Psalm 45:14 kjv
She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee.
Psalm 45:14 nkjv
She shall be brought to the King in robes of many colors; The virgins, her companions who follow her, shall be brought to You.
Psalm 45:14 niv
In embroidered garments she is led to the king; her virgin companions follow her? those brought to be with her.
Psalm 45:14 esv
In many-colored robes she is led to the king, with her virgin companions following behind her.
Psalm 45:14 nlt
In her beautiful robes, she is led to the king,
accompanied by her bridesmaids.
Psalm 45 14 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Psa 21:5 | His glory is great through Your salvation... You set a crown of pure gold upon his head. | The King's glory and divine favor |
| Psa 45:1 | My heart overflows with a good theme; I recite my verses about the King... | Introduction to the Kingly focus of the Psalm |
| Psa 45:9 | All your garments are fragrant with myrrh, aloes, and cassia... | The King's glorious attire |
| Isa 61:10 | I will greatly rejoice in the LORD... For He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness... | Spiritual adornment for the righteous |
| Eze 16:10-14 | I clothed you in embroidered cloth and sandals of badger skin... I beautified you with ornaments... | God's lavish care and adornment for Israel |
| Rev 19:7 | Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come... | The heavenly wedding feast of the Lamb |
| Rev 19:8 | And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. | The bride's righteous adornment |
| Rev 21:2 | And I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. | New Jerusalem as the adorned Bride |
| Isa 54:5-6 | For your Maker is your husband, the LORD of hosts is His name... | God's marital relationship with His people |
| 2 Cor 11:2 | For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. | Believers as a chaste virgin to Christ |
| Eph 5:25-27 | Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her... that He might present her to Himself a glorious church... | Christ's cleansing and presentation of the Church |
| Col 1:22 | He has now reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, in order to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before Him; | Believers presented holy to God |
| Jude 1:24 | Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, | God's ability to present believers blameless |
| 1 Pet 3:3-4 | Let your adornment be... the hidden person of the heart with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit... | True adornment of a believer |
| Matt 25:1-13 | Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins... | The readiness of the bridal companions |
| Song 1:4 | The king has brought me into his chambers... | Bringing the beloved into the king's presence |
| Song 6:8-9 | There are sixty queens and eighty concubines, and virgins without number. My dove, my perfect one, is unique... | Uniqueness of the chosen bride |
| Psa 78:63 | Fire consumed their young men, and their virgins had no wedding songs. | Contrast of no celebration (implies a joy for this Ps 45) |
| Ps 110:3 | Your people will volunteer in the day of Your power... from the womb of the morning, You have the dew of Your youth. | Volunteers for the King (companions) |
| Rev 14:4 | These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. | Those pure companions following the Lamb |
| Rom 8:30 | ...He also glorified. | The ultimate glorification (part of presentation) |
Psalm 45 verses
Psalm 45 14 Meaning
Psalm 45:14 describes the glorious presentation of the bride to the King. Arrayed in richly woven garments, signifying honor, purity, and divine preparation, she is brought forth. She is accompanied by a retinue of her maiden companions, who are also brought into the King's presence, signifying a wider circle of those who share in the joy and favor of the royal union. The verse anticipates the moment of her formal introduction, highlighting the splendor and company accompanying her.
Psalm 45 14 Context
Psalm 45 is a royal wedding song, often identified as a "Maskil" (instructive poem), dedicated to a king and his royal bride. Historically, it celebrated a marriage in the Davidic dynasty, possibly Solomon's. However, its lofty language, especially concerning the King's eternal throne and divine nature (Ps 45:6-7), transcends an ordinary human king, leading most Christian interpreters to understand it as a messianic psalm prophesying the union of Christ (the King/Groom) with His Church (the Bride). The surrounding verses describe the King's majesty, justice, and enduring reign, followed by a portrayal of the queen and her royal entourage. Verse 14 depicts the climatic moment of the bride's public presentation.
Psalm 45 14 Word analysis
- She shall be brought: `תּוּבָא` (tuva) - a passive form of the verb "to bring." This highlights divine agency or the leading role of others (the King's attendants or heavenly forces) in preparing and presenting the bride. Her arrival is not self-initiated but orchestrated, emphasizing grace and divine initiative in the spiritual interpretation.
- to the King: `לַמֶּלֶךְ` (lammelekh) - directly addressing the central figure of the Psalm. In the messianic sense, this is the Lord Jesus Christ. The act of being "brought to the King" signifies entering into His direct presence and intimate fellowship.
