For the Leader; [a Psalm] of the sons of Korah; upon Alamoth. A Song.
verse value 1774
Insights
Verse structure: 4 words, 22 letters. The shortest word is "a·song" (שִֽׁיר, 3 letters) and the longest is "of·the·sons·of·Korah" (לִבְנֵי־קֹ֑רַח, 7 letters). 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in Psalms. Unique to this verse in Psalms (hapax): "upon·Alamoth" (עַֽל־עֲלָמ֥וֹת). 4 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "for·the·leader" (root נצח, 73x in Psalms); "a·song" (root שיר, 68x in Psalms). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'of·the·sons·of·Korah', dividing the verse into phrases of 2 and 2 words. Full calculation: לַמְנַצֵּ֥חַ [for·the·leader] (218) + לִבְנֵי־קֹ֑רַח [of·the·sons·of·Korah] (400) + עַֽל־עֲלָמ֥וֹת [upon·Alamoth] (646) + שִֽׁיר [a·song] (510) = 1774.
Rashi
"on alamoth" — The name of a musical instrument in Chronicles (I Chron. 15:20).
Ibn Ezra
'For the leader, of the sons of Korah, upon alamoth' — the name of a melody. Some say that this psalmist was of the seed of the sons of Korah, in the days of Hezekiah, when Sennacherib turned back. But what is correct in my eyes is that he speaks about Jerusalem, concerning the wars.
Radak
"Alamoth." — We have already written that this is one of the names of a musical instrument. This psalm, too, [speaks of] the future, at the ingathering of the exiles or at the war of Gog and Magog.
Metzudat Zion
"Alamoth" — the name of a musical instrument.
Malbim
"For the leader; of the sons of Korah" — It is clear from its content that it was composed concerning a flood of many waters that occurred at that time in the land of Aram (Syria), when a river burst its banks and flooded provinces, destroying many cities and laying [places] waste in the land; and when the flood reached the Holy Land, it did no harm there at all, because of the honor of Hashem who dwells in Jerusalem, before whom these sons of might bowed down in the splendor of holiness, as [the psalmist] sang concerning this above, in Psalm 29. And at that time there was a certain tyrant among the kings of Aram who was disturbing the kingdoms, conquering and destroying many provinces, and he set his face to make war against Israel; and the flooding of the river destroyed his camp and his weapons of war, and from this they saw that Hashem was with them — just as the sons of Korah sang concerning this further on, in Psalm 48; see there.
God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.
verse value 1574
Insights
Verse structure: 8 words, 31 letters. Notable word values: "God" (אֱלֹהִ֣ים) = 86, equal to Elohim. The shortest word is "to·us" (לָ֭נוּ, 3 letters) and the longest is "God" (אֱלֹהִ֣ים, 5 letters). Words sharing gematria 86: God, to·us. 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in Psalms. Unique to this verse in Psalms (hapax): "help" (עֶזְרָ֥ה). 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "God" (root אלהים, 347x in Psalms); "and·strength" (root עז, 40x in Psalms); "very" (root מאד, 35x in Psalms). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·strength', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 4 words. Full calculation: אֱלֹהִ֣ים [God] (86) + לָ֭נוּ [to·us] (86) + מַחֲסֶ֣ה [refuge] (113) + וָעֹ֑ז [and·strength] (83) + עֶזְרָ֥ה [help] (282) + בְ֝צָר֗וֹת [in·troubles] (698) + נִמְצָ֥א [found] (181) + מְאֹֽד [very] (45) = 1574.
Ibn Ezra
'God' — the meaning is: if trouble comes upon us from an enemy, He is our help.
Radak
"God." — When the troubles come — and they are the birth-pangs of the Messiah — He will be for us a refuge and a help. "Very [present]." — For the help will be great, in that one nation, [namely] Israel, will be saved from many peoples.
Metzudat David
"A help in troubles" — He is a help to us in time of trouble, and He is very near to us whenever we call to Him.
