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Psalm 46:4

There is a river, the streams of which make the city of God glad, the holy place of the tents of the Most High.

2Therefore we won’t be afraid, though the earth changes, though the mountains are shaken into the heart of the seas;
3though its waters roar and are troubled, though the mountains tremble with their swelling. Selah.
4There is a river, the streams of which make the city of God glad, the holy place of the tents of the Most High.
5God is within her. She shall not be moved. God will help her at dawn.
6The nations raged. The kingdoms were moved. He lifted his voice and the earth melted.
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← Psalm 46:3Psalm 46:5 →
Notice

The river’s streams make God’s city glad amid roaring waters and shaking mountains, a picture of joy rooted in God’s presence while danger remains in view.

Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.

How do you read the word “glad” against the roaring waters in the surrounding verses?

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What difference does the title “Most High” make to your reading of this threatened city?

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Connect

Where else Scripture says this

9 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.

This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Psalm 23:2He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.Water appears in both scenes of God’s care: streams gladden his city, and still waters accompany the rest he provides.
Revelation 22:1–3He showed me a river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb,Both passages describe a river associated with God’s dwelling, with Revelation naming its source as the throne of God and the Lamb.
Psalm 36:8They shall be abundantly satisfied with the abundance of your house. You will make them drink of the river of your pleasures.Both psalms connect a river with delight and God’s dwelling: gladness in his city and satisfaction in his house.
Ezekiel 47:1–12He brought me back to the door of the temple; and behold, waters flowed out from under the threshold of the temple eastward, for the front of the temple faced …Both passages place water near God’s holy dwelling; Ezekiel describes it flowing from beneath the temple threshold.
Psalm 65:9You visit the earth, and water it. You greatly enrich it. The river of God is full of water. You provide them grain, for so you have ordained it.Both psalms associate a river with God’s gifts: gladness for his city and water that enriches the earth.
Exodus 17:6Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb. You shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink.” Moses did so …Both passages link water with God’s presence, though Exodus describes drinking water from a rock rather than a city’s river.
Genesis 2:10Both passages describe a river with branches, serving a garden in Genesis and gladdening God’s city in the psalm.
2 Chronicles 6:6but now I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there; and I have chosen David to be over my people Israel.’Both passages connect a city with God’s presence; Chronicles names Jerusalem as the city he chose for his name.
Isaiah 60:14The sons of those who afflicted you will come bowing to you; and all those who despised you will bow themselves down at the soles of your feet. They will call …Both passages identify a city as belonging to God and connect it with his holiness; Isaiah names that city Zion.
Where this verse fits

Fear for the future. anxiety or panic. praise and worship.

What the Bible says about fear →What the Bible says about anxiety →What the Bible says about worship →
One step

Something small to carry out of this verse

Underline the water words in Psalm 46:3–4

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Encouragement

Gladness here belongs to a whole city where the Most High dwells. The surrounding upheaval has not erased God’s presence among his people.

Now put it in your words.

Start an entry on Psalm 46:4. Write what it stirs. Psalmlog sets your words beside Scripture and gives you one next step. Your first entry is free, no account needed.

Keep goingPsalm 46 · the whole chapter with its connection mapPsalms · every chapterBuild a reading plan through Psalms

Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).