Psalms 24:1

KJV

¶ A Psalm of David. The earth [is] the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.

KJV (with Strong's)

A Psalm {H4210} of David {H1732}. The earth {H776} is the LORD'S {H3068}, and the fulness {H4393} thereof; the world {H8398}, and they that dwell {H3427} therein.

Complete Jewish Bible

By David. A psalm: The earth is ADONAI's, with all that is in it, the world and those who live there;

Berean Standard Bible

The earth is the LORD’s, and the fullness thereof, the world and all who dwell therein.

American Standard Version

The earth is Jehovah’s, and the fulness thereof; The world, and they that dwell therein.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 24:1 stands as a majestic and foundational declaration of God's absolute and comprehensive sovereignty over all creation. Penned by King David, this opening verse asserts that the entire earth, with everything that fills it—its resources, its creatures, and all humanity—belongs unequivocally to the LORD. It establishes the divine proprietorship and ultimate dominion of the God of Israel, setting the theological bedrock for the subsequent questions within the psalm regarding who is worthy to approach such a transcendent and universal King.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalms 24:1 serves as a grand theological overture to the psalm's central theme: who may ascend to the Lord's holy hill and stand in His holy place. This initial declaration of God's universal ownership and dominion (verses 1-2) establishes the immense authority and majesty of the One whose presence is sought. It precedes the crucial questions about moral and spiritual purity required for worship (verses 3-6) and culminates in the dramatic processional entry of the "King of glory" (verses 7-10). The psalm, therefore, moves from God's cosmic ownership to the specific conditions for human access to His presence, ultimately revealing Him as the triumphant and sovereign Lord.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Attributed to David, Psalm 24 is widely believed to have been composed for a significant liturgical event, most likely the solemn procession bringing the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem (as described in [2 Samuel 6](/2_samuel/6 "2 Samuel 6 - David Brings the Ark to Jerusalem")). In a Near Eastern world where various nations worshipped localized deities, David's declaration that "The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein" was a radical and exclusive claim. It asserted that the God of Israel was not merely a tribal god but the rightful, universal Creator and Ruler of all, transcending all geographical and cultural boundaries. This bold theological statement would have served to consecrate Jerusalem as the capital of the universal King and to affirm Israel's God as supreme over all other gods and nations.
* **Key Themes:** This verse introduces and undergirds several major theological themes. Firstly, it unequivocally declares **Divine Sovereignty and Ownership**, asserting God's ultimate proprietary right over everything that exists. He is not merely a powerful being but the rightful possessor of the entire cosmos and all its contents, echoing the primordial truth of God as the sole Creator found in [Genesis 1:1](/genesis/1-1 "Genesis 1:1 - God Creates the Heavens and the Earth"). Secondly, the phrase "the world, and they that dwell therein" emphasizes **Universal Dominion**. God's authority extends not only to the physical planet but also to all humanity and every form of life, leaving no corner of existence outside His purview or control. This comprehensive reign is a recurring theme throughout Scripture, as seen in passages like [1 Chronicles 29:11](/1_chronicles/29-11 "1 Chronicles 29:11 - David's Prayer of Praise to God").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **LORD (Hebrew, _YHWH_):** This is the Tetragrammaton, the sacred, covenantal name of God, often rendered "Yahweh" or "Jehovah." Its use here emphasizes that the God who owns and rules the entire universe is the same personal, self-existent God who entered into covenant relationship with Israel. It signifies His eternal, unchanging nature and His active presence in creation and history.
* **fulness thereof (Hebrew, _umlo'ah_):** This phrase literally means "that which fills it" or "its contents." It is a comprehensive term encompassing everything within the earth: its natural resources, its wealth, its diverse ecosystems, and all living creatures. This highlights the absolute and exhaustive nature of God's ownership, leaving nothing outside His rightful domain.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"The earth [is] the LORD'S":** This opening declaration establishes the fundamental truth of God's absolute proprietorship over the entire planet. It is not merely a statement of power but of rightful ownership, asserting that the very ground beneath our feet, the land, and all its physical aspects belong to God by right of creation.
* **"and the fulness thereof":** This clause expands on the initial declaration, clarifying that God's ownership is not limited to the physical land itself but extends to everything contained within it. This includes all its resources, its produce, its wealth, and every living thing that inhabits it, emphasizing the comprehensive scope of His dominion.
* **"the world, and they that dwell therein":** This final phrase employs parallelism to reiterate and amplify the preceding statements. "The world" (Hebrew: _tebel_, often referring to the inhabited earth) broadens the scope from the physical "earth" (_eretz_) to the entire human-inhabited globe, and "they that dwell therein" explicitly includes all humanity and every living creature. This underscores that God's sovereignty encompasses not only the physical realm but also the entirety of sentient life, making His dominion truly universal and all-encompassing.

