The Meaning of Psalms 24:6 Explained

Psalms 24:6

KJV: This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.

YLT: This is a generation of those seeking Him. Seeking Thy face, O Jacob! Selah.

Darby: This is the generation of them that seek unto him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.

ASV: This is the generation of them that seek after him, That seek thy face, even Jacob. Selah

KJV Reverse Interlinear

This [is] the generation  of them that seek  him, that seek  thy face,  O Jacob.  Selah. 

What does Psalms 24:6 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 24:1-10 - Entering Jehovah's Holy Place
Psalms 22:1-31 tells of the cross; Psalms 23:1-6 of the crook; Psalms 24:1-10 of the crown. This great choral hymn was evidently composed to celebrate the removal of the Ark from the house of Obed-edom to Mount Zion, 2 Samuel 6:1-23. It was conducted with music and song to its resting-place, and this psalm was the marching song of the priests, 1 Chronicles 15:2-27.
Psalms 24:1-2 were sung by the whole festal crowd; Psalms 24:3 by a soloist; Psalms 24:4-5 by the choir; and Psalms 24:6 by the entire congregation. What a sublime challenge on the part of the approaching host is contained in Psalms 24:7, to be answered by a company from within the gates in Psalms 24:8! To this again the vast shout of the multitude gives reply in Psalms 24:9.
This magnificent ode reached its perfect accomplishment when the mighty Victor over hell and the grave arose on high and sat down at the Father's right hand. Oh, let the gates of your heart open wide to admit Him! [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 24

1  God's Lordship in the world
3  The citizens of his spiritual kingdom
7  An exhortation to receive him

What do the individual words in Psalms 24:6 mean?

This [is] the generation of those who seek who seek Your face Jacob Selah
זֶ֭ה דּ֣וֹר דרשו [דֹּרְשָׁ֑יו] (מְבַקְשֵׁ֨י) פָנֶ֖יךָ יַעֲקֹ֣ב סֶֽלָה

זֶ֭ה  This  [is] 
Parse: Pronoun, masculine singular
Root: זֶה  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, another, such.
דּ֣וֹר  the  generation 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: דֹּור 
Sense: period, generation, habitation, dwelling.
[דֹּרְשָׁ֑יו]  those  who  seek 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: דַּרְיׄושׁ 
Sense: to resort to, seek, seek with care, enquire, require.
(מְבַקְשֵׁ֨י)  who  seek 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Participle, masculine plural construct
Root: בָּקַשׁ  
Sense: to seek, require, desire, exact, request.
פָנֶ֖יךָ  Your  face 
Parse: Noun, common plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
יַעֲקֹ֣ב  Jacob 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יַעֲקֹב  
Sense: son of Isaac, grandson of Abraham, and father of the 2 patriarchs of the tribes of Israel.
סֶֽלָה  Selah 
Parse: Interjection
Root: סֶלָה  
Sense: to lift up, exalt.