Psalm 63 2

Psalm 63:2 kjv

To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.

Psalm 63:2 nkjv

So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory.

Psalm 63:2 niv

I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory.

Psalm 63:2 esv

So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory.

Psalm 63:2 nlt

I have seen you in your sanctuary
and gazed upon your power and glory.

Psalm 63 verses

Psalm 63 2 Meaning

Psalm 63:2 expresses King David's intense spiritual desire and a recollection of past encounters with God. Though physically separated from the earthly sanctuary in a barren land, his soul yearns to revisit the profound experience of beholding God's manifest power and resplendent glory as revealed in His sacred dwelling place. It speaks to a deep longing for God's presence, not merely a place.

Psalm 63 2 Context

Psalm 63 is titled "A Psalm of David when he was in the wilderness of Judah." This specific historical context is crucial. David, likely fleeing from King Saul or his son Absalom, found himself in a desolate, dry wilderness (Psa 63:1). Physically parched, he uses this thirst as a metaphor for his deep spiritual craving for God. He is separated from the physical sanctuary (Tabernacle), which was the established place of communal worship and God's manifest presence. The wilderness setting underscores his yearning for God alone, having been stripped of the comforts and institutions he once relied upon. His remembrance of past encounters "in the sanctuary" highlights the preciousness of that communion, which he now longs to re-experience, even without the physical proximity to the holy place.

Psalm 63 2 Word analysis

• So I have looked upon You (כֵּן קִדַּמְתִּיךָ, kēn qiḏamtīḵā - meaning "Thus I have sought You early" or "I have earnestly anticipated/preceded You"): While NKJV uses "looked upon," the primary Hebrew root here (קָדַם, qāḏam) denotes coming or being present before someone, often with the nuance of rising early or acting quickly and eagerly. It implies seeking diligently and preemptively. The Septuagint, which translates to "I have seen You," may have influenced translations emphasizing sight, aligning with the subsequent phrase "to see." This points to an eager, expectant pursuit and spiritual gaze. It's a remembrance of past intense spiritual engagement.

• in the sanctuary (בַּקֹּדֶשׁ, baq·qōḏeš - meaning "in the holiness/holy place"): This refers to the Tabernacle (or later Temple), the consecrated space where God's presence, the Shekinah glory, was said to dwell among His people. It signifies the place ordained for encounter and worship with the Most High. It is not just a building, but a divinely designated locus of unique manifestation of God.

• To see (לִרְאוֹת, lir’ôṯ): This verb means "to see, perceive, understand, experience." It's not limited to mere physical sight. In this spiritual context, it signifies a deep spiritual comprehension, discerning the reality of God, and experiencing His attributes. It is about spiritual revelation and intimacy.

• Your power (עֻזֶּךָ, ‘uzzekā - meaning "Your strength/might"): This refers to God's inherent omnipotence, His sovereign ability to act, sustain, protect, and deliver. It encapsulates His dynamic force and saving actions in history and in individual lives.

• and Your glory (וּכְבוֹדֶךָ, uḵḇōḏeḵā - meaning "and Your weight/honor/splendor"): Kabod (כָּבוֹד) denotes God's majesty, brilliance, honor, and renown. It is the manifest splendor and radiant display of His divine attributes. When associated with God, it represents His manifest presence and magnificent being. The conjunction of "power and glory" speaks of a comprehensive apprehension of God's majesty and active sovereignty.

• So I have looked upon You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory: This entire phrase conveys David's deep, cherished memory of encountering God's manifested presence. The use of "So" (kēn) suggests a consequence of his seeking God early (from verse 1). He recalls specific, tangible experiences of God's mighty actions and awe-inspiring presence in the holy place, and longs for that kind of communion again. It represents an experience of profound revelation, not a fleeting glance, but an apprehension of God's very being.

Psalm 63 2 Bonus section

The profound recollection "I have looked upon You in the sanctuary" indicates a spiritual discipline and an experienced reality for David. This isn't theoretical knowledge but a deep, personal encounter that fuels his present yearning. The phraseology also suggests an expectation or precedent; having experienced God in this way before, he knows what he yearns for, validating the spiritual reality of God's manifest presence. This contrasts with the human tendency to seek comfort or deliverance alone; David seeks the Giver, not just the gifts. This verse subtly lays the groundwork for the New Testament understanding of Jesus Christ as the true Temple and the ultimate revelation of God's power and glory, where believers now "see" God not in a building, but through the Son and the indwelling Spirit.

Psalm 63 2 Commentary

Psalm 63:2 captures the very heart of authentic worship: a profound desire for God Himself, for the manifestation of His presence and character. David, separated physically from the sanctuary, does not just long for the building, but for the God whom the sanctuary symbolizes. He remembers past, deeply satisfying encounters where God's active might (power) and radiant essence (glory) were uniquely revealed. This yearning reveals that true spiritual nourishment comes from beholding and experiencing God in His fullness. It implies a hunger for God's redemptive activity and His awe-inspiring majesty. For believers, this resonates with the call to seek Christ, who is the full embodiment of God's power and glory (Heb 1:3; Jn 1:14), and to pursue intimate communion with God, who no longer dwells exclusively in a physical sanctuary but in the hearts of His people (1 Cor 3:16). This verse serves as a powerful reminder that while we may go through seasons of "wilderness," the yearning for God's tangible presence, His power, and His glory should intensify, rooted in the memory of His faithfulness.