The Meaning of Psalms 24:8 Explained

Psalms 24:8

KJV: Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.

YLT: Who is this -- 'the king of glory?' Jehovah -- strong and mighty, Jehovah, the mighty in battle.

Darby: Who is this King of glory? Jehovah strong and mighty, Jehovah mighty in battle.

ASV: Who is the King of glory? Jehovah strong and mighty, Jehovah mighty in battle.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Who [is] this King  of glory?  The LORD  strong  and mighty,  the LORD  mighty  in battle. 

What does Psalms 24:8 Mean?

Verse Meaning

David explained that this glorious King was Yahweh in response to the question of the personified gates, and perhaps the people. The Lord is glorious because He is omnipotent, as seen in His victory over His enemies and His provision of salvation. Israel"s divine King was fully glorious because He was unconquerable. The "hosts" picture the heavenly armies that accompany and support Him.

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 24:8 mean?

Who [is] this King of glory Yahweh strong and mighty Yahweh mighty in battle
מִ֥י זֶה֮ מֶ֤לֶךְ ؟ הַכָּ֫ב֥וֹד יְ֭הוָה עִזּ֣וּז וְגִבּ֑וֹר יְ֝הוָ֗ה גִּבּ֥וֹר מִלְחָמָֽה

מִ֥י  Who  [is] 
Parse: Interrogative
Root: מִי  
Sense: who?, whose?, whom?, would that, whoever, whosoever.
זֶה֮  this 
Parse: Pronoun, masculine singular
Root: זֶה  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, another, such.
מֶ֤לֶךְ  King 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
؟ הַכָּ֫ב֥וֹד  of  glory 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: כָּבֹוד  
Sense: glory, honour, glorious, abundance.
יְ֭הוָה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
עִזּ֣וּז  strong 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: עִזּוּז  
Sense: powerful, mighty.
וְגִבּ֑וֹר  and  mighty 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: גִּבֹּור  
Sense: strong, mighty.
יְ֝הוָ֗ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
גִּבּ֥וֹר  mighty  in 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular construct
Root: גִּבֹּור  
Sense: strong, mighty.
מִלְחָמָֽה  battle 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִלְחָמָה  
Sense: battle, war.