The Meaning of Psalms 48:9 Explained

Psalms 48:9

KJV: We have thought of thy lovingkindness, O God, in the midst of thy temple.

YLT: We have thought, O God, of Thy kindness, In the midst of Thy temple,

Darby: We have thought, O God, of thy loving-kindness, in the midst of thy temple.

ASV: We have thought on thy lovingkindness, O God, In the midst of thy temple.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

We have thought  of thy lovingkindness,  O God,  in the midst  of thy temple. 

What does Psalms 48:9 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 48:9 mean?

We have thought God on Your lovingkindness in the midst of Your temple
דִּמִּ֣ינוּ אֱלֹהִ֣ים חַסְדֶּ֑ךָ בְּ֝קֶ֗רֶב הֵיכָלֶֽךָ

דִּמִּ֣ינוּ  We  have  thought 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, first person common plural
Root: דָּמָה  
Sense: to be like, resemble.
אֱלֹהִ֣ים  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
חַסְדֶּ֑ךָ  on  Your  lovingkindness 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: חֶסֶד 
Sense: goodness, kindness, faithfulness.
בְּ֝קֶ֗רֶב  in  the  midst 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: קֶרֶב  
Sense: midst, among, inner part, middle.
הֵיכָלֶֽךָ  of  Your  temple 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: הֵיכָל  
Sense: palace, temple, nave, sanctuary.