Psalm 46:10 meaning of be still and know that I am God

The meaning of Psalm 46:10 has to do with top fighting for yourself, putting away anxiety and surrendering to God’s power. It means trusting the one true God of heaven. 

Being still before God has nothing to do with sitting somewhere in a corner and not moving. In this post, we examine what it really means when God tells you to be still and know that I am God.

Let’s study.

Psalm 46 explained – The context

Psalm 46 was written by the sons of Korah. To understand who these men were, we have to go back to the stories of Israel in the wilderness. 

Korah had rebelled against Moses. He questioned Moses’ leadership and challenged his call. 

That story had a very bitter end. The earth opened and swallowed Korah along with 250 other men and their families who participated in the rebellion. (Read more in Numbers 16)

Korah’s sons were not a part of that drama so they survived. Because they were in the Levite clan, later, they qualified to become priests. They were also songwriters and musicians who provided music in the temple for worship.

Spiritual meaning of Psalm 46

The message of Psalm 46 is that we can trust God because He is always present in times of crisis. What was this crisis?

This Psalm was likely written during a time of war or enemy invasion. It seems that Israel had once again been invaded by one of the surrounding nations. 

It is uncertain which particular event inspired this Psalm but we can tell this was a song of deliverance. 

In this Psalm, the sons of Korah emphasized God’s power and strength. 

They say no matter what a situation looks like, God is very present and He is so powerful that there is no need to worry that the outcome of the battle will not be in Israel’s favor. 

And because of that assurance, they can celebrate and give thanks to God.

What does Psalm 46:10 mean in Hebrew?

Psalm 46:10 is one of those very popular but often misused verses in Scripture. 

What does Psalm 46:10 really mean? Let’s break down the words and phrases to truly uncover the gems in this verse.

Be still meaning in the Bible 

So when we read Scripture, we should always interpret it in context. Psalm 46:10 is a part of a bigger idea which begins in Psalm 46:8.

In verses 8 – 9, the Psalmists (the Kohathites) invite the audience (the Israelites) to really stop and look at their history and observe what God had done before to save His people. 

God had stopped wars. He had destroyed weapons. He had smashed army equipment.

Ofcourse, they are talking about ancient warfare weapons like spears, bows, arrows,  chariots etc

All these in the hands of so-called mighty warriors were no match for God when he fought against those who wanted to fight Israel, His chosen people.

In verses 8 – 9, it is the Psalmists who speak. But in verse 10, it is God who speaks in verse 10 and says:

“Be still, and know that I am God.”

What does be still in Psalm 46:10 mean?

What does God mean when he says be still?

The Hebrew word for be still is rāp̄â. It means to relax. This word is used to describe a situation in which you are fighting and striving and being hostile. 

But then you just stop, you drop your hands, you cease your fighting, you stop putting out effort. 

And you don’t just stop the fighting. You also surrender. You give in. Because you do this, anxiety evaporates and you are calm.

When God says be still, He means you need to stop fighting, surrender to Him and His will. Trust Him without anxiety. Let go and let Him take over. Stop actively trying to help yourself.

Who is God telling to be still?

In the primary context, He is addressing Israel who is anxious and actively trying to defend itself from invaders. 

This command is for those who are worried about a crisis they are going through. So worried in fact that they might want to plot and plan in order that they can go fight for themselves.

It is also for the fearful and the restless who are struggling to trust God in the middle of trouble.

I know what you are thinking.

Being still when you are in desperate need of help, when your life, limb, and livelihood is being threatened, is not easy. In fact, it is pretty close to being impossible.

But the next piece of this verse helps us understand how it is possible to not fight during a situation that calls you to fight.

Be still and know meaning 

Remember,verse 10 is built on the ideas in verses 8 – 9. 

Israel can have peace in their hearts and can be relaxed because God has shown Himself to be a strong, reliable, mighty protector.

They can experience this state of mind because they have come to know God. 

Let’s examine the phrase “know that I am God”.

Israel lived among many other nations who had very different beliefs. Israel, when they were being obedient, believed in one God. The other nations were believers in many different gods.

Very often, when war broke out between Israel and these other nations, it was often also a war to see which God was more powerful.

The Psalmists use the Hebrew word Elohim for God.

Elohim means “Supreme one” or “mighty one”. This name for God was used to refer to the one true God in Israel. 

Here is why this is important.

The nation of Israel had a long standing struggle in being faithful to the one true God. From the time God rescued them from life in Egypt, God had been trying to get to serve Him and Him only.

But they always strayed and worshiped other pagan gods and idols. In this Psalm, God is calling them to pay attention to Him and He ALONE. 

God needed them not to allow fear to tempt them to rely on false gods. He, Elohim, was their one and only God who was with them through it all. Elohim is above every other god.

God says “know that I am Elohim”.

The Hebrew word for  know is yāḏa. It has many meanings in Scripture.

