Psalms 48:6 — Word Study
WLCרְ֭עָדָה אֲחָזָ֣תַם שָׁ֑ם חִ֝֗יל כַּיּוֹלֵֽדָה׃
BSAthey(masc.)hêm Providerrâʼâh rightkên to astoundedtâmahh to dismaybâhal to hurrychâphaz
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| רְ֭עָדָה | trembling | Noun common, feminine singular absolute |
| אֲחָזָ֣תַם | it seized them | Verb qal perfect third person feminine singular, suffix |
| שָׁ֑ם | there | Adverb |
| חִ֝֗יל | anguish | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| כַּיּוֹלֵֽדָה׃ | like [woman] giving birth | Preposition, verb qal participle (active) feminine singular |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Trembling seized them there, anguish like a woman in labor. |
| KJV | Fear took hold upon them there, and pain, as of a woman in travail. |
| ASV | Trembling took hold of them there, Pain, as of a woman in travail. |
| YLT | Trembling hath seized them there, Pain, as of a travailing woman. |
| WEB | Trembling took hold of them there, pain, as of a woman in travail. |
| BBE | Shaking came on them and pain, as on a woman in childbirth. |
The translations agree on the essential meaning of the verse.
The main clause is supported by multiple phrases that elaborate on the action and its effects, creating a vivid picture of the scene.
7 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectהֵמָּה
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Psalms 48:6
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Greatness of God in Ziongenerated
Psalms 48:6 describes a scene where fear grips those present due to the overwhelming power of God. The psalm reflects on God's might and protection over Zion, contrasting the terror of enemies with the safety found in His presence. This verse follows a declaration of astonishment and terror experienced by those who witness God's actions.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Exodus 15:15–16 | Then the chiefs of Edom will be dismayed; trembling will seize the leaders of Moab; those who dwell in Canaan will melt away, |
| 2 | Isaiah 13:6–8 | Wail, for the Day of the LORD is near; it will come as destruction from the Almighty. |
| 3 | Daniel 5:6 | his face grew pale and his thoughts so alarmed him that his hips gave way and his knees knocked together. |
| 4 | Isaiah 21:3 | Therefore my body is filled with anguish. Pain grips me, like the pains of a woman in labor. I am bewildered to hear, I am dismayed to see. |
| 5 | Jeremiah 30:6–7 | Ask now, and see: Can a male give birth? Why then do I see every man with his hands on his stomach like a woman in labor and every face turned pale? |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 6 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — רְ֭עָדָה, Re.'a.dahgenerated
The noun רְ֭עָדָה (re'adah) describes a state of trembling or quaking, often linked to fear or anxiety. It indicates a physical response to a distressing situation, emphasizing the emotional turmoil present in the moment.
This word is used in contexts that highlight intense fear, often in response to divine intervention or calamity. The feminine singular form suggests a collective trembling among those affected, enhancing the vivid imagery of panic.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The translations generally agree on the meaning of the verse.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb אֲחָזָ֣תַם (it seized them) governs the entire clause, indicating the action that takes hold of the subjects. The structure emphasizes the suddenness of the fear experienced.
The noun phrase רְ֭עָדָה serves as the subject, while the adverbial שָׁ֑ם locates the action, creating a vivid picture of trembling occurring at a specific moment.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates רְ֭עָדָה as ἐθαύμασαν (they were amazed), which shifts the focus from trembling to astonishment. This choice suggests an interpretation that emphasizes the overwhelming nature of the event rather than the physical response of fear.
This translation indicates a broader understanding of the emotional impact of God's actions, highlighting the awe and fear they inspire.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalms 48:6 describes how fear and anguish gripped those present, comparing their distress to the pain of a woman in labor. This imagery highlights the intensity of their experience in the face of God's power.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The trembling signifies a deep fear and anxiety experienced by those witnessing God's might, illustrating their helplessness in the face of divine power.
This comparison emphasizes the intensity and urgency of the fear felt, akin to the severe pain and distress of childbirth.