Malbim
"God is for us" — meaning, our trust in Hashem has three degrees. First, "that He is for us a refuge and strength." Second, that He is not only a refuge in time of peace, but He is also "a help in troubles," in time of trouble. Third, that there is no need to seek Him out at length and wait for His help, for He is "very present" and near to those who call upon Him.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth do change, And though the mountains be moved into the heart of the seas;
verse value 1462
Insights
Verse structure: 8 words, 34 letters. Verse gematria: 1462 is divisible by 86, the value of Elohim. The shortest word is "earth" (אָ֑רֶץ, 3 letters) and the longest is "not·we·will·fear" (לֹֽא־נִ֭ירָא, 6 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Psalms. Unique to this verse in Psalms (hapax): "not·we·will·fear" (לֹֽא־נִ֭ירָא), "though·changing" (בְּהָמִ֣יר), "and·though·tottering" (וּבְמ֥וֹט). 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "earth" (root ארץ, 157x in Psalms); "not·we·will·fear" (root ירא, 77x in Psalms); "in·the·heart·of" (root לב, 74x in Psalms). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'earth', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 4 words. Full calculation: עַל־כֵּ֣ן [therefore] (170) + לֹֽא־נִ֭ירָא [not·we·will·fear] (292) + בְּהָמִ֣יר [though·changing] (257) + אָ֑רֶץ [earth] (291) + וּבְמ֥וֹט [and·though·tottering] (63) + הָ֝רִ֗ים [mountains] (255) + בְּלֵ֣ב [in·the·heart·of] (34) + יַמִּֽים [seas] (100) = 1462.
Rashi
"when the earth changes" — in the future, on the day concerning which Scripture states (Isa. 51: 6): “and the earth shall rot away like a garment.” The sons of Korah saw the miracle that was performed for them, that all those around them were swallowed up while they [the sons of Korah] stood in the air and said to Israel, through the holy spirit, that a similar miracle would be performed for them in the future.
Ibn Ezra
'Though' — because the place of the sun's height moves from degree to degree and from constellation to constellation, therefore the astrologers say that a time will come when the dry land shall become sea and the sea dry land. And after that they say that the meaning is: even if this were so — though it will not be — for Hashem has set a boundary for the waters, that they should not return to cover the earth.
Radak
"Though." — This is a figurative expression for the mighty wars that will occur among the nations. Likewise, "though its waters roar and foam" — all of this is figurative for the tremendous wars and the great troubles.
Metzudat David
"When the earth is changed" — When the earth changes from calm to trembling, and when the mountains shake so as to fall into the depths of the sea — and this is a metaphor for the downfall of Gog.
Metzudat Zion
"Do change" — from the language of "exchange" and "change." "Into the heart of the seas" — into the depth of the sea, which is the strength of the sea, like the heart within the body.
Malbim
"Therefore we will not fear when the earth changes" — its place, and at the time "when the mountains are moved into the heart of the seas" — even though "its waters roar and foam," referring to the river he will mention shortly, and even though mountains quake at the swelling of the river — nevertheless we will not fear.
Though its waters roar and foam, Though the mountains shake at its swelling. Selah
verse value 1785
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 32 letters. The shortest word is "Selah" (סֶֽלָה, 3 letters) and the longest is "quake·mountains" (יִ֥רְעֲשֽׁוּ־הָרִ֖ים, 9 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Psalms. Unique to this verse in Psalms (hapax): "foam" (יֶחְמְר֣וּ), "its·waters" (מֵימָ֑יו), "quake·mountains" (יִ֥רְעֲשֽׁוּ־הָרִ֖ים). 6 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Selah" (root סלה, 70x in Psalms); "its·waters" (root מים, 38x in Psalms). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'its·waters', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 3 words. Full calculation: יֶהֱמ֣וּ [roar] (61) + יֶחְמְר֣וּ [foam] (264) + מֵימָ֑יו [its·waters] (106) + יִ֥רְעֲשֽׁוּ־הָרִ֖ים [quake·mountains] (841) + בְּגַאֲוָת֣וֹ [at·its·swelling] (418) + סֶֽלָה [Selah] (95) = 1785.
