WHAT IT MEANS
A Present Help
God is not distant in trouble; He is refuge and strength in the middle of it.
VERSE STUDY • KJV
Psalm 46:1
To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth. God [is] our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
CONTEXT
What is happening here?
The psalm imagines earth-shaking chaos and political upheaval, yet repeatedly centers confidence on God’s presence.
APPLY IT
For today
Use this verse as a prayer when circumstances feel unstable: God, be my refuge and strength today.
Read it in 5 translations
KJV King James Version
To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth. God [is] our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
BSB Berean Standard Bible
For the choirmaster. Of the sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A song. God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble.
WEB World English Bible
For the Chief Musician. By the sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
ASV American Standard Version
For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah; set to Alamoth. A Song. God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.
YLT Young’s Literal Translation
To the Overseer.—By sons of Korah. ‘For the Virgins.’—A song. God is to us a refuge and strength, A help in adversities found most surely.
Surrounding context — Psalm 46
1 To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth. God [is] our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3 [Though] the waters thereof roar [and] be troubled, [though] the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
4 [There is] a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy [place] of the tabernacles of the most High.
Topics connected to this verse
Original-language word links
These Hebrew/Greek tokens are linked by Strong's number. Click one for its lexicon definition and other occurrences.
Cross-references
Psalm 145:18The LORD [is] nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.Psalm 9:9The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.Proverbs 18:10The name of the LORD [is] a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.Psalm 62:7-8In God [is] my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, [and] my refuge, [is] in God.Psalm 91:1-9He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.Psalm 142:5I cried unto thee, O LORD: I said, Thou [art] my refuge [and] my portion in the land of the living.Psalm 46:11The LORD of hosts [is] with us; the God of Jacob [is] our refuge. Selah.Deuteronomy 4:7For what nation [is there so] great, who [hath] God [so] nigh unto them, as the LORD our God [is] in all [things that] we call upon him [for]?Proverbs 14:26In the fear of the LORD [is] strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.Hebrews 6:18That by two immutable things, in which [it was] impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:2 Samuel 22:17-20He sent from above, he took me; he drew me out of many waters;Genesis 22:14And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said [to] this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.Psalm 46:7The LORD of hosts [is] with us; the God of Jacob [is] our refuge. Selah.Psalm 14:6Ye have shamed the counsel of the poor, because the LORD [is] his refuge.Luke 13:34O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen [doth gather] her brood under [her] wings, and ye would not!Psalm 84:1To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. How amiable [are] thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts!Psalm 66:1To the chief Musician, A Song [or] Psalm. Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands:Psalm 85:1To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. LORD, thou hast been favourable unto thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob.
HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION
Compare classic commentaries on Psalm 46:1
Put Matthew Henry, Adam Clarke, Calvin, Wesley, Barnes, Jamieson–Fausset–Brown, Aquinas’ Catena and other public-domain sources beside the passage.
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