Psalms 27 · Verse 4

Psalms 27:4

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.
Psalms 27:4, King James Version

Psalms 27:4 in other translations

BSBOne thing I have asked of the LORD; this is what I desire: to dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and seek Him in His temple.
WEBOne thing I have asked of the LORD, that I will seek after: that I may dwell in the LORD’s house all the days of my life, to see the LORD’s beauty, and to inquire in his temple.
ASVOne thing have I asked of Jehovah, that will I seek after: That I may dwell in the house of Jehovah all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of Jehovah, And to inquire in his temple.
YLTOne thing I asked of Jehovah--it I seek. My dwelling in the house of Jehovah, All the days of my life, To look on the pleasantness of Jehovah, And to inquire in His temple.
DARBYOne thing have I asked of Jehovah, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of Jehovah all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of Jehovah, and to inquire of him in his temple.
BBEOne prayer have I made to the Lord, and this is my heart's desire; that I may have a place in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, looking on his glory, and getting wisdom in his Temple.
WebsterOne 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 inquire in his temple.

What does Psalms 27:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 27:4-5
4-5. The secret of his confidence is his delight in communion with God (Psa 16:11; 23:6), beholding the harmony of His perfections, and seeking His favor in His temple or palace; a term applicable to the tabernacle (compare Psa 5:7). There he is safe (Psa 31:21; 61:5). The figure is changed in the last clause, but the sentiment is the same.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 4 One thing have I desired - If I am grown too old, and from that circumstance unable to serve my country, I shall then prefer a retirement to the tabernacle, there to serve God the rest of my days. There I shall behold his glory, and there I may inquire and get important answers respecting Israel. But though these words may be thus interpreted, on the above supposition, that David penned the Psalm on the occasion of his escape from the Philistine, and the desire expressed by his subjects that he should go no more out to war; yet it appears that they more naturally belong to the captivity, and that this verse especially shows the earnest longing of the captives to return to their own land, that they might enjoy the benefit of Divine worship.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 27:1-6

The Lord, who is the believer's light, is the strength of his life; not only by whom, but in whom he lives and moves. In God let us strengthen ourselves. The gracious presence of God, his power, his promise, his readiness to hear prayer, the witness of his Spirit in the hearts of his people; these are the secret of his tabernacle, and in these the saints find cause for that holy security and peace of mind in which…

Read the full comment on Psalms 27:1-6 →

Psalms 27:4 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.

אַחַ֤ת\׀'a.Chatone [thing]H259
שָׁאַ֣לְתִּיsha.'Al.tiI have askedH7592
מֵֽאֵת\־me.'et-from withH854
יְהוָה֮Yah.wehYahwehH3068
אוֹתָ֪הּ'o.Tah<obj.> itH853
אֲבַ֫קֵּ֥שׁ'a.Va.KeshI will seekH1245
שִׁבְתִּ֣יshiv.Tito dwell IH3427
בְּבֵית\־be.veit-in [the] house ofH1004
יְ֭הוָהYah.wehYahwehH3068
כָּל\־kol-allH3605
יְמֵ֣יye.Mei[the] days ofH3117
חַיַּ֑יchai.Yailife myH2416
לַחֲז֥וֹתla.cha.Zotto lookH2372
בְּנֹֽעַם\־be.no.'am-on [the] kindness ofH5278
יְ֝הוָ֗הYah.wehYahwehH3068
וּלְבַקֵּ֥רu.le.va.Kerand to inquireH1239
בְּהֵיכָלֽוֹ\׃be.hei.kha.Loin temple hisH1964

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

Cross references for Psalms 27:4

  • Psalms 26:8

    Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.

  • 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.

  • Psalms 65:4

    Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.

  • Psalms 84:10

    For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

  • Psalms 84:4

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

  • Luke 10:42

    But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

  • Psalms 63:2-5

    To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary. Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:

  • Jeremiah 29:13

    And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

  • Psalms 27:8

    When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek.

  • Matthew 6:33

    But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

  • Philippians 3:13

    Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

  • Hebrews 11:6

    But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
One.
26:8; Lu 10:42; Php 3:13
seek.
8; Jer 29:13; Da 9:3; Mt 6:33; 7:7,8; Lu 11:9,10; 13:24; 18:1
Heb 11:6
dwell.
23:6; 26:6; 65:4; 84:4,10; 1Sa 1:11; Lu 2:37; 1Ti 5:5
behold.
50:2; 63:2; 90:17; Zec 9:9; 2Co 3:18; 4:6
beauty. or, delight.
63:2-5
enquire.
1Sa 22:10; 30:8; 2Sa 21:1; 1Ch 10:13,14

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

Context

  • Psalms 27:3

    Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.

  • Psalms 27:4

    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.

  • Psalms 27:5

    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.

Read all of Psalms 27

Psalms 27:4 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Una cosa he demandado á Jehová, ésta buscaré: que esté yo en la casa de Jehová todos los días de mi vida, para contemplar la hermosura de Jehová, y para inquirir en su templo.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		J’ai demandé une chose à l’ Éternel, je la rechercherai: c’est que j’habite dans la maison de l’ Éternel tous les jours de ma vie, pour voir la beauté de l’ Éternel et pour m’enquérir diligemment de lui dans son temple.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Eines habe ich von Jehova erbeten, nach diesem will ich trachten: zu wohnen im Hause Jehovas alle Tage meines Lebens, um anzuschauen die Lieblichkeit Jehovas und nach ihm zu forschen in seinem Tempel.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Da illis secundum opera eorum, et secundum nequitiam adinventionum ipsorum. Secundum opera manuum eorum tribue illis; redde retributionem eorum ipsis.