Psalms 48:7

7 You destroyed them like the mighty ships of Tarshish shattered by a powerful east wind.

Psalms 48:7 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 48:7

Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with east wind.
] This is either another simile, expressing the greatness of the dread and fear that shall now seize the kings of the earth; which will be, as Kimchi observes, as if they were smitten with a strong east wind, which breaks the ships of Tarshish; and to the same purpose is the note of Aben Ezra; who says, the psalmist compares the pain that shall take hold upon them to an east wind in the sea, which breaks the ships; for by Tarshish is meant, not Tartessus in Spain, nor Tarsus in Cilicia, or the port to which the Prophet Jonah went and took shipping; but the sea in general: or else this phrase denotes the manner in which the antichristian kings, and antichristian states, wilt be destroyed; just as ships upon the ocean are dashed to pieces with a strong east wind: or it may design the loss of all their riches and substance brought to them in ships; hence the lamentations of merchants, and sailors, and ship masters, ( Revelation 18:15-19 ) .

Psalms 48:7 In-Context

5 But when they saw it, they were stunned; they were terrified and ran away.

6 They were gripped with terror and writhed in pain like a woman in labor.

7 You destroyed them like the mighty ships of Tarshish shattered by a powerful east wind.

8 We had heard of the city’s glory, but now we have seen it ourselves— the city of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. It is the city of our God; he will make it safe forever. Interlude

9 O God, we meditate on your unfailing love as we worship in your Temple.