Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised in the city of our God! His holy mountain,
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse starts with "Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised," emphasizing that God's greatness isn't just a fact, but demands a response of praise proportionate to His magnitude. This isn't simply about acknowledging God, but about recognizing that His immense worth requires an equally immense level of adoration from us.
Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised in the city of our God! His holy mountain,
English Standard Version (ESV)
This psalm, likely written for a specific occasion of divine deliverance, begins by celebrating the glory and security of Jerusalem, God's chosen city. It immediately emphasizes God's greatness and the praise due to Him within His holy dwelling place, setting the stage for recounting how He miraculously protected the city from formidable enemies.
Ever feel like your praise doesn't quite measure up? This psalm kicks off with a declaration about God's size and how we're meant to respond.
The opening verse isn't just a statement; it's an invitation. It declares God's immense greatness – 'Great is the LORD.' This isn't a small, contained greatness, but one that overflows, demanding an equally immense response: 'greatly to be praised.'
Think of it this way: if God's worthiness is infinite, our praise should strive to be as full and unrestrained as possible. It’s a call to abandon half-hearted worship and to pour out our hearts in a way that reflects His incredible nature. The context here is specific – 'in the city of our God!' This isn't just abstract praise; it's praise offered from within the place God has chosen to dwell, a place alive with His presence and His history.
The psalm zeroes in on 'the city of our God' and 'his holy mountain.' What makes this location so significant for praise?
When the psalmist speaks of 'the city of our God' and 'his holy mountain' (Jerusalem, specifically Mount Zion), he's pointing to more than just geography. This was the place where God chose to place His name, where His presence was manifest, and where His people gathered for worship and experienced His protection.
It wasn't just any city; it was God's dwelling place on earth. Its glory wasn't in its walls or its people, but in God Himself being present there. This truth had a powerful effect: it became a symbol of God's faithfulness, His power to protect, and His chosen community. Therefore, it was the natural epicenter for praise – a place where God's greatness was not only declared but also vividly seen and experienced.
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Understand the original words
YHWH · Hebrew Noun
The personal name of the God of Israel, YHWH, revealing His self-existence, covenant faithfulness, and holiness. It is the name by which He makes Himself known to His people.
qodesh · Hebrew Adjective
A place characterized by a set-apart nature, specifically dedicated to the service and presence of God. In the Old Testament, mountains are often the sites of divine encounter and revelation.
iyr · Hebrew Noun
A physical location set apart for the dwelling of God among His people; symbolically represents the center of God's rule, worship, and the sanctuary of His presence.
Psalm 48, with its vivid description of divine protection over Jerusalem, likely echoes the profound relief and awe experienced after miraculous deliverances, particularly the legendary survival of the city during Sennacherib's siege. This psalm is a powerful testament to faith in God's presence and power safeguarding His chosen city, a theme that resonates through different periods of Jerusalem's tumultuous history.
c. 701 BC— this verse
Assyrian Siege of Jerusalem
King Sennacherib of Assyria invaded Judah and besieged Jerusalem, aiming to conquer the region. The Assyrian army was divinely struck down during the siege, leading to their swift withdrawal.
c. 586 BC
Babylonian Destruction of Jerusalem
King Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon conquered Jerusalem, destroyed Solomon's Temple, and exiled many of its inhabitants to Babylon.
c. 516 BC
Dedication of the Second Temple
Following the return from Babylonian exile, the Second Temple was rebuilt and dedicated, marking a significant moment in the restoration of Jewish worship in Jerusalem.
c. 167-164 BC
Maccabean Revolt
The Maccabean Revolt erupted against Seleucid oppression, leading to the rededication of the Second Temple after its desecration.
c. 63 BC
Roman Conquest of Jerusalem
Roman general Pompey captured Jerusalem, ending the Hasmonean dynasty and bringing Judea under Roman influence.
c. AD 70
Destruction of the Second Temple
During the First Jewish-Roman War, Roman forces under Titus destroyed Jerusalem and the Second Temple, a catastrophic event for the Jewish people.
This passage echoes the sentiment of Psalm 48:1, calling for joyful praise of God's greatness and presence, specifically within Zion, as 'great in your midst.'
Zechariah 8:3This prophecy speaks of God returning to Zion and dwelling there, calling it 'the city of truth' and 'the holy mountain,' directly correlating with the location and divine presence highlighted in Psalm 48:1.
Matthew 5:35Jesus refers to Jerusalem as 'the city of the great King,' a concept that underpins Psalm 48:1's description of Jerusalem as 'the city of our God' and emphasizes God's sovereign rule over His holy dwelling place.
Hebrews 12:22This New Testament passage broadens the concept from the physical city of Jerusalem to the heavenly Jerusalem, the 'city of the living God,' and the 'mountain of God,' showing the enduring spiritual reality that Psalm 48:1 points towards.
poolePsalms 48:1: "A Song and Psalm for the sons of Korah. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness."
THE ARGUMENT This Psalm was composed upon the occasion of some eminent deliverance vouchsafed by God to the city of Jerusalem from some potent enemy and dreadful danger; either that in Jehoshaphat’s time, 2 Chronicles 20 $, or that under Hezekiah, 2Ki 18$, 19$; in both which times there were holy prophets, by some of whom this Psalm might b…
ellicottPsalms 48:1: "A Song and Psalm for the sons of Korah. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness."
(1) To be praised. —See Psalm 18:3 , Note.
The verse starts with "Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised," emphasizing that God's greatness isn't just a fact, but demands a response of praise proportionate to His magnitude. This isn't simply about acknowledging God, but about recognizing that His immense worth requires an equally immense level of adoration from us.
This psalm, likely written for a specific occasion of divine deliverance, begins by celebrating the glory and security of Jerusalem, God's chosen city. It immediately emphasizes God's greatness and the praise due to Him within His holy dwelling place, setting the stage for recounting how He miraculously protected the city from formidable enemies.
This psalm, likely written for a specific occasion of divine deliverance, begins by celebrating the glory and security of Jerusalem, God's chosen city. It immediately emphasizes God's greatness and the praise due to Him within His holy dwelling place, setting the stage for recounting how He miraculously protected the city from formidable enemies.
"Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised in the city of our God! His holy mountain," — The verse starts with "Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised," emphasizing that God's greatness isn't just a fact, but demands a response of praise proportionate to His magnitude. This isn't…
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Last reviewed October 2026