Psalm 26:8 kjv
LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.
Psalm 26:8 nkjv
LORD, I have loved the habitation of Your house, And the place where Your glory dwells.
Psalm 26:8 niv
LORD, I love the house where you live, the place where your glory dwells.
Psalm 26:8 esv
O LORD, I love the habitation of your house and the place where your glory dwells.
Psalm 26:8 nlt
I love your sanctuary, LORD,
the place where your glorious presence dwells.
Psalm 26 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 84:1-2 | How lovely are Your dwelling places, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs… for the courts of the Lord... | Longing for God's dwelling |
| Ps 122:1 | I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go to the house of the Lord." | Joy in going to God's house |
| Ps 27:4 | One thing I ask... that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life... | Desire to remain in God's presence |
| Ps 42:1-2 | As a deer longs for flowing streams, so longs my soul for you, O God... | Soul's thirst for God |
| Ps 63:1-2 | O God, You are my God; earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for You... | Earnest seeking for God |
| 1 Kin 8:13 | I have indeed built you an exalted house, a place for you to dwell in forever. | Temple built as God's dwelling |
| Isa 56:7 | ...these I will bring to My holy mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer... | God's house for prayer/joy |
| Ex 25:8 | And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. | Tabernacle for God's dwelling |
| Ex 40:34-35 | Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. | Glory filling the Tabernacle |
| 1 Kin 8:11 | ...so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord. | Glory filling the Temple |
| Isa 6:1 | ...I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne... and the train of His robe filled the temple. | Vision of God's glory in Temple |
| Eze 43:4-5 | And the glory of the Lord entered the temple by the way of the gate... | Glory returning to the Temple |
| Jn 1:14 | And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory... | Christ as the incarnate dwelling |
| Jn 2:16-17 | ...Do not make My Father's house a house of trade. His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for Your house will consume Me." | Jesus' zeal for the Temple |
| Jn 14:23 | ...If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word, and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. | God's spiritual indwelling |
| 1 Cor 3:16 | Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? | Believers as God's temple |
| 1 Cor 6:19 | Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you... | Individual body as Spirit's temple |
| Eph 2:19-22 | ...you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God... a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. | Church as God's dwelling place |
| Heb 10:19-22 | Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus... let us draw near... | Access to God's presence through Christ |
| Rev 21:3 | And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man..." | Eternal dwelling with God |
| Ps 73:17 | Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I understood their end. | Understanding gained in God's presence |
| Ps 26:6-7 | I wash my hands in innocence... That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving and tell of all Your wondrous deeds. | Purification to enter God's house |
Psalm 26 verses
Psalm 26 8 Meaning
Psalm 26:8 expresses a profound declaration of King David's deep affection and unwavering devotion to the presence of God found within His sanctuary. It is a heartfelt confession of his love for the physical dwelling place where the Divine Majesty manifested and met with His people, signifying his desire for intimacy and communion with the Holy One. This statement underscores his genuine piety and distinguishes him from those who disregard God's sacred space and presence.
Psalm 26 8 Context
Psalm 26 is a psalm of David, serving as a plea for vindication based on his declared integrity and righteous walk before God. It stands out for its strong emphasis on personal blamelessness and devotion, contrasting David's purity of heart with the ways of the wicked. Leading up to verse 8, David asserts his trust in the Lord (v. 1), appeals to be tested and refined (v. 2), and declares his constant awareness of God's steadfast love and truth (v. 3). He then firmly separates himself from the congregation of evildoers (v. 4-5). This prelude culminates in his statement of ceremonial purification and intent to enter the altar (v. 6-7), not out of ritualistic formality, but out of genuine thanksgiving and love. Verse 8, therefore, provides the deep, underlying motive for his desire to be found pure and near to God: an earnest love for God's very presence, distinguishing his devotion from mere external conformity or hypocrisy, especially in a world rife with pagan shrines and formalistic worship devoid of true reverence for the one God. Historically, David had a deep spiritual connection to the Tabernacle, which preceded the Temple, as the dwelling place of God's presence, highlighting the continuity of sacred space for encountering the Divine.
