Psalms 24:3

24:3 Who is allowed to ascend the mountain of the Lord?

Who may go up to his holy dwelling place?

Psalms 24:7-10

24:7 Look up, you gates!

Rise up, you eternal doors!

Then the majestic king will enter!

24:8 Who is this majestic king?

The Lord who is strong and mighty!

The Lord who is mighty in battle!

24:9 Look up, you gates!

Rise up, you eternal doors!

Then the majestic king will enter!

24:10 Who is this majestic king?

The Lord who commands armies!

He is the majestic king! (Selah)


tn The imperfects in v. 3 are modal, expressing potential or permission.

sn In this context the Lord’s mountain probably refers to Zion/Jerusalem (see Isa 2:2-3).

tn Heb “lift up your heads.” The gates of the Lord’s dwelling place are here personified. The idiom “lift up the head” often means “be confident, bold” (see Judg 8:28; Job 10:15; Ps 83:2; Zech 1:21).

tn Heb “lift yourselves up.”

tn Or “king of glory.”

tn Following the imperatives of the preceding lines, the prefixed verbal form with vav (ו) conjunctive indicates purpose or result.

sn Who is this majestic king? Perhaps the personified gates/doors ask this question, in response to the command given in v. 7.

tn Traditionally, “the Lord of hosts,” a title which here pictures the Lord as a mighty warrior-king who leads armies into battle.