Psalms 48:2
Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.
Original Language Analysis
מְשׂ֪וֹשׂ
the joy
H4885
מְשׂ֪וֹשׂ
the joy
Strong's:
H4885
Word #:
3 of 12
delight, concretely (the cause or object) or abstractly (the feeling)
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
4 of 12
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
הָ֫אָ֥רֶץ
of the whole earth
H776
הָ֫אָ֥רֶץ
of the whole earth
Strong's:
H776
Word #:
5 of 12
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
הַר
is mount
H2022
הַר
is mount
Strong's:
H2022
Word #:
6 of 12
a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)
צִ֭יּוֹן
Zion
H6726
צִ֭יּוֹן
Zion
Strong's:
H6726
Word #:
7 of 12
tsijon (as a permanent capital), a mountain of jerusalem
יַרְכְּתֵ֣י
on the sides
H3411
יַרְכְּתֵ֣י
on the sides
Strong's:
H3411
Word #:
8 of 12
properly, the flank; but used only figuratively, the rear or recess
Cross References
Psalms 50:2Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined.Matthew 5:35Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.Lamentations 2:15All that pass by clap their hands at thee; they hiss and wag their head at the daughter of Jerusalem, saying, Is this the city that men call The perfection of beauty, The joy of the whole earth?Isaiah 14:13For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:Hebrews 12:22But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,Ezekiel 20:6In the day that I lifted up mine hand unto them, to bring them forth of the land of Egypt into a land that I had espied for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands:Daniel 11:16But he that cometh against him shall do according to his own will, and none shall stand before him: and he shall stand in the glorious land, which by his hand shall be consumed.Isaiah 66:10Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her:Daniel 8:9And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land.
Historical Context
Ancient Near Eastern mythology located the divine mountain in the north. By applying this language to Zion, Israel claimed that the true dwelling of the true God was Jerusalem, not mythological Zaphon.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Zion's beauty point to the greater beauty of God's presence?
- In what sense is Jerusalem 'the joy of the whole earth'?
Analysis & Commentary
Mount Zion is 'beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth.' The Hebrew yapheh (beautiful) suggests perfect proportion and attractiveness. 'Sides of the north' may reference ancient mythological language for the divine mountain, applied here to Jerusalem. Zion is 'the city of the great King'--God's royal residence.