Psalms · Chapter 46 · Strength

Psalm 46:1 — Bible Verse Meaning & Context

For the day that asks more than you feel ready to give.

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Topics #strength #peace

Read in chapter context · Psalms 46

About Psalm 46:1

Psalm 46 was almost certainly written during or just after a national crisis — the psalm goes on to picture mountains crumbling into the sea. Against that backdrop, verse 1 makes three claims: God is refuge (somewhere to go), God is strength (something to have), God is help that is very present — not distant, not delayed. The phrase Martin Luther took for his hymn Ein feste Burg comes from this verse. In hard moments the line is best read aloud, slowly, as a kind of breathing. The trouble does not vanish; the company in it changes.

Both translations, side by side

WEB · World English Bible

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."

KJV · King James Version

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."

In context

Psalm 46:1 in Psalms 46

A Bible verse rarely stands alone. Here is Psalm 46:1 read with the verses immediately before and after — the surrounding flow of Psalms 46. Read the full chapter →

v.1 For the Chief Musician. By the sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
v.2 Therefore we won’t be afraid, though the earth changes, though the mountains are shaken into the heart of the seas;
v.3 though its waters roar and are troubled, though the mountains tremble with their swelling. Selah.

Book background

About the Book of Psalms

Testament: Old Testament
Genre: Hebrew poetry
Author: David (73 psalms), Asaph, Sons of Korah, Solomon, Moses, others
Date written: c. 1410–430 BC (compiled over a millennium)
Audience: All of Israel's worshipping community — and the church
Chapters: 150

The Psalms are 150 inspired songs and prayers covering every emotion the human heart knows — praise, lament, confession, thanksgiving, anger, longing. About half are attributed to David. The book is divided into five "books," each ending with a doxology. The Psalms shape Christian prayer more than any other Old Testament book and are quoted in the New Testament more than any other.

Setting: 150 sacred songs used in temple worship; the Bible's songbook.

Key themes: worship · lament · trust · kingship · thanksgiving

Read Psalms from the beginning →

Memorisation aid

How to memorise Psalm 46:1

Psalm 46:1 contains 12 words in 2 clauses. Learn one clause at a time, then chain them. The first-letter mnemonic (FLM) under each clause is a memory hook — once you can speak the FLM from memory, the full clause follows.

1

God is our refuge and strength

GIORAS
2

a very present help in trouble.

AVPHIT

Frequently asked

FAQ about Psalm 46:1

What does Psalm 46:1 say?

Psalm 46:1 reads: "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." — from the Old Testament, Psalms (Hebrew poetry). The full verse is shown above with both the World English Bible (WEB) and King James Version (KJV) translations side by side.

What book of the Bible is Psalm 46:1 in?

Psalm 46:1 is in the book of Psalms, traditionally attributed to David (73 psalms), Asaph, Sons of Korah, Solomon, Moses, others and written around c. 1410–430 BC (compiled over a millennium). Psalms is hebrew poetry in the Old Testament, originally addressed to All of Israel's worshipping community — and the church. Best known for Psalm 23 ("The LORD is my shepherd") and Psalm 51.

What is Psalm 46:1 about?

Psalm 46:1 is primarily a Bible verse about Strength, with related themes including Peace. Within Psalms, The Psalms are 150 inspired songs and prayers covering every emotion the human heart knows — praise, lament, confession, thanksgiving, anger, longing. Read the full passage above with surrounding context.

What is the difference between Psalm 46:1 in WEB and KJV?

Psalm 46:1 in the World English Bible (WEB) reads: "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.". The King James Version (KJV) reads: "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.". The WEB is a modern public-domain translation that updates the KJV's 1611 English while keeping a similar formal-equivalence style. Both render the same underlying Greek or Hebrew text.

How long is Psalm 46:1?

Psalm 46:1 is 12 words in the WEB translation (63 characters), broken into 2 clauses. It is short and well-suited to memorisation. Estimated reading time is about 4 seconds.

How can I memorise Psalm 46:1?

To memorise Psalm 46:1, split it into its 2 natural clauses and learn one at a time. Repeat the full verse out loud five times, then write it from memory. Saving the verse as a photo wallpaper using our verse image studio helps daily review — the visual association with a memorable background dramatically improves recall.

Why does Psalm 46:1 matter in Psalms?

How can I apply Psalm 46:1 today?

Many readers use Psalm 46:1 as a daily reminder verse — saving it as a phone wallpaper, sharing it on Pinterest, or memorising it for prayer. The verse studio on this page lets you download Psalm 46:1 on 52 different backgrounds for free. Pair the verse with the surrounding chapter context shown above to understand its full meaning before applying it.

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