TRV
Translation
King James Version
Let mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of thy judgments.
Complete Jewish Bible
Let Mount Tziyon rejoice, let the daughters of Y'hudah be glad, because of your judgment [on the enemy].
Berean Standard Bible
Mount Zion is glad, the daughters of Judah rejoice, on account of Your judgments.
American Standard Version
Let mount Zion be glad, Let the daughters of Judah rejoice, Because of thy judgments.
World English Bible Messianic
Let Mount Zion be glad! Let the daughters of Judah rejoice, Because of your judgments.
Geneva Bible (1599)
Let mount Zion reioyce, and the daughters of Iudah be glad, because of thy iudgements.
Young's Literal Translation
Rejoice doth Mount Zion, The daughters of Judah are joyful, For the sake of Thy judgments.
See also
In the KJVVerse 14,646 of 31,102
Study This Verse
Commentary on Psalms 48 verses 8–14
8 ¶ As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it for ever. Selah.
9 We have thought of thy lovingkindness, O God, in the midst of thy temple.
10 According to thy name, O God, so is thy praise unto the ends of the earth: thy right hand is full of righteousness.
11 Let mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of thy judgments.
12 Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof.
13 Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generation following.
14 For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.
We have here the good use and improvement which the people of God are taught to make of his late glorious and gracious appearances for them against their enemies, that they might work for their good.
I. Let our faith in the word of God be hereby confirmed. If we compare what God has done with what he has spoken, we shall find that, as we have heard, so have we seen (Psa 48:8), and what we have seen obliges us to believe what we have heard. 1. "As we have heard done in former providences, in the days of old, so have we seen done in our own days." Note, God's latter appearances for his people against his and their enemies are consonant to his former appearances, and should put us in mind of them. 2. "As we have heard in the promise and prediction, so have we seen in the performance and accomplishment. We have heard that God is the Lord of hosts, and that Jerusalem is the city of our God, is dear to him, is his particular care; and now we have seen it; we have seen the power of our God; we have seen his goodness; we have seen his care and concern for us, that he is a wall of fire round about Jerusalem and the glory in the midst of her." Note, In the great things that God has done, and is doing, for his church, it is good to take notice of the fulfilling of the scriptures; and this would help us the better to understand both the providence itself and the scripture that is fulfilled in it.
II. Let our hope of the stability and perpetuity of the church be hereby encouraged. "From what we have seen, compared with what we have heard, in the city of our God, we may conclude that God will establish it for ever." This was not fulfilled in Jerusalem (that city was long since destroyed, and all its glory laid in the dust), but has its accomplishment in the gospel church. We are sure that that shall be established for ever; it is built upon a rock, and the gates of hell cannot prevail against it, Mat 16:18. God himself has undertaken the establishment of it; it is the Lord that has founded Zion, Isa 14:32. And what we have seen, compared with what we have heard, may encourage us to hope in that promise of God upon which the church is built.
III. Let our minds be hereby filled with good thoughts of God. "From what we have heard, and seen, and hope for, we may take occasion to think much of God's loving-kindness, whenever we meet in the midst of his temple," Psa 48:9. All the streams of mercy that flow down to us must be traced up to the fountain of God's lovingkindness. It is not owing to any merit of ours, but purely to his mercy, and the peculiar favour he bears to his people. This therefore we must think of with delight, think of frequently and fixedly. What subject can we dwell upon more noble, more pleasant, more profitable? We must have God's lovingkindness always before our eyes (Psa 26:3), especially when we attend upon him in his temple. When we enjoy the benefit of public ordinances undisturbed, when we meet in his temple and there is none to make us afraid, we should take occasion thence to think of his lovingkindness.
IV. Let us give to God the glory of the great things which he has done for us, and mention them to his honour (Psa 48:10): "According to thy name, O God! so is thy praise, not only in Jerusalem, but to the ends of the earth." By the late signal deliverance of Jerusalem God had made himself a name; that is, he had gloriously discovered his wisdom, power, and goodness, and made all the nations about sensible of it; and so was his praise; that is, some in all parts would be found giving glory to him accordingly. As far as his name goes his praise will go, at least it should go, and, at length, it shall go, when all the ends of the world shall praise him, Psa 22:27; Rev 11:15. Some, by his name, understand especially that glorious name of his, the Lord of hosts; according to that name, so is his praise; for all the creatures, even to the ends of the earth, are under his command. But his people must, in a special manner, acknowledge his justice in all he does for them. "Righteousness fills thy right hand;" that is, all the operations of thy power are consonant to the eternal rules of equity.
