the Week of Proper 23 / Ordinary 28
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New Living Translation
Psalms 48:2
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Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.
Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, Is mount Zion, [on] the sides of the north, The city of the great King.
It is high and beautiful and brings joy to the whole world. Mount Zion is like the high mountains of the north; it is the city of the Great King.
It is lofty and pleasing to look at, a source of joy to the whole earth. Mount Zion resembles the peaks of Zaphon; it is the city of the great king.
Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, [is] mount Zion, [on] the sides of the north, the city of the great King.
Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, Is Mount Zion, on the north sides, The city of the great King.
Fair and beautiful in elevation, the joy of all the earth, Is Mount Zion [the City of David] in the far north, The city of the great King.
beautiful in elevation, is the joy of all the earth, Mount Zion, in the far north, the city of the great King.
It is foundid in the ful out ioiyng of al erthe; the hil of Syon; the sidis of the north, the citee of the greet kyng.
Beautiful in loftiness, the joy of all the earth, like the peaks of Zaphon, is Mount Zion, the city of the great King.
beautiful and majestic, brings joy to all on earth. Mount Zion, truly sacred, is home for the Great King.
Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, Is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, The city of the great King.
Beautiful in its high position, the joy of all the earth, is the mountain of Zion, the mountain of God, the town of the great King.
Great is Adonai and greatly to be praised, in the city of our God, his holy mountain,
Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, [on] the sides of the north, the city of the great King.
His city is such a pleasant place. It brings joy to people from around the world. Mount Zion is the true mountain of God. It is the city of the great King.
Great is the LORD, and highly to be praised, in the city of our God, His holy mountain,
Beautifull for situation, the ioy of the whole earth is mout Sion, on the sides of the North, the citie of the great King.
Mount Zion in the far north is beautiful and high, the joy of the whole earth, the city of the great King.
beautiful in elevation, is the joy of all the earth, Mount Zion, in the far north, the city of the great King.
Mount Zion, lying Northwarde, is faire in situation: it is the ioy of the whole earth, and the Citie of the great King.
Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion on the slopes of the north, the city of the great King.
Zion, the mountain of God, is high and beautiful; the city of the great king brings joy to all the world.
Beautiful in elevation, the joy of all the land, Is Mount Zion, in the recesses of the north, - The city of a great king.
(47-3) With the joy of the whole earth is mount Sion founded, on the sides of the north, the city of the great king.
beautiful in elevation, is the joy of all the earth, Mount Zion, in the far north, the city of the great King.
The hyll of Sion is fayre in situation, and the ioy of the whole earth: vpon the north syde lyeth ye citie of the great king.
The city of the great King is well planted on the mountains of Sion, with the joy of the whole earth, on the sides of the north.
rising splendidly, is the joy of the whole earth. Mount Zion on the slopes of the north is the city of the great King.
Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole eretz, Is Mount Tziyon, on the north sides, The city of the great King.
Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.
Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion, in the far north, the city of the great king.
Beautiful on high, the joy of all the earth, is Mount Zion, in the sides of the north, the city of the great King.
Beautiful [for] elevation, A joy of all the land, [is] Mount Zion, The sides of the north, the city of a great king.
The hill of Sion is like a fayre plate, wherof all the londe reioyseth: vpon the north syde lyeth the cite of the greate kinge.
Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, Is Mount Zion in the far north, The city of the great King.
Beautiful in elevation, The joy of the whole earth, Is Mount Zion on the sides of the north, The city of the great King.
Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, Is Mount Zion in the far north, The city of the great King.
Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth,Is Mount Zion in the far north,The city of the great King.
Contextual Overview
A song. A psalm of the descendants of Korah.
How great is the Lord , how deserving of praise, in the city of our God, which sits on his holy mountain! 2 It is high and magnificent; the whole earth rejoices to see it! Mount Zion, the holy mountain, is the city of the great King! 3 God himself is in Jerusalem's towers, revealing himself as its defender. 4 The kings of the earth joined forces and advanced against the city. 5 But when they saw it, they were stunned; they were terrified and ran away. 6 They were gripped with terror and writhed in pain like a woman in labor. 7 You destroyed them like the mighty ships of Tarshish shattered by a powerful east wind.Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
Beautiful: Psalms 50:2, Jeremiah 3:19, Lamentations 2:15, Daniel 8:9, Daniel 11:16
joy: Isaiah 60:15-20, Isaiah 66:10, Ezekiel 20:6, Malachi 3:12, Hebrews 12:22
on the sides: Isaiah 14:13
the city: Psalms 47:7, Psalms 47:8, Malachi 1:14, Matthew 5:35
Reciprocal: 2 Kings 19:34 - I will defend 1 Chronicles 11:5 - the castle Ezra 4:12 - bad city Psalms 2:6 - my Psalms 48:8 - city of the Lord Psalms 74:2 - this mount Psalms 84:1 - How Psalms 87:1 - the holy Psalms 87:3 - Glorious Psalms 95:3 - a great Psalms 99:9 - his holy Psalms 101:8 - cut off Psalms 145:1 - my God Song of Solomon 6:4 - comely Jeremiah 31:23 - and mountain Lamentations 1:6 - from Ezekiel 7:20 - the beauty Ezekiel 8:5 - at the Ezekiel 16:13 - and thou wast Ezekiel 24:25 - their strength Daniel 11:45 - in the
Cross-References
Instead, commission Joshua and encourage and strengthen him, for he will lead the people across the Jordan. He will give them all the land you now see before you as their possession.'
Jonathan went to find David and encouraged him to stay strong in his faith in God.
Then I told them about how the gracious hand of God had been on me, and about my conversation with the king. They replied at once, "Yes, let's rebuild the wall!" So they began the good work.
