Psalms 84:3

Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she places her young near Your altars, O LORD of Hosts, my King and my God.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The psalmist addresses God directly while describing a soul that longs for the divine courts. This observation occurs as the worshiper notes birds securing shelter near the temple altars.

The words — The Hebrew word צִפּ֨וֹר (tzi.Por) literally means a bird, and דְר֤וֹר (de.Ror) denotes a swallow or free-flying bird. Both appear with בַ֡יִת (Va.yit) for home and קֵ֥ן (ken) for nest to describe the birds' secure placement.

The thread — The theme of God as a dwelling place runs through Psalms 90:1 and Psalms 91:1, where the Lord is named as a refuge. The nesting imagery reappears in Matthew 8:20 to contrast earthly security with the Son of Man's lack of a resting place.

Why it lands — The text states that birds find secure placement near the altars without spiritual merit. Readers must decide whether to position their own lives close to God's presence or remain distant from it.

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

גַּם־gam-also צִפּ֨וֹר׀tzi.Pora bird מָ֪צְאָהMa.tze.'ahit has found בַ֡יִתVa.yita home וּדְר֤וֹר׀u./de.Rorand/ a swallow קֵ֥ןkena nestלָהּ֮la/hfor/ itselfאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-which שָׁ֪תָהSha.tahit has put אֶפְרֹ֫חֶ֥יהָ'ef.Ro.Chei./hayoung ones/ its אֶֽת־'et-with מִ֭זְבְּחוֹתֶיךָMiz.be.cho.tei./khaaltars/ your יְהוָ֣הYah.wehO Yahweh צְבָא֑וֹתtze.va.'otof hosts מַ֝לְכִּ֗יmal.K/iking/ my וֵאלֹהָֽי׃ve./lo.Ha/iand/ God/ my

King James Version

Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O Lord of hosts, my King, and my God.

Cross-references

Psalms 91:1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
Psalms 90:1 A prayer of Moses the man of God. Lord, You have been our dwelling place through all generations.
Matthew 8:20 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.”
Psalms 43:4 Then I will go to the altar of God, to God, my greatest joy. I will praise You with the harp, O God, my God.
Psalms 116:7 Return to your rest, O my soul, for the LORD has been good to you.
Psalms 5:2 Attend to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to You I pray.
Matthew 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!