Psalm 24:4 kjv
He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
Psalm 24:4 nkjv
He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully.
Psalm 24:4 niv
The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god.
Psalm 24:4 esv
He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully.
Psalm 24:4 nlt
Only those whose hands and hearts are pure,
who do not worship idols
and never tell lies.
Psalm 24 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 15:1 | O Lord, who may abide in your tent? Who may dwell on your holy hill? | Companion to Ps 24:4 regarding access. |
| Mt 5:8 | "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." | NT equivalent to "pure heart" and seeing God. |
| Jas 4:8 | Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands... | Call to purity for approaching God. |
| Isa 1:16 | Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds... | God's call for outward and inward cleansing. |
| Ps 51:10 | Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. | Prayer for a "pure heart." |
| Jer 17:9 | The heart is deceitful above all things... | Highlights need for a truly pure heart. |
| Ex 20:3 | "You shall have no other gods before me." | Direct commandment against idolatry/falsehood. |
| Lev 19:12 | You shall not swear by my name falsely... | Prohibition against false oaths. |
| Prov 6:16-19 | There are six things that the Lord hates... a lying tongue... | God's disdain for deceit and false speech. |
| Mt 5:33-37 | You have heard that it was said... Do not take a false oath... | Jesus reinforces truthfulness in oaths. |
| Jn 8:44 | ...he is a liar and the father of lies. | Contrast with Satan's deception. |
| 1 Jn 1:6 | If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie... | Truthfulness and actions for fellowship. |
| Heb 12:14 | Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one... | Necessity of holiness to see the Lord. |
| Titus 1:15 | To the pure, all things are pure, but to defiled and unbelieving... | Internal state influences perception. |
| Eph 5:5 | ...no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater... | Covetousness linked to idolatry. |
| Col 3:5 | Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity... | Practical application of purity and truth. |
| 1 Cor 10:14 | Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. | Clear command to avoid "what is false." |
| Rev 21:8 | But as for the cowardly, the faithless... all liars, their portion will be.. | Eternal consequence for persistent falsehood. |
| 2 Tim 2:22 | So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace... | Call to ethical living and pure motives. |
| Isa 33:15 | He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly... | Reflects characteristics of Ps 24:4. |
| Job 17:9 | The righteous holds to his way, and he who has clean hands grows stronger. | Endurance of those with clean hands. |
| Zec 8:16 | These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another... | Emphasizes truthfulness in community. |
Psalm 24 verses
Psalm 24 4 Meaning
Psalm 24:4 articulates the moral and spiritual qualifications for those who are permitted to stand in God's holy presence and ascend His holy hill. It emphasizes an integral purity encompassing one's actions, inner being, core allegiances, and integrity in speech. Only those with outwardly clean conduct and an inwardly pure heart, who do not devote themselves to idolatry or falsehood and speak truthfully, are deemed fit for communion with the Most High.
Psalm 24 4 Context
Psalm 24 is often understood as a liturgical psalm, possibly chanted during the procession of the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem (2 Sam 6) or upon approaching the Temple gates for worship. It begins with a majestic declaration of God's universal sovereignty as Creator (Ps 24:1-2), establishing His ultimate ownership and authority. Following this, the pivotal question arises in verse 3: "Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place?" Verse 4, therefore, serves as the direct answer, providing the qualifications for entry into God's presence. It lays down moral and spiritual criteria, signifying that access to God's holiness is not based on ritual alone but demands personal rectitude. This context stands in contrast to common ancient Near Eastern practices where physical rituals or sacrificial offerings were sometimes considered sufficient to appease deities, without a corresponding demand for inner moral purity. The psalmist asserts a unique requirement from the God of Israel for integrity of being.
Psalm 24 4 Word analysis
- He who has (نְקִ֥י – neqi): From a root meaning "clean," "innocent," "pure." It signifies being free from fault or guilt.
