The Meaning of Psalms 48:5 Explained

Psalms 48:5

KJV: They saw it, and so they marvelled; they were troubled, and hasted away.

YLT: They have seen -- so they have marvelled, They have been troubled, they were hastened away.

Darby: They saw, so they marvelled; they were troubled, they fled in consternation:

ASV: They saw it, then were they amazed; They were dismayed, they hasted away.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

They saw  [it, and] so they marvelled;  they were troubled,  [and] hasted away. 

What does Psalms 48:5 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 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: Psalms 48

1  The ornaments and privileges of the church

What do the individual words in Psalms 48:5 mean?

They saw [it] [and] so they marveled they were troubled they hastened away
הֵ֣מָּה רָ֭אוּ כֵּ֣ן תָּמָ֑הוּ נִבְהֲל֥וּ נֶחְפָּֽזוּ

רָ֭אוּ  saw  [it] 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
כֵּ֣ן  [and]  so 
Parse: Adverb
Root: כֵּן 
Sense: so, therefore, thus.
תָּמָ֑הוּ  they  marveled 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: תָּמַהּ  
Sense: to be astounded, be stunned, be amazed, be dumbfounded.
נִבְהֲל֥וּ  they  were  troubled 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: בָּהַל  
Sense: to disturb, alarm, terrify, hurry, be disturbed, be anxious, be afraid, be hurried, be nervous.
נֶחְפָּֽזוּ  they  hastened  away 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: חָפַז  
Sense: to hurry, flee, hasten, fear, be terrified.

What are the major concepts related to Psalms 48:5?

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