#### Literary Devices
Psalm 24:1 primarily employs **Parallelism**, a hallmark of Hebrew poetry, to reinforce its central message. Specifically, it uses **Synonymous Parallelism**, where the second half of the verse reiterates the idea of the first half using different but equivalent words. "The earth, and the fulness thereof" is paralleled by "the world, and they that dwell therein," both emphatically declaring God's comprehensive ownership. This repetition serves to amplify the truth, making the statement more forceful and memorable. The verse is also a powerful **Declaration** or **Affirmation**, presented as an undeniable truth that undergirds all subsequent theological and ethical considerations within the psalm. Its concise, declarative nature lends it an air of majestic authority, fitting for the subject of God's universal dominion.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This foundational verse establishes the ultimate reality of God's supreme authority and ownership over all things. It connects directly to the doctrine of creation, where God, as the sole Creator, inherently possesses all that He has made. This truth forms the basis for understanding humanity's role as stewards rather than ultimate owners, and it underpins all ethical considerations regarding the use of resources and the treatment of fellow human beings. Furthermore, it provides immense comfort and security, reminding believers that even in a chaotic world, the sovereign God is ultimately in control, and His purposes will prevail.

* [Exodus 19:5](/exodus/19-5 "Exodus 19:5 - God's Ownership of All Nations")
* [Deuteronomy 10:14](/deuteronomy/10-14 "Deuteronomy 10:14 - God Owns Heaven and Earth")
* [1 Corinthians 10:26](/1_corinthians/10-26 "1 Corinthians 10:26 - The Earth is the Lord's")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Understanding that "The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof" is not merely a theological abstract but a transformative truth with profound implications for how we live. If God is the ultimate owner of all things—our possessions, our talents, our time, and even our very lives—then we are called to live as faithful stewards, managing what has been entrusted to us according to His will and for His glory. This perspective cultivates a spirit of humility, recognizing that our existence and all we have are gifts from His hand, compelling us to worship Him as the sovereign Lord of all. In a world grappling with environmental concerns, economic disparities, and political turmoil, this verse offers both a challenge to responsible living and immense comfort, reminding us that ultimately, God is in control, and His purposes for His creation will be fulfilled. It invites us to trust in His overarching plan and to find security in His unchanging dominion, knowing that nothing is outside His wise and loving governance.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does acknowledging God's absolute ownership of the earth and everything in it influence my perspective on my personal possessions and resources?**
* **What practical implications does God's universal sovereignty have for my daily decisions regarding consumption, environmental care, and generosity?**
* **In what ways does the truth that "the earth is the LORD'S" bring comfort or challenge to my understanding of global events and personal struggles?**

### FAQ
**Does this verse imply that humans have no rights or responsibilities regarding the earth?**

Answer: On the contrary, this verse establishes the very foundation for human responsibility. While God is the ultimate owner, He has graciously entrusted humanity with the stewardship of His creation. As image-bearers of God, we are called to "work it and keep it" ([Genesis 2:15](/genesis/2-15 "Genesis 2:15 - God Places Adam in the Garden of Eden")), exercising dominion not as absolute owners but as faithful managers on His behalf. This means we are accountable to Him for how we utilize the earth's resources, care for its inhabitants, and interact with the natural world. Our rights are derived from our role as stewards under God's ultimate authority, and our responsibilities are immense.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalm 24:1 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. As the eternal Son, He is the very agent through whom the earth and its fullness were created. [John 1:3](/john/1-3 "John 1:3 - All Things Made Through Him") declares that "All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made," and [Colossians 1:16](/colossians/1-16 "Colossians 1:16 - Christ as Creator") affirms that "by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible... all things were created through Him and for Him." Not only is He the Creator, but He is also the Sustainer, actively upholding "the universe by the word of His power" ([Hebrews 1:3](/hebrews/1-3 "Hebrews 1:3 - Christ Upholds All Things")). Furthermore, the "King of glory" who is invited to enter the ancient gates in the latter part of Psalm 24 is ultimately revealed in the New Testament as Christ Himself, who, having completed His redemptive work, ascended to His rightful place of cosmic dominion. [Philippians 2:9-11](/philippians/2-9 "Philippians 2:9 - Christ's Exaltation") proclaims that God has "highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth." Thus, the earth and its fullness are not only the LORD's by creation, but they are also Christ's by right of creation, sustenance, redemption, and ultimate inheritance, ensuring that His reign is truly universal and eternal ([Revelation 11:15](/revelation/11-15 "Revelation 11:15 - The Kingdom of the World Becomes Christ's")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Psalms 89:11

The heavens [are] thine, the earth also [is] thine: [as for] the world and the fulness thereof, thou hast founded them.

1 Corinthians 10:26

For the earth [is] the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.

1 Chronicles 29:11

Thine, O LORD, [is] the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all [that is] in the heaven and in the earth [is thine]; thine [is] the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.

Job 41:11

¶ Who hath prevented me, that I should repay [him? whatsoever is] under the whole heaven is mine.

Deuteronomy 10:14

Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens [is] the LORD'S thy God, the earth [also], with all that therein [is].

Exodus 9:29

And Moses said unto him, As soon as I am gone out of the city, I will spread abroad my hands unto the LORD; [and] the thunder shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail; that thou mayest know how that the earth [is] the LORD'S.

Exodus 19:5

Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth [is] mine: