Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. New Living Translation Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! Interlude English Standard Version though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah Berean Standard Bible though their waters roar and foam and the mountains quake in the surge. Selah Berean Literal Bible its waters roar and foam, and the mountains quake in its rising. Selah King James Bible Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. New King James Version Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah New American Standard Bible Though its waters roar and foam, Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. Selah NASB 1995 Though its waters roar and foam, Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. Selah. NASB 1977 Though its waters roar and foam, Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. Selah. Legacy Standard Bible Though its waters roar and foam, Though the mountains quake at its lofty pride. Selah. Amplified Bible Though its waters roar and foam, Though the mountains tremble at its roaring. Selah. Berean Annotated Bible though their waters roar and foam and the mountains quake in the surge. Selah Christian Standard Bible though its water roars and foams and the mountains quake with its turmoil. Selah Holman Christian Standard Bible though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with its turmoil. Selah American Standard Version Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, Though the mountains tremble with the swelling thereof. [Selah Contemporary English Version Let the ocean roar and foam, and its raging waves shake the mountains. English Revised Version Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah GOD'S WORD® Translation Water roars and foams, and mountains shake at the surging waves. [Selah] Good News Translation even if the seas roar and rage, and the hills are shaken by the violence. International Standard Version when its waters roar and rage, when the mountains tremble despite their pride. Interlude NET Bible when its waves crash and foam, and the mountains shake before the surging sea. (Selah) New Heart English Bible though its waters roar and are troubled, though the mountains tremble with their swelling. Selah. Webster's Bible Translation Though its waters shall roar and be disturbed, though the mountains shake with the swelling of it. Selah. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard Biblethough their waters roar and foam and the mountains quake in the surge. Selah World English Bible though its waters roar and are troubled, though the mountains tremble with their swelling. Selah. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionRoar—troubled are its waters, "" Mountains shake in its pride. Selah. Berean Literal Bible its waters roar and foam, and the mountains quake in its rising. Selah Young's Literal Translation Roar -- troubled are its waters, Mountains they shake in its pride. Selah. Smith's Literal Translation Its waters will roar, they will foam; the mountains will tremble in its pride. Silence. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleTheir waters roared and were troubled: the mountains were troubled with his strength. Catholic Public Domain Version New American Bible Though its waters rage and foam and mountains totter at its surging. Selah New Revised Standard Version though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult. Selah Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleThough the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the force thereof. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Their waters shall be troubled and return and the mountains will be moved by his strength. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Though the waters thereof roar and foam, Though the mountains shake at the swelling thereof. Selah Brenton Septuagint Translation Their waters have roared and been troubled, the mountains have been troubled by his might. Pause. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context God is Our Refuge and Strength…2Therefore we will not fear, though the earth is transformed and the mountains are toppled into the depths of the seas, 3though their waters roar and foam and the mountains quake in the surge. Selah 4There is a river whose streams delight the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells.… Cross References though their waters roar and foam Isaiah 51:15 For I am the LORD your God who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar—the LORD of Hosts is His name. Isaiah 17:12 Alas, the tumult of many peoples; they rage like the roaring seas and clamoring nations; they rumble like the crashing of mighty waters. Luke 21:25 There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among the nations, bewildered by the roaring of the sea and the surging of the waves. and the mountains quake in the surge Habakkuk 3:10 The mountains saw You and quaked; torrents of water swept by. The deep roared with its voice and lifted its hands on high. Psalm 18:7 Then the earth shook and quaked, and the foundations of the mountains trembled; they were shaken because He burned with anger. Nahum 1:5 The mountains quake