V. Let all the members of the church in particular take to themselves the comfort of what God does for his church in general (Psa 48:11): "Let Mount Zion rejoice, the priests and Levites that attend the sanctuary, and then let all the daughters of Judah, the country towns, and the inhabitants of them, be glad: let the women in their songs and dances, as usual on occasion of public joys, celebrate with thankfulness the great salvation which God has wrought for us." Note, When we have given God the praise we may then take the pleasure of the extraordinary deliverances of the church, and be glad because of God's judgments (that is, the operations of his providence), all which we may see wrought in wisdom (therefore called judgments) and working for the good of his church.
VI. Let us diligently observe the instances and evidences of the church's beauty, strength, and safety, and faithfully transmit our observations to those that shall come after us (Psa 48:12, Psa 48:13): Walk about Zion. Some think this refers to the ceremony of the triumph; let those who are employed in that solemnity walk round the walls (as they did, Neh 12:31), singing and praising God. In doing this let them tell the towers and mark well the bulwarks, 1. That they might magnify the late wonderful deliverance God had wrought for them. Let them observe, with wonder, that the towers and bulwarks are all in their full strength and none of them damaged, the palaces in their beauty and none of them blemished; there is not the least damage done to the city by the kings that were assembled against it (Psa 48:4): Tell this to the generation following, as a wonderful instance of God's care of his holy city, that the enemies should not only not ruin or destroy it, but not so much as hurt or deface it. 2. That they might fortify themselves against the fear of the like threatening danger another time. And so, (1.) We may understand it literally of Jerusalem, and the strong-hold of Zion. Let the daughters of Judah see the towers and bulwarks of Zion, with a pleasure equal to the terror with which the kings their enemies saw them, Psa 48:5. Jerusalem was generally looked upon as an impregnable place, as appears, Lam 4:12. All the inhabitants of the world would not have believed that an enemy should enter the gates of Jerusalem; nor could they have entered if the inhabitants had not sinned away their defence. Set your heart to her bulwarks. This intimates that the principal bulwarks of Zion were not the objects of sense, which they might set their eye upon, but the objects of faith, which they must set their hearts upon. It was well enough fortified indeed both by nature and art; but its bulwarks that were mostly to be relied upon were the special presence of God in it, the beauty of holiness he had put upon it, and the promises he had made concerning it. "Consider Jerusalem's strength, and tell it to the generations to come, that they may do nothing to weaken it, and that, if at any time it be in distress, they may not basely surrender it to the enemy as not tenable." Calvin observes here that when they are directed to transmit to posterity a particular account of the towers, and bulwarks, and palaces of Jerusalem, it is intimated that in process of time they would all be destroyed and remain no longer to be seen; for, otherwise, what need was thee to preserve the description and history of them? When the disciples were admiring the buildings of the temple their Master told them that in a little time one stone of it should not be left upon another, Mat 24:1, Mat 24:2. Therefore, (2.) This must certainly be applied to the gospel church, that Mount Zion, Heb 12:22. "Consider the towers, and bulwarks, and palaces of that, that you may be invited and encouraged to join yourselves to it and embark in it. See it founded on Christ, the rock fortified by the divine power, guarded by him that neither slumbers nor sleeps. See what precious ordinances are its palaces, what precious promises are its bulwarks; tell this to the generation following, that they may with purpose of heart espouse its interests and cleave to it."
VII. Let us triumph in God, and in the assurances we have of his everlasting lovingkindness, Psa 48:14. Tell this to the generation following; transmit this truth as a sacred deposit to your posterity, That this God, who has now done such great things for us, is our God for ever and ever; he is constant and unchangeable in his love to us and care for us. 1. If God be our God, he is ours for ever, not only through all the ages of time, but to eternity; for it is the everlasting blessedness of glorified saints that God himself will be with them and will be their God, Rev 21:3. 2. If he be our God, he will be our guide, our faithful constant guide, to show us our way and to lead us in it; he will be so, even unto death, which will be the period of our way, and will bring us to our rest. He will lead and keep us even to the last. He will be our guide above death (so some); he will so guide us as to set us above the reach of death, so that it shall not be able to do us any real hurt. He will be our guide beyond death (so others); he will conduct us safely to a happiness on the other side death, to a life in which there shall be no more death. If we take the Lord for our God, he will conduct and convey us safely to death, through death, and beyond death - down to death and up again to glory.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 8–14. Public domain.
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Augustine of HippoAD 430
Exposition on Psalm 48
"Walk about Zion, and embrace her" [Psalm 48:11]. Be it said to them who live ill, in the midst of whom is the people, which has received the mercy of God. In the midst of you is a people living well, "Walk about Zion." But how? "embrace her." Not with scandals, but with love go round about her: that so those who live well in the midst of you ye may imitate, and by imitation of them, be incorporate with Christ, whose members they are. "Walk about Zion, go round about her: speak in the towers thereof." In the height of her bulwarks, set forth the praises thereof.
