Psalm 84:10
New International Version
Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.

New Living Translation
A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else! I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God than live the good life in the homes of the wicked.

English Standard Version
For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.

Berean Standard Bible
For better is one day in Your courts than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.

King James Bible
For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

New King James Version
For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God Than dwell in the tents of wickedness.

New American Standard Bible
For a day in Your courtyards is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God Than live in the tents of wickedness.

NASB 1995
For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand outside. I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God Than dwell in the tents of wickedness.

NASB 1977
For a day in Thy courts is better than a thousand outside. I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God, Than dwell in the tents of wickedness.

Legacy Standard Bible
For better is a day in Your courts than a thousand elsewhere. I would choose to stand at the threshold of the house of my God Than dwell in the tents of wickedness.

Amplified Bible
For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand [anywhere else]; I would rather stand [as a doorkeeper] at the threshold of the house of my God Than to live [at ease] in the tents of wickedness.

Christian Standard Bible
Better a day in your courts than a thousand anywhere else. I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God than live in the tents of wicked people.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Better a day in Your courts than a thousand anywhere else. I would rather be at the door of the house of my God than to live in the tents of wicked people.

American Standard Version
For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, Than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

Contemporary English Version
One day in your temple is better than a thousand anywhere else. I would rather serve in your house, than live in the homes of the wicked.

English Revised Version
For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
One day in your courtyards is better than a thousand [anywhere else]. I would rather stand in the entrance to my God's house than live inside wicked people's homes.

Good News Translation
One day spent in your Temple is better than a thousand anywhere else; I would rather stand at the gate of the house of my God than live in the homes of the wicked.

International Standard Version
for a day in your Temple courts is better than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather stand at the entrance of God's house than live in the tent of wickedness.

Majority Standard Bible
For better is one day in Your courts than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.

NET Bible
Certainly spending just one day in your temple courts is better than spending a thousand elsewhere. I would rather stand at the entrance to the temple of my God than live in the tents of the wicked.

New Heart English Bible
For a day in your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

Webster's Bible Translation
For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a door-keeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

World English Bible
For a day in your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
For a day in Your courts [is] good, O Teacher! I have chosen rather to be at the threshold, "" In the house of my God, "" Than to dwell in tents of wickedness.

Young's Literal Translation
For good is a day in Thy courts, O Teacher! I have chosen rather to be at the threshold, In the house of my God, Than to dwell in tents of wickedness.

Smith's Literal Translation
For good a day in thine enclosures above a thousand. I chose to wait on the threshold in the house of my God, rather than to dwell in the tents of injustice.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
For better is one day in thy courts above thousands. I have chosen to be an abject in the house of my God, rather than to dwell in the tabernacles of sinners.

Catholic Public Domain Version
For one day in your courts is better than thousands elsewhere. I have chosen to be lowly in the house of my God, rather than to dwell in the tabernacles of sinners.

New American Bible
Better one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere. Better the threshold of the house of my God than a home in the tents of the wicked.

New Revised Standard Version
For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than live in the tents of wickedness.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I would choose rather to dwell in the house of my God than to dwell in the tents of the wicked.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Because one day in your court is better than a thousand! I have desired to dwell in the house of God more than to dwell in the tent of the wicked.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
For a day in Thy courts is better than a thousand; I had rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God, Than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For one day in thy courts is better than thousands. I would rather be an abject in the house of God, than dwell in the tents of sinners.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Better is One Day in Your Courts
9Take notice of our shield, O God, and look with favor on the face of Your anointed. 10For better is one day in Your courts than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. 11For the LORD God is a sun and a shield; the LORD gives grace and glory; He withholds no good thing from those who walk with integrity.…

Cross References
Matthew 16:26
What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?

Philippians 3:8
More than that, I count all things as loss compared to the surpassing excellence of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ

Luke 10:42
But only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, and it will not be taken away from her.”

1 Peter 2:5
you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 3:16
Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple, and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?

Revelation 21:3
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God.

John 14:2-3
In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? / And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and welcome you into My presence, so that you also may be where I am.

Hebrews 10:19-22
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, / by the new and living way opened for us through the curtain of His body, / and since we have a great priest over the house of God, ...

Acts 2:46-47
With one accord they continued to meet daily in the temple courts and to break bread from house to house, sharing their meals with gladness and sincerity of heart, / praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Ephesians 2:19-22
Therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household, / built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone. / In Him the whole building is fitted together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord. ...

Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

Romans 12:1
Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

2 Corinthians 6:16
What agreement can exist between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.”

Isaiah 56:7
I will bring them to My holy mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on My altar, for My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations.”

Psalm 27:4
One thing I have asked of the LORD; this is what I desire: to dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and seek Him in His temple.


Treasury of Scripture

For a day in your courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

for

Psalm 84:1,2
To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts! …

Psalm 27:4
One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple.

Psalm 43:3,4
O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles…

I had, etc.

James 2:3
And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:

to dwell

Psalm 17:14,15
From men which are thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes…

Psalm 26:8-10
LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth…

Psalm 141:4,5
Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties…

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Better Chosen Courts Doorkeeper Door-Keeper Dwell Elsewhere Good House Outside Rather Sin Stand Teacher Tents Thousand Threshold Wicked Wickedness
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Better Chosen Courts Doorkeeper Door-Keeper Dwell Elsewhere Good House Outside Rather Sin Stand Teacher Tents Thousand Threshold Wicked Wickedness
Psalm 84
1. The prophet, longing for the communion of the sanctuary
4. Shows how blessed they are that dwell therein
8. He prays to be restored unto it.














