The Meaning of Psalms 15:1 Explained

Psalms 15:1

KJV: {A Psalm of David.} LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?

YLT: A Psalm of David. Jehovah, who doth sojourn in Thy tent? Who doth dwell in Thy holy hill?

Darby: {A Psalm of David.} Jehovah, who shall sojourn in thy tent? who shall dwell in the hill of thy holiness?

ASV: Jehovah, who shall sojourn in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy hill?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

{{A Psalm  of David.  }} LORD,  who shall abide  in thy tabernacle?  who shall dwell  in thy holy  hill? 

What does Psalms 15:1 Mean?

Verse Meaning

In his prayer, the psalmist asked Yahweh who could have fellowship with Him, namely, what kind of person. "Abiding in the Lord"s tent" or sanctuary (i.e, the tabernacle David had pitched) and "dwelling on His holy hill" (i.e, Mt. Zion) picture a person who is the guest of God. Guests in the ancient Near East were those who had an intimate relationship with their host, who had extended his protection and provisions to them (cf. Psalm 5:4).

Context Summary

Psalms 15:1-5 - The Citizen Of Zion And His Inheritance
The first of these psalms was probably composed to celebrate the bringing of the Ark to Mount Zion, 1 Samuel 6:20. It describes the character of those who have fellowship with God and dwell in His house all the days of their earthly lot. To the challenge of the soloist, Psalms 15:1, the choir makes response, Psalms 15:2-5, first positively, then negatively. We must act as non-conductors to evil; must mind what company we keep; and must cultivate a spirit of love and self-sacrifice which will never take advantage of others, Psalms 15:5. Here is the secret of permanence and peace.
Michtam means "golden," and may be truly applied to the next psalm, as also to Psalms 56:1-13; Psalms 57:1-11; Psalms 58:1-11; Psalms 59:1-17; Psalms 60:1-12. Others explain the word as a "secret." It is the song of the golden secret. The key is furnished in Acts 2:25. The Apostle Paul expressly emphasizes the divine authorship in Acts 13:35-38. Our Lord may have repeated Psalms 16:8-11 when He was descending the dark valley, and so may we. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 15

1  David describes a citizen of Zion

What do the individual words in Psalms 15:1 mean?

A Psalm of David Yahweh who may abide in Your tabernacle who may dwell in hill Your holy
מִזְמ֗וֹר לְדָ֫וִ֥ד יְ֭הֹוָה מִי־ יָג֣וּר ؟ בְּאָהֳלֶ֑ךָ מִֽי־ יִ֝שְׁכֹּ֗ן בְּהַ֣ר ؟ קָדְשֶֽׁךָ

מִזְמ֗וֹר  A  Psalm 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִזְמֹור  
Sense: melody, psalm.
לְדָ֫וִ֥ד  of  David 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּוִד  
Sense: youngest son of Jesse and second king of Israel.
יְ֭הֹוָה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
יָג֣וּר  may  abide 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: גּוּר 
Sense: to sojourn, abide, dwell in, dwell with, remain, inhabit, be a stranger, be continuing, surely.
؟ בְּאָהֳלֶ֑ךָ  in  Your  tabernacle 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: אֹהֶל  
Sense: tent.
יִ֝שְׁכֹּ֗ן  may  dwell 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁכַן  
Sense: to settle down, abide, dwell, tabernacle, reside.
בְּהַ֣ר  in  hill 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: הַר  
Sense: hill, mountain, hill country, mount.
؟ קָדְשֶֽׁךָ  Your  holy 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: קֹדֶשׁ  
Sense: apartness, holiness, sacredness, separateness.