Wisdom & Poetry · Old Testament
Psalms 15
Psalm 15: who may dwell in the Lord's holy hill
General context
The psalm asks the Lord who shall abide in his tabernacle and who shall dwell in his holy hill. The answer is a description of a person: one who walks uprightly, works righteousness and speaks the truth in his heart; who does not backbite with his tongue, do evil to his neighbour, or take up a reproach against his neighbour; in whose eyes a vile person is contemned but who honours those who fear the Lord; who swears to his own hurt and does not change; who does not put out his money to usury or take a reward against the innocent. The psalm ends by saying that the one who does these things shall never be moved.
Cited passages: Psalms 15:1, Psalms 15:2, Psalms 15:3, Psalms 15:4, Psalms 15:5
Psalms 15 (KJV)
1Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?
2He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.
3He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.
4In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the Lord. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.
5He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.
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Historical context
The text as printed carries no heading, so no author is stated in this source. The question is addressed to the Lord, and the answer that follows is given in the third person; the text does not say whether the Lord or the speaker gives it. "Thy tabernacle" and "thy holy hill" are named as the places in question without further location; the same phrase "holy hill" appears in Psalm 2:6 and Psalm 3:4. The list names conduct toward a neighbour, oaths, money lent at usury, and rewards taken against the innocent, but it gives no law citation and no penalty. It does not describe any rite, sacrifice or priest, only the character of the person. The psalm has no Selah and is five verses long. Nothing in it states who is asking or on what occasion.
Cited passages: Psalms 15:1, Psalms 2:6, Psalms 3:4, Psalms 15:5, Psalms 15:4
Literary context
The psalm is a question and an answer. Two parallel questions open it, abide and dwell, tabernacle and holy hill. The answer is a portrait built from pairs of positives and negatives: walking, working and speaking on one side, and not backbiting, not doing evil, not taking up a reproach on the other. Speech is a repeated concern, truth in the heart, no backbiting, no reproach, an oath kept even at a cost. Verse 4 turns on "but", contempt for the vile against honour for those who fear the Lord. Money closes the list, usury and rewards against the innocent. The last line answers the opening question about dwelling with a promise about standing: the one who does these things "shall never be moved". The poem gives no narrative and no petition; it is a description of a person, and its structure is the list itself.
Cited passages: Psalms 15:1, Psalms 15:2, Psalms 15:3, Psalms 15:4, Psalms 15:5
Key moments
- Who shall dwell? (Psalms 15:1). The psalm asks who may abide in the Lord's tabernacle and holy hill.
- Truth in the heart (Psalms 15:2). The answer begins with walking uprightly and speaking truth inwardly.
- No harm to the neighbour (Psalms 15:3). He does not backbite, do evil, or take up a reproach against his neighbour.
- An oath kept at a cost (Psalms 15:4). He swears to his own hurt and does not change.
- Never moved (Psalms 15:5). He refuses usury and bribes, and shall never be moved.
For reflection
The one who swears to his own hurt and does not change is listed among those who may dwell with the Lord; what does that particular item suggest about the kind of person the psalm has in view?
