Psalms 24

The earth belongs to the LORD, and everything in it. The world is his, and all the people who live in it.

1The earth is the LORD’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.

NoteIn the King James Version, "LORD" printed in capitals stands in for the personal name of Israel's God, four Hebrew consonants usually written YHWH. Jewish readers avoided pronouncing it and said "my Lord" instead, and English translations have followed that custom. "The fulness thereof" means everything the earth contains.

2He is the one who set the earth in place on the seas and made it firm on the waters.

2For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.

NoteThis reflects the picture of the world common in the ancient Near East: dry land as a platform fixed in place above the waters that lie under and around it. "Founded" and "established" are building words, laying a foundation and making a structure firm.

3Who is allowed to go up the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place?

3Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?

Note"The hill of the LORD" is Mount Zion in Jerusalem, where the temple stood. Questions like this one appear to be part of a ceremony: worshipers arriving at the sanctuary ask who is qualified to enter, and receive the answer in the next verses.

4The person whose hands are clean and whose heart is pure. The person who has not given himself to what is false, and who has not made a promise he never meant to keep.

4He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.

Note"Clean hands" refers to what a person does, "a pure heart" to what a person intends; in Hebrew the heart was the seat of thought and will, not of feeling. The word behind "vanity" means emptiness or falsehood, and was also used of idols, so the line can mean either devoting oneself to what is worthless or worshiping a false god, and translators divide over which. "Sworn deceitfully" means taking a formal oath with no intention of keeping it.

5That person will receive a blessing from the LORD, and God who saves him will declare him to be in the right.

5He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

Note"Righteousness" here translates a word used in the law court: a favorable verdict, being publicly declared to be in the right, rather than an inward quality.

6These are the kind of people who look for God, who look for your face, Jacob. Selah.

6This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.

Note"Generation" here means a type or class of people, not an age group. "Jacob" is the ancestor whose descendants became Israel, so his name often stands for the whole nation. The Hebrew as it stands reads "who seek your face, Jacob"; several ancient manuscripts and early translations read "the God of Jacob," which is why modern versions differ here. "Selah" is a term found throughout the Psalms whose meaning was already lost in antiquity, probably a direction to the musicians or a pause, but no one knows.

7Open up, you gates. Swing wide, you ancient doors, so the King of glory can come in.

7Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.

NoteThe gates of the city or temple are addressed as if alive and told to raise themselves so that someone tall may pass through. "Everlasting doors" means doors that have stood from ancient times. Many readers have understood the scene as a procession bringing the ark, the chest representing God's presence, up to the sanctuary, with this exchange sung at the entrance.

8Who is this King of glory? The LORD, strong and powerful. The LORD, mighty in battle.

8Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.

Note"Mighty in battle" describes God in the language used of a warrior king returning from a campaign.

9Open up, you gates. Lift yourselves up, you ancient doors, so the King of glory can come in.

9Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.

10Who is he, this King of glory? The LORD who commands armies. He is the King of glory. Selah.

10Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.

Note"The LORD of hosts" is a standing title, in Hebrew YHWH Sabaoth. "Hosts" means armies, variously understood as Israel's fighting men, the heavenly beings around God, or the stars, and the phrase does not settle which.