Psalm 24:10 asks a question and answers it in the same breath: who is this King of glory, and the answer is the LORD of Armies. The verse is a confession that the one entering the gates of Jerusalem is not a mere earthly ruler but the God of Israel, commanding heavenly forces and holding supreme authority over all creation. It is sung as part of a procession, with worshipers at the city gates calling out to one another and the gates themselves being told to open.
Who is this King of glory? The LORD of Armies is the King of glory! Selah.
Psalm 24:10 (WEB)
What Psalm 24:10 Means
The verse begins with a question, “Who is this King of glory?”, which invites the worshiper to think carefully about what kind of king is being welcomed. “King of glory” points to a ruler whose majesty, weight and splendor are beyond anything human power can produce. The question is not answered with a name at first but with a title, and that title is the heart of the verse.
The answer, “The LORD of Armies,” uses a divine name that stresses God’s command over vast hosts, whether angelic, national or cosmic. The verse then repeats the claim that he is the King of glory, leaving no doubt. The final word “Selah” is a musical or liturgical marker that tells the singers and listeners to pause and let the truth sink in before moving on.
What the verse does not do is promise a particular outcome for your life or spell out how God will act in your situation. It does not describe God’s personal feelings toward you or outline a plan for your future. Its focus is on who God is, and the worshiper’s response is wonder, reverence and joyful acknowledgment of his rule.
The Context of Psalm 24:10
Psalm 24 is a psalm of David, according to its heading, and it was likely used in temple worship as a processional hymn. Its setting is the bringing of the ark of the covenant into Jerusalem or the entrance of worshipers into the temple courts. The people approaching the gates would have been pilgrims and priests, and the psalm gave them words to say as they drew near to the presence of God.
Verses 7 through 9 form a call and response, with the gates commanded to lift up and the King of glory invited in, followed by the question in verse 8 about who this King is. Verse 10 repeats the question and gives the final, emphatic answer. Read in that rhythm, the verse feels like the climax of a song that builds in anticipation, so its declaration carries the weight of a crowd that has been asking and is now finally given the name.
Key Phrases in Psalm 24:10
Psalm 46:10
“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth.”
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This verse calls the reader to be still and recognize that God is exalted among the nations and throughout the earth. Like Psalm 24:10, it reminds us of God’s supreme rule, and it pairs the awe of that recognition with the quiet trust that the worshiper can rest in.
Isaiah 6:3
One called to another, and said, “Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of Armies! The whole earth is full of his glory!”
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In Isaiah’s vision, the seraphim proclaim the holiness and glory of the LORD of hosts, filling the earth with his glory. The passage echoes the title “LORD of Armies” and the theme of God’s glory that fills Psalm 24, showing how the same majestic vision runs through Scripture.
A Short Prayer From Psalm 24:10
Lord, you are the King of glory, and no power in heaven or on earth can rival your majesty. You are the LORD of Armies, able to defend, guide and rule over everything I face. Help me to pause and let this truth settle into my heart when worry or busyness crowds in. Let my life open like the gates of Jerusalem to welcome you as King. Teach me to bow in reverence and to trust your faithful rule each day. Amen.
