Psalm 132 14

Psalm 132:14 kjv

This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it.

Psalm 132:14 nkjv

"This is My resting place forever; Here I will dwell, for I have desired it.

Psalm 132:14 niv

"This is my resting place for ever and ever; here I will sit enthroned, for I have desired it.

Psalm 132:14 esv

"This is my resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it.

Psalm 132:14 nlt

"This is my resting place forever," he said.
"I will live here, for this is the home I desired.

Psalm 132 verses

Psalm 132 14 Meaning

Psalm 132:14 is a solemn declaration by God, confirming His eternal and unchangeable choice of Zion (Jerusalem), particularly the place where His presence resides (the Temple/Ark), as His perpetual dwelling. It reveals His profound and gracious desire to abide intimately among His people, signaling stability, permanence, and divine pleasure in His chosen location. This statement is foundational to God's covenant promises, assuring Israel of His faithful, enduring presence.

Psalm 132 14 Context

Psalm 132 is one of the "Songs of Ascents," traditionally sung by pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem for annual festivals. The chapter vividly recalls David's deep commitment and passionate vow to find a "resting place" for the Ark of the Covenant, representing God's presence (Ps 132:1-5). It traces the journey of the Ark to Zion and the prayer for God to "arise to Your resting place" (Ps 132:6-9).

In response to David's heartfelt dedication, God issues a profound divine oath, intertwining the promise of a perpetual Davidic dynasty (Ps 132:11-12) with His own eternal commitment to Zion (Ps 132:13-18). Verse 14 is the heart of God's promise regarding Zion: "This is My resting place forever; Here I will dwell, for I have desired it." It signifies God's specific, personal, and unwavering choice of Zion as the permanent site of His special presence among His people, superseding the portable Tabernacle. Historically, this promise underscores the establishment of Jerusalem as the religious and political center of Israel, solidifying the importance of the Temple built there. It contrasts with pagan ideas of deities confined to specific groves or localized shrines, as YHWH chooses and desires His dwelling in a deliberate, covenantal manner, maintaining His transcendence while actively residing among His people.

Psalm 132 14 Word analysis

• This (זֹאת, zo’th)

  • A feminine demonstrative pronoun, pointing directly to Zion, the specific location spoken of in Psalm 132:13 ("For the Lord has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His dwelling place").
  • Significance: Emphasizes the particularity and definiteness of God's choice; it's not a general or temporary preference but a precise, established declaration.

• is My resting place (מְנוּחָתִי, mənuḥātî)

  • From the Hebrew root נוּח (nuakh), meaning to rest, settle, be quiet. Mənuḥah means rest, quiet, peaceful state, or a resting place.
  • "My" (suffix -î) signifies divine ownership and intention. This is God's personal, chosen "rest."
  • Significance: This "rest" for God does not imply exhaustion but rather cessation from movement, stability, permanence, and contentment in His established presence. For the Israelites, it signified that God was no longer journeying with them in the wilderness but had definitively settled among them in His sanctuary.

• forever (עֲדֵי-עַד, ‘ădê-‘aḏ)

  • A strong phrase literally meaning "until eternity," "unto eternity," or "everlastingly."
  • Significance: Underlines the absolute and unconditional permanence of God's declaration. This choice is final and unending, transcending human timescales and establishing an enduring relationship with the chosen site and, by extension, His people. It speaks to God's immutability and faithfulness to His word.

• Here (פֹּה, pôh)

  • An adverb meaning "here," reinforcing the spatial particularity of the preceding statement.
  • Significance: A reiteration of location, emphasizing the divine resolve to inhabit this very place – Zion. It underscores the tangible reality of God's localized presence for His people, albeit not His infinite nature.

• I will dwell (אֵשֵׁב, ’êšēḇ)

  • From the verb יָשַׁב (yashav), meaning to sit, remain, abide, inhabit, dwell. The imperfect tense here indicates continuous or ongoing action in the future.
  • The first-person singular "I" (from the Hebrew verbal conjugation) strongly emphasizes God's personal and sovereign act.
  • Significance: A direct statement of divine intent and commitment to inhabit the chosen place. It is a promise of constant presence, protection, and provision for those among whom He dwells.

• for (כִּי, kî)

  • A causal conjunction, meaning "because," "for," "indeed." It introduces the reason for the preceding declaration.
  • Significance: This crucial word provides the why behind God's choice. It transitions from the what and where to the reason for His action, leading into the profound final clause.

