Psalm 48 7

Psalm 48:7 kjv

Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with an east wind.

Psalm 48:7 nkjv

As when You break the ships of Tarshish With an east wind.

Psalm 48:7 niv

You destroyed them like ships of Tarshish shattered by an east wind.

Psalm 48:7 esv

By the east wind you shattered the ships of Tarshish.

Psalm 48:7 nlt

You destroyed them like the mighty ships of Tarshish
shattered by a powerful east wind.

Psalm 48 verses

Psalm 48 7 Meaning

Psalm 48:7 declares God's effortless power and sovereignty by portraying Him shattering the seemingly invincible "ships of Tarshish" with a mere "east wind." This vividly illustrates that human wealth, global commerce, military strength, and perceived invincibility are utterly defenseless against divine judgment and control. It highlights that God, not earthly powers, truly governs all things, defending His city and people.

Psalm 48 7 Context

Psalm 48 is a hymn celebrating Jerusalem (Zion) as the beautiful, secure city of God. The psalm opens by declaring the greatness of the Lord in His holy mountain, drawing attention to Mount Zion's beauty and its role as the city of the Great King (Ps 48:1-2). It then shifts to describe an encounter where kings conspired against Jerusalem, saw it, and were instantly overwhelmed with fear and scattered (Ps 48:4-6), a miraculous intervention by God. Verse 7, then, provides a vivid, powerful image of the nature of God's judgment and protective power: the destruction of strong, distant maritime forces ("ships of Tarshish") by the unseen force of the "east wind." This specific imagery underscores that the terrifying collapse of earthly power witnessed by the kings was no mere coincidence but an act of God's supreme authority, extending even over the mightiest of human endeavors and global reach, thus cementing Jerusalem's inviolability due to God's presence within it. The entire chapter praises God's saving acts for His city, contrasting His strength with the fleeting power of the nations.

Psalm 48 7 Word analysis

• By the east wind: Hebrew: b'ruach qadim (בְּרוּחַ קָדִים).
  • b': (prefix) "by," "with," indicating the instrument or means.
  • ruach: (רוּחַ) Means "wind," "spirit," or "breath." Here, it signifies a literal, strong wind, but its connection to "spirit" subtly suggests divine agency and supernatural power.
  • qadim: (קָדִים) Means "east" or "ancient." The "east wind" in the Bible is frequently associated with divine judgment, dryness, destruction, and intense power (e.g., locust plagues, scorching crops, parting the Red Sea). It is a symbol of God's formidable, unstoppable force. Its use here points to God's direct and potent involvement in destruction, utilizing even a natural phenomenon as an instrument of His will.
• You shatter: Hebrew: t'shabber (תְּשַׁבֵּר).
  • From the verb shavar (שָׁבַר), meaning "to break," "shatter," "burst," or "crush." The form here (Piel imperfect) intensifies the action, indicating a forceful, complete, and active breaking or crushing.
  • The "You" refers directly to God, emphasizing His agency in this powerful act. This active, direct verb contrasts with the perceived strength of the "ships of Tarshish," making it clear that their demise is a deliberate and overwhelming act of divine judgment.
• the ships: Hebrew: oniyyot (אֳנִיּוֹת).
  • Plural of oniyyah (אֳנִיָּה), meaning "ship" or "vessel." These represent not merely conveyances, but entire fleets, symbolizing naval power, trade, economic strength, and far-reaching human enterprise.
• of Tarshish: Hebrew: Tarshish (תַּרְשִׁישׁ).
  • A distant and wealthy port city, often associated with mining and luxury goods, possibly located in the far west (e.g., Spain or Sardinia) or an important Phoenician trading hub.
  • "Ships of Tarshish" (אֳנִיּוֹת תַּרְשִׁישׁ) is a biblical idiom signifying large, heavily laden trading vessels capable of long voyages. They symbolize global commerce, immense wealth, human ingenuity, pride, and perceived invincibility that comes from vast economic and naval power. These ships represent the pinnacle of human achievement and worldly security.

Words-group analysis:

• By the east wind You shatter: This phrase immediately establishes God's agency and the simplicity yet overwhelming power of His destructive capability. It highlights that God does not need a grand army or elaborate plans to defeat mighty adversaries; a natural, seemingly innocuous "wind" in His hands is enough to completely dismantle formidable human creations. This imagery subtly serves as a polemic against ancient near-eastern deities associated with sea or storm, affirming Yahweh's supreme control.
• the ships of Tarshish: This specific phrase, common in prophetic literature, symbolizes the epitome of human worldly might, wealth, trade, and pride. Their shattering signifies God's absolute sovereignty over all nations and their seemingly impregnable systems. It directly challenges the idea that any human power, however vast or distant, can escape divine judgment or rival God's power. It stands for the pride of nations built on material gain and distant conquest, all subject to God's immediate decree.

Psalm 48 7 Bonus section

The image of the east wind shattering the ships of Tarshish is not just descriptive but deeply polemical. Many ancient cultures, including the Phoenicians (who heavily utilized "Tarshish ships"), worshipped sea deities (like Baal-Hadad as a storm god) and believed in the inherent strength and invulnerability of maritime trade. By showing Yahweh effortlessly destroying such symbols of power using a natural force He commands, the psalm asserts His unique, supreme dominion over all elements and economies, decisively dethroning pagan deities and human self-sufficiency. This verse affirms God’s control not just over the land of Israel, but over global commerce, distant nations, and the very forces of nature, aligning with the psalm’s larger theme of God’s unmatched greatness and the security of His city.

Psalm 48 7 Commentary

Psalm 48:7 delivers a potent theological statement about the incomparable power of God over all earthly might. The "ships of Tarshish" epitomized the height of human industrial, commercial, and exploratory achievement—they were the ultimate symbols of wealth, independence, and worldly confidence. Yet, the psalmist declares that God "shatters" them not with armies or conventional weapons, but "by the east wind." This emphasizes divine sovereignty and ease; what seems insurmountable to humanity is effortless for God. The suddenness and devastating power of the east wind, a common instrument of divine judgment in the Old Testament, serve as a stark reminder that human enterprises, however vast or secure, are fragile and utterly subservient to the Creator's will. It’s a message of both comfort to God’s people, assured of His protection against any foe, and a warning to nations relying on their own strength, which is ultimately exposed as futility before the Almighty. It is a powerful illustration that true security and dominion belong to God alone.