Psalm 48 14

Psalm 48:14 kjv

For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.

Psalm 48:14 nkjv

For this is God, Our God forever and ever; He will be our guide Even to death.

Psalm 48:14 niv

For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end.

Psalm 48:14 esv

that this is God, our God forever and ever. He will guide us forever.

Psalm 48:14 nlt

For that is what God is like.
He is our God forever and ever,
and he will guide us until we die.

Psalm 48 14 Cross References

VerseTextReference
Exod 15:2The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation; this is my God...God as "my God," personal salvation.
Deut 26:17You have declared today that the Lord is your God...Covenant declaration, "your God."
Deut 33:27The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms.God's eternity and sustaining presence.
Psa 20:7Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.Trust in "our God" contrasts worldly trust.
Psa 23:1The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.God as guiding Shepherd.
Psa 23:3He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.God's righteous guidance.
Psa 25:9He leads the humble in justice, and he teaches the humble his way.God's guidance for the humble.
Psa 31:3For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name's sake you lead me and guide me.God leads and guides.
Psa 73:24You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory.Guidance extending to glory/eternity.
Psa 90:2Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.God's eternal nature.
Isa 40:28The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not grow tired or weary...God's everlasting power and care.
Isa 48:17I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.God as instructor and guide.
Isa 58:11The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land...Constant guidance and provision.
Jer 31:33...I will be their God, and they shall be my people.New Covenant, God as "their God."
Ezek 34:23I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them...God provides shepherd (Christ).
Zech 8:8And I will bring them that they may dwell in the midst of Jerusalem, and they shall be my people, and I will be their God in truth and righteousness.Future covenant fulfillment, "our God."
Jn 10:3The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.Jesus as the guiding Shepherd.
Jn 14:16-17The Helper... the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive... you know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.The Spirit's guidance (forever).
Rom 8:38-39For I am sure that neither death nor life... will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.No separation from God's love, even in death.
Phil 1:6And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.God's completing work until the end.
Heb 8:10For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel... I will be their God, and they shall be my people.New Covenant, God as "their God."
Heb 13:5I will never leave you nor forsake you.God's constant presence.
Rev 7:17For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water...Lamb (Christ) guides eternally.
Rev 21:3-4And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man... he will be their God..."God dwelling eternally with His people.

Psalm 48 verses

Psalm 48 14 Meaning

Psalm 48:14 proclaims the steadfast and eternal nature of God's relationship with His people and His unfailing guidance throughout their earthly lives, extending in its effect to their very end. It underscores the exclusivity and perpetuity of this divine-human covenant, assuring believers of God's perpetual care and sovereign leading.

Psalm 48 14 Context

Psalm 48 is a hymn praising God for His majestic presence in Zion, Jerusalem. The psalm describes God as the protector and defender of His city against external threats, causing kings to flee in terror. It celebrates Jerusalem's strength and beauty, not as inherent qualities, but as a reflection of God's dwelling within it and His commitment to its security. Verse 14 serves as a climactic affirmation of the worshiper's enduring faith and confidence in this powerful and ever-present God. It shifts from God's corporate defense of Jerusalem to His personal, perpetual relationship and guidance for each individual within His covenant people, assuring them of His constant watch care through their entire lives.

Psalm 48 14 Word analysis

  • For: Introduces a reason or strong affirmation for the preceding praise and confidence in God's majesty and defense of Zion.
  • this: Hebrew zeh (זֶה). Emphasizes the specific God just described – the God of Zion, the triumphant defender, the King of all the earth. It points to Him exclusively.
  • God: Hebrew ʾElohim (אֱלֹהִים). A general term for deity, but here used specifically for Yahweh, the true and living God, distinguished from all other gods. It highlights His supreme power and deity.
  • is: Implied in Hebrew syntax, signifying an eternal, unchangeable state of being.
  • our God: Hebrew ʾElohenu (אֱלֹהֵינוּ). A crucial phrase indicating a covenantal, personal, and communal relationship. He is not just a God, but the God who belongs to us and to whom we belong. It speaks of divine election and intimate relationship. This is central to Israel's identity.
  • for ever and ever: Hebrew ʿôlām wāʿed (עוֹלָם וָעֶד). This compound expression signifies absolute eternity and perpetuity. It means beyond time, ceaselessly, unchangingly. It emphasizes the enduring nature of God's covenant, His being, and His commitment to His people, not limited by human lifespan or historical changes.
  • he will be: Expresses future certainty and divine intention.
  • our guide: Hebrew yenahăgēnu (יְנַהֲגֵנוּ). From the root nāhag, meaning "to lead, to drive, to guide, to bring, to conduct." This metaphor evokes the image of a shepherd leading his flock, or a reliable escort showing the way. It implies direction, protection, provision, and skillful leading through challenging terrain. God's guidance is active and personal.
  • even to death: Hebrew ʿad-māweth (עַד־מָוֶת). This literal translation "until death" or "unto death" emphasizes the duration and steadfastness of God's guidance. It implies that His faithful leading continues throughout one's entire earthly existence, culminating at the point of physical death. For the ancient Israelite, it meant a complete life of divine guidance, which secured their standing and hope even in the face of their greatest enemy, death. In a broader theological sense, particularly understood through the New Testament, this "guidance" secures not just physical life, but spiritual well-being, preserving one's soul unto eternal life. It suggests that God's faithful guidance brings His people through life’s perils to a secure end. It can also imply God's guidance through the "valley of the shadow of death," indicating presence and support during life's ultimate transition.

Psalm 48 14 Bonus section

The emphasis on God's eternal guidance "unto death" directly contrasts with the fleeting nature of human strength, kingdoms, and earthly existence described elsewhere in the Psalms (e.g., Ps 39:4-6, Ps 146:3-4). This psalm, specifically Psalm 48:14, asserts a divine relationship that transcends the limitations of mortality, offering true hope and security. In early Christian understanding, the unwavering guidance "even to death" of the Old Covenant God (Yahweh) is fully realized and confirmed in the person and work of Jesus Christ, the ultimate Shepherd, whose victory over death assures eternal guidance for all who follow Him. This also speaks against the despair felt in many ancient cultures regarding the finality of death, as it affirms divine escort to the very threshold of eternity.

Psalm 48 14 Commentary

Psalm 48:14 culminates the psalm's adoration of God's greatness by reaffirming a profoundly personal and eternal truth: this powerful and majestic God is our God forever and ever. This isn't just an intellectual acknowledgment but an expression of deep covenant trust and belonging. The phrase "our God" is rooted in God's promises to Abraham and later to Israel at Sinai, establishing an exclusive and unbreakable bond. His nature as "for ever and ever" means His commitment, power, and character are immutable, providing absolute security to those in covenant with Him. The climax, "He will be our guide even to death," provides ultimate comfort. It speaks to God's continuous, active leadership through every stage and challenge of life, ensuring that His people are led correctly until their very last breath. This guidance is comprehensive, not just for moments of crisis, but throughout the entirety of one's journey. It implies a providential care that shepherds believers through trials, sustains them in difficulties, and secures their ultimate destiny, affirming that His faithful leading guarantees not abandonment but ultimate peace and entrance into His eternal presence beyond physical life's end. Practically, this verse assures believers that whatever challenges or transitions they face, the sovereign, eternal God is perpetually leading them towards their divine destination.