The Lord nurses them when they are sick and restores them to health.
My child, if your heart is wise, my own heart will rejoice!
A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
Beautiful for situation,.... This, and what follows, are said of the city of God, the city of Jerusalem, which was delightfully situated on an eminence, in a wholesome air; the brook Kidron gliding by it, the water of Siloah running through it or at least through some parts of it; fields and gardens adjoining to it, and mountains all around it: and so the church of Christ is built upon him, the Rock; the river of divine love runs by it, the streams whereof make it glad; the green pastures of the word and ordinances are in it; and salvation is as walls and bulwarks about it; and so healthful is it, that the inhabitants have no reason to say they are sick, since the people that dwell therein have their iniquities forgiven, Isaiah 33:24;
the joy of the whole earth: that is, the city of Jerusalem, Lamentations 2:15; especially it was so when Christ, whose birth near it was matter of great joy to all people; when he who is the desire of all nations was in it; and when the Gospel went out from it unto the whole earth, and caused joy wherever it came in power, and with the Holy Ghost: and the church of Christ, particularly in the latter day, will be an eternal excellency, and a joy of many generations, Isaiah 60:15; and even now the whole world has reason to rejoice and be glad, because of the church of Christ in it, who are the light of the world and the salt of the earth, and on whose account the world continues, and the men of it enjoy the blessings they do;
[is] Mount Zion; or "by Mount Zion": Jerusalem was near it, and beautifully situated by it;
[on] the sides of the north; Jerusalem was north of Zion, as Zion was south of Jerusalem; likewise the temple was on the north part of Mount Zion, Isaiah 14:13; the altar and altar gate were on the north side at the temple, and there were the tables on which the sacrifices were slain, Ezekiel 8:5; and on the north side of the altar was the creature to be offered killed, Leviticus 1:11; and perhaps some reference is here had to the church of Christ in the latter day, which for many years past has been chiefly in our northern part of the world: hence the Protestant doctrine is by the Papists called the Northern Heresy; and it will be "tidings out of the north" that shall trouble the man of sin, or some agent of his, to come forth with fury, and plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas, in the glorious holy mountain, Daniel 11:44;
the city of the great King; of Christ the King of kings;
Daniel 11:44- :; and
Daniel 11:44- :.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
Beautiful for situation - The word rendered “situation” - נוף nôph - means properly “elevation, height,” (Ges. Lexicon); and the idea here is, that the mountain referred to is “beautiful for elevation;” that is, it rises gracefully. The allusion here is to Jerusalem as it would appear to one approaching it, and especially as it appeared to the “kings” Psalms 48:4 who came to invest it, and who were so impressed with its marvelous beauty and strength, that they were afraid to attack it, and turned away Psalms 48:5.
The joy of the whole earth - Either the whole “land” of Palestine, or the whole world. Most probably the former is the meaning; and the idea is that, as a place of beauty and strength, and as a place where the worship of God was celebrated, and where the people of the land were accustomed to assemble, it was a source of national joy.
Is Mount Zion - The term used here would seem to denote the whole city, Jerusalem, as it often does. Mount Zion was the most conspicuous object in the city, the residence of the king, and for a long time, until the temple was built, the place where the ark reposed, and where the worship of God was celebrated, and hence, the term came to be used to denote the whole city.
On the sides of the north - That is, probably, the houses, the palaces, on the north sides of the Mount Zion. These were eminently beautiful; they struck one in approaching the city from that quarter, as impressive and grand. The natural and usual approach to the city was from the north, or the northwest. On the west was the valley of Gihon, on the south the valley of Hinnom; and on the east the valley of Jehoshaphat and of the brook Kidron; and it was only as the city was approached from the north that there would be a complete view of it; or, that was the only quarter from which it could be assailed. The “kings,” therefore Psalms 48:8, may be supposed to have approached it from that quarter; and thus approaching it, they would have a clear and impressive view of its beauty, and of the sources of its strength - of the walls, towers, and bulwarks which defended it, and of the magnificence of the buildings on Mount Zion. Dr. Thomson (Land and the Book, vol. ii., p. 476), says of the situation of Mount Zion, “What is there or was there about Zion to justify the high eulogium of David: “Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King?” The situation is indeed eminently adapted to be the platform of a magnificent citadel.
Rising high above the deep valley of Gihon and Hinnom on the west and south, and the scarcely less deep one of the Cheesemongers on the east, it could only be assailed from the northwest; and then “on the sides of the north” it was magnificently beautiful, and fortified by walls, towers, and bulwarks, the wonder and terror of the nations: “For the kings were assembled; they passed by together. They saw it, and so they marveled; they were troubled, and hasted away.” At the thought of it the royal psalmist again bursts forth in triumph: “Walk about Zion, and go round about her; tell the towers thereof; mark ye well her bulwarks; consider her palaces, that ye may tell it to the generation following.” Alas! her towers have long since fallen to the ground, her bulwarks have been overthrown, her palaces have crumbled to dust, and we who now walk about Zion can tell no other story than this to the generation following.” It was actually on the northern side of Mount Zion that most of the edifices of the city were erected. (Reland, Pales., p. 847.)
The city of the great King - That is, of God; the place where he has taken up his abode. Compare the notes at Psalms 46:4.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Psalms 48:2. The joy of the whole earth — Commentators have been greatly puzzled to show in what sense Zion, or the temple, could be said to be the joy of the whole earth. If we take the earth here for the habitable globe, there is no sense in which it ever was the joy of the whole earth; but If we take כל הארץ col haarets, as signifying the whole of this land, (and it has no other meaning,) the assertion is plain and easy to be understood, for the temple was considered the ornament and glory of the whole land of Judea.