Arnobius the YoungerAD 460
COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS 48
Let Mount Zion rejoice; let the church rejoice; the daughters of Judah rejoice. You have judged all the spirits from the womb of the church, so that you may yoke the devil and may free the souls of people. Now, O freed spirits, encompass your mother Zion, whom you have followed; tell his mercy to the towers. In the towers they defend the city and resist the enemies. Place your hearts in his strength. Consider with what strength he fights for you …, so you may tell later generations.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Psalms 48:11 issues a fervent summons for communal jubilation, calling Mount Zion and the inhabitants of Judah to experience profound gladness. This exultation is not arbitrary but is rooted deeply in the righteous and redemptive acts of God, referred to as His "judgments." The verse encapsulates a vital theological truth: the people of God find their deepest joy, security, and vindication not in their own strength or circumstances, but in the unwavering justice, sovereign rule, and providential care of the Almighty, which consistently works for their ultimate good and well-being.
CONTEXT
Literary Context: Psalm 48 is a majestic hymn of praise, a "Song of Zion," celebrating the incomparable greatness of God and His protective presence in Jerusalem. The psalm commences by declaring the Lord's supreme majesty and His chosen dwelling in Zion, "the city of our God," as highlighted in Psalm 48:1. The immediate narrative preceding verse 11 provides a vivid account of divine intervention: verses 4-7 dramatically depict a coalition of kings attempting to assault Jerusalem, only to be struck with terror and flee upon witnessing the city's divine defense. This miraculous deliverance, a clear manifestation of God's "judgments" or righteous governance, forms the direct impetus for the joyous exhortation in verse 11. The psalm then transitions to a call for reflection on God's steadfast love and an invitation to walk around Zion, marveling at its strength, a testament to God's enduring protection and faithfulness (Psalm 48:9-14). Thus, verse 11 stands as a Spirit-inspired, communal response to God's powerfully demonstrated faithfulness and sovereign power.
Historical & Cultural Context: Jerusalem, often synonymous with Mount Zion, held unparalleled significance in ancient Israel as the chosen dwelling place of God's presence, particularly following the construction of the Temple. It was widely believed to be inviolable due to God's covenant promises to David. The "daughters of Judah" represent the entire female populace, and by extension, the collective community of Judah, symbolizing the whole body of God's people. In the ancient Near East, cities were frequently personified, and their inhabitants, especially women, played a prominent role in public expressions of joy, lament, and praise through song and dance. The term "judgments" (Hebrew: mishpatim) in this context does not primarily denote punitive legal decrees but rather God's righteous acts of intervention, vindication, and governance that uphold justice and deliver His people from their adversaries. Historically, Jerusalem faced numerous existential threats from surrounding empires, making divine protection a constant hope and a profound cause for celebration when experienced. While the psalm may reflect a specific historical deliverance, its message transcends that particular event, pointing to God's consistent character as the righteous defender of His people.
Key Themes: This verse significantly contributes to several profound theological themes within Psalm 48 and the broader Psalter. Paramount among these is the theme of Divine Justice and Vindication; the profound rejoicing stems directly from God's active, righteous intervention on behalf of His people. His "judgments" are the divine actions that ensure the security and well-being of His covenant community, prompting their gladness, as seen in other psalms celebrating God's righteous rule, such as Psalm 97:8. Closely intertwined is the Joy in God's Sovereignty, where the people find deep assurance and delight in the understanding that God is actively ruling, and His rule is perfectly just and ultimately beneficial for His own. The Significance of Zion is also a central theme, portraying Mount Zion as the spiritual and geographical epicenter where God's presence dwells and where His justice is visibly manifested. The call to rejoice is specifically tied to this holy place and its inhabitants, underscoring that God's covenant faithfulness is powerfully demonstrated in His protection of His chosen city. Finally, the verse powerfully underscores Communal Celebration, highlighting that God's acts of justice are a cause for widespread, collective rejoicing among His people, fostering unity and shared gratitude for His deliverance and ongoing care, a theme richly echoed throughout the songs of ascent, such as Psalm 122.
