English Standard Version
Psalms 84:3
3Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God.
Psalms 84:3 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O Lord of hosts, my King, and my God.
- New International Version (NIV)Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young— a place near your altar, Lord Almighty, my King and my God.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Even the sparrow has found a home, And the swallow a nest for herself, Where she may lay her young— Even Your altars, O Lord of hosts, My King and my God.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow builds her nest and raises her young at a place near your altar, O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, my King and my God!
Context of Psalms 84:3
1How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! 2My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God. Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God. 4Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise! Selah 5Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion.
Read all of Psalms 84Psalms 84:3 word by word
גַּם־צִפּ֨וֹר׀ מָ֪צְאָה בַ֡יִת וּדְר֤וֹר׀ קֵ֥ן לָהּ֮ אֲשֶׁר־שָׁ֪תָה אֶפְרֹ֫חֶ֥יהָ אֶֽת־מִ֭זְבְּחוֹתֶיךָ יְהוָ֣ה צְבָא֑וֹת מַ֝לְכִּ֗י וֵאלֹהָֽי׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Yea, the sparrowצִפּוֹרtsippôr tsippôr · birdH6833
- hath foundמָצָאmâtsâ' · to findH4672
- an houseבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: homeH1004
- and the swallowדְּרוֹרderôr · swallowH1866
- a nestקֵןqên · nestH7064
- for herself, where she may layשִׁיתshîyth · to set: putH7896
- her youngאֶפְרֹחַ'ephrôach · youngH667
- thine altarsמִזְבֵּחַmizbêach · altarH4196
- O Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- of hostsצָבָאtsâbâ' tsebâ'âh · HostsH6635
- my Kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
- and my Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
Cross-references for Psalms 84:3
- Psalms 90:1Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.
- Psalms 91:1He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
- Psalms 116:7Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.
- Matthew 8:20And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head."
- Matthew 23:37"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!
Commentaries on Psalms 84:3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3Yea, the sparrow hath found a house - It is very unlikely that sparrows and swallows, or birds of any kind, should be permitted to build their nests, and hatch their young, in or about altars which were kept in a state of the greatest purity; and where perpetual fires were kept up for the purpose of sacrifice, burning incense, etc. Without altering the text, if the clause be read in a parenthesis, the absurdity will be avoided, and the sense be good. "My…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3Yea, the sparrow hath found an house - A home; a place where she may abide, and build her nest, and rear her young. The word here used - צפור tsippôr - is a name given to a bird from its chirping or twittering. It is rendered sparrow in Leviticus 14:4 (margin); Psalm 102:7; and is often rendered bird (Genesis 7:14; Genesis 15:10, et al.), and fowl, Deuteronomy 4:17; Nehemiah 5:18; et al. It may denote a bird of any kind, but is properly applied here to a…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3The poet envies the birds that have nesting places in and around the temple.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. thine altars--that is, of burnt offering and incense, used for the whole tabernacle. Its structure afforded facilities for sparrows and swallows to indulge their known predilections for such places. Some understand the statement as to the birds as a comparison: "as they find homes, so do I desire thine altars," &c.Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 84:3
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Psalms 84
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- The Treasury of David
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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Commentaries