Psalm 132 8

Psalm 132:8 kjv

Arise, O LORD, into thy rest; thou, and the ark of thy strength.

Psalm 132:8 nkjv

Arise, O LORD, to Your resting place, You and the ark of Your strength.

Psalm 132:8 niv

'Arise, LORD, and come to your resting place, you and the ark of your might.

Psalm 132:8 esv

Arise, O LORD, and go to your resting place, you and the ark of your might.

Psalm 132:8 nlt

Arise, O LORD, and enter your resting place,
along with the Ark, the symbol of your power.

Psalm 132 verses

Psalm 132 8 Meaning

Psalm 132:8 is a profound plea and prophetic declaration, calling for the Sovereign LORD to take up His permanent residence within His chosen dwelling place, symbolized by the Ark of the Covenant, which represented His powerful presence among His people. It expresses the desire for God's settled, glorious, and active presence in Jerusalem, the spiritual center.

Psalm 132 8 Context

Psalm 132 is a "Song of Ascents," sung by pilgrims journeying to Jerusalem for annual feasts. It commemorates King David's solemn vow to find a permanent "resting place" for the Ark of the Covenant, God's dwelling place (Psa 132:1-5). It also recounts God's promises to David concerning his dynasty and a lasting dwelling place for Himself in Zion (Psa 132:11-12). Verse 8, along with verse 9, formed part of the liturgy recited as the Ark was brought into the Temple during its dedication by Solomon, seeking God's abiding presence and blessing upon the sacred space and its ministers (as referenced in 2 Chr 6:41-42). Historically, the Ark had been moved from place to place (Tabernacle in the wilderness, Shiloh, Kiriath-jearim, house of Obed-Edom), experiencing capture by the Philistines. The prayer signifies a yearning for God to settle definitively and exercise His rule and power from Jerusalem.

Psalm 132 8 Word analysis

• Arise (קֽוּמָה - Qumah): This is an imperative verb, literally meaning "stand up," "get up," or "arise." While God does not physically move or sleep, this is an anthropomorphic plea for God to act, to manifest His presence and power, to take up His place in a decisive and permanent way. It implies a transition from a temporary, mobile presence to a fixed, active presence, much like the Ark "arising" to lead Israel into battle (Num 10:35).
• O LORD (יְהֹוָה - YHWH): This is the Tetragrammaton, the sacred personal name of the God of Israel, often rendered as "LORD" in all caps. It emphasizes God's covenant faithfulness and His eternal, self-existent nature. The prayer is addressed to the specific, covenant-making God of Israel, reinforcing the relationship and the promises He made.
• into your resting place (לִמְנוּחָתֶכָ - limnuchatecha): The noun is menuchah, meaning "rest," "resting place," "security," or "peaceful abode." The prefix li- means "to" or "for." It signifies a desire for God to settle and establish His presence permanently after a period of movement and transition (like the wandering of the Ark). It suggests stability and the ultimate destination for the Divine presence. It echoes the concept of the Promised Land as Israel's "rest" after the wilderness.
• you (אַתָּה - attah): This singular pronoun "you" explicitly refers to YHWH, highlighting His personal and divine presence, not merely a symbolic dwelling or an empty building. It reinforces that the core of the petition is for God Himself to reside.
• and the ark (וַאֲרוֹן - va'aron): The "Ark of the Covenant" (or Ark of the LORD) was the most sacred object in ancient Israel, symbolizing God's manifest presence, throne, and the power of His covenant. The conjunction va- ("and") closely links the Ark with God's presence, signifying that where the Ark, which houses the testimonies of God, rests, there God's power and presence are understood to be made available.
• of your might (עֻזֶּכָ - uzzecha): The noun is ʿoz, meaning "strength," "power," "might," or "fortress." The suffix -echa means "your." This attributes divine strength directly to the Ark as its physical representation or accompanying force. The Ark was associated with God's powerful interventions, whether in judgment (e.g., Dagon, Uzzah) or in victorious conquest (e.g., Jericho, crossing the Jordan). The request is for God to manifest His mighty, active power from His established dwelling place.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Arise, O LORD": This opening establishes the prayer's tone as an urgent, respectful plea to the powerful, covenant God. It is an appeal for God's dynamic intervention and presence.
• "into your resting place": This phrase expresses the purpose of God's "arising"—to permanently settle. It suggests completion, stability, and peace associated with His dwelling among His people after the previous migratory phase. This "resting place" points towards the Temple built in Zion.
• "you and the ark of your might": This powerfully connects God's own person with the Ark, His physical representation. It underscores that it's not just a structure, but the living, mighty God whose power is uniquely symbolized by the Ark, that the supplicants wish to dwell securely among them. The Ark is a concrete focal point for His presence and power.

Psalm 132 8 Bonus section

The idea of God's "resting place" in Psalm 132 also resonates with the Sabbath rest from creation (Gen 2:2-3) and the promised rest in the land of Canaan (Deut 12:10; Heb 4:1-11). For God to find His "rest" implies not that He ceases activity, but that His purpose in providing a permanent dwelling and covenant for His people in Zion is fulfilled. The phrase itself becomes a plea during the Temple dedication (2 Chr 6:41) highlighting its liturgical significance and its central role in Solomon's prayer. This "rest" also serves as a polemic against the instability and defeat experienced by the Ark and God's people prior to David establishing Jerusalem as the central dwelling place, suggesting a triumph over previous misfortunes. The ultimate fulfillment for Christians is not a physical temple or ark, but God dwelling within individual believers through the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:19) and the promise of New Jerusalem where God's tabernacle will be with man (Rev 21:3).

Psalm 132 8 Commentary

Psalm 132:8 serves as a pivotal point in the psalm, transitioning from David's fervent desire to build a house for God to the actual establishment of that "resting place." It is a prayer for the permanent installment of God's glorious presence and dynamic power within the newly consecrated Temple in Jerusalem. The "resting place" signifies a settled, unchanging divine abode, contrasting with the itinerant nature of the Ark and Tabernacle throughout Israel's earlier history. It acknowledges God's transcendent nature (He doesn't "need" a dwelling) while appealing for His immanent, powerful, and gracious indwelling. The linking of "you and the ark of your might" underlines the theological truth that the Ark was not an idol but a sacred symbol, a 'throne-chariot' from which the invisible God exercised His rule and dispensed His mighty power. This verse thus articulates a core hope of Israel: to have God, in all His majesty and power, intimately and perpetually present among them. This foreshadows the ultimate dwelling of God with humanity, first in Christ (Jn 1:14) and later with His redeemed people (Rev 21:3).