Rashi
"His waters shall stir and be muddied" — Heb. יחמרו, they shall cast up mud, clay (חמר), and dirt as is their wont. Menachem (pp. 90f.), however, associated it with (Lam. 1:20), “my reins have shriveled (חמרמרו),” regrezeliront in Old French, have shriveled. "mountains shall quake from His pride" — [The pride] of the Holy One, blessed be He, Who is mentioned in the beginning of the psalm (verse 2).
Ibn Ezra
'Though its waters roar' — the meaning is that the waters of the sea shall become turbid like clay, and also the mountains shall quake because of winds that are beneath the earth, which Hashem brings forth. 'At its swelling, Selah' — truly, as I have explained it.
Radak
"Foam (yechmaru)." — Related to the expression 'chamarim, chamarim' [heaps upon heaps], meaning: the waters will make the waves rise high, in the roaring multitude of the sea, with force.
Metzudat David
"Roar" — The waters of the sea shall roar with the multitude of its waves and cast up mire and mud, and the mountains shall quake continually at the swelling of Hashem; and from all of this we shall not fear.
There is a river, whose streams make glad the city of God, The holiest dwelling-place of the Most High.
verse value 2104
Insights
Verse structure: 7 words, 34 letters. The shortest word is "river" (נָהָ֗ר, 3 letters) and the longest is "city·of·God" (עִיר־אֱלֹהִ֑ים, 8 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Psalms. Unique to this verse in Psalms (hapax): "its·channels" (פְּלָגָ֗יו), "city·of·God" (עִיר־אֱלֹהִ֑ים), "dwelling·places·of" (מִשְׁכְּנֵ֥י). 7 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "make·glad" (root שמח, 55x in Psalms); "holy" (root קדש, 39x in Psalms); "Most·High" (root עליון, 22x in Psalms). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'city·of·God', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 3 words. Full calculation: נָהָ֗ר [river] (255) + פְּלָגָ֗יו [its·channels] (129) + יְשַׂמְּח֥וּ [make·glad] (364) + עִיר־אֱלֹהִ֑ים [city·of·God] (366) + קְ֝דֹ֗שׁ [holy] (404) + מִשְׁכְּנֵ֥י [dwelling·places·of] (420) + עֶלְיֽוֹן [Most·High] (166) = 2104.
Rashi
"But as for the river its rivulets" — Heb. פלגיו, ses ruisseaux in French, its rivulets. "the river" — of Paradise.
Ibn Ezra
'A river' — the meaning is: even if their waters become turbid, there is the river of Jerusalem, which was the Gihon. 'Its streams shall gladden' — all the inhabitants of the city of God, which is holy, the dwelling place of the Most High.
Radak
"A river." — Meaning: when there is great trouble and war, Israel will not fear but will rejoice; and this is what he states figuratively: "a river, its streams shall gladden" — in contrast to the raging seas [mentioned above]. And he says that a river will go forth from Jerusalem, which is the city of God, and the streams of that river will gladden the inhabitants of the city of God, which is "the dwellings of the Most High" — and the most sacred among them is Jerusalem.
Metzudat David
"A river, the streams thereof" — The streams of the river that goes out from the Temple, as it is written, "and behold, waters were flowing out" (Ezekiel 47) — those waters shall gladden the inhabitants of the city of God, which is a holy place, where the dwelling-place of the Most High is.
Metzudat Zion
"Streams" — the matter of a water channel.
Malbim
"A river" — meaning, this river of which he spoke in the preceding verse (whose swelling makes the mountains quake) — "its streams make glad" the "city of God"; for not only will it not destroy the cities of God through its swelling, but on the contrary, its streams will make her glad, for it will water her fields for a blessing. And this is because she is the city of "the holy dwelling place of the Most High," and therefore "God is in her midst," and therefore "she shall not be moved" by this flood, for "God will help her at the approach of morning" — for at the time of morning, God caused a wind to pass over the land, and the waters subsided. And according to what is said in Psalm 48, that there was then a storm of an east wind, as it is written, "with an east wind You break the ships of Tarshish" — meaning, that from the direction of the east, which is the direction of the approach of morning, the side from which the morning shines — from that side God will save her.
