The Meaning of Psalms 46:3 Explained

Psalms 46:3

KJV: Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

YLT: Roar -- troubled are its waters, Mountains they shake in its pride. Selah.

Darby: Though the waters thereof roar and foam, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

ASV: Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, Though the mountains tremble with the swelling thereof. Selah

KJV Reverse Interlinear

[Though] the waters  thereof roar  [and] be troubled,  [though] the mountains  shake  with the swelling  thereof. Selah. 

What does Psalms 46:3 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalm 46:1-11 - "our Refuge And Strength"
The historical origin of this psalm cannot be certainly determined. Probably it was composed when Jerusalem was beleaguered by Sennacherib's hosts, 2 Kings 18:1-37. It befits every era in which the Church is in danger from her foes, and foretells the final destruction of Antichrist. It was Luther's favorite psalm, and is rendered into verse in his memorable hymn, Ein' Feste Burg. During the sitting of the Diet of Augsburg he sang it every day to his lute, standing at the window and looking up to heaven. The theme of the psalm is the security of God's people, and this is elaborated in three stanzas, each of which ends with Selah.
Alone among great cities, Jerusalem lacked a river; but God was willing to become all that a river could be and more. Your deficiencies give more room for God's all-sufficiency. Mark the beautiful alternative translation of Psalms 46:5, r.v., margin, "at the dawn of morning." Your sorrow is limited to a single night. See also Isaiah 37:36; Matthew 14:25. Be still, O troubled heart! The God of the nations is your Father! Desolations are the snapping off of the dead branches to prepare for the spring. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalm 46

1  The confidence which the church has in God
8  An exhortation to behold it

What do the individual words in Psalms 46:3 mean?

[Though] roar [and] be troubled its waters [Though] shake the mountains with its swelling Selah
יֶהֱמ֣וּ יֶחְמְר֣וּ מֵימָ֑יו יִֽרְעֲשֽׁוּ־ הָרִ֖ים בְּגַאֲוָת֣וֹ סֶֽלָה

יֶהֱמ֣וּ  [Though]  roar 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: הָמָה  
Sense: to murmur, growl, roar, cry aloud, mourn, rage, sound, make noise, tumult, be clamorous, be disquieted, be loud, be moved, be troubled, be in an uproar.
יֶחְמְר֣וּ  [and]  be  troubled 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: חָמַר 
Sense: to boil, foam, foam up, ferment.
מֵימָ֑יו  its  waters 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: מַיִם  
Sense: water, waters.
יִֽרְעֲשֽׁוּ־  [Though]  shake 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: רָעַשׁ 
Sense: to quake, shake.
הָרִ֖ים  the  mountains 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: הַר  
Sense: hill, mountain, hill country, mount.
בְּגַאֲוָת֣וֹ  with  its  swelling 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: גַּאֲוָה  
Sense: pride, majesty, a rising up.
סֶֽלָה  Selah 
Parse: Interjection
Root: סֶלָה  
Sense: to lift up, exalt.