The term 'there' indicates a specific moment of divine intervention, highlighting the immediate impact of God's presence on those present.
This verse underscores the contrast between the fear of the nations and the security found in God's protection over Zion, reinforcing the psalm's celebration of God's greatness.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How do I respond to moments of fear or anxiety in my life, and what can I learn from this verse?
- In what ways can I recognize and appreciate God's protective presence in my life?
- How does the imagery of childbirth resonate with my understanding of pain and new beginnings?
- What steps can I take to support others who may be experiencing fear or distress?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
The verse has been cited by early church fathers, such as Augustine, who reflect on its meaning in the context of God's power over nations.
"With a strong wind You shall break the ships of Tarshish" [Psalms 48:6]. Briefly understood, this is, You shall overthrow the pride of the nations.Early Church Fathers on Psalms 48 →
Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 48:6 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleFear took hold upon them there,.... That is, either when they came up to the city, and passed by it, and saw what they did; or, as Kimchi observes, in the place where they thought to have made a
Read John Gill on Psalms 48 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryFear took hold upon them there, and pain, as of a woman in travail. Pain as of a woman in travail - at once sudden and violent (1 Thessalonians 5:3).
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 48 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BiblePartly at the tidings of Tirhakah’ s coming against them, , and partly for that terrible slaughter of their army there, .
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 48 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 48:6 Fear took hold upon them there, [and] pain, as of a woman in travail.Ver. 6. Fear took hold upon them there] By "so" in the former verse, and "there" in this, the shameful flight of these enemies is lively deciphered, and, as it were, pointed at with the finger. So Psalms 14:5, "There were they in great fear: for God is in the generation of the righteous." And pain as of a woman in travail] Their grief was no less than their fear; and it came upon them, Certo, cito, subito, suddenly, sorely, irresistibly, inevitably.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 48 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges6. Trembling took hold of them there: Pangs, as of a woman in travail. Cp. Exodus 15:14-15; and for the phrase though in a different connexion, Isaiah 33:14, “Trembling hath taken hold of the godless.”
Read Cambridge on Psalms 48 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleFear took hold upon them there - Trembling seized them; they were filled with sudden consternation. That is, as soon as they saw the city, or had a distinct view of it, they became alarmed. And pain - Distress; anguish.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 48 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible4-8. In this division is noted the destruction of the people’s enemies. The kings were assembled—Pointing to a confederate army and a war council of the chiefs.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Psalms 48 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Trembling seized them there, anguish like a woman in labor.
Trembling took hold of them there, pain, as of a woman in travail.
Trembling seized them there, anguish like a woman in labor.
Look at them shake uncontrollably, like a woman writhing in childbirth.
Tyndale line
Fear took hold upon them there, and pain, as of a woman in travail.
Trembling took hold of them there, Pain, as of a woman in travail.
Trembling took hold of them there; pain, as of a woman in travail.
Fear took hold upon them there, and pain, as of a woman in travail.
Feare came there vpon them, and sorowe, as vpon a woman in trauaile.
Strictly literal
Trembling took hold upon them there; anguish, as of a woman in travail.
Trembling hath seized them there, Pain, as of a travailing woman.
Trembling has seized them there, || Pain, as of a travailing woman.
(48:7) Trembling seized on them there, pain, as on a woman in travail.
Trembling took hold of them there, pain as when a woman is in labor.
From the Latin
Why shall I fear in the evil day? the iniquity of my heel shall encompass me.
Simplified
They shook all over, and were in agonizing pain like a woman giving birth,
Shaking came on them and pain, as on a woman in childbirth.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint align closely in their wording, with all five words matched. The Dead Sea Scrolls, however, show some editorial restoration, indicating that the original text was damaged.
רְ֭עָדָה אֲחָזָ֣תַם שָׁ֑ם חִ֝֗יל כַּיּוֹלֵֽדָה׃
5 of the 5 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
[המה] [ראו] [כן] [תמהו] [נבהלו] [נחפזו]
nothing on the leather here — 6 supplied entire by an editor.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Psalms 48:6
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
רַ֫עַד (ra'ad) means 'trembling' and is closely related to רְעַדָה (re'adah), which also means 'trembling.' Both forms derive from the same root, indicating a sense of shuddering or fear. The entries consistently emphasize this meaning without significant disagreement.
