The Church Fathers on this verse
THEOSIS
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Psalm 48 (47):2Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Great is the Lord, and exceedingly to be praised in the city of our God, in his holy mountain.

Douay-Rheims · Hebrew numbering, Septuagint numbering in brackets.

גָּ֘ד֤וֹל יְהוָ֣ה וּמְהֻלָּ֣ל מְאֹ֑ד בְּעִ֥יר אֱ֝לֹהֵ֗ינוּ הַר־קָדְשֽׁוֹ׃

Hebrew (Masoretic text)

The Church Fathers on this verse

9 Church Fathers comment on this verse · 12 commentaries

John Chrysostom

4th centuryChurch Father

In this passage, the prophet illustrates the end of conflicts and the liberation from struggles. The Jews return from Babylon after a prolonged exile, having reclaimed their ancestral land and escaped numerous battles. In gratitude for these blessings, they raise a song to their Creator, proclaiming, "Great is the Lord, and glorious indeed." While the prophet does not specify the extent of His greatness—since it is beyond human comprehension—he emphasizes His grandeur by stating, "and very glorious." His greatness knows no bounds. This conveys that only He deserves honor and exaltation, for His infinite and unfathomable essence, as well as for the remarkable kindness He has shown us. He had both the will and the power to accomplish His desires.

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"In the city of our God, in His holy mountain." What is your response? Do we then conclude that His glory is contained solely in this city and this mountain? No, the prophet insists, for our understanding of Him transcends others. He expresses this notion by referring to "the city of our God," illustrating that in this place, God's glory and majesty are revealed through the miracles performed here. During a time when the captives were scattered, dejected, and held in a foreign land like a grave, He unexpectedly elevated them, allowing them to prevail over their foes, regain their former prosperity, and inherit their homeland in its original splendor.

Although His greatness is acknowledged through creation, and even though many from ancient times are unwise, He imparts the knowledge of Himself through adversaries and victories, frequently erecting stunning monuments, transforming situations for the better, and enacting miracles that exceed all expectations and hopes. The prophet names this city "the city of God" not to imply that other cities lack Divine oversight, but rather to highlight the advantage the Jews possessed in their understanding of Him. While other cities may be referred to as God's due to their existence in creation, this one was uniquely favored for its proximity to Him and for the miracles performed within it. Thus, this city is designated as God's, and now all of us are likewise called God's. "They that are Christ's," declares the apostle, "have crucified the flesh with passions and lusts" (Galatians 5:24). Can you perceive the power of virtue? The mountain is referred to as the mountain of God because it was the site of divine service.

Augustine of Hippo

5th centuryChurch Father

A radiant city It is a city established upon a hill that cannot be concealed; it is a lamp that is not hidden under a bushel and is acknowledged and honored by all. However, not everyone belongs to it, but only those in whom the Lord is magnificently exalted.

We refer to the hail of God, which is attested by Scripture itself, as that which, through the supreme divine will, stands above the writings of all nations by heavenly authority, not merely through a fleeting impact on human hearts, and has triumphed over all manner of human intellects. The Scripture declares, 'Glorious things are spoken of thee, O hail of God!' (Psalm 86:3). Additionally, another psalm states: 'Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised in the hail of our God, in His holy mountain' (Psalm 47:2). Further down in the same psalm, we find: 'As we have heard, so have we seen in the hail of the Lord of Hosts, in the hail of our God; God will uphold it forever' (Psalm 47:9).

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Another psalm says: 'The streams of the rivers make glad the hail of God, the holy dwelling place of the Most High; God is in her midst; she shall not be moved' (Psalm 46:4-5). From these and numerous similar testimonies, which it would take too long to enumerate fully, we understand that there exists a particular hail of God of which we aspire to be citizens, fueled by the love bestowed upon us by its Founder. The citizens of the earthly hail choose their deities over this holy Founder, unaware that He is the true God of gods—those who are not false, that is, the ungodly and arrogant, who, deprived of His immutable and universal light, and limited by their feeble power, establish their own private realms and demand reverence from their misled followers, unlike the gods of the righteous, who prefer to submit to one God rather than many, and who derive more joy from honoring God themselves than from being honored instead of God. To the adversaries of this holy city, we have responded, with the aid of our Lord and King, as best we could in the previous ten books. Now, aware of my responsibilities and not neglecting my duty, I will commence a discourse, filled with unwavering confidence in the assistance of our Lord and King, regarding the origin, expansion, and intended conclusion of the two realms, the earthly and the heavenly, of which I have stated are presently intertwined; initially, I will address the foundational aspects of these two realms in the separation of the angels that existed prior to them.

In the city of our God, situated on His sacred mountain, there stands a city upon a hill that cannot be concealed; it is a light that should not be placed under a bushel (Matthew 5:14-15), revealed to all, declared by all. However, not everyone belongs to this city; only those in whom the Lord is magnified and esteemed. What, therefore, does this city signify? Let us consider, since it is mentioned, in the city of our God, on His holy mountain, we ought to investigate this mountain where we might also find a voice … What is this mountain, dear friends? The first step is to seek with earnestness, to explore with attentiveness, and to strive and elevate ourselves. But if such a pursuit occurs anywhere on earth, what shall we do? Should we leave our homeland to reach that mountain?

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No, for that would mean we are outside, rather than within it. For it is our city, if we are part of the King, who reigns as head over that very city… For there was a despised cornerstone, a stumbling block for the Jews (Rom. 9:32), hewn from a mountain without hands, demonstrating the coming of the Jewish kingdom without human intervention, as Mary, from whom Christ was born, was untouched by any earthly agency (Matt. 1:16). But had that stone, which the Jews stumbled over, been abandoned, there would be no path for us to ascend. Yet what has transpired? What does the prophecy of Daniel declare? If not that the stone grew and became a mighty mountain? How great? So great that it filled the entire earth (Dan. 2:35). As this mountain grew and filled the whole face of the earth, it arrived to us. Why then do we search for an absent mountain, instead of recognizing its presence? Let us ascend it, so that the Lord may be glorified and esteemed within us.

