due to the active presence and protective power of Yahweh. It indirectly functions as a polemic against pagan beliefs in national gods tied to their land or specific holy sites, asserting that the God of Israel is not only sovereign over His land but also demonstrates universal power through specific acts of judgment and salvation.

Psalm 48 11 Word analysis

• Let Mount Zion (תָּגֵל צִיּוֹן, tagel Tsiyown):
  • Let... rejoice: The Hebrew verb is an imperative, "rejoice!", a direct command or earnest wish for Mount Zion to exult.
  • Mount Zion (צִיּוֹן, Tsiyown): The elevated part of Jerusalem, God's holy dwelling place. It symbolizes the entire city, God's people, and metaphorically, God's kingdom and church. Its significance is foundational as the place God chose to establish His name and temple, the center of His presence and worship.
• rejoice, let the daughters of Judah (תָּגֵל... בְּנוֹת יְהוּדָה, tagel... benot Yehudah):
  • daughters of Judah (בְּנוֹת יְהוּדָה, benot Yehudah): This refers to the cities, towns, and communities throughout the territory of Judah, including their inhabitants. It signifies a broader sphere of rejoicing that extends beyond Jerusalem itself to all who are part of the covenant community of Judah. The phrase conveys a sense of tender affection for the populace, particularly the vulnerable.
• be glad (תַּעֲלֹצְנָה, ta'alotzenah):
  • Similar to "rejoice," this verb also denotes exultation, jubilation, or triumph, emphasizing fervent, outward expressions of joy. It highlights the completeness and fervor of the commanded delight.
• because of thy judgments (עַל מִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ, al mishpateyka):
  • because of (עַל, al): Indicates the direct cause or reason for the rejoicing.
  • thy judgments (מִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ, mishpateyka): This is a crucial term. Mishpatim (judgments) can encompass several meanings: divine decrees, justice, ordinances, or acts of righteous judgment/vindication. In the immediate context of Psalm 48's description of God's defense of Jerusalem (vs. 4-8), it primarily refers to God's powerful, decisive acts of intervention against His enemies that resulted in the deliverance and salvation of His people. It signifies God's active justice demonstrated in concrete, historical events that establish His righteous rule and protect His own. These are not merely abstract concepts of justice but witnessed demonstrations of divine power.

Psalm 48 11 Bonus section

The commanded joy of Psalm 48:11 is not merely an emotional response but an act of worship and a recognition of God's sovereignty. It points forward to the ultimate and eternal rejoicing of the saints in the New Jerusalem (Rev 21-22), where God's just rule will be perfectly established, and His presence will eternally reside, bringing perfect peace and joy to all His redeemed people. This psalm also highlights a key theme found throughout Scripture: the understanding that God's judgments, while devastating to His enemies, are simultaneously acts of salvation and vindication for His chosen ones, hence eliciting praise and gladness.

Psalm 48 11 Commentary

Psalm 48:11 encapsulates the profound spiritual and communal joy that erupts when God manifests His righteous character through tangible acts of deliverance. The psalm paints a picture of Mount Zion and the surrounding cities of Judah experiencing an ecstatic outpouring of gladness, directly in response to God's active demonstration of His judgments. These "judgments" are not arbitrary condemnations, but rather expressions of God's justice that establish order, protect His people, and overcome hostile forces, ensuring their security and the fulfillment of His covenant promises. This divine intervention affirms God's unique sovereignty over Zion and assures His people of His enduring presence and power. The verse serves as an enduring reminder that true rejoicing is intrinsically linked to witnessing and recognizing God's active, faithful, and just hand in the affairs of humanity, vindicating His people and upholding His kingdom. It is a joy born of salvation and trust in the One who rules all.