Psalms 48:1

KJV

¶ A Song [and] Psalm for the sons of Korah. Great [is] the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, [in] the mountain of his holiness.

KJV (with Strong's)

A Song {H7892} and Psalm {H4210} for the sons {H1121} of Korah {H7141}. Great {H1419} is the LORD {H3068}, and greatly {H3966} to be praised {H1984}{H8794)} in the city {H5892} of our God {H430}, in the mountain {H2022} of his holiness {H6944}.

Complete Jewish Bible

A song. A psalm of the descendants of Korach: Great is ADONAI and greatly to be praised, in the city of our God, his holy mountain,

Berean Standard Bible

Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, His holy mountain.

American Standard Version

Great is Jehovah, and greatly to be praised, In the city of our God, in his holy mountain.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
This verse introduces Psalm 48 as a majestic hymn attributed to the Sons of Korah, immediately declaring the unparalleled greatness of Yahweh. It establishes that the Lord is supremely worthy of fervent praise, specifically situating this praise within Jerusalem, described as "the city of our God" and "the mountain of his holiness," thereby emphasizing God's unique presence and ownership of His sacred dwelling place.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 48 is one of the "Songs of Zion," a distinct category of psalms (e.g., [Psalms 46](/psalms/46 "Psalm 46 - God is our Refuge"), [Psalms 76](/psalms/76 "Psalm 76 - God's Majesty and Judgment")) that celebrate Jerusalem (Zion) as God's chosen city and the center of His presence and power. It is attributed to the "Sons of Korah," a Levitical guild of temple musicians and gatekeepers (cf. [1 Chronicles 6:31-33](/1_chronicles/6-31 "1 Chronicles 6:31-33 - Temple Musicians"), [2 Chronicles 20:19](/2_chronicles/20-19 "2 Chronicles 20:19 - Korahite Praise")). Their psalms often express a profound longing for God's presence and a deep appreciation for His dwelling place, as seen in [Psalms 42](/psalms/42 "Psalm 42 - Thirsting for God") and [Psalms 84](/psalms/84 "Longing for God's Courts")). This particular psalm likely served a liturgical purpose, perhaps sung during pilgrimages or festivals celebrating Jerusalem's divine protection and glory. The opening verse acts as a grand overture, setting the tone for the subsequent verses which describe Jerusalem's impregnability and God's mighty acts on its behalf.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Jerusalem, also known as Zion, held immense religious and political significance in ancient Israel. It was the capital city, chosen by King David as the site for the Ark of the Covenant, and later, Solomon built the magnificent Temple there on Mount Moriah, which became synonymous with Mount Zion (cf. [2 Samuel 5:6-9](/2_samuel/5-6 "2 Samuel 5:6-9 - David Captures Jerusalem"), [1 Kings 8:1-6](/1_kings/8-1 "1 Kings 8:1-6 - Dedication of the Temple")). The Temple was considered the earthly dwelling place of Yahweh, symbolizing His covenant presence among His people. The "mountain of his holiness" refers specifically to Mount Zion, the sacred hill where the Temple stood, set apart by God's presence. The Sons of Korah, as temple functionaries, were intimately involved in the worship life centered in Jerusalem, making their attribution to this psalm particularly fitting as they would have regularly experienced and facilitated the praise of God within this holy space. The cultural understanding was that God's presence in Jerusalem guaranteed its security and ultimate triumph over enemies.
* **Key Themes:** This opening verse introduces several foundational themes that resonate throughout Psalm 48 and the broader Psalter. Firstly, it establishes the **divine majesty and worthiness of praise**, declaring God's inherent greatness and the corresponding demand for fervent worship from His creation. This theme is echoed in numerous psalms, such as [Psalms 96:4](/psalms/96-4 "Psalm 96:4 - The Lord is Great and Greatly to be Praised"). Secondly, it highlights **God's unique presence in His holy city**, portraying Jerusalem not merely as a geographical location but as "the city of our God," a place uniquely owned and consecrated by Yahweh. This concept of God dwelling among His people is central to Israel's theology, from the tabernacle (cf. [Exodus 25:8](/exodus/25-8 "Exodus 25:8 - God's Dwelling in the Tabernacle")) to the Temple. Finally, the phrase "mountain of his holiness" underscores the **sanctity and set-apart nature** of God's dwelling place, emphasizing that His presence brings holiness to the physical space and demands reverence from those who approach it. This holiness is intrinsic to God's character and extends to all that He claims as His own.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Great (Hebrew, _gadol'_):** This adjective signifies vastness, magnitude, importance, and power. When applied to the LORD, it conveys His infinite nature, unrivaled sovereignty, and supreme authority over all creation. It implies an immeasurable quality that transcends human comprehension and demands awe.
* **Praised (Hebrew, _halal'_):** The root of "Hallelujah," this verb denotes enthusiastic, boisterous, and fervent praise. It suggests a joyful, even exultant, response to God's greatness, implying that His majesty should evoke an equally passionate and unreserved outpouring of worship, not merely quiet contemplation.
* **Holiness (Hebrew, _qodesh'_):** This noun refers to the quality of being set apart, consecrated, or sacred. When applied to God, it speaks of His absolute moral purity, transcendence, and separateness from all that is common or profane. When applied to His "mountain," it signifies that the place is made holy by His unique presence and purpose, demanding reverence.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"A Song [and] Psalm for the sons of Korah.":** This superscription identifies the psalm's genre (both a "song" and a "psalm," indicating its musical and poetic nature) and its authorship or dedication to the Sons of Korah. This Levitical family was renowned for their role in temple worship, suggesting the psalm was intended for liturgical use and reflects their deep spiritual insights.
* **"Great [is] the LORD, and greatly to be praised":** This declarative statement immediately establishes the central theme: God's supreme majesty and His inherent worthiness of abundant and fervent praise. The repetition of "great" (Hebrew, _gadol_) emphasizes the superlative nature of His being, demanding an equally superlative response of worship.
* **"in the city of our God, [in] the mountain of his holiness.":** This phrase specifies the context and location for this praise. "The city of our God" is Jerusalem, highlighting divine ownership and covenant relationship. "The mountain of his holiness" refers to Mount Zion, where the Temple stood, underscoring the sacredness of God's chosen dwelling place on earth. This indicates that God's greatness is particularly manifest and celebrated in the place He has consecrated for His presence among His people.

