Bible Strands
Psalms 24:3
Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in His holy place?
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — David poses a liturgical question, likely in a processional or worship context, immediately answered in verse 4. The structure is question-and-answer, framing access to God's presence as something to be qualified for.
The words — עלה (ʿālā, H5927) means "go up," the physical act of ascending, here applied to entering God's dwelling. קדשׁ (qādôš, H6944) names the quality of the place: holiness, set-apartness.
The thread — Psalms 15:1 asks the same question in different terms ("who may dwell on Your holy mountain?"), and Psalms 2:6 identifies Zion as that holy mountain. Hebrews 12:28 picks up the thread from the other side: worshiping God "acceptably."
Why it lands — The verse forces a reader to confront the question before the answer: who are you in relation to God's presence? It makes access conditional, not automatic.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place?
Cross-references
- Psalms 15:1 A Psalm of David. O LORD, who may abide in Your tent? Who may dwell on Your holy mountain?
- Hebrews 12:28 Therefore, since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us be filled with gratitude, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.
- Psalms 2:6 “I have installed My King on Zion, upon My holy mountain.”
- Psalms 65:4 Blessed is the one You choose and bring near to dwell in Your courts! We are filled with the goodness of Your house, the holiness of Your temple.
- Malachi 3:1 “Behold, I will send My messenger, who will prepare the way before Me. Then the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to His temple—the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight—see, He is coming,” says the LORD of Hosts.
- Psalms 68:18 You have ascended on high; You have led captives away. You have received gifts from men, even from the rebellious, that the LORD God may dwell there.
- Psalms 132:13 For the LORD has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His home:
- Hebrews 12:22 Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to myriads of angels
- Leviticus 10:3 Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the LORD meant when He said: ‘To those who come near Me I will show My holiness, and in the sight of all the people I will reveal My glory.’” But Aaron remained silent.
- 2 Samuel 6:12 Now it was reported to King David, “The LORD has blessed the house of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God.” So David went and had the ark of God brought up from the house of Obed-edom into the City of David with rejoicing.