The Meaning of Psalms 48:13 Explained

Psalms 48:13

KJV: Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generation following.

YLT: Set your heart to her bulwark, Consider her high places, So that ye recount to a later generation,

Darby: Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces: that ye may tell it to the generation following.

ASV: Mark ye well her bulwarks; Consider her palaces: That ye may tell it to the generation following.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Mark  ye well  her bulwarks,  consider  her palaces;  that ye may tell  [it] to the generation  following. 

What does Psalms 48:13 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 48:1-14 - "the City Of Our God"
This psalm also probably dates from 2 Chronicles 20:20. Tekoa was only three hours' march from Jerusalem and commanded an extensive view, so that Psalms 48:4-5 were literally true.
The psalmist celebrates the beauty and glory of Zion, Psalms 48:1-3. The Church today is the City of the great King. Apart from God, the fairest palace is no refuge; but a cottage becomes a palace if God is known and loved there. Judah's recent deliverance is gratefully commemorated, Psalms 48:4-8. It is a sublime picture: the gathered array, the dismay, flight, and destruction of the foe. Then comes the call to loving thought on God's care and goodness, Psalms 48:9-14. Notice those two sentences-"As we have heard, so we have seen," Psalms 48:8; and, "As is thy name, so is thy praise," Psalms 48:10. Whatever we have been told by our fathers about God, God is prepared to be and do for us; and our aim should be to praise Him worthily. Think of His love till your heart kindles to praise; and remember that this God is yours forever and ever. Let us surrender to Him the guidance of every step, until we pass through death into His immediate presence. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 48

1  The ornaments and privileges of the church

What do the individual words in Psalms 48:13 mean?

Mark well well her her bulwarks Consider her palaces that you may tell [it] to the generation following
שִׁ֤יתוּ לִבְּכֶ֨ם ׀ לְֽחֵילָ֗ה פַּסְּג֥וּ אַרְמְנוֹתֶ֑יהָ לְמַ֥עַן תְּ֝סַפְּר֗וּ לְד֣וֹר אַחֲרֽוֹן

שִׁ֤יתוּ  Mark  well 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: שִׁית  
Sense: to put, set.
לִבְּכֶ֨ם ׀  well  her 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine plural
Root: לֵב 
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.
לְֽחֵילָ֗ה  her  bulwarks 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person feminine singular
Root: חֵיל  
Sense: bulwark, entrenchment, rampart, fortress.
פַּסְּג֥וּ  Consider 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: פָּסַג  
Sense: (Piel) to pass between or within.
אַרְמְנוֹתֶ֑יהָ  her  palaces 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person feminine singular
Root: אַרְמֹון  
Sense: citadel, palace, fortress.
לְמַ֥עַן  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: לְמַעַן 
Sense: purpose, intent prep.
תְּ֝סַפְּר֗וּ  you  may  tell  [it] 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: סָפַר 
Sense: to count, recount, relate.
לְד֣וֹר  to  the  generation 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: דֹּור 
Sense: period, generation, habitation, dwelling.
אַחֲרֽוֹן  following 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: אַחֲרֹון  
Sense: behind, following, subsequent, western.