before Him, and the hills melt away; the earth trembles at His presence—the world and all its dwellers. Selah Habakkuk 3:3 God came from Teman, and the Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah His glory covered the heavens, and His praise filled the earth. Habakkuk 3:9 You brandished Your bow; You called for many arrows. Selah You split the earth with rivers. Habakkuk 3:13 You went forth for the salvation of Your people, to save Your anointed. You crushed the head of the house of the wicked and stripped him from head to toe. Selah Isaiah 24:19-20 The earth is utterly broken apart, the earth is split open, the earth is shaken violently. / The earth staggers like a drunkard and sways like a shack. Earth’s rebellion weighs it down, and it falls, never to rise again. Jeremiah 4:23-26 I looked at the earth, and it was formless and void; I looked to the heavens, and they had no light. / I looked at the mountains, and behold, they were quaking; all the hills were swaying. / I looked, and no man was left; all the birds of the air had fled. … Revelation 6:14 The sky receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved from its place. Isaiah 2:19-21 Men will flee to caves in the rocks and holes in the ground, away from the terror of the LORD and from the splendor of His majesty, when He rises to shake the earth. / In that day men will cast away to the moles and bats their idols of silver and gold—the idols they made to worship. / They will flee to caverns in the rocks and crevices in the cliffs, away from the terror of the LORD and from the splendor of His majesty, when He rises to shake the earth. Matthew 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days: ‘The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.’ Joel 2:10-11 Before them the earth quakes; the heavens tremble. The sun and moon grow dark, and the stars lose their brightness. / The LORD raises His voice in the presence of His army. Indeed, His camp is very large, for mighty are those who obey His command. For the Day of the LORD is great and very dreadful. Who can endure it? Revelation 16:18-20 And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, and a great earthquake the likes of which had not occurred since men were upon the earth—so mighty was the great quake. / The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. And God remembered Babylon the great and gave her the cup of the wine of the fury of His wrath. / Then every island fled, and no mountain could be found. Treasury of Scripture Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. the waters Psalm 18:4 The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid. Psalm 93:3,4 The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves… Job 38:11 And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed? mountains Psalm 114:4-7 The mountains skipped like rams, and the little hills like lambs… Judges 5:4,5 LORD, when thou wentest out of Seir, when thou marchedst out of the field of Edom, the earth trembled, and the heavens dropped, the clouds also dropped water… 1 Kings 19:11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: Jump to Previous Disturbed Foam Motion Mountains Pride Quake Roar Selah Shake Shaking Sounding Surging Swelling Thereof Tremble Troubled Tumult Violent WatersJump to Next Disturbed Foam Motion Mountains Pride Quake Roar Selah Shake Shaking Sounding Surging Swelling Thereof Tremble Troubled Tumult Violent WatersPsalm 46 1. The confidence which the church has in God8. An exhortation to behold it though their waters roar and foam This phrase evokes the imagery of tumultuous seas, symbolizing chaos and disorder. In biblical literature, the sea often represents danger and the unknown, as seen in Genesis 1:2, where the Spirit of God hovers over the waters, bringing order from chaos. The roaring and foaming waters can also be seen as a metaphor for nations in turmoil, as in Isaiah 17:12-13, where the nations are compared to the roaring of mighty waters. This imagery underscores God's sovereignty over creation and the nations, emphasizing His power to bring peace amidst chaos. and the mountains quake in the surge Selah Persons / Places / Events 1. The PsalmistThe author of Psalm 46, traditionally attributed to the sons of Korah, who were Levites and temple musicians. They express trust in God's protection amidst chaos. 2. Mountains Symbolic of stability and permanence in the ancient world. Their quaking represents the upheaval of what is considered stable and secure. 3. Waters Often symbolize chaos and danger in biblical literature. The roaring and foaming waters depict turmoil and uncertainty. 4. Selah A term used in the Psalms, possibly indicating a pause for reflection or musical interlude, inviting the reader to meditate on the preceding verses. Teaching Points God's Sovereignty Over ChaosDespite the roaring waters and quaking mountains, God remains in control. Believers can find peace knowing that God is sovereign over all circumstances. Stability in God The imagery of mountains quaking serves as a reminder that earthly stability is temporary, but God is our eternal refuge and strength. Reflective Pause (Selah) Taking time to pause and reflect on God's power and presence can strengthen our faith and provide peace in times of trouble. Faith in Action Trusting God in the midst of life's storms requires active faith. Believers are called to rely on God's promises and presence rather than their own understanding. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Psalm 46:3?2. How does Psalm 46:3 encourage trust in God during life's upheavals? 3. What does "waters roar and foam" symbolize in our personal challenges? 4. How can Psalm 46:3 strengthen our faith in God's sovereignty? 5. Connect Psalm 46:3 with Jesus calming the storm in Mark 4:39. 6. How can we apply Psalm 46:3 when facing fear and uncertainty today? 7. How does Psalm 46:3 reflect God's power over natural disasters? 8. What historical events might have inspired the imagery in Psalm 46:3? 9. How does Psalm 46:3 challenge our understanding of God's control over chaos? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Psalm 46? 11. Why does the imagery of roaring and foaming waters (Psalm 46:3) conflict with modern oceanographic understanding? 12. Psalm 3:4 claims God answers from 'his holy mountain'--why is there no scientific confirmation of divine communication from a specific location? 13. In Habakkuk 3:8-10, can the dramatic imagery of raging waters and trembling mountains be reconciled with known geological or historical records? 14. Jeremiah 46:8 - Is the imagery of the Nile flooding over the land literal or metaphorical, and could it contradict natural constraints on river flooding known from geological studies? What Does Psalm 46:3 Mean Though their waters roar and foam• “though their waters roar and foam” (Psalm 46:3) pictures seas in violent upheaval—real, literal waves crashing with deafening noise. • Scripture often uses stormy seas to depict the most terrifying forces of nature (Psalm 93:3-4; Jonah 1:4-6). • For God’s people, even the loudest roar cannot drown out His promise: “He stilled the storm to a whisper” (Psalm 107:29). • The verse encourages confidence that the Creator who set boundaries for the oceans (Job 38:8-11) remains in absolute control, no matter how loud the chaos. And the mountains quake in the surge • Mountains are symbols of permanence, yet “the mountains quake in the surge.” Even the firmest parts of creation can shake (Nahum 1:5; Habakkuk 3:6). • Earthquakes and landslides are real events; the psalm treats them honestly, underscoring that nothing earthly is unshakable. • Hebrews 12:26-28 echoes this theme, reminding believers that only God’s kingdom “cannot be shaken.” • When what seems immovable trembles, the psalm directs attention to “God is our refuge and strength” (Psalm 46:1)—the unchanging shelter behind every trembling scene. Selah • “Selah” invites a pause—stop, breathe, and let the truth settle. • Reflect on the contrast: seas and mountains may convulse, yet God remains steadfast (Isaiah 26:4). • The pause calls worshipers to turn fear into faith, placing present anxieties against the backdrop of God’s eternal sovereignty. summary Psalm 46:3 assures believers that even if the most chaotic seas roar and the mightiest mountains quake, God’s people need not fear. Natural upheavals, however loud or violent, are still under the rule of the Almighty. The verse calls readers to pause, remember His supremacy, and rest in the refuge that can never be shaken. (3) Though the waters . . .--The original is very expressive in its conciseness:"They roar, they foam, its waters." Comp. Homer's equally concise description, including in three words the "rush," the "swell," and the "roar" of ocean (Iliad, xxiii. 230). Swelling.--Or, pride. (Comp. Job 38:11.) The change in construction in this verse seems to confirm the suspicion that the refrain has dropped away. Verse 3. - Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled; or, roar and foam (Hengstenberg, Kay, Cheyne). Though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof (comp. Psalm 93:3, 4; Jeremiah 46:8, 9; Jeremiah 47:2).Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew though its watersמֵימָ֑יו (mê·māw) Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 4325: Water, juice, urine, semen roar יֶהֱמ֣וּ (ye·hĕ·mū) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 1993: To make a, loud sound, commotion, tumult, to rage, war, moan, clamor and foam יֶחְמְר֣וּ (yeḥ·mə·rū) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 2560: To boil up, to ferment, to glow, to smear with pitch and the mountains הָרִ֖ים (hā·rîm) Noun - masculine plural Strong's 2022: Mountain, hill, hill country quake יִֽרְעֲשֽׁוּ־ (yir·‘ă·šū-) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 7493: To undulate, through fear, to spring in the surge. בְּגַאֲוָת֣וֹ (bə·ḡa·’ă·wā·ṯōw) Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 1346: Arrogance, majesty, ornament Selah סֶֽלָה׃ (se·lāh) Interjection Strong's 5542: Suspension, pause Links Psalm 46:3 NIVPsalm 46:3 NLT Psalm 46:3 ESV Psalm 46:3 NASB Psalm 46:3 KJV Psalm 46:3 BibleApps.com Psalm 46:3 Biblia Paralela Psalm 46:3 Chinese Bible Psalm 46:3 French Bible Psalm 46:3 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Psalm 46:3 Though its waters roar and are troubled (Psalm Ps Psa.) |
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