God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, at the approach of morning.
verse value 2128
Insights
Verse structure: 7 words, 34 letters. Notable word values: "God" (אֱלֹהִ֣ים) = 86, equal to Elohim. The shortest word is "morning" (בֹּֽקֶר, 3 letters) and the longest is "not·she·shall·be·moved" (בַּל־תִּמּ֑וֹט, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 86: God, God. 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Psalms. Unique to this verse in Psalms (hapax): "shall·help·her" (יַעְזְרֶ֥הָ), "to·turn" (לִפְנ֥וֹת). The root אלהים appears 2 times in this verse. 6 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "God" (root אלהים, 347x in Psalms); "in·her·midst" (root קרב, 37x in Psalms); "not·she·shall·be·moved" (root מוט, 27x in Psalms). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'not·she·shall·be·moved', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 4 words. Full calculation: אֱלֹהִ֣ים [God] (86) + בְּ֭קִרְבָּהּ [in·her·midst] (309) + בַּל־תִּמּ֑וֹט [not·she·shall·be·moved] (487) + יַעְזְרֶ֥הָ [shall·help·her] (292) + אֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים [God] (86) + לִפְנ֥וֹת [to·turn] (566) + בֹּֽקֶר [morning] (302) = 2128.
Rashi
"as morning approaches" — at the end of the redemption.
Ibn Ezra
'God' — even if the mountains totter, Mount Zion shall not totter. And the meaning of 'at the turning of morning' is: at the time close to daybreak, or every day.
Radak
"God is in the midst of her." — Therefore she shall not be moved. "At the approach of morning." — Because at first there will be war there against Jerusalem, and that time is called 'evening,' while the salvation is called 'morning.'
Metzudat David
"God is in the midst of her" — Hashem shall dwell within Jerusalem; therefore she shall not be moved, for He will help her at the time when morning turns to come — meaning, at the time of the redemption.
Nations were in tumult, kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted.
verse value 2085
Insights
Verse structure: 8 words, 31 letters. The shortest word is "were·in·tumult" (הָמ֣וּ, 3 letters) and the longest is "kingdoms" (מַמְלָכ֑וֹת, 6 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Psalms. Unique to this verse in Psalms (hapax): "were·in·tumult" (הָמ֣וּ), "were·moved" (מָ֣טוּ), "melted" (תָּמ֥וּג). 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "earth" (root ארץ, 157x in Psalms); "He·gave" (root נתן, 95x in Psalms); "nations" (root גוי, 59x in Psalms). First appearance of the root ממלכה ("kingdoms") in Psalms. First appearance of the root מוג ("melted") in Psalms. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'kingdoms', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 4 words. Full calculation: הָמ֣וּ [were·in·tumult] (51) + ג֭וֹיִם [nations] (59) + מָ֣טוּ [were·moved] (55) + מַמְלָכ֑וֹת [kingdoms] (536) + נָתַ֥ן [He·gave] (500) + בְּ֝קוֹל֗וֹ [with·His·voice] (144) + תָּמ֥וּג [melted] (449) + אָֽרֶץ [earth] (291) = 2085.
Rashi
"Nations have stirred" — Heb. המו, an expression of stirring. "shall melt" — Shall melt - so explained Menachem, similar to (Exod. 15:15), “all the inhabitants of Canaan melted (נמוגו),” and to (Ezek. 21: 12), “every heart will melt (למוג).” But Dunash explained it as an expression of movement, as in (I Sam. 14:16), “the multitude was wandering (נמוג), and it was coming closer,” and so in every instance.
Ibn Ezra
'Were in tumult' — it is possible that everything he mentioned is by way of a parable about the enemies, in the manner of 'then the waters would have swept over us'; or its meaning is: just as the sea roars and the mountains totter at the majesty of Hashem, so too the nations; therefore, 'they were in tumult, they also tottered.' 'Melted' — the meaning is the opposite of their natural state, which is very dry.
