Psalm 46:1 Text
King James Version (KJV)
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
World English Bible (WEB)
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
What Psalm 46:1 Means
This short verse makes three claims about God: he is a refuge, he is strength, and he is a help that is very present in trouble. A refuge is a place to run to for safety, while strength is what he supplies when you must stand, so the two images cover both hiding and enduring. The phrase "very present" in the KJV is an older way of saying "readily found" or "always available," which some versions render "ever-present help." It does not say trouble is avoided. It says that trouble is exactly where God can be found. The following verses describe earthquakes, mountains falling into the sea, and roaring waters, so the psalm imagines the worst and still insists on God's steadiness. The KJV and WEB are identical here. Its brevity makes it easy to recall in a crisis.
Context of Psalm 46:1
Psalm 46 is attributed in its title to the sons of Korah, a family of temple musicians in ancient Israel, and it was likely sung in worship in Jerusalem. The setting may connect to a time when the city was threatened, though the psalm does not name a specific event. Just after this verse, the psalm describes the earth giving way and then speaks of a river that makes the city of God glad. Its refrain says the Lord of hosts is with us. To read the whole book, see random verse from Psalms.
How to Apply Psalm 46:1
Keep this verse where you can find it quickly, on a note or in your phone, for the moments when your mind goes blank with worry. Say it slowly and ask for help in the specific thing in front of you. It also reminds us to be a refuge for others when we can, by showing up and listening.
Related Verses
- Psalm 46:10-11 – Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
- Psalm 62:7-8 – In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.
- Nahum 1:7 – The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.
- Proverbs 18:10 – The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
Looking for more verses on this theme? Browse Bible Verses About Protection, each with a short note on its context.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does God is our refuge and strength mean?
It means God is both a safe place to run to and a source of power to keep going. The verse says he is available in trouble, not that trouble will be avoided.
Who wrote Psalm 46?
The title credits the sons of Korah, who were temple singers and musicians in ancient Israel. The psalm was probably used in public worship, and its exact historical occasion is uncertain.
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