Psalm 48:6 kjv
Fear took hold upon them there, and pain, as of a woman in travail.
Psalm 48:6 nkjv
Fear took hold of them there, And pain, as of a woman in birth pangs,
Psalm 48:6 niv
Trembling seized them there, pain like that of a woman in labor.
Psalm 48:6 esv
Trembling took hold of them there, anguish as of a woman in labor.
Psalm 48:6 nlt
They were gripped with terror
and writhed in pain like a woman in labor.
Psalm 48 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 15:15-16 | Then the chiefs of Edom were dismayed; trembling seized the leaders of Moab… terror and dread fell upon them. | The dread of God upon enemies |
| Josh 2:9-11 | for we have heard how the LORD dried up the water… the hearts of all men melted because of you. | The hearts of enemies melting from fear of God |
| Isa 13:6-8 | Wail, for the day of the LORD is near… everyone who is found will be pierced… they will be in anguish, like a woman in labor. | Judgment accompanied by birth pangs |
| Isa 21:3 | Therefore my loins are filled with anguish; pangs have seized me, like the pangs of a woman in labor. | Metaphor of birth pangs for extreme distress |
| Isa 24:17-18 | Terror and the pit and the snare are upon you… whoever flees… shall fall into the pit. | Inescapable terror and judgment |
| Jer 4:31 | For I hear a cry as of a woman in labor, a pang as of one giving birth to her first child. | Agony likened to first labor pains |
| Jer 6:24 | We have heard the report of it; our hands fall helpless. Anguish has seized us, pangs as of a woman in labor. | Paralyzing fear upon hearing of destruction |
| Jer 13:21 | What will you say when he appoints over you… pangs will take hold of you, like a woman in labor? | Impending judgment bringing labor-like pain |
| Jer 30:6-7 | Ask now, and see… that every man has his hands on his loins like a woman in labor… Jacob's trouble. | Great distress likened to birth pangs |
| Jer 49:24 | Damascus has grown feeble, she has turned to flee; panic has seized her… like a woman in labor. | Panic and weakness seizing an opposing city |
| Jer 50:43 | The king of Babylon heard the report of them, and his hands fell helpless; anguish seized him, pangs like a woman in labor. | King's hands helpless from terror |
| Hos 13:13 | The pangs of childbirth come for him, but he is an unwise son, for at the proper time he does not present himself. | Unwise refusal to embrace salvation leads to pain |
| Mic 4:9-10 | Why do you cry aloud? Is there no king in you? Has your counselor perished, that pangs have seized you like a woman in labor? | Distress leading to spiritual realization |
| Matt 24:8 | All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. | Troubles leading to a new era (Messiah's return) |
| Mark 13:8 | For nation will rise against nation… these are but the beginning of the birth pains. | Similar "birth pangs" of the last days |
| 1 Thes 5:3 | While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains. | Sudden, inescapable judgment for the ungodly |
| Psa 2:4-5 | He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. Then he will speak to them in his wrath. | God's scorn for rebellious kings |
| Psa 46:6 | The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. | God's voice causes earth-shaking effects |
| Psa 76:5-7 | The stouthearted were stripped of their spoil… horses and chariots were entranced. At your rebuke… both rider and horse lay. | God disarming and disabling enemies |
| Zech 12:4 | On that day, declares the LORD, I will strike every horse with panic, and every rider with madness. | God's intervention causes panic |
| Rev 6:15-17 | Then the kings of the earth and the great ones… hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains… from the wrath. | Kings hide in terror from God's wrath |
Psalm 48 verses
Psalm 48 6 Meaning
Psalm 48:6 describes the profound, immediate, and incapacitating terror that overcame the opposing kings who dared to approach Jerusalem, God's holy city. Their experience is likened to the overwhelming anguish and pain of a woman in labor, signifying a sudden, inescapable, and utterly debilitating crisis of terror imposed by divine power. It underscores the invincibility of God's presence in Zion and the swift judgment on His adversaries.
Psalm 48 6 Context
Psalm 48 is a hymn celebrating Jerusalem, Zion, as the city of God and the Great King. The psalm extols the city's beauty and impregnability, not due to its fortifications, but because the Lord Almighty resides within it (vv. 1-3). Verses 4-8, including verse 6, describe a historical event where a coalition of kings assembled against Zion with hostile intent. However, their mighty advance was mysteriously thwarted. Instead of engaging in battle, they were overcome with an inexplicable panic and fled in disarray. This swift and bloodless victory underscores God's omnipotence and His direct intervention in protecting His people. Culturally, this event would have resonated with the people's understanding of YHWH's uniqueness, as opposed to pagan deities whose power was limited and often confined to certain territories or susceptible to defeat if their sacred sites were defiled or conquered. The sudden, paralyzing terror inflicted on the kings served as a powerful polemic, demonstrating that the God of Israel was the true, sovereign Lord who protected His dwelling and His people with supernatural power, beyond any human or political machination.
