Psalms 48:12

Translations

King James Version (KJV)

Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof.

American King James Version (AKJV)

Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof.

American Standard Version (ASV)

Walk about Zion, and go round about her; Number the towers thereof;

Basic English Translation (BBE)

Make your way about Zion, and go round it, numbering its towers.

Webster's Revision

Walk about Zion, and go round her: number her towers.

World English Bible

Walk about Zion, and go around her. Number its towers.

English Revised Version (ERV)

Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof.

Definitions for Psalms 48:12

Tell - To number; count.

Clarke's Psalms 48:12 Bible Commentary

Walk about Zion - Consider the beauty and magnificence of the temple, count the towers by which it is fortified.

Barnes's Psalms 48:12 Bible Commentary

Walk about Zion - This is a call on all persons to go round the city; to take a survey of it; to see how beautiful and how strong it was - how it had escaped all danger, and was uninjured by the attempt to destroy it - how capable it was of resisting an attack. The word "walk" here means simply to go around or surround. The other word used has a more direct reference to a solemn procession.

And go round about her - The word used here - from נקף nâqaph - to fasten together, to join together, means to move round in a circle, as if persons joined together (see the notes at Job 1:5), and would refer here properly to a solemn procession moving round the city, and taking a deliberate survey of its entire circuit.

Tell the towers thereof - That is, Take the number of the towers. See how numerous they are; how firm they remain; what a defense and protection they constitute. Cities, surrounded by walls, had always "towers" or elevated portions as posts of observation, or as places from which missiles might be discharged with advantage on those who should attempt to scale the walls. Compare Genesis 11:4-5; 2 Chronicles 26:9-10; Isaiah 2:15.

Wesley's Psalms 48:12 Bible Commentary

48:12 Tell - He bids them mark well her towers, bulwarks, and palaces, with thankfulness to God, when they should find upon enquiry, that not one of them were demolished.