The Meaning of Psalms 27:4 Explained

Psalms 27:4

KJV: One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple.

YLT: One thing I asked of Jehovah -- it I seek. My dwelling in the house of Jehovah, All the days of my life, To look on the pleasantness of Jehovah, And to inquire in His temple.

Darby: One thing have I asked of Jehovah, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of Jehovah all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of Jehovah, and to inquire of him in his temple.

ASV: One thing have I asked of Jehovah, that will I seek after; That I may dwell in the house of Jehovah all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of Jehovah, And to inquire in his temple.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

One  [thing] have I desired  of the LORD,  that will I seek  after; that I may dwell  in the house  of the LORD  all the days  of my life,  to behold  the beauty  of the LORD,  and to enquire  in his temple. 

What does Psalms 27:4 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The greatest gift that God could give David would be the privilege of spending his time contemplating and reflecting on the wonderful features of his God. [1] The psalmist could achieve this well in Israel near the ark of the covenant, where God localized His presence in a special sense. There the priests read and studied the Mosaic Law and worshipped God with prayers and songs. The temple in view here was not Solomon"s since Solomon had not yet built it. It was probably the tent that David had constructed in Jerusalem to house the ark-that was a successor to the Mosaic tabernacle-that stood at Gibeon during David"s reign.
"As in the well-known Psalm 23:6, this is not an ambition to be a priest or Levite but to enjoy the constant presence of God which is typified by their calling. Note the singleness of purpose (one thing)-the best answer to distracting fears (cf1-3)-and the priorities within that purpose: to behold and to inquire; a preoccupation with God"s Person and His will. It is the essence of worship; indeed of discipleship." [2]

Context Summary

Psalms 27:1-14 - The Song Of Fearless Trust In God
This psalm probably dates from the time when the exiled king, surrounded by unscrupulous foes, looked from his hiding-place beyond the Jordan to the Holy City, where the Ark abode. One thing he desired above all else. The "one thing" people are irresistible, Philippians 3:13-14.
Here we have assurance, Psalms 27:1-6. God's house for us is His presence. We may live day by day in the New Jerusalem, which needs no light of sun or candle. We are in it, though we know it not. Oh, that our eyes might be opened to see where we are! 2 Kings 6:20. How beautiful must God be, who has made the world so fair!
Next we have supplication, Psalms 27:7-14. The triumphant note changes to sadness. Did the writer look from his Redeemer to the winds and waves? But sometimes God seems to hide His face only to draw us to a point of trust and abandonment which otherwise the soul had never dared to adopt, Mark 7:28. The dearest may forsake, but the Lord gathers, Isaiah 40:11. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 27

1  David sustains his faith by prayer

What do the individual words in Psalms 27:4 mean?

One [thing] I have desired of Yahweh - that will I seek that I may dwell in the house of Yahweh all the days of my life to behold the beauty of Yahweh and to inquire in His temple
אַחַ֤ת ׀ שָׁאַ֣לְתִּי מֵֽאֵת־ יְהוָה֮ אוֹתָ֪הּ אֲבַ֫קֵּ֥שׁ שִׁבְתִּ֣י בְּבֵית־ יְ֭הוָה כָּל־ יְמֵ֣י חַיַּ֑י לַחֲז֥וֹת בְּנֹֽעַם־ יְ֝הוָ֗ה וּלְבַקֵּ֥ר בְּהֵיכָלֽוֹ

אַחַ֤ת ׀  One  [thing] 
Parse: Number, feminine singular
Root: אֶחָד  
Sense: one (number).
שָׁאַ֣לְתִּי  I  have  desired 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: שָׁאַל 
Sense: to ask, enquire, borrow, beg.
יְהוָה֮  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אוֹתָ֪הּ  - 
Parse: Direct object marker, third person feminine singular
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
אֲבַ֫קֵּ֥שׁ  that  will  I  seek 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: בָּקַשׁ  
Sense: to seek, require, desire, exact, request.
שִׁבְתִּ֣י  that  I  may  dwell 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct, first person common singular
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.
בְּבֵית־  in  the  house 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
יְ֭הוָה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
יְמֵ֣י  the  days 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
חַיַּ֑י  of  my  life 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: חַי 
Sense: living, alive.
לַחֲז֥וֹת  to  behold 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: חָזָה  
Sense: to see, perceive, look, behold, prophesy, provide.
בְּנֹֽעַם־  the  beauty 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: נׄעַם  
Sense: kindness, pleasantness, delightfulness, beauty, favour.
יְ֝הוָ֗ה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
וּלְבַקֵּ֥ר  and  to  inquire 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Verb, Piel, Infinitive construct
Root: בָּקַר  
Sense: to seek, enquire, consider.
בְּהֵיכָלֽוֹ  in  His  temple 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: הֵיכָל  
Sense: palace, temple, nave, sanctuary.