It can mean to become intimately familiar with someone through experience. 

It can mean to be able to discriminate or distinguish. 

And it can also mean to acknowledge, recognize or admit.

Israel had a rich history of God delivering them out of warfare and trouble. In verses 8 – 9, the Psalmists invite them to look back at God’s track record.

By looking at God’s track record of deliverance, they should be encouraged. That information should help call upon the knowledge of the reality that God has helped them before and is always present to help again.

They needed to recognize, acknowledge, and admit the sovereignty of God over both their lives and all other nations.

How do I be still before God?

Just like the Israelites, when we find ourselves in trouble, we are tempted to take matters in our own hands and move away from trusting the one true God.

God promises to be present, especially in our hard times. But we truly need to believe what He says. 

Here are a few practical tips to practice being still before God.

Ask God what you should do

Back then, the Israelites were probably in a hurry to draw up a battle plan to go to war. They likely thought that their own military strength and strategy could rescue them from their enemies.

Well, they were doing what they knew to do but they needed to not forget one very important thing: 

… without God in the plan, they were already set up for failure.

We have already established that being still does not mean to sit in a corner and not move. This hardly describes the way God functions because He always gives us a part to play in our own rescue.

And this is why when we find ourselves in battle, we recognize that God has the perfect strategy therefore we should ask Him what to do.

Handing over the situation for God to solve is an act of surrender. Refusing to come up with your own plans that did not originate with God and did not receive His approval is dangerous.

You know you need to be still and surrender when everything you have tried has fallen through and the situation isn’t getting any better.

I have no idea how this translates to your personal experiences right now but, maybe you should allow God to take the lead on this one? 

Find out from Him what He needs you to do so you can focus on that and leave the rest to Him.

Address your mental health

Being still begins with an internal spiritual and emotional state. Not being still is manifested through worry, fear, and anxiety. 

I have a philosophy: never make decisions when you feel desperate. You are very likely to make a decision you will regret.

I know they say desperate times call for desperate measures but your only desperation as a child of God should be to seek His face.

When we are in a state of emotional disarray, it is the perfect time for the enemy to come in and influence our behavior. 

And you guessed it…He is not going to encourage unwavering faith in God.

He is going to recommend things that take you away from pleasing God and towards dishonoring God. He will move us away from God’s plan to deliver and rescue and towards even more trouble.

Take your mental health in hand. Don’t allow your thoughts and feelings to run you ragged. Talk to someone if you need to.

Remember, being still is all about being calm even in the middle of a crisis. What will get you to a godly state of calm? Whatever that activity is, do it.

When you have gathered yourself, you can hear God more clearly instead of your own anxiety.

Practice praise and gratitude to God daily

One of the best ways of relieving anxiety is through praise and gratitude. Psalm 46: 8 – 9 invites us to look over the things that God has done.

In your own life, you should do that too. Daily write down some things you are grateful for. Be intentional about highlighting how God is showing up in your life.

This activity is powerful because it will lead you to focus on God’s power and sovereignty. Praise becomes an automatic reaction when you meditate on God’s goodness.

It becomes easier to surrender to God when you remind yourself on a daily basis of who He is and of who you are.

You couldn’t save yourself if you tried. But you do not need to be frightened because the God you serve has shown up time and again to save you in miraculous ways.

You have enough evidence of God’s power in your life to call to memory. 

Other Scripture about stillness

Here are a few other related verses that you can reflect on as you work on learning to be still before God

The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent. (Exodus 14:14 ESV)

Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods, because in this affair they dealt arrogantly with the people. (Exodus 18:11 ESV)

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! (Psalm 37:7 ESV)

…that they may know that you alone, whose name is the Lord, are the Most High over all the earth. (Psalm 83:18 ESV)

Prayer points on be still and know that I am God 

Praying Scripture is one of the most powerful spiritual exercises. 

Here are some tips on how to pray with Psalm 46:10:

Use it to speak to yourself. David often did that sometimes. He said to himself “Soul, why are you downcast (Psalm 42:11). So put your name in “[Your name] be still and know that God is who He says He is”.

Use it to confess your struggle to God. “Lord, I am struggling with being free of anxiety right now. Help me to trust without anxiety”.

Use it to pray about the sin of self-sufficiency. “Lord, right now I am tempted to take this situation into my own hands and solve it myself. But I acknowledge and admit your sovereignty. I surrender to you oh God. Do what is in your will. Help me to hear your voice concerning what I should do”.

Final words on Psalm 46:10 meaning

I hope this study on being still has been both enlightening and encouraging. Being and still before God is certainly not easy.

What does it mean when God tells you to be still and know that I am God?

He wants you to lean in to Him, trust Him completely, without anxiety. Do your part as He tells you to do. I hope you can find a Be still and know that I am God sermon to help hammer home these points.

Be blessed!