For a day in Your courts
The phrase "Your courts" refers to the sacred spaces within the temple where worship and communion with God occur. In Hebrew, the word for "courts" is "חֲצֵרֶיךָ" (chatzer), which denotes an enclosure or a place of gathering. This highlights the psalmist's deep longing for the presence of God, emphasizing that even a single day spent in divine fellowship surpasses any other experience. Historically, the courts of the temple were places of reverence and community, where the faithful gathered to offer sacrifices and prayers. The psalmist's preference for this sacred time underscores the immeasurable value of being close to God, a sentiment that resonates with the Christian understanding of prioritizing spiritual over worldly pursuits.

is better than a thousand elsewhere
This comparison illustrates the supreme worth of God's presence. The Hebrew word for "better" is "טוֹב" (tov), which conveys goodness, joy, and prosperity. The psalmist uses hyperbole to express that no amount of time spent in worldly pleasures or pursuits can compare to even a single day with God. This reflects a deep-seated belief in the eternal significance of spiritual life over temporal experiences. For conservative Christians, this serves as a reminder to seek first the kingdom of God, valuing spiritual growth and communion with the Lord above all else.

I would rather stand at the threshold
The phrase "stand at the threshold" suggests a position of humility and readiness. The Hebrew word "סַף" (saph) refers to a doorpost or entrance, symbolizing the psalmist's willingness to be in the most humble position just to be near God's presence. This reflects a heart posture of servitude and reverence, where even the lowest place in God's house is preferred over comfort elsewhere. It speaks to the Christian call to humility and the joy found in serving God, even in the simplest capacities.

of the house of my God
"The house of my God" refers to the temple, the dwelling place of the Almighty. The Hebrew word "בֵּית" (bayit) signifies a house or dwelling, and in this context, it represents the sacred space where God resides. The personal pronoun "my" indicates a personal relationship and ownership, emphasizing the psalmist's intimate connection with God. For believers, this reflects the New Testament teaching that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, and it encourages a personal and intimate relationship with God.

than dwell in the tents of the wicked
The contrast between "the house of my God" and "the tents of the wicked" highlights the moral and spiritual dichotomy. "Tents" (אֹהָלִים, ohalim) were temporary and often associated with nomadic life, symbolizing instability and impermanence. The "wicked" (רְשָׁעִים, resha'im) are those who live in opposition to God's ways. The psalmist's choice to avoid the company and lifestyle of the wicked, even if it means a more humble existence, underscores the importance of righteousness and the eternal security found in God's presence. This serves as a call for Christians to pursue holiness and to separate themselves from sinful influences, trusting in the eternal rewards of a life devoted to God.

(10) I had rather be a doorkeeper.--Better, I had rather wait on the threshold, as not worthy (LXX. and Vulgate, "be rejected in scorn") to enter the precincts. The idea of "doorkeeper," however, though not necessarily involved in the Hebrew word, is suggested in a Korahite psalm, since the Korahites were "keepers of the gates of the tabernacle, and keepers of the entry." Compare with this wish the words which a Greek poet puts into the mouth of his hero, who sweeps the threshold of Apollo's temple:

"A pleasant task, O Phoebus, I discharge,

Before thine house in reverence of thy seat

Of prophecy, an honoured task to me."

EURIPIDES, Ion, 128.

Verse 10. - For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand; i.e. than any number of days elsewhere. It is difficult to trace any connection between these concluding verses. They appear to consist of distinct thoughts, which arise in the writer's mind, and are jotted down as they occur to him. One is a thought of loyalty, which finds vent in a prayer for the king (ver. 9). Another is a reflection of the main thought of the psalm, the incomparable blessedness of dwelling in God's house. A third (vers. 11, 12) is the joy and glory of perpetual communion with God and trust in God. See the remarks of Professor Cheyne ('The Book of Psalms,' p. 237). I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God; literally, at the threshold; but the meaning is well expressed by the Authorized Version. "Doorkeepers in the house of their God" was exactly what the Korahite Levites were (1 Chronicles 9:19; 1 Chronicles 26:1, 12-19). Than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. As their ancestor, Korah, had done (Numbers 16:26).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
For
כִּ֤י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

better
טֽוֹב־ (ṭō·wḇ-)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good

is one day
י֥וֹם (yō·wm)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3117: A day

in Your courts
בַּחֲצֵרֶ֗יךָ (ba·ḥă·ṣê·re·ḵā)
Preposition-b | Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 2691: A yard, a hamlet

than a thousand elsewhere.
מֵ֫אָ֥לֶף (mê·’ā·lep̄)
Preposition-m | Number - masculine singular
Strong's 505: A thousand

I would rather
בָּחַ֗רְתִּי (bā·ḥar·tî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 977: To try, select

be a doorkeeper
הִ֭סְתּוֹפֵף (his·tō·w·p̄êp̄)
Verb - Hitpael - Infinitive construct
Strong's 5605: To stand at or guard the threshold

in the house
בְּבֵ֣ית (bə·ḇêṯ)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004: A house

of my God
אֱלֹהַ֑י (’ĕ·lō·hay)
Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

than to dwell
מִ֝דּ֗וּר (mid·dūr)
Preposition-m | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 1752: To heap up, pile, dwell

in the tents
בְּאָהֳלֵי־ (bə·’ā·ho·lê-)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 168: A tent

of the wicked.
רֶֽשַׁע׃ (re·ša‘)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7562: Wickedness


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OT Poetry: Psalm 84:10 For a day in your courts (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 84:9
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