Radak
"Were in tumult." — Those nations and kingdoms that were in tumult and came in a great multitude shall be moved [shall fall], and God, blessed be He, will give forth His voice against them, "and the earth melted" — meaning, all the inhabitants of the earth.
Metzudat David
"Were in tumult" — They roared in anguish of heart, and the kingdoms tottered to their fall, for Hashem roared with [His] voice and the earth melted; and it is stated in the past tense, in the manner of prophecy, in many places.
Metzudat Zion
"Melted" — from the language of dissolving and melting.
Malbim
"They roared" — he says: See now how "the nations roared, the kingdoms tottered" because of this flood; the river "gave forth its voice," and because of this "the earth melted," and most of the settled world was destroyed. But "Hashem of Hosts is with us" — Hashem, who rules over these hosts and the force of the flood and the waves, which are the agents of Hashem, and He is the God of hosts, the prince of these mighty hosts, and He is with us; and therefore "a stronghold for us" is the fact that He is "the God of Jacob" and watches over them with His providence.
Hashem of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our high tower. Selah
verse value 1445
Insights
Verse structure: 7 words, 31 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֣ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "Selah" (סֶֽלָה, 3 letters) and the longest is "a·high·tower·to·us" (מִשְׂגָּֽב־לָ֨נוּ, 7 letters). 7 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 688x in Psalms); "God·of" (root אלהים, 347x in Psalms); "with·us" (root עם, 135x in Psalms). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'with·us', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 4 words. Full calculation: יְהֹוָ֣ה [Hashem] (26) + צְבָא֣וֹת [of·hosts] (499) + עִמָּ֑נוּ [with·us] (166) + מִשְׂגָּֽב־לָ֨נוּ [a·high·tower·to·us] (431) + אֱלֹהֵ֖י [God·of] (46) + יַעֲקֹ֣ב [Jacob] (182) + סֶֽלָה [Selah] (95) = 1445.
Ibn Ezra
'Hashem' — then the peoples shall see that Hashem is with us, for we shall not totter as they did.
Metzudat David
"Hashem of hosts" — Since Hashem shall be with us, and the God of Jacob is a stronghold for us forever, and He will not let those who love Him be terrified.
Come, behold the works of Hashem, Who has made desolations in the earth.
verse value 2609
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 29 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֑ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֑ה, 4 letters) and the longest is "come·behold" (לְֽכוּ־חֲ֭זוּ, 6 letters). 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in Psalms. Unique to this verse in Psalms (hapax): "come·behold" (לְֽכוּ־חֲ֭זוּ). 6 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 688x in Psalms); "in·the·earth" (root ארץ, 157x in Psalms); "desolations" (root שם, 119x in Psalms). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Hashem', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 3 words. Full calculation: לְֽכוּ־חֲ֭זוּ [come·behold] (77) + מִפְעֲל֣וֹת [works·of] (626) + יְהֹוָ֑ה [Hashem] (26) + אֲשֶׁר־שָׂ֖ם [who·has·made] (841) + שַׁמּ֣וֹת [desolations] (746) + בָּאָֽרֶץ [in·the·earth] (293) = 2609.
Rashi
"that He has wrought devastation" — That He has made the lands of the nations desolate.
Ibn Ezra
'Come' — these shall say to those. 'And desolations' — like 'ruins'; and the meaning is [concerning] the lands of the kingdoms at the time they totter.
Radak
"Come." — And see the miracles, for they are the works of God, "Who has made desolations in the earth" — for He brought great desolation upon those nations that mustered against Jerusalem, in that the few defeated the many.
Metzudat David
"Come" — You, Gog, and your companions who are with you, come and see the works of Hashem, who will make desolation in the land.
Metzudat Zion
"Desolations" — from the language of "desolation" (שממון).
