¶ Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?
Who shall ascend {H5927} into the hill {H2022} of the LORD {H3068}? or who shall stand {H6965} in his holy {H6944} place {H4725}?
Who may go up to the mountain of ADONAI? Who can stand in his holy place?
Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in His holy place?
Who shall ascend into the hill of Jehovah? And who shall stand in his holy place?
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.
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Psalms 15:1
¶ A Psalm of David. LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? -
Hebrews 12:28
Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: -
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 2:6
Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. -
Malachi 3:1
¶ Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts. -
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, -
Hebrews 12:24
And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than [that of] Abel.
Context of Psalms 24:3
Psalms 24 is a majestic psalm of entrance, likely sung as a procession ascended Mount Zion to the Temple or Tabernacle. The psalm begins by declaring God's universal sovereignty as Creator of the earth and all its inhabitants (Psalms 24:1-2). Following this declaration of God's supreme authority, verse 3 poses a critical question that sets the stage for the rest of the psalm: "Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?" This rhetorical question anticipates the answer provided in the subsequent verses (Psalms 24:4-6), which outline the moral and spiritual qualifications for approaching the holy presence of God.
Key Themes and Messages
Linguistic Insights
The phrase "hill of the LORD" (Hebrew: *har Yahweh*) specifically refers to Mount Zion in Jerusalem, which became the site of the Temple. It symbolizes God's earthly dwelling place and the center of Israelite worship. The term "holy place" (Hebrew: *m'kom qodsho*) reinforces the sacredness of this location, indicating a space set apart and consecrated for God's presence and divine encounter. The question "Who shall ascend?" (Hebrew: *mi ya'aleh*) implies a spiritual as well as a physical ascent, emphasizing the moral elevation required to stand before a holy God.
Related Scriptures
Practical Application
For ancient Israel, this verse served as a challenging reminder that true worship required more than just physical presence; it demanded moral integrity and spiritual dedication. For believers today, while we no longer ascend a physical hill to meet God, the principle remains: approaching God requires reverence, humility, and a desire for spiritual purity. We are called to live lives that reflect the holiness of God, made possible through the cleansing power of Christ's sacrifice. This verse prompts us to examine our hearts and ensure our lives align with the divine standards of righteousness, remembering that it is through Christ that we have access by one Spirit unto the Father.