Psalm 26 8 Word analysis
- Lord (YHWH, יְהוָה - Yahweh): The personal, covenant name of God revealed to Israel. It signifies God's self-existence, His eternal, unchanging nature, and His faithfulness to His covenant promises. Using "Lord" here implies a deep, personal relationship and trust, not just acknowledgment of a deity.
- I love (אָהַבְתִּי - ahávti): This verb is in the Qal Perfect tense, first common singular, conveying a settled, enduring affection. It speaks of a deep, heartfelt, and abiding love, not a fleeting emotion. This "love" implies devotion, strong attachment, and pleasure in being associated with something.
- the habitation of Your house (מְעוֹן בֵּיתֶךָ - m'on beytkha):
- Habitation (מָעוֹן - ma'on): Denotes a dwelling place, abode, or secure refuge. It emphasizes the settled, secure nature of God's presence there.
- Your house (בֵּיתֶךָ - beytkha): Refers to the Tabernacle (and later, the Temple) as the dedicated sanctuary for God's dwelling among His people. It is not merely a building but God's special, chosen dwelling where He makes Himself accessible.
- and the place (וּמְקוֹם - u'm'qom):
- And (וּ - u): Connects this phrase to the preceding one, indicating parallelism or an intensifying synonymous thought.
- Place (מָקוֹם - maqom): A general term for a location, but in this context, it is qualified by the following phrase, making it specific to God's presence.
- where Your glory dwells (מִשְׁכַּן כְּבוֹדֶךָ - mishkan k'vodkha):
- Dwells (מִשְׁכַּן - mishkan): While translated as "dwells" or "dwelling" here, it is grammatically the construct form of mishkan, meaning "tabernacle" or "dwelling place." This word itself strongly implies the temporary or mobile sanctuary of God's presence before the Temple. Its use alongside ma'on emphasizes God's presence.
- Your glory (כְּבוֹדֶךָ - k'vodkha): Refers to the visible manifestation of God's presence, splendor, majesty, and power (often associated with the "Shekinah glory"). It's the weighty, awe-inspiring presence of God.
Words-group analysis:
- "the habitation of Your house and the place where Your glory dwells": These two parallel phrases are synonymous, reinforcing the same profound idea. "Habitation of Your house" refers to the physical sanctuary as God's home, while "the place where Your glory dwells" clarifies that it's the Divine Presence that makes it sacred. David isn't merely fond of a building, but of the sacred, awe-inspiring reality of God's personal, manifested presence. This parallelism emphasizes the spiritual over the mere physical structure, showing his understanding that the true significance of the sanctuary lies in God's residence within it.
Psalm 26 8 Bonus section
The concept of God "dwelling" (יָשַׁב - yashav or שָׁכַן - shachan) among His people evolved throughout salvation history. From His initial presence in Eden, through the Tabernacle and Temple, to Jesus (who "tabernacled" among us, John 1:14), and finally to the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in believers and the Church, this continuous thread reveals God's eternal desire for intimate communion. David's love for the physical dwelling was a prophetic longing for the spiritual reality of God's ultimate residence in His redeemed people. This verse can also be seen as an expression of spiritual purity. David’s love for the pure and holy space where God dwells is set in stark contrast to his separation from those who walk in wickedness, highlighting that where one seeks to be in proximity speaks volumes about one's spiritual inclinations and the affections of the heart.
Psalm 26 8 Commentary
Psalm 26:8 captures the very essence of genuine worship: a deep, abiding love for God's presence. David's declaration is not merely a formal statement but a heartfelt yearning to be where God manifests His glory. The physical "house" (Tabernacle/Temple) was significant because it was the chosen site for God to "dwell" among His people, where His "glory" was revealed. This isn't just about an affection for rituals or architecture; it's about delighting in God Himself, found uniquely in His sacred space. This verse reflects the Old Testament's emphasis on proximity to God as the ultimate blessing and separation from Him as judgment. For David, his integrity (stated throughout Psalm 26) allowed him to draw near with confidence, unlike the wicked whom he separates himself from. This love for God's dwelling translates today to a deep appreciation for the gathered body of believers (the church as God's dwelling place, Eph 2:22), and an earnest desire for the Holy Spirit's manifest presence in our individual lives (our bodies as temples, 1 Cor 6:19). It underscores that true worship flows from a heart enamored with God and His indwelling Spirit, desiring to experience His glory in every aspect of life.