Malbim
"Come" — now the poet's thoughts range over the whole upheaval that these hosts of many mighty waters wrought at the command of Hashem, and he says: You, children of the world! "Come, behold" that this did not happen by chance, for it is "the works of God," who has "made desolations" and devastation in the land.
He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow, and cuts the spear in sunder; He burns the chariots in the fire.
verse value 5309
Insights
Verse structure: 11 words, 47 letters. The shortest word is "bow" (קֶ֣שֶׁת, 3 letters) and the longest is "wars" (מִלְחָמוֹת֮, 6 letters). 6 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Psalms. Unique to this verse in Psalms (hapax): "making·cease" (מַשְׁבִּ֥ית), "to·the·end·of" (עַד־קְצֵ֢ה), "He·breaks" (יְ֭שַׁבֵּר). 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "the·earth" (root ארץ, 157x in Psalms); "He·breaks" (root שבר, 26x in Psalms); "in·the·fire" (root אש, 20x in Psalms). First appearance of the root שרף ("He·burns") in Psalms. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'spear', dividing the verse into phrases of 8 and 3 words. Full calculation: מַשְׁבִּ֥ית [making·cease] (752) + מִלְחָמוֹת֮ [wars] (524) + עַד־קְצֵ֢ה [to·the·end·of] (269) + הָ֫אָ֥רֶץ [the·earth] (296) + קֶ֣שֶׁת [bow] (800) + יְ֭שַׁבֵּר [He·breaks] (512) + וְקִצֵּ֣ץ [and·cuts] (286) + חֲנִ֑ית [spear] (468) + עֲ֝גָל֗וֹת [chariots] (509) + יִשְׂרֹ֥ף [He·burns] (590) + בָּאֵֽשׁ [in·the·fire] (303) = 5309.
Rashi
"He puts a stop to wars" — from upon us. "until the end of the earth" — that all the lands of the nations shall be at peace with us. "the bow" — of the nations He shall break. "wagons He will burn with fire" — The war chariots of the nations of the world. [The war chariots of the star worshippers.]
Ibn Ezra
'He makes to cease' — from Jerusalem, perhaps by the holy spirit, concerning the matter of Gog. 'He burns with fire' — the meaning is: in His anger, [He burns] the wagons in which they bring the weapons of war, or the provisions of the combatants.
Radak
"He makes [wars] to cease." — For in that war all wars shall come to an end, to the ends of the earth, because there will be no more war, since those who remain will recognize that it is the hand of Hashem, and the whole world will return to the worship of God. "He breaks the bow." — Because they saw that He broke the bow of Gog and Magog and cut off their spears. "He burns the chariots in the fire." — That is to say, in [His] burning wrath; or it is meant literally, as it is said, 'I will rain fire and brimstone upon him and upon his bands.'
Metzudat David
"To the end of the earth" — For in the whole world there will no longer be war, for all shall serve Hashem. "He breaks the bow" — For they will no longer need instruments of war. "Chariots" — Those made for the purpose of war.
Metzudat Zion
"Makes... to cease" — meaning, annuls. "Cuts... in sunder" — the matter of cutting and severing.
Malbim
"He makes to cease" — he turns his attention to the tyrant who was disturbing the kingdoms and destroying the land at that time. I say to "the one who makes to cease" and destroys through "wars, to the end of the earth" — for through the wars that he waged, he brought most of the settled world to a halt — I say to him: from now on, "the bow will be broken, and He will cut the spears in pieces, and the chariots" (that is, the wagons in which he wages war) "He will burn with fire" — for from now on there is no need for him to be the rod of Hashem's anger to destroy the land, since Hashem Himself has gone forth with His hosts to destroy it, and He has other agents for this. Therefore, "let be" — you, destroyers of the world, let be now, "and know that I am God," and that I myself "will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth" — meaning, at the time when you were the agents of Hashem for destruction, you said that you did this by the power of your own hand; but now let all know that it is I who shake the earth from its place. And despite all this, "Hashem of Hosts is with us," and evil shall not touch us. And since, moreover, through this flood the power of the tyrant who was disturbing the land was broken, therefore he says that from now on the bow will be broken and the spear cut in pieces, for his might has been spent, and Hashem Himself has come to judge the land; and through this, Israel was also saved from the evil of the one who disturbs the land, whose face was set to come against them — and "Hashem of Hosts is with us," to save us also from his hand.
