Psalms 84 · Verse 3

Psalms 84:3

Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O Lord of hosts, my King, and my God.

Psalms 84:3, King James Version

Psalms 84:3 in other translations

BSB	Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she places her young near Your altars, O LORD of Hosts, my King and my God.
WEB	Yes, the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young, near your altars, LORD of Armies, my King, and my God.
ASV	Yea, the sparrow hath found her a house, And the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, Even thine altars, O Jehovah of hosts, My King, and my God.
YLT	(Even a sparrow hath found a house, And a swallow a nest for herself, Where she hath placed her brood,) Thine altars, O Jehovah of Hosts, My king and my God.
DARBY	Yea, the sparrow hath found a house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she layeth her young, thine altars, O Jehovah of hosts, my King and my God.
BBE	The little birds have places for themselves, where they may put their young, even your altars, O Lord of armies, my King and my God.
Webster	Yes, the sparrow hath found a house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thy altars, O LORD of hosts, my King, and my God.

What does Psalms 84:3 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

3. thine altars--that is, of burnt offering and incense, used for the whole tabernacle. Its structure afforded facilities for sparrows and swallows to indulge their known predilections for such places. Some understand the statement as to the birds as a comparison: "as they find homes, so do I desire thine altars," &c.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 3 Yea, the sparrow hath found a house - It is very unlikely that sparrows and swallows, or birds of any kind, should be permitted to build their nests, and hatch their young, in or about altars which were kept in a state of the greatest purity; and where perpetual fires were kept up for the purpose of sacrifice, burning incense, etc. Without altering the text, if the clause be read in a parenthesis, the absurdity will be avoided, and the sense be good. "My heart crieth out for the living God, (even the sparrow hath found a house, and the swallow דרור deror, the ring-dove, a nest for herself, where she may lay; her young), for thine altars. O Lord of hosts!" Or, read the parenthesis last: "My heart crieth out for the living God; for thine altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God. Even the sparrow hath found out a house, and the swallow (ring-dove) a nest for herself, where she may lay her young;" but I have no place, either of rest or worship, understood. The Chaldee translates thus: "Even the pigeon hath found a house, and the turtle-dove hath a nest because their young may be offered lawfully upon thine altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God." Or, as a comparison seems to be here intended the following may best express the meaning; "Even as the sparrow finds out (seeks) a house, and the swallow her nest in which she may hatch her young; so I, thine altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God."

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 84:1-7

The ordinances of God are the believer's solace in this evil world; in them he enjoys the presence of the living God: this causes him to regret his absence from them. They are to his soul as the nest to the bird. Yet they are only an earnest of the happiness of heaven; but how can men desire to enter that holy habitation, who complain of Divine ordinances as wearisome? Those are truly happy, who go forth, and go on…

Read the full comment on Psalms 84:1-7 →

Psalms 84:3 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.

גַּם\־gam-alsoH1571

צִפּ֨וֹר\׀tzi.Pora birdH6833

מָ֪צְאָהMa.tze.'ahit has foundH4672

בַ֡יִתVa.yita homeH1004

וּדְר֤וֹר\׀u.de.Rorand a swallowH1866

קֵ֥ןkena nestH7064

לָהּ֮lahfor itself

אֲשֶׁר\־'a.Sher-whichH834

שָׁ֪תָהSha.tahit has putH7896

אֶפְרֹ֫חֶ֥יהָ'ef.Ro.Chei.hayoung ones itsH667

אֶֽת\־'et-withH854

מִ֭זְבְּחוֹתֶיךָMiz.be.cho.tei.khaaltars yourH4196

יְהוָ֣הYah.wehO YahwehH3068

צְבָא֑וֹתtze.va.'otof hostsH6635

מַ֝לְכִּ֗יmal.Kiking myH4428

וֵאלֹהָֽי\׃ve.lo.Haiand God myH430

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

Cross references for Psalms 84:3

Psalms 91:1
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
Psalms 90:1
A Prayer of Moses the man of God. Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.
Matthew 8:20
And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
Psalms 43:4
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.
Psalms 116:7
Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee.
Psalms 5:2
Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray.
Matthew 23:37
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Yea, etc.Or, rather, "Even as the sparrow findeth a house, and the swallow ({deror,} or the ring-dove, according to some, but probably the bird which Forskal mentions among the migratory birds of Alexandria, by the name of {dururi}) a nest for herself where she may lay her young, (so I seek) thine altars, O Jehovah, God of hosts, my King and my God." That is, as nature inclines birds to seek and prepare their nests, so grace has taught me to desire thy altars, and to worship there.
sparrow.
90:1; 91:1; 116:7; Mt 8:20; 23:37

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

Context

Psalms 84:2
My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.
Psalms 84:3
Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O Lord of hosts, my King, and my God.
Psalms 84:4
Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah.

Read all of Psalms 84

Psalms 84:3 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Aun el gorrión halla casa, y la golondrina nido para sí, donde ponga sus pollos en tus altares, oh Jehová de los ejércitos, rey mío, y Dios mío.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Mon âme désire, et même elle languit après les parvis de l’ Éternel; mon cœur et ma chair crient après le ✶Dieu vivant.
German Elberfelder 1871	Selbst der Sperling hat ein Haus gefunden, und die Schwalbe ein Nest für sich, wo sie ihre Jungen hingelegt deine Altäre, Jehova der Heerscharen, mein König und mein Gott!
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Remisisti iniquitatem plebis tuæ; operuisti omnia peccata eorum.