The Meaning of Psalms 46:2 Explained

Psalms 46:2

KJV: Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

YLT: Therefore we fear not in the changing of earth, And in the slipping of mountains Into the heart of the seas.

Darby: Therefore will we not fear though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the heart of the seas;

ASV: Therefore will we not fear, though the earth do change, And though the mountains be shaken into the heart of the seas;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Therefore will not we fear,  though the earth  be removed,  and though the mountains  be carried  into the midst  of the sea; 

What does Psalms 46:2 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalm 46:1-11 - "our Refuge And Strength"
The historical origin of this psalm cannot be certainly determined. Probably it was composed when Jerusalem was beleaguered by Sennacherib's hosts, 2 Kings 18:1-37. It befits every era in which the Church is in danger from her foes, and foretells the final destruction of Antichrist. It was Luther's favorite psalm, and is rendered into verse in his memorable hymn, Ein' Feste Burg. During the sitting of the Diet of Augsburg he sang it every day to his lute, standing at the window and looking up to heaven. The theme of the psalm is the security of God's people, and this is elaborated in three stanzas, each of which ends with Selah.
Alone among great cities, Jerusalem lacked a river; but God was willing to become all that a river could be and more. Your deficiencies give more room for God's all-sufficiency. Mark the beautiful alternative translation of Psalms 46:5, r.v., margin, "at the dawn of morning." Your sorrow is limited to a single night. See also Isaiah 37:36; Matthew 14:25. Be still, O troubled heart! The God of the nations is your Father! Desolations are the snapping off of the dead branches to prepare for the spring. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalm 46

1  The confidence which the church has in God
8  An exhortation to behold it

What do the individual words in Psalms 46:2 mean?

Upon thus not we will fear Even though be removed the earth and though be carried the mountains into the midst of the sea
עַל־ כֵּ֣ן לֹא־ נִ֭ירָא בְּהָמִ֣יר אָ֑רֶץ וּבְמ֥וֹט הָ֝רִ֗ים בְּלֵ֣ב יַמִּֽים

עַל־  Upon 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
כֵּ֣ן  thus 
Parse: Adverb
Root: כֵּן 
Sense: so, therefore, thus.
נִ֭ירָא  we  will  fear 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common plural
Root: יָרֵא 
Sense: to fear, revere, be afraid.
בְּהָמִ֣יר  Even  though  be  removed 
Parse: Preposition-b, Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct
Root: מוּר 
Sense: to change, exchange.
אָ֑רֶץ  the  earth 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
וּבְמ֥וֹט  and  though  be  carried 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: מֹוט  
Sense: to totter, shake, slip.
הָ֝רִ֗ים  the  mountains 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: הַר  
Sense: hill, mountain, hill country, mount.
בְּלֵ֣ב  into  the  midst 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: לֵב 
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.
יַמִּֽים  of  the  sea 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: יָם  
Sense: sea.