Psalms 45:13
in Psalms 45All glorious is the princess in her chamber; her gown is embroidered with gold.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
The king’s daughter within the palace is all glorious: Her clothing is inwrought with gold.
KJV
The king’s daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold.
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This verse in Psalms 45
Commentary
18 notes on this verseThe king's daughter is all glorious within. Within her secret chambers her glory is great. Though unseen of men her Lord sees her, and commends her. "It doth not yet appear what we shall be." Or the passage may be understood as meaning within herself—her beauty is not outward only or mainly; the choicest of her charms are to be found in her heart, her secret character, her inward desires. Truth and wisdom in the hidden parts are what the Lord regards; mere skin deep beauty is nothing in his eyes.
This site's exposition
All glorious is the princess
on Psalms 45:13-15
The princess is all glorious in her chamber, her gown embroidered with gold. She is led to the king in colorful garments, her virgin companions with her, and the company enters the palace with joy and gladness. Augustine reads her beauty as given to her.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
By "within" he refers to the mind, and the words can refer only to not bodily beauty but virtue of soul. This, in fact, is the true glory of the devout, purity of conscience, for which they will be utterly conspicuous in the judge's sight.
"All the glory of her, the King's daughter, is from within" (ver. 13). Not only is her robe, outwardly, "of gold, and of divers colours;" but He who loved her beauty, knew her to be also beautiful within. What are those inward charms? Those of conscience. It is there Christ sees; it is there Christ loves her: it is there He addresses her, there punishes, there crowns. Let then thine alms be done in secret; for "all the glory of her, the King's daughter, is from within."
A commentator
Gregory of NazianzusOn the words of the Gospel, 'WHEN JESUS HAD FINISHED THESE SAYINGS,' ORATION 37:10 · Written before 390.
proposed
The visible beauty is not hidden, but that which is unseen is visible to God. All the glory of the king's daughter is within, clothed with golden fringes, embroidered whether by actions or by contemplation.
Within, he is saying, she has the comeliness of virtue and is resplendent with the manifold gifts of the Holy Spirit.
The spiritual garment is woven when the attendant action is interwoven with the word of doctrine. In fact, just as a bodily garment is woven when the woof is interwoven with the warp, so when the word is antecedent, if actions in accordance with the word should be produced, there would be made a certain most magnificent garment for the soul that possesses a life of virtue attained by word and action.
11 more voices on this verse
The Church Fathers2 voices
The queen who, chosen out of many, stands at the right hand of God, clothed in the golden ornament of virtue, whose beauty the King desired, is, as I said, the undefiled and blessed flesh, which the Word himself carried into the heavens and presented at the right hand of God, "wrought about with many colors," that is, in the pursuits of immortality, which he calls symbolically golden fringes. This garment is variegated and woven of various virtues, as chastity, prudence, faith, love, patience, and other good things, which, covering as they do the unseemliness of the flesh, adorn humankind with a golden ornament.
[Daniel 10:16] "O my lord, at the sight of thee my joints are loosed..." Theodotion interprets it this way, in accordance with what we read in the One Hundred and Second Psalm: "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name."
The Medieval Church1 voice
"All her glory." Above, the Psalmist commended the bride for her beauty; here he commends her as to glory, both interior and exterior. He does the first when he says, "all her glory." The word "her" is superfluous; hence it is construed as explanatory: "her," …
The Puritans and the Awakening4 voices
): The king's daughter is all glorious within. Note, The glory of the church is spiritual glory, and that is indeed all glory; it is the glory of the soul, and that is the man; it is glory in God's sight, and it is an earnest of eternal glory.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens
Daughter - The spouse; so called, because she was the daughter of one king, and the wife of another. Her cloathing - She is outwardly adorned with virtuous and honourable actions.
Daughter - The spouse; so called, because she was the daughter of one king, and the wife of another. Her cloathing - She is outwardly adorned with virtuous and honourable actions.
The King's daughter is all glorious within,....
The Nineteenth Century4 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
the king's daughter--a term of dignity. It may also intimate, with some allusion to the teaching of the allegory, that the bride of Christ, the Church, is the daughter of the great king, God. within--Not only is her outward raiment costly, but all her apparel is of the richest texture. wrought gold--gold embroidery, or cloth in which gold is woven.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
The king's daughter is all glorious within. Within her secret chambers her glory is great. Though unseen of men her Lord sees her, and commends her. "It doth not yet appear what we shall be." Or the passage may be understood as meaning within herself—her beauty is not outward only or mainly; the choicest of her charms are to be found in her heart, her secret character, her inward desires. Truth and wisdom in the hidden parts are what the Lord regards; mere skin deep beauty is nothing in his eyes. The church is of royal extraction, of imperial dignity, for she is a king's daughter; and she has been purified and renewed in nature; for she is glorious within. Note the word all. The Bridegroom was said to have all his garments perfumed, and now the bride in all glorious within—entireness and completeness are great points. There is no mixture of ill savour in Jesus, nor shall there be alloy of unholiness in his people, his church shall be presented without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing. Her clothing is of wrought gold. Best material and best workmanship. How laboriously did our Lord work out the precious material of his righteousness into a vesture for his people! no embroidery of golden threads can equal that masterpiece of holy art. Such clothing becomes on so honoured by relationship to the Great King. The Lord looks to it that nothing shall be wanting to the glory and beauty of his bride.
