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Shared Word Translation

Psalm 24

Of David. A psalm.

The earth is the LORD’s, and all that fills it,
the world and those who dwell in it; for he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.

Who may ascend the mountain of the LORD?
And who may stand in his holy place? One with clean hands and a pure heart,
who has not lifted up my life to what is empty
and has not sworn deceitfully. Such a one will receive blessing from the LORD,
and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is the generation of those who seek him,
who seek your face—Jacob. Selah

Lift up your heads, O gates;
be lifted up, O ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory?
The LORD, strong and mighty,
the LORD, mighty in battle.

Lift up your heads, O gates;
lift up, O ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory?
The LORD of Hosts—
he is the King of glory. Selah

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Notes

Translation notes for Psalm 24.

v04

The Hebrew reads “my life,” though the surrounding description concerns the person with clean hands and a pure heart. A traditional marginal reading has “his life.” The retained wording preserves the text’s striking shift in voice.

v06

The verse moves between “those who seek him” and “your face,” then ends with “Jacob.” The final word may be read in more than one way; the Hebrew does not explicitly supply “God of” Jacob.

v07–10

The gates and ancient doors are addressed as though they can raise themselves to welcome the King of glory. The repeated exchange gives the passage the character of an entrance liturgy.

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Vocabulary

Selected source-language vocabulary for Psalm 24.

v01

**מְלֹא

*meloʾ***: “all that fills it” presents the earth not as empty territory but as belonging wholly to the LORD, together with everything within it.

v04

**שָׁוְא

*shavʾ***: “what is empty” can include falsehood, worthlessness, or that which proves futile. It stands opposite the integrity named in the rest of the verse.

v05

**צְדָקָה

*tsedaqah***: “righteousness” is received from God in parallel with blessing. Here it may denote both God’s righteous saving action and the right standing God grants.

v07

**כָּבוֹד

*kavod***: “glory” carries the sense of weight, honor, and manifest majesty. The title “King of glory” identifies the coming king by the fullness of divine splendor.

v10

**צְבָאוֹת

*tsevaʾot***: “hosts” evokes ordered multitudes, especially heavenly forces. “The LORD of hosts” declares the LORD’s sovereign command amid the psalm’s royal and martial imagery.

v01

מְלֹא (meloʾ)

“all that fills it” presents the earth not as empty territory but as belonging wholly to the LORD, together with everything within it.

v04

שָׁוְא (shavʾ)

“what is empty” can include falsehood, worthlessness, or that which proves futile. It stands opposite the integrity named in the rest of the verse.

v05

צְדָקָה (tsedaqah)

“righteousness” is received from God in parallel with blessing. Here it may denote both God’s righteous saving action and the right standing God grants.

v07

כָּבוֹד (kavod)

“glory” carries the sense of weight, honor, and manifest majesty. The title “King of glory” identifies the coming king by the fullness of divine splendor.