#### Literary Devices
Psalm 48:1 employs several key literary devices to convey its powerful message. The opening phrase, "Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised," utilizes **Repetition** (of "great") and **Emphasis** to underscore the supreme nature of God's majesty and the corresponding intensity of the praise He deserves. This creates a strong, declarative opening that sets the tone for the entire psalm. The verse also features **Parallelism**, specifically synonymous parallelism, in the phrases "the city of our God" and "the mountain of his holiness." While distinct, these phrases refer to the same sacred location, Jerusalem/Mount Zion, reinforcing its significance as God's chosen dwelling place. This poetic technique deepens the understanding of Jerusalem's unique status as consecrated by divine presence. Furthermore, the psalm employs **Metonymy** by using "city of our God" and "mountain of his holiness" to represent not just the physical location but also the spiritual reality of God's covenant presence with His people. The physical space becomes a symbol of the divine-human relationship and God's protective care.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 48:1 lays a foundational theological truth: God's inherent greatness demands universal and fervent praise. This declaration is not merely an emotional outburst but a profound theological statement about God's character—His power, sovereignty, and holiness. The specific mention of Jerusalem as "the city of our God" and "the mountain of his holiness" connects God's universal greatness to His particular covenant presence with Israel. It establishes Jerusalem as the earthly locus of divine activity and revelation, a place where God's glory is uniquely manifested and celebrated. This verse thus bridges the gap between God's transcendent majesty and His immanent dwelling among His people, setting the stage for a psalm that will extol both His cosmic power and His specific protection of His chosen city.

