Psalms 48:6
in Psalms 48Trembling seized them there, anguish like a woman in labor.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Trembling took hold of them there, Pain, as of a woman in travail.
KJV
Fear took hold upon them there, and pain, as of a woman in travail.
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This verse in Psalms 48
Commentary
9 notes on this verseFear took hold upon them there. They were in Giant Despair's grip. Where they hoped to triumph, there they quivered with dismay. They did not take the city, but fear took hold on them. And pain, as of a woman in travail. They were as much overcome as a woman whose fright causes premature delivery; or, as full of pain as a poor mother in her pangs—a strong expression, commonly employed by Orientals to set forth the extremity of anguish.
This site's exposition
For behold, the kings assembled
on Psalms 48:4-6
For behold, the kings assembled names a deliverance the psalm never dates or locates. They saw the city, were astounded, and fled in terror. What took hold of them there was anguish like a woman in labor.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
"They saw it, and so they marvelled" [Psalm 48:4]. After their marvelling at the miracles and glory of Christ, what followed? "They were troubled, they were moved" [Psalm 48:5], "trembling took hold upon them." Whence took trembling hold upon them, but from the consciousness of sins? Let them run then, king after a king; kings, let them acknowledge the King. Therefore says He elsewhere, "Yet have I been set by Him a King upon His holy hill of Sion."...A King then was heard of, set up in Sion, to Him were delivered possessions even to the uttermost parts of the earth. Kings behooved to fear lest they should lose the kingdom, lest the kingdom be taken from them. As wretched Herod feared, and for the Child slew the children. [Matthew 2:16] But fearing to lose his kingdom, he deserved not to know the King. Would that he too had adored the King with the Magi: not by ill-seeking the kingdom, slain the Innocents, and perished guilty. For as concerning him, he destroyed the Innocents: but as for Christ, even a Child, the children dying for Him did He crown. Therefore behooved kings to fear when it was said, "Yet have I been set a King by Him upon His holy hill of Sion," and inheritance to the uttermost parts of the earth shall He give Him, who set Him up King....Thence also this is said to them, "Understand now therefore, O you kings; be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice unto Him with trembling." And what did they? "There pains as of a woman in travail." What are the pains "as of a woman in travail," but the pangs of a penitent? See the same conception of pain and travail: "Of Your fear" (says Isaiah) "we have conceived, we have travailed of the Spirit of salvation." [Isaiah 26:17-18] So then the kings conceived from the fear of Christ, that by travailing they brought forth salvation by believing on Him whom they had feared. […]
The Medieval Church1 voice
"They themselves seeing." Here he describes their integrity, and there are seven elements. The first is vision, that is, the knowledge of faith; hence he says, "They themselves seeing," that is, knowing through faith the miracles that Christ and the apostles were performing. Is. 62: …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Note, God can dispirit the stoutest of his church's enemies, and soon put those in pain that live at ease. The fright they were in upon the sight of Jerusalem is here compared to the throes of a woman in travail, which are sharp and grievous, which sometimes come suddenly ( 1 Thess. v. 3 ), which cannot be avoided, and which are effects of sin and the curse.
Fear took hold upon them there,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
For--The reason is given. Though the kings (perhaps of Moab and Ammon, compare Ps 83:3-5) combined, a conviction of God's presence with His people, evinced by the unusual courage with which the prophets (compare 2Ch 20:12-20) had inspired them, seized on their minds, and smitten with sudden and intense alarm, they fled astonished.
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
Fear took hold upon them there. They were in Giant Despair's grip. Where they hoped to triumph, there they quivered with dismay. They did not take the city, but fear took hold on them. And pain, as of a woman in travail. They were as much overcome as a woman whose fright causes premature delivery; or, as full of pain as a poor mother in her pangs—a strong expression, commonly employed by Orientals to set forth the extremity of anguish. When the Lord arises for the help of his church, the proudest of his foes shall be as trembling women, and their dismay shall be but the beginning of eternal defeat.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Fear took hold upon them there - Trembling seized them; they were filled with sudden consternation. That is, as soon as they saw the city, or had a distinct view of it, they became alarmed. And pain - Distress; anguish. The distress arising from disappointed hopes, and perhaps from the apprehension of their own safety. They were filled with dismay. As of a woman in travail - This comparison is often used in the Scriptures to denote the severest kind of pain. Compare Jer 4:31; Jer 6:24; Jer 13:21; Jer 22:23; Jer 30:6; Jer 49:24; Mic 4:9-10; Isa 53:11.
The words behind it
5 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| רְ֭עָדָה | readah | trembling | H7461 → | 6 times |
| אֲחָזָ֣תַם | ʾachazatam | it seized them | H270 → | 67 times |
| שָׁ֑ם | sham | there | H8033 → | 834 times |
| חִ֝֗יל | chil | anguish | H2427 → | |
| כַּיּוֹלֵֽדָה׃ | kaiyoledah | like <the> [woman] giving birth | H3205 → | 496 times |
רְ֭עָדָהtrembling
readahH7461 →6 times
אֲחָזָ֣תַםit seized them
ʾachazatamH270 →67 times
שָׁ֑םthere
shamH8033 →834 times
חִ֝֗ילanguish
chilH2427 →
כַּיּוֹלֵֽדָה׃like <the> [woman] giving birth
kaiyoledahH3205 →496 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Hosea 13:13Labor pains come upon him, but he is an unwise son. When the time arrives, he fails to present himself at the opening of the womb.
it leads to
- Isaiah 26:17
As a woman with child about to give birth writhes and cries out in pain, so were we in Your presence, O LORD.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Isaiah 13:8
Terror, pain, and anguish will seize them; they will writhe like a woman in labor. They will look at one another, their faces flushed with fear.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Micah 4:9–10
Why do you now cry aloud? Is there no king among you? Has your counselor perished so that anguish grips you like a woman in labor?
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Isaiah 37:3
to tell him, “This is what Hezekiah says: Today is a day of distress, rebuke, and disgrace; for children have come to the point of birth, but there is no strength to deliver them.
- 2 Kings 19:3
to tell him, “This is what Hezekiah says: Today is a day of distress, rebuke, and disgrace; for children have come to the point of birth, but there is no strength to deliver them.
- Isaiah 26:17
Through
Daniel 5:6his face grew pale and his thoughts so alarmed him that his hips gave way and his knees knocked together.
it leads to
- Daniel 7:28
Thus ends the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts troubled me greatly, and my face turned pale. But I kept the matter to myself.”
- Nahum 2:10
She is emptied! Yes, she is desolate and laid waste! Hearts melt, knees knock, bodies tremble, and every face grows pale!
- Ezekiel 7:17
Every hand will go limp, and every knee will turn to water.
- Daniel 7:28
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies2
About Psalms
This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Augustine of Hippo, Exposition on Psalm 48; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 2; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Thomas Aquinas, Exposition on the Psalms of David.