- in garments: `בְּמִשְׁבְּצוֹת` (bemishbetsot) - from `מִשְׁבָּץ` (mishbats), meaning "settings" or "mountings," as in for jewels, or "checker work." It denotes intricate, interwoven, richly designed fabric, possibly gold-embroidered or inlaid with gems. These are not merely clothes but garments of splendor and status, crafted with precision. They convey royalty, purity, and sacredness, often paralleled with the glorious "robe of righteousness" or "fine linen" of the saints (Rev 19:8).
- of embroidery: The noun `מִשְׁבְּצוֹת` itself conveys this intricate, costly artistry. It's often associated with priestly vestments (Exod 28:11), linking the royal with the sacred, further enriching the spiritual meaning for the Church.
- The virgins: `בְּתוּלֹת` (betulot) - literally "maidens," specifically young, unmarried women, implying purity, integrity, and undivided devotion. In a spiritual sense, this refers to those who are spiritually pure, separated unto God, and committed to Christ alone.
- her companions: `רֵעוֹתֶיהָ` (re'oteyha) - from `רֵעָה` (re'ah), meaning "friends" or "associates." These are her closest confidantes and fellow participants in the joyous procession. This shows the communal aspect of salvation and fellowship among believers who are united with the Bride of Christ.
- who follow her: `בְּעֲלֹמוֹת` (be'alomot) - this Hebrew word is more precisely "damsels" or "young women" (from `עֲלָמָה`, almah). While `עֲלָמָה` is sometimes interpreted simply as "young woman," its usage often implies one in her prime, perhaps of marriageable age. The context of them being "companions" in a royal procession fits. They are not merely behind, but coming along with her in this grand entry.
- Shall be brought: `תּוּבָא` (tuva) - same passive verb as at the beginning, indicating their presentation is also an act performed for them, not solely by them.
- to You: `אֵלֶיךָ` (eleykha) - a direct address to the King (`You`). The shift from "the King" (referring to Him in the third person) to "You" (a second-person address) indicates an intimate directness when referring to the King by the Psalmist, underscoring His majesty and worthiness of personal address. For the messianic interpretation, it shifts from observing the procession to speaking directly to the Christ, emphasizing His central role.
- "She shall be brought to the King in garments of embroidery": This phrase emphasizes the King's invitation and preparation of His bride. The "garments of embroidery" speak of divine craftsmanship and spiritual beauty, possibly reflecting the righteous deeds of the saints and the imputed righteousness of Christ. Her readiness and beauty are not self-generated but bestowed or prepared, signifying grace.
- "The virgins, her companions who follow her, Shall be brought to You": This highlights the corporate nature of the redeemed community. The companions, embodying purity, represent those who follow Christ (the Lamb, Rev 14:4), entering into His glory not independently but as part of the broader assembly of believers, all being presented to Him. This extends the King's welcome beyond the primary bride to all who are consecrated to Him.
Psalm 45 14 Bonus section
The imagery of "garments of embroidery" has strong allusions to the exquisite craftsmanship seen in the tabernacle and priestly garments, especially the ephod and the high priest's breastplate, which were detailed with precious stones set in gold. This connection suggests a sacred, consecrated quality to the bride's adornment, elevating the marital union beyond a mere earthly affair to something holy and divinely ordained. This links the bride's presentation to concepts of worship, divine presence, and a covenant relationship. The emphasis on purity ("virgins") further connects to biblical standards for worship and service, where only the pure could approach God, reinforcing the spiritual dimension of the entire royal procession and presentation to the Messiah.
Psalm 45 14 Commentary
Psalm 45:14 offers a poignant image of purity and preparation. The bride, symbolically the Church, is presented to the King, Christ, not by her own merit or strength but by divine appointment, adorned in garments reflective of profound beauty and worth. These aren't merely outward show but signify internal righteousness and holiness, a divine equipping or imparted glory, which is a key theme of biblical thought regarding the Church's adornment. The accompanying pure companions symbolize the multitude of believers who share in this glorious destiny, entering the King's presence together. This scene speaks to the ultimate triumph and glory of the Church as the beloved bride, prepared and brought into intimate, eternal fellowship with her divine Husband, an event of immense joy and cosmic significance. It undergirds the biblical truth that salvation is both individual (being pure virgins) and corporate (part of the larger bride procession).