Psalms 46:10-11

46:10 He says, ¹  “Stop your striving and recognize ²  that I am God!

I will be exalted ³  over ⁴  the nations! I will be exalted over ⁵  the earth!”

46:11 The Lord who commands armies is on our side! ⁶ 

The God of Jacob ⁷  is our protector! ⁸  (Selah)

[46:10]  ¹ tn The words “he says” are supplied in the translation for clarification.

[46:10]  ² tn Heb “do nothing/be quiet (see 1 Sam 15:16) and know.” This statement may be addressed to the hostile nations, indicating they should cease their efforts to destroy God’s people, or to Judah, indicating they should rest secure in God’s protection. Since the psalm is an expression of Judah’s trust and confidence, it is more likely that the words are directed to the nations, who are actively promoting chaos and are in need of a rebuke.

[46:10]  ³ tn Elsewhere in the psalms the verb רוּם (rum, “be exalted”) when used of God, refers to his exalted position as king (Pss 18:46; 99:2; 113:4; 138:6) and/or his self-revelation as king through his mighty deeds of deliverance (Pss 21:13; 57:5, 11).

[46:10]  ⁴ tn Or “among.”

[46:10]  ⁵ tn Or “in.”

[46:11]  ⁶ tn Heb “the Lord of hosts is with us.” The title “Lord of hosts” here pictures the Lord as a mighty warrior-king who leads armies into battle (see Ps 24:10). The military imagery is further developed in vv. 8-9.

[46:11]  ⁷ tn That is, Israel, or Judah (see Ps 20:1).

[46:11]  ⁸ tn Heb “our elevated place” (see Pss 9:9; 18:2).