Psalms 48:6 Meaning: Why the Enemies’ Terror Is Like Childbirth Pain
Trembling took hold of them there, pain, as of a woman in travail.
Fear took hold upon them there, and pain, as of a woman in travail.
Trembling took hold of them there, Pain, as of a woman in travail.
Trembling hath seized them there, Pain, as of a travailing woman.
Trembling took hold upon them there; anguish, as of a woman in travail.
Meaning in one sentence
In Psalm 48:6, the psalmist uses childbirth pain to describe the sudden terror of God’s enemies. Learn what this vivid image reveals about divine judgment.
Context
Psalm 48 is a song of celebration. The people of God look at Jerusalem, Zion, the city of the great King, and they see something wonderful: God has made it safe. Enemies came against it, kings gathered together, but when they saw the city, they were amazed and dismayed. They hurried away. Verse 6 describes what hit them in that moment. It uses the most intense physical pain the psalmist could think of to show how completely their courage collapsed. The verse appears right after the kings saw the city and before the psalm turns to praise for God’s lasting protection. This is not a poem about suffering; it is a poem about how God’s presence undoes the plans of the proud.
Key Words
The word translated trembling or fear means a sudden, shaking terror. It is not a mild anxiety but a physical reaction, like the trembling that seized the Canaanites when Israel crossed the Red Sea (Exodus 15:15). The word pain (or anguish) adds an inner ache, the kind that comes from a hope completely broken. Then comes the simile: as of a woman in travail. This image appears many times in the Old Testament (Isaiah 13:8, Jeremiah 30:6). It is not about childbirth itself but about the most helpless, involuntary kind of suffering. A woman in labor cannot stop the pain or escape it. In the same way, the enemies of God find themselves suddenly overpowered, with no way out. The metaphor tells us that when God acts, no human strength can resist. That is a hard truth, but for God’s people it is a reason to trust.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians have read this verse in different ways. Matthew Henry (Presbyterian) saw it as part of the song’s larger purpose: praising God for His choice of Zion and His protection of His people. Calvin (Reformed) placed it in a historical setting, some great deliverance of Jerusalem after David’s time. John Gill (Baptist) connected the panic of the kings to end-time events like Armageddon. John Wesley (Methodist) linked it to the Assyrian siege in Hezekiah’s day. What these readings share is the conviction that the terror described here is real and total. Whether the psalm looks back to a past battle or forward to a final one, all agree that the image of a woman in labor captures the sudden, unstoppable nature of divine judgment against those who oppose God’s city.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers think the woman in labor is one of God’s people suffering. In fact, the verse is about the enemies of Jerusalem, kings who came to attack and were seized with fear. The context makes this clear: verse 5 says they saw it, then they were amazed. They were dismayed. They hurried away. The pain is not God’s city but those who threatened it.
Living This Out
This week, you may face something that feels like an attack: a difficult conversation, a worry that won’t let go, a situation where you feel small. This verse does not tell you to be strong. It tells you that the forces against God’s people are not as strong as they look. When God shows up, their confidence turns to panic. Your part is not to fight but to stay in the city, that is, to stay close to God’s presence through prayer, Scripture, and His people. You can let go of the need to defend yourself. The One who makes kings tremble is your refuge.
Main takeaway: When God acts, His enemies are seized with sudden terror, revealing His absolute power to protect His people.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
When bad people tried to hurt God’s city, God made them very scared, like the worst pain ever. God protected His city.
For ages 9, 12
This verse describes how enemies of God’s people suddenly became terrified. The poet uses the strongest pain he can think of, a mother giving birth, to show how helpless they were. It reminds us that God is stronger than any threat. You can trust Him when you feel afraid.
Questions People Ask
Who is experiencing the pain in Psalm 48:6?
The pain is experienced by the enemies of Jerusalem, the kings and armies who gathered to attack the city. The verse says 'trembling took hold of them there,' referring back to the kings mentioned in verse 4.
What does the image of labor pain mean in the Bible?
In the Old Testament, labor pain is often used as a metaphor for sudden, overwhelming, and inescapable distress (Isaiah 13:8, Jeremiah 30:6). It is not about childbirth itself but about the intensity of the suffering and the inability to escape it.
Is Psalm 48 about a specific historical event?
Many commentators think it celebrates a specific deliverance of Jerusalem, possibly from the Assyrian siege in Hezekiah’s time (2 Kings 19). Others see it as a more general song about God’s protection of Zion. The exact event is not named in the psalm.
How does this verse relate to other Bible passages about childbirth pain?
The same image appears in prophecies against Babylon (Isaiah 13:8) and in descriptions of the 'day of the Lord' (Jeremiah 30:6, 7). It consistently symbolizes the terror of those who oppose God. In the New Testament, labor pain is also used for the birth pangs of the new creation (Romans 8:22).
Does this verse teach that God causes suffering?
The verse describes the reaction of enemies to God’s presence, not God directly causing pain. The psalm shows that when God reveals His power, those who oppose Him are undone. It is a warning, not a statement about God’s character toward His own people.
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