Psalms 24:1–2
David: the earth and everything in it belongs to YHWH
Study it word by word1Of David. A psalm. The earth belongs to YHWH, and all that fills it, the world and those who dwell in it.
2For he founded it upon the seas, and upon the rivers he established it.
In its context
…
3Who will go up to the mountain of YHWH? And who will stand in his holy place?
4He who has innocent hands and is clean of heart, who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood, and has not sworn with deceit.
Its words in the original
- דָוִדdavid· David
David, youngest son of Jesse, of Bethlehem; the second king of Israel. The name means "beloved."
- מִזְמוֹרmizmor· psalm
Psalm: a song sung with instruments. It is the title of many of the poems in the book of Psalms.
- יהוָהyhva· YHWH
The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.
- אָרֶץarets· earth, land
The earth, in two senses: the whole world in contrast with the heavens, or a particular country or region ("the land of Egypt").
- מְלוֹאָmeloa· fullness
Fullness, all that fills something: what is in the earth or the sea; also a multitude.
- תֵּבֵלtevel· world
The world: the inhabited earth.
- יֹשְׁבֵיyoshve· sit, dwell
Sit, sit down; from there stay in a place, live, dwell. In the causative form, settle someone, make to dwell. Also sit as judge or as king.
- יַמִּיםyamim· sea, west
Sea, or any great body of water (also a lake). Since the Mediterranean lies west of Israel, the word also means "west".
- יְסָדָyesada· found, establish
Found, lay the foundations; also appoint, establish.
- נְהָרוֹתneharot· river
River, stream; above all the Euphrates ("the River") or the Nile.
- יְכוֹנְנֶyechonne· be firm, prepare
Be firm, be set, be ready; in the causative form, set up, establish, prepare, make ready.