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Psalm 48:11 masterfully employs several potent literary devices to convey its message of communal joy and divine vindication. Personification is strikingly evident in the command "Let mount Zion rejoice," which attributes human emotion and action to the inanimate city, thereby emphasizing its integral role in God's redemptive history and the collective, unified response of its inhabitants. Parallelism is skillfully utilized through the synonymous construction "Let mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad." Here, the two clauses express a similar core idea—communal celebration—using different but complementary subjects (the city and its people) and verbs (rejoice and be glad). This reinforces the message, amplifies its impact, and creates a rhythmic, memorable flow. Furthermore, the use of the imperative mood ("Let... rejoice," "let... be glad") transforms the verse from a mere observation into a direct and forceful exhortation, highlighting the expected and appropriate joyful response to God's righteous governance and demonstrated faithfulness.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The theological core of Psalms 48:11 profoundly declares that God's righteous governance and active intervention are the ultimate, unwavering source of His people's joy. It underscores the vital truth that genuine gladness is not found in the absence of trials or the perfection of circumstances, but rather in the steadfast presence and active, just intervention of a sovereign God. The "judgments" of God, in this context, are not solely punitive but encompass His entire administration of justice, including His acts of deliverance, vindication, and faithful upholding of His covenant promises. This perspective transforms any potential fear of divine judgment into profound gratitude and celebration, as God's justice consistently works for the ultimate good, security, and flourishing of His chosen people. It teaches that acknowledging God's active, righteous rule in the world, even when His ways may seem mysterious or challenging to human understanding, is a profound cause for spiritual delight and unwavering trust among those who are His.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 48:11 offers a timeless and profound blueprint for the believer's appropriate response to God's character and His active involvement in the world. In an era often characterized by pervasive injustice, societal chaos, and personal uncertainty, this verse issues a powerful call to anchor our joy not in fleeting circumstances, human efforts, or worldly successes, but in the unwavering, righteous, and sovereign "judgments" of God. It serves as a potent reminder that our gladness is, at its core, a theological statement—a public and private declaration that we implicitly trust God's active rule and perfect administration of justice, even when His ways may seem mysterious or counterintuitive to our limited understanding. This necessitates cultivating a posture of continuous praise and deep gratitude for His divine interventions, recognizing that His justice ultimately brings about deliverance, vindication, and profound blessing for His people. It encourages us to look beyond immediate difficulties and to fix our gaze on the God who is actively governing all things, ensuring that His ultimate purposes of righteousness and redemption will prevail, thereby bringing profound peace, security, and unshakeable gladness to all who are truly His.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What does "judgments" mean in this context, and why are they a cause for rejoicing?
Answer: In Psalms 48:11, the Hebrew word for "judgments" (mishpatim, H4941) carries a rich and multifaceted meaning that extends beyond mere punitive legal sentences. In this context, it primarily refers to God's righteous acts, His just decrees, His faithful upholding of His covenant promises, and His active administration of justice in the world. This encompasses His divine interventions to deliver, vindicate, and protect His people from their adversaries. For instance, the preceding verses of Psalm 48 vividly describe how God miraculously routed a coalition of kings who threatened Jerusalem, demonstrating His overwhelming power and unwavering defense. These acts of divine intervention, which ensure the security, well-being, and vindication of God's people and His holy city, are a profound cause for rejoicing and gladness. They powerfully demonstrate God's unwavering faithfulness, His sovereign power, and His benevolent rule on behalf of those who trust in Him, transforming potential fear of divine decree into profound gratitude and celebration.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 48:11, with its vibrant call for Mount Zion and the daughters of Judah to rejoice in God's judgments, finds its ultimate, most profound, and expansive fulfillment in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. While the psalm celebrates God's past deliverances and His dwelling in the earthly city of Jerusalem, the New Testament profoundly reveals that the true Mount Zion is now a spiritual reality—the heavenly Jerusalem, where believers are gathered in Christ (Hebrews 12:22-24). The "judgments" that elicit such joyous celebration are fully and perfectly realized in the comprehensive redemptive work of Christ. His first coming was not primarily a judgment of condemnation but of salvation, where He, as the Lamb of God, bore the ultimate judgment for humanity's sin on the cross, thereby demonstrating God's perfect justice and boundless mercy simultaneously (Romans 3:25-26). Through His atoning sacrifice, resurrection, and ascension, Christ secured the ultimate vindication and eternal deliverance for His people, bringing them into a new and everlasting covenant relationship with God. The joy of Mount Zion now extends to all who are in Christ, for they are citizens of this heavenly city, heirs of God's promises, and recipients of His righteous acts and unending grace. Moreover, His glorious second coming will bring the final, cosmic judgment, where all injustice will be definitively set right, and His redeemed people will fully experience the unblemished joy of His eternal reign, dwelling with Him in the New Jerusalem, where God Himself will be with them (Revelation 21:1-4). Thus, the ancient call to rejoice in God's judgments becomes a powerful prophetic anticipation of the Christ-centered gladness found in His completed work of salvation and the glorious consummation of His kingdom.