The king’s daughter is all glorious within - This, in some sense, may be spoken of Solomon’s bride, the daughter of the king of Egypt; and then the expression may refer either to the cultivation of her mind, or the ornaments and splendor of her palace. The Asiatic queens, sultanas, and begums, scarcely ever appear in public. They abide in the harem in the greatest luxury and splendor; and to this, as its literal meaning, the text may possibly refer. Her clothing is of wrought gold - Of the most costly embroidery: her palace, and her person, are decorated in the very highest state of elegance and magnificence. Spiritually the king’s daughter may mean the Christian Church filled with the mind that was in Christ, and adorned with the graces of the Holy Spirit; while the whole of its outward conduct is pure and holy, ornamented with the works of faith and love, and always bringing forth the fruits of the Spirit.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
The king’s daughter - This evidently refers to the bride, the daughter of the foreign king. The verse contains a description of her beauty - her splendor of attire - before she is brought to the king, her future husband. She is represented here as in the palace or home of her father, before she is conducted forth to be given to her future husband in marriage. Is all “glorious.” Is all splendor or beauty; is altogether splendor. There is nothing that is not splendid, rich, magnificent in her appearance, or in her apparel. As seen in Psa 45:9, she is clad in gold; she is surrounded by honorable women - the daughters of kings Psa 45:9, and encompassed with the rich, Psa 45:12. As seen here, she is in her father’s house, adorned for the marriage, and to be brought to the king, her future husband, attired in all that could give grace and beauty to her person. The allusion here, as referring to the church - the “bride of the Lamb” - “may be” to that church considered as redeemed, and about to be received to heaven, to dwell with its Husband and Saviour. Compare the notes at Rev 19:7-8; notes at Rev 21:2, notes at Rev 21:9. Within - This does not refer to herself, as if she was not merely splendid in her attire, but holy and pure - glorious and lovely - in “heart;” it refers to her as seen while yet “within” the palace or home of her father, in her own dwelling. The Hebrew word - פנימה penı̂ymâh - means properly, “at or by the inner wall of a house, room, or court; that is, opposite to or in front of the door, and of those entering.” Gesenius, “Lexicon” As seen in her dwelling - within the palace - in the most honored place - she is arrayed in gorgeous apparel, and adorned as becomes a king’s daughter about to be married. Her clothing is of wrought gold - Gold embroidery. See Psa 45:9. That is, she is arrayed in the richest apparel.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
And the daughter of Tyre shall seek your presence with tribute Heb. יחלו, as (Exod.: 11): “And Moses prayed (ויחל).” And as reward for this, you will merit that those who are now the richest of the people will bring you tribute and gifts.
2 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
And the King shall desire your beauty And if you do this, the King, the Holy One, blessed be He, will desire the beauty of your deeds.
All honor [awaits] the King’s daughter who is within, etc. Those who deserve all honor, and they are the nation of the King, who behaved with modesty now their garments will be more esteemed than the settings of gold of the High Priests. משבצוֹת is chatons in French, settings.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 2 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
8 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| כָּל־ | kol- | [is] all | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| כְּבוּדָּ֣ה | kevudah | glorious | H3520 → | |
| בַת־ | vat- | a daughter of | H1323 → | 588 times |
| מֶ֣לֶךְ | melekh | a king | H4428 → | 2525 times |
| פְּנִ֑ימָה | penimah | within | H6441 → | |
| מִֽמִּשְׁבְּצ֖וֹת | mimishbetzot | [is] from settings of | H4865 → | |
| זָהָ֣ב | zahav | gold | H2091 → | 389 times |
| לְבוּשָֽׁהּ׃ | levushah | clothing her | H3830 → | 33 times |
כָּל־[is] all
kol-H3605 →5413 times
כְּבוּדָּ֣הglorious
kevudahH3520 →
בַת־a daughter of
vat-H1323 →588 times
מֶ֣לֶךְa king
melekhH4428 →2525 times
פְּנִ֑ימָהwithin
penimahH6441 →
מִֽמִּשְׁבְּצ֖וֹת[is] from settings of
mimishbetzotH4865 →
זָהָ֣בgold
zahavH2091 →389 times
לְבוּשָֽׁהּ׃clothing her
levushahH3830 →33 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Matthew 5:16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
it leads to
- 1 Peter 2:12
Conduct yourselves with such honor among the Gentiles that, though they slander you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.
- Titus 2:7
In everything, show yourself to be an example by doing good works. In your teaching show integrity, dignity,
- John 15:8
This is to My Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, proving yourselves to be My disciples.
- 1 John 1:5–7
And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you: God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.
- Philippians 2:15–16
so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world
- 1 Peter 2:12
Through
Romans 13:14Instead, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.
it leads to
- Ephesians 4:24
and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
- Galatians 5:16–17
So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
- Galatians 3:27
For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
- Ephesians 4:24
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About Psalms

This page draws on 17 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Alexander Maclaren, The Psalms, Expositor's Bible; Augustine, Expositions on the Psalms; Augustine of Hippo, Exposition on Psalm 45; Basil of Caesarea, HOMILIES ON THE PSALMS 17:11 (PS 45); Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 2; Gregory of Nazianzus, On the words of the Gospel, 'WHEN JESUS HAD FINISHED THESE SAYINGS,' ORATION 37:10; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, St. Jerome, Commentary on Daniel, CHAPTER TEN; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Methodius of Olympus, BANQUET OF THE TEN VIRGINS 7:8; Theodore of Mopsuestia, COMMENTARY ON PSALMS 45:14A; Theodoret of Cyrus, COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS 45:10 and Thomas Aquinas, Exposition on the Psalms of David.