* [Psalms 96:4](/psalms/96-4 "Psalm 96:4 - The Lord is Great and Greatly to be Praised")
* [Psalms 145:3](/psalms/145-3 "Psalm 145:3 - God's Unsearchable Greatness")
* [Isaiah 2:2-3](/isaiah/2-2 "Isaiah 2:2-3 - Zion as the Center of God's Kingdom")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 48:1 calls believers to a profound recognition of God's supreme greatness and an enthusiastic response of praise. While the physical Temple in Jerusalem no longer stands as the singular dwelling place of God, the principle of His omnipresence and His desire to dwell among His people remains eternally true. For the New Testament believer, the Church is often described as the spiritual "city of God" or the "new Jerusalem" (cf. [Hebrews 12:22-24](/hebrews/12-22 "Hebrews 12:22-24 - The Heavenly Jerusalem"), [Revelation 21:2-3](/revelation/21-2 "Revelation 21:2-3 - The New Jerusalem Descends")). Therefore, this verse encourages us to cultivate a corporate and individual life of worship where God is indeed "greatly to be praised." It challenges us to move beyond perfunctory worship to a passionate, heartfelt acknowledgment of God's unparalleled majesty, recognizing that His presence, wherever it is genuinely found, brings holiness and demands reverence. Our lives, both individually and corporately, should be a testament to His greatness, reflecting His holiness in our actions and attitudes.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what specific ways do I acknowledge God's "greatness" in my daily life and worship?**
* **How does my praise for God reflect the "greatly to be praised" fervor described in this verse?**
* **What does it mean for my local church or community to be a "city of our God" where His holiness is recognized and celebrated?**

### FAQ

**Why is Jerusalem called "the city of our God" and "the mountain of his holiness"?**

Answer: Jerusalem is called "the city of our God" because it was specifically chosen by Yahweh as the capital of His chosen people, Israel, and the place where His presence would dwell. King David established it as the political and religious center, and Solomon built the Temple there (cf. [2 Samuel 5:6-9](/2_samuel/5-6 "2 Samuel 5:6-9 - David Captures Jerusalem"), [1 Kings 8:1-6](/1_kings/8-1 "1 Kings 8:1-6 - Dedication of the Temple")). The phrase "mountain of his holiness" refers to Mount Zion (or Mount Moriah, where the Temple stood), which was considered holy because God's presence, particularly in the Temple, consecrated it. It was set apart by God for His purposes and became the symbolic center of His covenant relationship with Israel, a place where His glory was uniquely manifested (cf. [Psalms 2:6](/psalms/2-6 "Psalm 2:6 - God's King on Zion")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Psalms 48:1 extols God's greatness in the context of His dwelling in earthly Jerusalem, its ultimate fulfillment is found in Jesus Christ, who is the true and ultimate dwelling place of God among humanity. The physical Temple and holy mountain were shadows pointing to the reality of God incarnate (cf. [Colossians 2:9](/colossians/2-9 "Colossians 2:9 - Fullness of Deity in Christ")). Jesus Himself declared, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up," referring to His body (cf. [John 2:19-21](/john/2-19 "John 2:19-21 - Jesus and the Temple")). He is the "mountain of his holiness" in whom God's presence resides perfectly and permanently. Furthermore, through Christ, believers become part of a new, spiritual temple, the Church, where God dwells by His Spirit (cf. [Ephesians 2:19-22](/ephesians/2-19 "Ephesians 2:19-22 - Built into God's Dwelling"), [1 Corinthians 3:16](/1_corinthians/3-16 "1 Corinthians 3:16 - You are God's Temple")). The "greatness" of the LORD, so fervently praised in Psalm 48:1, is most fully revealed in the person and work of Jesus—His life, death, resurrection, and ascension—which truly takes away the sin of the world and establishes a new, eternal city, the heavenly Jerusalem, where God's glory shines without end (cf. [Revelation 21:23](/revelation/21-23 "Revelation 21:23 - No Need for Sun in New Jerusalem")). Thus, the praise for God's greatness and His dwelling place finds its ultimate and everlasting expression in Christ and His redeemed people.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.