Athanasius the Great

4th centuryChurch Father

Not only in Judea, but also on the sacred mountain. Here, 'the mountain' refers to the Church, reflecting the elevation of God's doctrines.

Ambrose of Milan

4th centuryChurch Father

God's greatness and power are manifest throughout all creation, yet the limited human understanding often fails to recognize the fullness of His divine authority and mercy. As our understanding of the Lord deepens, we increasingly perceive the splendor of His majesty.

The Lord is magnificent and exceedingly glorious in the city of our God, in His sacred dwelling (Psalm 47:2). Yet, is not God's greatness and glory evident everywhere? Indeed, He is powerful and mighty in all places, but those with shallow understanding often fail to perceive the depth of His power and grace. As our comprehension draws nearer to the Divine, His magnificence becomes increasingly remarkable. For instance, Thomas, who previously declared, Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails and put my hand into His side, I will not believe (Jn. 20:25), upon touching the clear signs of the Resurrection, was filled with awe at God's grace and proclaimed, My Lord and my God (Jn. 20:28)!

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In that moment, he acknowledged the divine essence and sovereignty of Jesus, no longer doubting His triumph over death. Thus, it is right to offer a hymn to God in Zion and to seek Him in Jerusalem (Psalm 64:2). It is no surprise that in the heavenly city and on the heights above the earth, His power is proclaimed with greater strength!

Theodoret of Cyrus

5th centuryChurch Father

It has been previously noted that sacred Scripture often refers not to structures, but to communities, as hailstones. Thus, the Prophet proclaims that the Sovereign over all has exalted Himself through His actions for His followers, which the profundity of the doctrines has rendered magnificent, akin to standing upon a lofty and majestic mountain. The Lord affirms, ‘The hail cannot be hid on the top of the mountain standing’ (Matthew 5:14).

Euthymios Zigabenos

11th centuryCommentator

The Lord is truly great and deserving of immense praise. He is magnificent in His might, wisdom, and goodness, and worthy of our adoration for the miraculous works He has performed for us. We, long forgotten due to our extended captivity, have been divinely liberated and unexpectedly favored by the Lord. As Dionysius remarks, God is esteemed great by His intrinsic greatness, by sharing Himself with all that is great, and by extending beyond all that can be considered greatness, encompassing every space, surpassing every count, penetrating the depths of all mysteries, and demonstrating His fullness and generosity through the flow of His gifts. Likewise, Goldsmith observes that while He declares His greatness, the extent of that greatness remains beyond full comprehension.

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Another wise individual notes, you can witness His greatness by gazing upon the heavens and examining the universe as Isaiah instructs: “Lift up your eyes and see, who has made all these things?” The majesty and splendor of creation reveal the Creator’s glory. He is great because He is the offspring of a great God and Father, as He Himself proclaimed, “The Father who gave Me is greater than all.” Blessed Augustine, in the 27th chapter of his Discourses, reiterates this sentiment: the Lord is great as He embodies incomprehensible power, lacking nothing and fully self-sufficient. Therefore, our souls should love Him, our tongues should offer Him praise, our hands should document His deeds, and the entirety of a believer's mind should engage in divine contemplation. It is only right that creation sings to its Creator, who fashioned us for this very purpose, even though He does not require our songs. Within the splendor of our God, on the holy mount, it is proclaimed that the Lord is worthy to be glorified in the city of Jerusalem, where He is recognized as the true God, for those who are unaware of Him do not offer Him praise. By referring to ‘the city of God,’ the focus is on Mount Zion, which is linked to Jerusalem, being its closest geographical point. Frequently, David refers to all of Jerusalem by this mountain’s name, stating, “The Lord hath chosen Zion.” The Christian Church is also regarded as the city of God, acknowledging Him as its dwelling presence. Additionally, the Church is viewed as a holy mountain, elevated above the lowliness of evil, its thoughts turned toward heaven, where it resides.

Irenaeus (Klementjewsky)

18th centuryCommentator

The prophet, seeking to extol the establishment of Jerusalem, begins by honoring its Creator, affirming that the artistry and wisdom of the Lord, who is God Himself, are magnificently revealed in the construction of this sacred city. The Lord is great, whether we consider His essence, His might, His wisdom, His truth, or His compassion: for all aspects of His nature are infinite, eternal, and beyond human understanding. He is held in high esteem, for neither angels, nor humans, nor any creation can truly honor Him as He deserves. Mount Zion is regarded as holy because a temple was erected upon it; and within that temple, by divine instruction, the Ark of the Covenant was placed, symbolizing God's unique favor toward Jerusalem.

Psalter with Commentaries (Cave Monastery in Kiew)

19th centuryCommentator

Refer to Psalm 29. This psalm, authored by David, was presented by the son of Korah, the musician, so that it might be sung on the second day of the Feast of Booths, exalting and honoring God regarding the creation of the heavens on that day: God declared, "Let there be a firmament," and thus it was done: and it marked the second day (Genesis 1:6-8). The second Sabbath is interpreted as the establishment of the Holy Church, which has arisen following the week of Christ's Resurrection, through the apostles of the saints proclaiming the Gospel throughout the world.

Vissarion (Nechaev)

19th centuryCommentator

The one true God, esteemed and worthy of adoration in all places, most clearly demonstrates His majesty and deserves our worship within His Holy Church. Jerusalem, with its sacred site on the holy mountain, stands as its focal point.

Cross references

Passages read together with this verse.