רַ֫עַד n.m. trembling
base
רְעַדָה n.f. id. [t.dj.ab]
base
H7461a רַ֫עַד trembling H7461b רְעַדָה id. [7461a]
7461 ra`ad rah'-ad
or (feminine) radah {reh-aw-daw'}; from 7460; a
shudder:--trembling.
see HEBREW for 07460
רַ֫עַד (ra.ad) — trembling.
trembling
Another spelling of re.a.dah (רְעַדָה "trembling" H7461B)
רְעַדָה (re.a.dah) — trembling.
trembling
Also means: ra.ad (רַ֫עַד "trembling" H7461A)
HNcfsa — Noun common · feminine singular absoluteHNcfsa
The Hebrew word אָחַז (achaz) means to grasp, take hold of, or seize. It has various forms, including Qal (to grasp), Niphal (to be caught), Piel (to enclose), and Hophal (to be fastened). The entries highlight its use in contexts of possession and holding, but do not provide specific verse references.
אָחַז 68 vb. grasp, take hold of, take possession
Qal grasp, take hold of
Niph. be caught
Pi. enclose, overlay
Hoph. fastened
base
H270 אָחַז grasp, take hold of, take possession .grasp, take hold of
. be caught
. enclose, overlay
270 'achaz aw-khaz'
a primitive root; to seize (often with the accessory idea of
holding in possession):--+ be affrighted, bar, (catch, lay,
take) hold (back), come upon, fasten, handle, portion, (get,
have or take) possess(-ion).
אָחַז (a.chaz) — to grasp.
1) grasp, take hold, seize, take possession
1a) (Qal) to grasp, take hold of
1b) (Niphal) to be caught, grasped, be settled
1c) (Piel) to enclose, overlay
1d) (Hophal) fastened
HVqp3fs/Sp3mp — Verb qal perfect third person feminine singular · suffixHVqp3fs/Sp3mp
שָׁם (sham) is a Hebrew adverb meaning 'there' or 'thither,' indicating a location or direction. It can also refer to a point in time, translating to 'then.' The word is derived from a relative pronoun and is used in various contexts, including movement and temporal references.
שָׁם adv. there, thither
base
H8033 שָׁם there, thither
8033 sham shawm
a primitive particle (rather from the relative pronoun, 834);
there (transferring to time) then; often thither, or
thence:--in it, + thence, there (-in, + of, + out), +
thither, + whither.
see HEBREW for 0834
שָׁם (sham) — there.
1) there, thither
1a) there
1b) thither (after verbs of motion)
1c) from there, thence
1d) then (as an adverb of time)
Aramaic equivalent: tam.mah (תַּמָּה "there" H8536)
שָׁם (sham) — (Jerusalem) Is There.
Combined with ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
This name means there, thither
HD — AdverbHD
The Hebrew word חִיל (chiyl) denotes a state of writhing or anguish, often associated with pain and sorrow, particularly in the context of childbirth. Its feminine form, חִילָה (chiylah), also means agony. Both forms emphasize emotional and physical distress.
done
H2427a חִיל a writhing, anguish H2427b חִילָה anguish
2427 chiyl kheel
and (feminine) chiylah {khee-law'}; from 2342; a throe
(expectant of childbirth):--pain, pang, sorrow.
see HEBREW for 02342
חִיל (chil) — agony.
1) pain, agony, sorrow, a writhing, anguish
1a) writhing (of fear)
1b) anguish
Also means: chi.lah (חִילָה "agony" H2427B)
חִילָה (chi.lah) — agony.
