The Meaning of Psalms 48:2 Explained

Psalms 48:2

KJV: Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.

YLT: Beautiful for elevation, A joy of all the land, is Mount Zion, The sides of the north, the city of a great king.

Darby: Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.

ASV: Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, Is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, The city of the great King.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Beautiful  for situation,  the joy  of the whole earth,  [is] mount  Zion,  [on] the sides  of the north,  the city  of the great  King. 

What does Psalms 48:2 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalm 48:1-14 - "the City Of Our God"
This psalm also probably dates from 2 Chronicles 20:20. Tekoa was only three hours' march from Jerusalem and commanded an extensive view, so that Psalms 48:4-5 were literally true.
The psalmist celebrates the beauty and glory of Zion, Psalms 48:1-3. The Church today is the City of the great King. Apart from God, the fairest palace is no refuge; but a cottage becomes a palace if God is known and loved there. Judah's recent deliverance is gratefully commemorated, Psalms 48:4-8. It is a sublime picture: the gathered array, the dismay, flight, and destruction of the foe. Then comes the call to loving thought on God's care and goodness, Psalms 48:9-14. Notice those two sentences-"As we have heard, so we have seen," Psalms 48:8; and, "As is thy name, so is thy praise," Psalms 48:10. Whatever we have been told by our fathers about God, God is prepared to be and do for us; and our aim should be to praise Him worthily. Think of His love till your heart kindles to praise; and remember that this God is yours forever and ever. Let us surrender to Him the guidance of every step, until we pass through death into His immediate presence. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalm 48

1  The ornaments and privileges of the church

What do the individual words in Psalms 48:2 mean?

Beautiful in elevation the joy of all the earth [Is] Mount Zion [on] the sides of the north the city of the King great
יְפֵ֥ה נוֹף֮ מְשׂ֪וֹשׂ כָּל־ הָ֫אָ֥רֶץ הַר־ צִ֭יּוֹן יַרְכְּתֵ֣י צָפ֑וֹן קִ֝רְיַ֗ת מֶ֣לֶךְ רָֽב

יְפֵ֥ה  Beautiful 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular construct
Root: יָפֶה  
Sense: fair, beautiful, handsome.
נוֹף֮  in  elevation 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: נׄוף  
Sense: elevation, height.
מְשׂ֪וֹשׂ  the  joy 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מָשֹׂושׂ 
Sense: exultation, joy, rejoicing.
כָּל־  of  all 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
הָ֫אָ֥רֶץ  the  earth 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
הַר־  [Is]  Mount 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: הַר  
Sense: hill, mountain, hill country, mount.
צִ֭יּוֹן  Zion 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: צִיּׄון  
Sense: another name for Jerusalem especially in the prophetic books.
יַרְכְּתֵ֣י  [on]  the  sides 
Parse: Noun, fdc
Root: יְרֵכָה  
Sense: flank, side, extreme parts, recesses.
צָפ֑וֹן  of  the  north 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: צָפֹון  
Sense: north (of direction), northward.
קִ֝רְיַ֗ת  the  city 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: קִרְיָה 
Sense: city, town.
מֶ֣לֶךְ  of  the  King 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
רָֽב  great 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: רַב 
Sense: much, many, great.