✝
← Bible
ARCBLIVREKJVVBL

Psalms 84

KJV · Chapter 84/150

1How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts!

2My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.

3Yea, 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.

4Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah.

5Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them.

6Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools.

7They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.

8O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah.

9Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed.

10For 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.

11For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

12O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.

📖 Chapter study

Summary

A song of longing and joy at being in God's house, comparing even the sparrows that nest in the temple to the blessedness of those who dwell there; 'a day in thy courts is better than a thousand.'

Explanation

This psalm, attributed to the sons of Korah (a Levite family responsible for the temple's music), expresses a deep longing for communal worship, something that resonates with anyone who has ever missed gathering with other believers. The image of the 'valley of Baca' (mulberry trees) becoming a spring (v. 6) suggests that the very journey of pilgrimage to Jerusalem is turned into a blessing when made with a heart set on God. Today's application is to value moments of worship and community as a real source of strength, even in the midst of hardship.

Fun facts

  • The 'sons of Korah,' mentioned in the headings of several psalms, were a family of Levite temple singers, descendants of Korah (who originally rebelled against Moses in Numbers 16 — his descendants, however, remained faithful).
  • 'They go from strength to strength' (v. 7) has become a widely used expression today to describe continuous spiritual growth.

Verse-by-verse explanation

  1. Psalms 84:1“Tabernacles,” in the plural, is a poetic way of speaking of the single temple in Jerusalem; calling them “amiable” expresses an almost physical affection for that place, not just religious respect.
  2. Psalms 84:2The soul “fainteth” and the body “crieth out”: the psalmist describes a longing that takes over the whole body, not just an inner feeling — a physical yearning to be in the temple.
  3. Psalms 84:3Describes birds literally nesting in the structure of the temple, something ordinary people would have been forbidden to get so close to the altar. The image shows even the simplest creatures find safety there.
  4. Psalms 84:4“Dwelling” in the house of the Lord likely describes the priests and Levites who served there every day. The Selah marks a musical pause whose exact effect is no longer known for certain.
  5. Psalms 84:5“In whose heart are the ways of them” is an image of pilgrimage: whoever has already decided to go up to Jerusalem feels the road easier, even before leaving home.
  6. Psalms 84:6“The valley of Baca” (Baca meaning “weeping” in Hebrew) was likely a dry, difficult stretch on the pilgrimage road to Jerusalem. Saying the pilgrims turn it into a well pictures hardship becoming good along the journey.
  7. Psalms 84:7Unlike a journey that wears travelers down, the pilgrims gain strength with every stretch — an image that reverses the natural logic of fatigue to describe the effect of walking toward God.
  8. Psalms 84:8“God of Jacob” recalls that the one hearing this prayer is the same God who accompanied the patriarch from the beginning. The Selah again marks a pause in the psalm’s music.
  9. Psalms 84:9“Thine anointed” is the king of Israel, consecrated with oil at his coronation. Asking God to “look upon the face” of him is asking for special favor and protection over him.
  10. Psalms 84:10The psalmist would rather be even the lowliest doorkeeper at the temple gate than live comfortably among people who ignore God — a stated choice, not a complaint.
  11. Psalms 84:11“A sun and shield” joins two opposite images: the sun gives light, warmth, and life, the shield protects from danger. Together they describe God as the source of both what sustains and what defends.
  12. Psalms 84:12Closes the psalm with the same blessing formula used in other psalms (like the first): repeating that trusting in God, not wealth or power, is what guarantees true happiness.

Chapters

123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142434445464748495051525354555657585960616263646566676869707172737475767778798081828384858687888990919293949596979899100101102103104105106107108109110111112113114115116117118119120121122123124125126127128129130131132133134135136137138139140141142143144145146147148149150

Our apps

Our apps →

Bible in Stories

The Bible told as a story, with audio and videos.

📱 Get the app

World in Stories

True stories of humanity that sound made up.

App StoreGoogle Play

Feito! Pequenas Vitórias

A light daily routine for people who lose track of the day.

App StoreGoogle Play