- clean hands (כַפַּ֗יִם – kappayim): "Hands" symbolize actions, deeds, conduct, or what one performs. "Clean hands" thus refers to a person free from sinful or unjust practices, not involved in wrongdoing, bribery, violence, or any defiling acts. This speaks to external righteousness and moral integrity in outward life.
- and a pure heart (וּבַ֖ר לֵבָ֑ב – uvar levav): "Pure" (bar) means unstained, clear, innocent. "Heart" (levav) represents the innermost being – intentions, thoughts, motives, desires, character. This signifies inner righteousness, a heart free from deceit, malice, lust, envy, or hidden corruption. It points to a congruent life where outward actions flow from an undefiled inner state.
- who does not lift up his soul (אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹא־נָשָׂ֣א... נַפְשִׁי – asher lo-nasa... nafshi): "Lift up one's soul" (nasa nefesh) can imply directing one's desires, aspirations, loyalty, or even making an appeal. "Soul" (nefesh) refers to the entire self, desires, and vital essence.
- to what is false (לַשָּׁ֑וְא – lashav): "Shav" means emptiness, vanity, falsehood, deception, or futility. This can refer specifically to idols (false gods who are "nothing" or "empty"), or more broadly to anything vain, deceptive, or lacking true substance, including false doctrines, empty pursuits, or reliance on lies. The phrase implies not dedicating one's innermost self or ultimate loyalty to idols or deceitful things.
- and does not swear deceitfully (וְלֹא־נִשְׁבַּ֥ע לְמִרְמָֽה – velo nishba lemirmāh): "Swear" (nishba) means to take an oath, usually in God's name, signifying a solemn promise or vow. "Deceitfully" (lemirmāh) means with treachery, fraud, or a hidden intention to mislead. This emphasizes integrity of speech, upholding truth in all one's words, especially when invoking God as witness. It speaks to honesty, trustworthiness, and adherence to one's word.
Psalm 24 4 Bonus section
The demanding qualifications outlined in Psalm 24:4 serve not only as a challenge for all who seek God but also implicitly foreshadow the perfect fulfillment of these requirements in Jesus Christ. He alone perfectly possessed clean hands (living a sinless life, Heb 4:15), a pure heart (his motives were always divine love and obedience, Jn 8:29), never lifted His soul to falsehood or vanity (resisting all temptation, Mt 4:1-11; perfectly dedicated to the Father), and spoke only truth, never deceitfully swearing (Jn 14:6; 1 Pet 2:22). Thus, through Christ, humanity gains the access to God's presence that the psalm describes as conditioned upon such rigorous qualifications (Heb 10:19-22). The verse also highlights a timeless spiritual principle: God seeks sincere worshipers who prioritize inner transformation over mere outward religious ritual, underscoring that His relationship with humanity is built on truth and integrity.
Psalm 24 4 Commentary
Psalm 24:4 presents a profound summary of what it means to live in authentic righteousness before a holy God. It transcends mere outward performance, demanding a holistic integrity that unites action, intention, ultimate devotion, and verbal truthfulness. "Clean hands" point to visible, ethical conduct – a life free from injustice, corruption, and the stain of wrongdoing. This must be coupled with "a pure heart," signifying inward moral integrity, motivations free from selfish ambition, malice, or hypocrisy. One's inner life must genuinely reflect the outward claim of righteousness. The proscription against "lifting one's soul to what is false" speaks to primary allegiance: genuine worshipers of the Lord God cannot dedicate their deepest affections, trust, or desires to idols or any empty pursuits that rival Him. This covers all forms of idolatry, from literal carved images to the deceptive allure of wealth, power, or self. Finally, "not swearing deceitfully" underscores the crucial role of truthfulness and integrity in speech. An oath, invoking God's name, was a profound commitment, and its violation revealed a deeper contempt for truth and God's holiness. Ultimately, these qualifications portray an individual whose entire being—actions, motives, allegiances, and words—is aligned with God's righteousness, making them suitable to enter into His sacred presence. This is a divine standard, demonstrating that mere physical presence is insufficient for fellowship with a Holy God; inward spiritual purity is paramount.