Psalms 15 · Verse 1

Psalms 15:1

A Psalm of David. Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?
Psalms 15:1, King James Version

Psalms 15:1 in other translations

BSBA Psalm of David. O LORD, who may abide in Your tent? Who may dwell on Your holy mountain?
WEBA Psalm by David. LORD, who shall dwell in your sanctuary? Who shall live on your holy hill?
ASVA Psalm of David. Jehovah, who shall sojourn in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy hill?
YLTA Psalm of David. Jehovah, who doth sojourn in Thy tent? Who doth dwell in Thy holy hill?
DARBYA Psalm of David. Jehovah, who shall sojourn in thy tent? who shall dwell in the hill of thy holiness?
BBELord, who may have a resting-place in your tent, a living-place on your holy hill?
WebsterA Psalm of David. LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?

What does Psalms 15:1 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

Psa 15:1-5. Those who are fit for communion with God may be known by a conformity to His law, which is illustrated in various important particulars.

1. abide--or, "sojourn" (compare Psa 5:4), where it means under God's protection here, as (Psa 23:6, 27:4, 6) communion. tabernacle--seat of the ark (2Sa 6:17), the symbol of God's presence. holy hill--(Compare Psa 2:6).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Introduction

The important question answered, Who is a proper member of the Church militant? and who shall finally join the Church triumphant? Verse Psa 15:1 contains the question; Psa 15:2-5, the answer. The title, מזמור לדוד mizmor ledavid, a Psalm of David, has nothing in it particularly worthy of notice. If it were a Psalm composed during the captivity, relating to their return and settlement in their own land, with the restoration of their temple service and all the ordinances of God, and a description of the persons who should then be considered Israelites indeed, the name of David is improperly prefixed. But the subject is of the most general utility, and demands the most solemn and serious attention of all men who profess to believe in the immortality of the soul. Verse 1 Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? - The literal translation of this verse is, "Lord, who shall sojourn in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in the mountain of thy holiness?" Fwor the proper understanding of this question we must note the following particulars: - 1. The tabernacle, which was a kind of moveable temple, was a type of the Church militant, or the state of the people of God in this world. 2. Mount Zion, the holy mount, where the temple was built, was the type of the kingdom of heaven. There the ark became stationary, and was no longer carried about from place to place; and the whole was typical of the rest that remains for the people of God. 3. The Tabernacle was a temporary and frequently-removed building, carried about from place to place, and not long in any one place. Concerning this it is said: מי יגור mi yagur, "Who shall lodge, or sojourn," there? It is not a residence, or dwelling-place, but a place to lodge in for a time. 4. The Temple was a fixed and permanent building; and here it is inquired, מי ישכן mi yiscon, "Who shall dwell, abide," or have his permanent residence, there? 5. The tabernacle being a migratory temple, carried about on the shoulders of the priests and Levites, there was no dwelling there for any; they could but lodge or sojourn. 6. The temple being fined, the priests, Levites, etc., became permanent occupiers. There was no lodging or sojourning, but permanent residence for all connected with it. 7. The tabernacle is, therefore, a proper type of the Church militant, wandering up and down, tossed by various storms and tempests; the followers of God, having here no continuing city; sojourning only on earth to get a preparation for eternal glory. 8. The temple is also a proper type or emblem of the Church triumphant in heaven. "Here the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest." It is the dwelling-place the eternal residence, of all who are faithfui unto death, who are made pillars in that temple of God, to go no more out for ever. The questions therefore are, 1. Who can be considered a fit member of the Church of Christ here below? and, 2. Who shall be made partakers of an endless glory? In answer to these questions, the character of what we may term a true Israelite, or a good Christian, is given in the following particulars: -

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
The way to heaven, if we would be happy, we must be holy. We are encouraged to walk in that way. --Here is a very serious question concerning the character of a citizen of Zion. It is the happiness of glorified saints, that they dwell in the holy hill; they are at home there, they shall be for ever there. It concerns us to make it sure to ourselves that we have a place among them. A very plain and particular answer is here given. Those who desire to know their duty, will find the Scripture a very faithful director, and conscience a faithful monitor. A citizen of Zion is sincere in his religion. He is really what he professes to be, and endeavours to stand complete in all the will of God. He is just both to God and man; and, in speaking to both, speaks the truth in his heart. He scorns and abhors wrong and fraud; he cannot reckon that a good bargain, nor a saving one, which is made with a lie; and knows that he who wrongs his neighbour will prove, in the end, to have most injured himself. He is very careful to do hurt to no man. He speaks evil of no man, makes not others' faults the matter of his common talk; he makes the best of every body, and the worst of nobody. If an ill-natured story be told him, he will disprove it if he can; if not, it goes no further. He values men by their virtue and piety. Wicked people are vile people, worthless, and good for nothing; so the word signifies. He thinks the worse of no man's piety for his poverty and mean condition. He reckons that serious piety puts honour upon a man, more than wealth, or a great name. He honours such, desires their conversation and an interest in their prayers, is glad to show them respect, or do them a kindness. By this we may judge of ourselves in some measure. Even wise and good men may swear to their own hurt: but see how strong the obligation is, a man must rather suffer loss to himself and his family, than wrong his neighbour. He will not increase his estate by extortion, or by bribery. He will not, for any gain, or hope of it to himself, do any thing to hurt a righteous cause. Every true living member of the church, like the church itself, is built upon a Rock. He that doeth these things shall not be moved for ever. The grace of God shall always be sufficient for him. The union of these tempers and this conduct, can only spring from repentance for sin, faith in the Saviour, and love to him. In these respects let us examine and prove our own selves.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Psalms 15:1 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

יְ֭הֹוָהYah.wehO YahwehH3068
מִי\־mi-who?H4310
יָג֣וּרya.Gurwill he sojournH1481
בְּאָהֳלֶ֑ךָbe.'o.ho.Le.khain tent yourH168
מִֽי\־mi-who?H4310
יִ֝שְׁכֹּ֗ןyish.Konwill he dwellH7931
בְּהַ֣רbe.Haron [the] mountain ofH2022
קָדְשֶֽׁךָ\׃kod.She.chaholiness yourH6944

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Psalms 15:1

  • Psalms 24:3-5

    Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

  • Psalms 84:4

    Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah.

  • Psalms 61:4

    I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.

  • Psalms 92:13

    Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God.

  • Psalms 23:6

    Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

  • Revelation 21:23-24

    And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.

  • Psalms 43:3-4

    O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles. Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God.

  • Revelation 21:3-4

    And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

  • Hebrews 12:22

    But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,

  • John 17:24

    Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

  • Psalms 3:4

    I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.

  • Psalms 27:4-6

    One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple. For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1 David describes a citizen of Zion.

Lord.
1:1-4; 23:6; 21:3-5; 27:4; 61:4; 84:4; 92:13; Joh 3:3-5; 14:3; 17:24
Re 7:14-17; 21:3,4,23,24
abide. Heb. sojourn. holy.
2:6; 3:4; 43:3,4; 87:1-3; Heb 12:22; Re 14:1

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Psalms 15:1

    A Psalm of David. Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?

  • Psalms 15:2

    He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.

Read all of Psalms 15

Psalms 15:1 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Salmo de David. JEHOVÁ, ¿quién habitará en tu tabernáculo? ¿quién residirá en el monte de tu santidad?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Psaume de David. Éternel! qui séjournera dans ta tente? qui demeurera en ta montagne sainte?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Jehova, wer wird in deinem Zelte weilen? Wer wird wohnen auf deinem heiligen Berge?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Tituli inscriptio, ipsi David. Conserva me, Domine, quoniam speravi in te.