The Meaning of Psalms 84:10 Explained

Psalms 84:10

KJV: For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

YLT: For good is a day in Thy courts, O Teacher! I have chosen rather to be at the threshold, In the house of my God, Than to dwell in tents of wickedness.

Darby: For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God, than dwell in the tents of wickedness.

ASV: For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, Than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For a day  in thy courts  [is] better  than a thousand.  I had rather  be a doorkeeper  in the house  of my God,  than to dwell  in the tents  of wickedness. 

What does Psalms 84:10 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 84:1-12 - Longing For The House Of God
This is one of the sweetest of the Psalms. David probably composed it during his absence from Jerusalem at the time of Absalom's rebellion, though its final form may have been due to the sons of Korah. It is divided into three parts by the Selahs.
They who dwell in thy house, Psalms 84:1-4. The psalmist envies the winged things that rest in those hallowed precincts, and how much more the priests and Levites who serve there! Foxes have holes and birds have nests, but man can rest only in God.
Those in whose hearts are the ways of Zion, Psalms 84:5-8. We may not be able actually to walk along those ways, but it is good to tread them in living sympathy with the saints, and to unite ourselves to the pilgrim hosts. Those absent from God's house may in their heart join the great congregation. Thus dry and desolate valleys may become filled with water springs, making them green and beautiful. When the heart is right with God, the desert becomes a temple, and tears are exchanged for smiles.
The man who trusts in thee, Psalms 84:9-12. God is better than His sanctuary. He is a Sun in dark hours, and a Shadow in scorching ones. Grace is His unmerited pardon and blessing to sinners; glory the irradiation of His character, into the likeness of which we shall be changed. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 84

1  The prophet, longing for the communion of the sanctuary
4  Shows how blessed they are that dwell therein
8  He prays to be restored unto it

What do the individual words in Psalms 84:10 mean?

For better a day [is] in Your courts than a thousand I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God Than dwell in the tents of wickedness
כִּ֤י טֽוֹב־ י֥וֹם בַּחֲצֵרֶ֗יךָ מֵ֫אָ֥לֶף בָּחַ֗רְתִּי הִ֭סְתּוֹפֵף בְּבֵ֣ית אֱלֹהַ֑י מִ֝דּ֗וּר בְּאָהֳלֵי־ רֶֽשַׁע

טֽוֹב־  better 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: טָבַב 
Sense: good, pleasant, agreeable.
י֥וֹם  a  day  [is] 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
בַּחֲצֵרֶ֗יךָ  in  Your  courts 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, common plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: חָצֵר 
Sense: court, enclosure.
מֵ֫אָ֥לֶף  than  a  thousand 
Parse: Preposition-m, Number, masculine singular
Root: אֶלֶף 
Sense: a thousand.
בָּחַ֗רְתִּי  I  would  rather  be 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: בָּחוּר 
Sense: to choose, elect, decide for.
הִ֭סְתּוֹפֵף  a  doorkeeper 
Parse: Verb, Hitpael, Infinitive construct
Root: סָפַף  
Sense: (Hithpoel) to stand at or guard the threshold.
בְּבֵ֣ית  in  the  house 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
אֱלֹהַ֑י  of  my  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
מִ֝דּ֗וּר  Than  dwell 
Parse: Preposition-m, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: דּוּר 
Sense: to heap up, pile.
בְּאָהֳלֵי־  in  the  tents 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: אֹהֶל  
Sense: tent.
רֶֽשַׁע  of  wickedness 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: רֶשַׁע  
Sense: wrong, wickedness, guilt.