• I have desired it (אִוִּיתִיהָ, ’iwwîtîhā)

  • From the verb אָוָה ('avah), meaning to desire, long for, covet, wish for, incline toward. The form used here implies a settled, determined desire. The suffix "hā" refers to "it" (the place, Zion).
  • Significance: This is arguably the most impactful phrase. It reveals the heart of God behind His choice. It's not out of obligation, convenience, or human merit, but out of His sovereign affection, pleasure, and willing disposition. God's dwelling among His people is an act of profound grace, born from His own divine volition and delight. It transforms the act from a duty into an expression of divine love and favor.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "This is My resting place forever": Establishes God's unchangeable purpose and enduring presence in Zion. The "rest" speaks to a fixed, permanent dwelling rather than a temporary or wandering presence, implying a completed action and lasting peace concerning His dwelling.
  • "Here I will dwell": Reaffirms the precise location and divine intention for perpetual habitation. It is a promise of constant, personal presence of the Creator within the confines of His people.
  • "for I have desired it": Unveils the profound theological underpinning – God's choice is driven by His sovereign and loving desire. This highlights divine grace and initiative, emphasizing that His dwelling is an outflow of His inherent goodness and delight in His relationship with His people, not contingent on their worthiness. It makes His presence an expression of profound divine favor.

Psalm 132 14 Bonus section

The specific choice of Zion/Jerusalem as "My resting place" in Psalm 132:14 connects intimately with the theological concept of "God's footstool." Several Psalms and prophetic books refer to Zion or the Temple as God's footstool (e.g., Ps 99:5, 132:7; Isa 60:13; Lam 2:1), symbolizing a place where His presence is especially felt and His dominion is expressed on earth. While God's throne is in the heavens, His "footstool" is among humanity, grounding His divine authority and accessible presence within creation. Psalm 132:14 elevates this imagery by stating that this footstool is His desired resting place forever, indicating profound commitment.

This divine declaration in Psalm 132:14 is presented as an oath in the preceding verses (Psalm 132:11), stating, "The Lord has sworn to David / In truth; He will not turn from it." The absolute nature of the promise ("forever," "I will dwell," "I have desired it") is reinforced by God's unchangeable, sworn word, highlighting His unwavering covenant fidelity. This commitment is the basis not only for a physical dwelling in Zion but ultimately for the eternal reign of Christ (the seed of David) and the spiritual dwelling of God within His new covenant people.

Psalm 132 14 Commentary

Psalm 132:14 is a pinnacle of divine assurance, a testament to God's enduring faithfulness and active presence. When God declares, "This is My resting place forever," it signifies not that the Omnipresent God needs physical rest, but rather that He ceases His nomadic journeying (as He did with the Tabernacle) and establishes a permanent, stable, and satisfied residence among His chosen people. This concept of God finding "rest" speaks to the fulfillment of His purpose concerning a fixed sanctuary.

The emphatic "forever" underscores the immutable nature of this divine commitment. It's a promise designed to instill deep security in the hearts of God's people, assuring them that His benevolent presence is not transient but bound to them through an eternal covenant.

The concluding phrase, "for I have desired it," unveils the wellspring of this promise: God's own heart. His dwelling is not coerced or merely pragmatic; it stems from His intrinsic pleasure and love. This profound desire transforms the act of divine indwelling into an expression of infinite grace, demonstrating that God's closeness is born of His character, not human achievement.

In the larger biblical narrative, this verse anticipates deeper theological realities. While fulfilled literally in the First and Second Temples, its ultimate and spiritual fulfillment extends through Christ. Jesus, the incarnate Word, "tabernacled" among humanity (Jn 1:14), becoming the ultimate dwelling place of God on earth, replacing the physical temple (Jn 2:19-21). Furthermore, through the Holy Spirit, believers individually and the Church collectively become God's living temples, His dwelling place (1 Cor 3:16; Eph 2:21-22), an enduring testament to His desire to dwell intimately with His people. The verse's final echo resounds in the New Jerusalem, where God's tabernacle is eternally with humanity (Rev 21:3), signifying a final and complete "resting place" for God among His redeemed.

Examples:

• Assurance: When life feels uncertain, this verse assures us that God's presence is constant, as He declared His "resting place forever."
• Value: It reminds us how much God desires to be with us, highlighting the incredible value He places on a relationship with humanity.
• Church: The local church, as a gathering of believers, serves as a present-day physical manifestation of God's Spirit dwelling among His people.