Psalm 48:9 kjv
We have thought of thy lovingkindness, O God, in the midst of thy temple.
Psalm 48:9 nkjv
We have thought, O God, on Your lovingkindness, In the midst of Your temple.
Psalm 48:9 niv
Within your temple, O God, we meditate on your unfailing love.
Psalm 48:9 esv
We have thought on your steadfast love, O God, in the midst of your temple.
Psalm 48:9 nlt
O God, we meditate on your unfailing love
as we worship in your Temple.
Psalm 48 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Steadfast Love of God (Hesed) | ||
| Ex 34:6-7 | The Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness... | God's self-revelation of His merciful character. |
| Num 14:18 | 'The Lord is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity... | God's hesed as basis for forgiveness. |
| Ps 36:5 | Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. | Vastness of God's hesed. |
| Ps 63:3 | Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. | Value of God's love above all else. |
| Ps 86:15 | But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. | Repetition of Ex 34:6-7. |
| Jer 32:18 | You show steadfast love to thousands, but you repay the iniquity of fathers to their children after them... | God's justice intertwined with His hesed. |
| Hos 6:6 | For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. | God's desire for obedience rooted in hesed. |
| God's Dwelling/Temple | ||
| Ex 25:8 | And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst. | Command for the Tabernacle for God's presence. |
| Ps 27:4 | One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life... | Desire for intimacy in God's presence. |
| Ps 29:9 | In his temple all cry, “Glory!” | Universal praise within God's sanctuary. |
| Ps 76:2 | His abode has been established in Salem, his dwelling place in Zion. | God's chosen dwelling in Jerusalem. |
| 1 Kgs 8:27-30 | ...will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built! Yet have regard to the prayer of your servant and to his plea... | Solomon's recognition of God's transcendence and immanence. |
| Isa 57:15 | For thus says the High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who has a contrite and humble spirit..." | God's dwelling place transcends physical structure. |
| Eph 2:19-22 | ...you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord... | The church as God's spiritual temple in the New Testament. |
| Heb 10:19-22 | Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the most holy place by the blood of Jesus... | Access to God's presence through Christ. |
| Meditation/Contemplation on God | ||
| Deut 6:7 | You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house... | Importance of constant remembrance. |
| Ps 1:2 | but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. | Joy found in meditating on God's word. |
| Ps 77:11-12 | I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds. | Remembering and reflecting on God's acts. |
| Ps 119:15 | I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. | Intentional reflection on God's commands. |
| Phil 4:8 | Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. | Command to dwell on noble things. |
| Col 3:2 | Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. | Heavenly focus. |
| Experience of God's Presence | ||
| Joel 2:27 | You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel... | God's palpable presence with His people. |
| Acts 17:28 | for “In him we live and move and have our being”... | God's pervasive presence. |
Psalm 48 verses
Psalm 48 9 Meaning
Psalm 48:9 expresses the congregation's meditative contemplation of God's steadfast love (His hesed) within the sacred space of His temple in Jerusalem. It signifies a profound, intentional reflection on the covenant faithfulness and mercy of God, uniquely experienced and revealed where His presence dwells among His people. The verse highlights both God's nature and the central place of His worship.
Psalm 48 9 Context
Psalm 48 is a powerful "Song of Zion," an enthronement psalm praising God's kingship and the security He provides to His chosen city, Jerusalem (Zion), where His temple resides. The preceding verses (4-8) describe a dramatic encounter where kings gather against Zion, but seeing God's presence, they are terrified and flee. This illustrates God's unassailable power and protection over His city. Verse 9 shifts from witnessing God's powerful acts to the internal, contemplative response of His people. It expresses their meditation on God's covenant loyalty experienced in the very heart of His dwelling. This spiritual reflection forms the bedrock of their understanding and faith, especially after witnessing His tangible defense. The verse connects divine action with human devotion.
Psalm 48 9 Word analysis
We have thought on (דִּמִּינוּ, dimmînu): This verb comes from the root דָּמָה (damah), meaning "to be like, resemble, compare, devise, consider, meditate, reflect." It signifies a deep, deliberate, and intentional contemplation, not a fleeting thought. It suggests comparing God's past actions with His nature, or forming a clear mental picture of His character. It is a profound process of understanding and apprehending, not just intellectually, but spiritually. This deliberate meditation leads to confidence and praise.
Your steadfast love (חַסְדֶּךָ, chasdecha): This is a crucial Hebrew term, hesed. It encapsulates more than just love or mercy. It refers to God's loyal love, His covenant faithfulness, His unwavering goodness and benevolence rooted in His covenant promises. It is His devoted love for His people, manifested in deliverance, preservation, and provision, even when they are undeserving. The "Your" (suffix kā) emphasizes that this specific quality belongs to God uniquely.
O God (אֱלֹהִים, Elohim): A general but powerful name for God, emphasizing His divine sovereignty and power as the Creator and supreme Ruler. Plural in form, it often denotes the fullness and majesty of the One true God.
in the midst of (בְּקֶרֶב, beqerev): Literally "in the inner part," "in the heart of," "within." It denotes proximity, intimacy, and the central location of the experience. It is not merely near, but within the core or interior of the temple.
Your temple (הֵיכָלֶךָ, heykalecha): Refers specifically to the First (Solomon's) Temple in Jerusalem. It was considered the dwelling place of God's presence on earth, the place where He communed with His people and where His glory (Shekinah) could be experienced. The suffix "Your" signifies God's ownership and unique presence there.
"We have thought on Your steadfast love": This phrase highlights communal spiritual reflection. The experience of God's salvation (as described in prior verses) naturally leads the collective "we" (the people) to meditate on the underlying reason for His actions: His inherent hesed. This meditation is not passive but active and reciprocal to God's demonstrated power. It reinforces a covenant relationship.
"Your steadfast love, O God, in the midst of Your temple": This combines two profound concepts. It places the understanding and experience of God's unchanging, covenantal love directly within the physical space dedicated to His presence. The Temple was not just a building, but a symbol and tangible focal point for God's active presence. Thus, contemplating His hesed in this location was to understand it in the context of His specific promises, power, and glory revealed there. The polemic is implicit: the hesed of Israel's God, the true Elohim, is demonstrated in His unique sanctuary, contrasting with the empty or capricious nature of pagan deities and their temples.
Psalm 48 9 Bonus section
The act of "thinking upon" God's hesed within the Temple highlights the integrated nature of Israelite worship. It was not merely ritualistic observance but deeply intellectual and emotional engagement with God's character. The Temple provided a focused environment, a place of reduced external distractions, facilitating this meditative posture. This deep consideration of hesed was critical for Israel's identity and faith, reminding them of God's unique fidelity. It underscores that God's hesed is both personal and communally experienced, and foundational to understanding His providential care, seen here as He secures His people and their city. The meditation points back to the exodus and the covenant at Sinai where hesed was a key descriptor of the covenanting God.
Psalm 48 9 Commentary
Psalm 48:9 serves as a confessional summary following the preceding verses' narrative of God's triumphant defense of Zion. It reveals that the ultimate lesson drawn from God's powerful interventions is a deeper understanding and appreciation of His hesed—His unwavering, covenantal love. This understanding is not external or theoretical but cultivated "in the midst of His temple," the very place where God's presence was promised and felt most profoundly. The Temple facilitated this intimate contemplation, becoming the physical embodiment of God's accessibility. The people reflect on this divine attribute because it explains their deliverance and ensures their future security. This introspection forms the foundation for their worship and trust, transforming observation of God's acts into spiritual realization of His character. It exemplifies how public demonstration of God's power leads to private, profound contemplation of His goodness.