Psalm 48 6 Word analysis
- Trembling (Hebrew: חַלְחָלָה, ḥalḥālāh): This is an onomatopoeic word, suggesting a quivering or violent convulsion. It denotes not just fear, but a profound physical and mental agitation, a deep inner shuddering that is involuntary and all-consuming. It goes beyond simple fright, indicating a disorienting, crippling terror that manifests physically.
- took hold (Hebrew: אָחֲזָת, ʾaḥăzāt): Derived from the verb ʾāḥaz, meaning "to seize, grasp, hold." Here, it signifies that the trembling completely overpowered them; it wasn't a choice or a momentary feeling but something that gripped and paralyzed them, rendering them utterly helpless and unable to act or resist. It highlights the irresistible nature of this divine infliction.
- them there (Hebrew: שָׁם, šām): "Them" refers to the kings mentioned in verse 4, highlighting that their combined power and might were useless. "There" points to the very location of their attempted siege, near Jerusalem/Zion. It's significant that their terror seized them on the ground they sought to conquer, turning their point of aggression into their point of paralysis.
- anguish (Hebrew: צִיר, ṣīr): This term can mean pain, sorrow, pangs, or travail. In this context, it specifically refers to intense, severe pain, akin to labor pains. It is a profound, bodily distress that strips one of dignity and strength.
- like a woman in labor (Hebrew: יוֹלֵדָה, yôlēdâ): This is a vivid and common biblical simile for inescapable, agonizing pain. It implies not only intensity but also a certain public display of weakness, the stripping away of control and power, and an unmanly vulnerability for these mighty kings. The pain is sudden, acute, consuming, and climactic, leading to a profound internal struggle that cannot be suppressed or avoided. For powerful male kings, being compared to a vulnerable woman in labor would have been a profoundly humiliating and devastating depiction of their utter defeat and powerlessness before God.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- Trembling took hold of them there: This phrase paints a picture of swift, unbidden incapacitation. The kings, presumably arrayed for battle, suddenly find their entire being seized by an overwhelming terror that is both physical and psychological. Their strength, strategic planning, and martial might evaporate in an instant, replaced by uncontrollable quaking at the very sight or presence of the Lord in Zion. This signifies divine intervention, where God directly paralyses His enemies without a single human weapon being wielded.
- anguish, like a woman in labor: This vivid metaphor elevates the terror beyond mere fear to excruciating, all-consuming pain. The agony of childbirth is known for its intensity, inevitability, and overwhelming nature, dominating all thought and action. Applied to mighty kings, it underscores their sudden vulnerability, powerlessness, and the complete stripping of their dignity and control. Their inner turmoil is mirrored by a physical reality, rendering them pathetic and exposed.
Psalm 48 6 Bonus section
The profound fear described in this verse is often interpreted by scholars as divine panic—a unique form of terror directly inflicted by God upon His enemies, rendering them utterly useless and defenseless without any direct combat. This type of divine intervention bypasses traditional warfare, showcasing God's absolute sovereignty. This event would have fortified the people's trust in YHWH not just as a mighty warrior, but as a protector who works through means beyond human comprehension, reinforcing their faith in the covenant God. The "birth pangs" metaphor, while indicating pain and distress, also has eschatological significance in the Bible, often foreshadowing a major divine event—in this case, judgment, but in others, a new creation or age, emphasizing the severity and turning point nature of this divine confrontation.
Psalm 48 6 Commentary
Psalm 48:6 stands as a powerful testament to the sovereign protection God offers His people in Zion. The verse dramatically illustrates that when mighty, hostile kings gather against Jerusalem, it is not by human defense that they are defeated, but by a sudden, divinely orchestrated terror. The twin images of "trembling" (ḥalḥālāh) and "anguish like a woman in labor" (ṣīr k'yôlēdâ) converge to describe an internal collapse of monumental proportions. The "trembling" indicates an uncontrollable, physical manifestation of fear that strips the kings of their composure and power. The simile of a "woman in labor" conveys inescapable, intense pain, coupled with humiliation and helplessness. These are powerful men reduced to utter vulnerability, a condition of excruciating, unavoidable suffering that highlights their inability to withstand the presence or the unseen hand of the Almighty. This swift, supernatural defeat underscores Zion's impregnability as God's city and serves as a promise of His unwavering guardianship over His dwelling place and those He cherishes.