What Does Psalm 48:4 Mean in the King James?
For, lo, the kings were assembled, they passed by together.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The Hebrew says the kings are convened, then makes their unity a crossing movement: they assemble and pass through together.
THE MEANING
You see authority gather in formation, then move on: the kings assemble and pass by together. Their unity is real, but the verse presents it as movement rather than lasting possession.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The belief that a united ruling power becomes permanent simply by standing together gives way here: the kings’ action is to pass by.
THE ROOT
נוֹעֲדוּ
no'adu
GROWS FROM
יעד
To appoint or designate; by extension, to convene or meet.
The word translated “assembled” belongs to the language of a convened meeting, not merely a crowd gathering. It does not say who called the meeting, but it gives their gathering the quality of an appointment.
ALSO GROWS
mo'ed: An appointed time or meeting.
מוֹעֵד
It shares the sense of a gathering set for a meeting, opening more depth in “assembled.”
edah: A congregation or assembly.
עֵדָה
It shows the same root’s movement from convening to the people gathered together.
עָבְרוּ
avaru
GROWS FROM
עבר
To pass across, cross over, or move through.
“passed by” in this verse is avaru. The Hebrew verb carries the sense of crossing or passing through. The kings’ unity is real, but the line describes it as passage rather than settled possession.
ALSO GROWS
eber: The other side or what lies beyond.
עֵבֶר
This related form keeps the root’s sense of crossing toward or across a boundary.
ma'avar: A crossing, passage, or ford.
מַעֲבָר
It makes the motion in “passed by” vivid: the kings move through rather than remain.
THE PATTERN
Even a united coalition of rulers remains a passing force; coordination does not make it sovereign.
The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect.For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,THE THREAD
And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.The same root appears when God says, “there I will meet with thee.” That connection opens “assembled” beyond the image of a crowd: the word carries the language of convening and meeting, while the kings’ next action sends them onward.
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