1) pain, agony, sorrow, a writhing, anguish
1a) writhing (of fear)
1b) anguish
HNcmsa — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
an'-gwish: Extreme distress of body, mind or spirit; excruciating pain or suffering of soul, e.g. excessive grief, remorse, despair. Chiefly expressed in Old Testament, by four derivatives of tsuq, "straitened," "pressed," and tsar, and two derivatives signifying "straitness," "narrowness," hence distress; also shabhats, "giddiness," "confusion of mind"; hul "to twist" with pain, "writhe." So in the New Testament, thlipsis, "a pressing together," hence affliction, tribulation, stenochoria, "narrowness of place," hence extreme affliction; sunoche, "a holding together," hence distress. The fundamental idea in these various terms is pressure--being straitened, compressed into a narrow place, or pain through physical or mental torture. Used of the physical agony of child-birth (Jer 4:31; 6:24; 49:24; 50:43;
The Hebrew word יָלַד (*yalad*) means to bear, bring forth, or beget, and it encompasses various forms of childbirth and lineage declaration. It can refer to both the act of giving birth and the role of a midwife. The entries also note its use in contexts of distress and wicked behavior, as well as in reference to birthdays.
יָלַד 497 vb. bear, bring forth, beget
Qal
bear, bring forth
less often beget
of both parents
Niph. be born
Pi. cause (or help) to bring forth, viz., assist or tend as midwife
Pu. be born
Hiph.
beget (a father a child)
bear
Hoph. day of one's being born = birthday
Hithp. declared their pedigree
base
H3205 יָלַד bear, bring forth, beget .. bear, bring forth
. less often beget
. of both parents
. be born
. cause (or help) to bring forth, viz., assist or tend as midwife
. be born
. . beget (a father a child)
. bear
. day of one's being born = birthday
. declared their pedigree
3205 yalad yaw-lad'
a primitive root; to bear young; causatively, to beget;
medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show
lineage:--bear, beget, birth((-day)), born, (make to) bring
forth (children, young), bring up, calve, child, come, be
delivered (of a child), time of delivery, gender, hatch,
labour, (do the office of a) midwife, declare pedigrees, be
the son of, (woman in, woman that) travail(-eth, -ing woman).
יָלַד (ya.lad) — to beget.
1) to bear, bringforth, beget, gender, travail
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to bear, bring forth
1a1a) of child birth
1a1b) of distress (simile)
1a1c) of wicked (behaviour)
1a2) to beget
1b) (Niphal) to be born
1c) (Piel)
1c1) to cause or help to bring forth
1c2) to assist or tend as a midwife
1c3) midwife (participle)
1d) (Pual) to be born
1e) (Hiphil)
1e1) to beget (a child)
1e2) to bear (fig. -of wicked bringing forth iniquity)
1f) (Hophal) day of birth, birthday (infinitive)
1g) (Hithpael) to declare one's birth (pedigree)
HRd/Vqrfsa — Preposition · verb qal participle (active) feminine singularHRd/Vqrfsa
burth (genesis):
(1) It was said by the angel beforehand of John the Baptist, "Many shall rejoice at his birth"; and when he was born Elisabeth said, "Thus hath the Lord done unto me .... to take away my reproach among men" (Lu 1:14,25). Among the ancient Hebrews barrenness was a "reproach" and the birth of a child, of a son especially, an occasion for rejoicing.
(2) This, no doubt, was due in part to the Messianic hope inspired and sustained by prophecy (see Ge 3:15, where it was foretold that the seed of the woman should bruise the serpent's head; and subsequent prophecies too numerous to mention). Cases in point worth studying are found in Ge 4:1, where Eve rejoices over the birth of her firstborn and cries, "I have gotten a…
Birth
As soon as a child was born it was washed, and rubbed with salt (Ezek. 16:4), and then swathed with bandages (Job 38:9; Luke 2:7, 12). A Hebrew mother remained forty days in seclusion after the birth of a son, and after the birth of a daughter double that number of days. At the close of that period she entered into the tabernacle or temple and offered up a sacrifice of purification (Lev. 12:1-8; Luke 2:22). A son was circumcised on the eighth day after his birth, being thereby consecrated to God (Gen. 17:10-12; comp.