Psalm 48 3

Psalm 48:3 kjv

God is known in her palaces for a refuge.

Psalm 48:3 nkjv

God is in her palaces; He is known as her refuge.

Psalm 48:3 niv

God is in her citadels; he has shown himself to be her fortress.

Psalm 48:3 esv

Within her citadels God has made himself known as a fortress.

Psalm 48:3 nlt

God himself is in Jerusalem's towers,
revealing himself as its defender.

Psalm 48 verses

Psalm 48 3 Meaning

Psalm 48:3 declares God's active presence within Jerusalem's fortifications, revealing Him as the city's true and ultimate defense. It affirms that the safety and impregnability of Zion derive not from human military strength or elaborate structures, but from the sovereign Lord Himself who makes Himself known as its protector. This verse emphasizes God's immanent protection and His covenant faithfulness to His chosen city.

Psalm 48 3 Context

Psalm 48 is a hymn celebrating Zion, the city of God, following a great deliverance. It is positioned among other "Zion songs" (Psalms 46, 47, 49) which glorify Jerusalem as God's holy city and dwelling place. The psalm opens by declaring the greatness of the Lord and the beauty of Mount Zion (vv. 1-2). Verse 3 serves as the direct theological explanation for Zion's perceived invincibility, stating that God Himself is the ultimate defender within its fortifications. The following verses (4-7) describe the awe and terror of enemy kings who confronted Jerusalem, experiencing immediate dread and scattering without battle, testifying to God's intervention. This immediate historical context is likely linked to specific events where Jerusalem faced existential threats but was miraculously preserved, reinforcing the psalm's message of divine protection over military strength.

Psalm 48 3 Word analysis

• God (אֱלֹהִים - Elohim): Refers to the sovereign, true God, creator of all, who holds ultimate power. The plural form signifies His majesty, transcendence, and fullness of divine power. This God, not any other deity, is present.
• is in (בְּאַרְמְנוֹתֶיהָ - b'armonoteiha - "in her palaces/citadels/fortifications"): The Hebrew preposition b' indicates location and intimate presence. "Palaces" (or "citadels" / "fortresses") refer to the strong, fortified structures of Jerusalem/Zion mentioned implicitly by "her". The imagery points to God residing within the very defenses, making them truly impenetrable, as opposed to merely protecting from afar. It implies active, immanent engagement.
• He is known (נוֹדַע - noda' - "known" or "made known"): This is a Nifal form, indicating a passive or reflexive sense – "He is known" or "He has made Himself known." It highlights that God's presence as a stronghold is not a hidden secret but a revealed and demonstrated reality, evident to both inhabitants and enemies alike. His defensive power is publicly acknowledged through His acts.
• as her stronghold (לְמִשְׂגָּב - l'misgav - "as a high place/refuge/stronghold"): The preposition l' ("as" or "for") defines the role God takes. "Misgav" literally means a "high place" or "safe height," inherently suggesting inaccessibility to enemies and a place of secure refuge. God Himself is identified as the unassailable bulwark of the city. The emphasis is on divine, not human, protection.

• "God is in her palaces": This phrase directly attributes the city's security not to its physical defenses, but to God's actual, active dwelling within them. It implies that the spiritual presence of God makes the fortifications truly effective, contrasting with cities relying solely on walls or human armies.
• "He is known as her stronghold": This speaks of the manifest nature of God's defense. It's not just a belief held by Israel, but a reality demonstrated through history, especially in times of threat. His identity as the ultimate secure refuge is revealed and undeniable.

Psalm 48 3 Bonus section

The verse carries a polemical thrust against the prevailing pagan polytheism where deities were localized to specific temples and their power was often seen as limited or reliant on rituals. Psalm 48:3 asserts the living God's sovereign and effective presence as a superior form of divine protection, contrasting with the often impotent or fickle gods of surrounding nations. While primarily addressing Jerusalem, this principle extends to the Christian understanding of the Church, where God's presence, through the Holy Spirit, makes believers His dwelling place (1 Cor 3:16) and a secure spiritual stronghold against evil. The concept of Zion as the City of God transcends its physical boundaries to represent the community where God resides, whether Old Testament Israel, the New Testament Church, or the heavenly New Jerusalem (Heb 12:22, Rev 21:3).

Psalm 48 3 Commentary

Psalm 48:3 distills the core theological truth of Zion's security: it rests squarely on God's active, resident presence within the city. This verse challenges the common ancient Near Eastern notion that a city's strength lay in its architectural defenses or the prowess of its human army. Instead, it asserts divine immanence as the ultimate, unyielding safeguard. God is not merely an external ally, but an internal, recognized power, making the very walls and towers His extension. The "palaces" symbolize the entirety of the city's fortified grandeur, all rendered secure because Elohim resides within. "He is known" highlights that this protective character of God is not abstract but demonstrated in specific historical events of deliverance, providing verifiable testimony to His faithfulness. This verse moves beyond mere poetic declaration to a statement of profound theological and practical consequence: genuine security is found solely in God, the divine Stronghold who makes Himself known through His saving acts.