Psalms 48:6
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
Psalms 48:6
6 Fear took hold upon them there, and pain, as of a woman in travail.
Chapter Context
Psalms 48 is a poetic and liturgical chapter in the Old Testament that explores themes of truth, obedience, sacrifice. Written during various periods (c. 1000-400 BCE), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: Temple worship utilized these compositions across various periods of Israel's history.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
- Verses 13-14: Central message and teachings
This chapter is significant because it addresses timeless questions about faith, suffering, and divine purpose. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within Psalms and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
Psalms 48:6
6 Fear took hold upon them there, and pain, as of a woman in travail.
Analysis
Fear gripped the kings: 'trembling took hold upon them there, and pain, as of a woman in travail.' The comparison to labor pains emphasizes both the intensity and the involuntary nature of their terror. They cannot control their fear--it seizes them as irresistibly as childbirth seizes a mother.
Historical Context
The imagery of labor pains for sudden judgment appears throughout prophetic literature (Isaiah 13:8; Jeremiah 6:24). It describes overwhelming, inescapable distress that transforms the powerful into the helpless.
Reflection
- Why is the imagery of labor pains particularly apt for describing enemies' terror?
- How does this reversal--warriors experiencing helpless pain--demonstrate divine power?
Cross-References
- Parallel theme: Hosea 13:13