'Let be, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.'
verse value 1422
Insights
Verse structure: 8 words, 36 letters. Notable word values: "and·know" (וּ֭דְעוּ) = 86, equal to Elohim. Verse gematria: 1422 is divisible by 18, the value of chai ('life'). The shortest word is "let·be" (הַרְפּ֣וּ, 4 letters) and the longest is "that·I" (כִּֽי־אָנֹכִ֣י, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 247: I·will·be·exalted, I·will·be·exalted. 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Psalms. Unique to this verse in Psalms (hapax): "let·be" (הַרְפּ֣וּ), "that·I" (כִּֽי־אָנֹכִ֣י). The root רום appears 2 times in this verse. 7 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "God" (root אלהים, 347x in Psalms); "in·the·earth" (root ארץ, 157x in Psalms); "and·know" (root ידע, 95x in Psalms). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'God', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 4 words. Full calculation: הַרְפּ֣וּ [let·be] (291) + וּ֭דְעוּ [and·know] (86) + כִּֽי־אָנֹכִ֣י [that·I] (111) + אֱלֹהִ֑ים [God] (86) + אָר֥וּם [I·will·be·exalted] (247) + בַּ֝גּוֹיִ֗ם [among·the·nations] (61) + אָר֥וּם [I·will·be·exalted] (247) + בָּאָֽרֶץ [in·the·earth] (293) = 1422.
Rashi
"Desist" — all nations from further marching upon Jerusalem. "and know that I am God" — That I will execute judgment upon you. "I will be exalted among the nations" — I will be exalted with My vengeance which I will wreak upon those nations.
Ibn Ezra
'Let be' — the words of Hashem, which He said to the nations of the world before the breaking of their bow.
Radak
"Let be (harpu)." — These are the words of Hashem to the nations: cease from your evil deeds, and know that I am God, and the power to raise up and to bring low is in My hand. "I will be exalted among the nations." — Now I will be exalted among the nations and in all the earth, for until now they did not know Me.
Metzudat David
"Let be" — Withdraw your hand from taking hold of war, and know that I am God, and everything is Mine, and it is in My power to give it to whomever I wish. "I will be exalted" — I am exalted and rule over all the nations, and I am exalted and rule over the earth, to give it to whoever is upright in My eyes.
Metzudat Zion
"Let be" — from the language of "slackening" (רפיון).
Hashem of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our high tower. Selah
verse value 1445
Insights
Verse structure: 7 words, 31 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֣ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "Selah" (סֶֽלָה, 3 letters) and the longest is "a·high·tower·to·us" (מִשְׂגָּֽב־לָ֨נוּ, 7 letters). 7 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 688x in Psalms); "God·of" (root אלהים, 347x in Psalms); "with·us" (root עם, 135x in Psalms). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'with·us', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 4 words. Full calculation: יְהֹוָ֣ה [Hashem] (26) + צְבָא֣וֹת [of·hosts] (499) + עִמָּ֑נוּ [with·us] (166) + מִשְׂגָּֽב־לָ֨נוּ [a·high·tower·to·us] (431) + אֱלֹהֵ֖י [God·of] (46) + יַעֲקֹ֣ב [Jacob] (182) + סֶֽלָה [Selah] (95) = 1445.
Ibn Ezra
'Hashem of hosts' — and there is no fear of wars after this, for they have ceased.
Radak
"Hashem." — Then Israel will say: "Hashem of hosts is with us" — He who saved us from the hand of the nations.
Metzudat David
"Hashem of hosts" — then Hashem will be with us, and the God of Jacob will be a stronghold for us forever.
Rashi
Ibn Ezra
Radak
Metzudat Zion
Malbim