Psalms 45:14
in Psalms 45In colorful garments she is led to the king; her virgin companions are brought before you.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
She shall be led unto the king in broidered work: The virgins her companions that follow her Shall be brought unto thee.
KJV
She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee.
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This verse in Psalms 45
Commentary
10 notes on this verseShe shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework. The day comes when the celestial marriage shall be openly celebrated, and these words describe the nuptial procession wherein the queen is brought to her royal Husband attended by her handmaidens. In the latter-day glory, and in the consummation of all things, the glory of the bride, the Lamb's wife, shall be seen by all the universe with admiration.
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.
This site's exposition
In colorful garments
Henry set this beside Genesis 2:22, where the Lord God brought the woman to the man. Barnes saw an eastern marriage, the bride led in her colorful garments to the king with her virgin companions as bridesmaids. Henry has the Father bring them.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
"With fringes of gold, clothed with divers colours" (ver. 14). Her beauty is from within; yet in the "fringes of gold" is the diversity of languages: the beauty of doctrine. What do these avail, if them be not that beauty "from within"? "The virgins shall be brought unto the King after her." It has been fulfilled indeed. The Church has believed; the Church has been formed throughout all nations. And to what a degree do virgins now seek to find favour in the eyes of that King! Whence are they moved to do so? Even because the Church preceded them. "The virgins shall be brought unto the King after her. Her near kinswomen shall be brought unto Thee." For they that are brought unto Him are not strangers, but her "near kinswomen," that belong to her. And because he had said, "unto the King," he says, turning the discourse to Him, "her near kinswomen shall be brought unto Thee."
The Medieval Church1 voice
"They shall be brought." Here she is commended for her company; and regarding this he does three things. First, he describes her company; second, how one arrives at her company, at "they shall be presented"; third, when this company reaches its destination, at "they shall …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
): She shall be brought to the king, as the Lord God brought the woman to the man ( Gen. ii. 22 ), which was a type of this mystical marriage between Christ and his church. None are brought to Christ but whom the Father brings, and he has undertaken to do it; none besides are so brought to the king (
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation
She shall be brought unto the King in raiment of needlework,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework. The day comes when the celestial marriage shall be openly celebrated, and these words describe the nuptial procession wherein the queen is brought to her royal Husband attended by her handmaidens. In the latter-day glory, and in the consummation of all things, the glory of the bride, the Lamb's wife, shall be seen by all the universe with admiration. While she was within doors, and her saints hidden ones, the church was glorious; what will be her splendour when she shall appear in the likeness of her Lord in the day of his manifestation? The finest embroidery is but a faint image of the perfection of the church when sanctified by the Spirit. This verse tells us of the ultimate rest of the church—the King's own bosom; of the way she comes to it, she is brought by the power of sovereign grace; of the time when this is done—in the future, she shall be, it does not yet appear; of the state in which she shall come—clad in richest array, and attended by brightest spirits. The virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee. Those who love and serve the church for her Lord's sake shall share in her bliss "in that day." In one sense they are a part of the church, but for the sake of the imagery they are represented as maids of honour; and, though the figure may seem incongruous, they are represented as brought to the King with the same loving familiarity as the bride, because the true servants of the church are of the church, and partake in all her happiness. Note that those who are admitted to everlasting communion with Christ, are pure in heart— virgins, pure in company— her companions, pure in walk— that follow her. Let none hope to be brought into heaven at last who are not purified now.
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
She shall be brought unto the king - When an Asiatic princess is brought to her spouse, she is inclosed in a palakee, and no part of her person is visible. She is attended by her principal friends and companions, who follow the palakee, and the ceremony is accompanied with great rejoicing; and thus they enter into the palace of the king. This part of this parabolical Psalm may refer to the glories of a future state. The Christian Church shall be brought to the King eternal in the great day, adorned with the graces of the Divine Spirit; and thus shall all the redeemed of the Lord enter Into the king’s palace - into the everlasting joy of their Lord.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
She shall be brought unto the king - She shall be conducted to the king in the marriage procession, and be presented to him, clad in this magnificent raiment. The entire imagery is that of an Oriental marriage procession, where the bride is conducted forth to her future husband, attended by her virgin companions, or (as we should say) “bridesmaids.” In raiment of needlework - The word used here means properly “something variegated” or “versicolored,” and would here denote a garment of divers colors, or “versicolored raiment.” The word - רקמה riqmâh - occurs in the following places: Jdg 5:30, twice, where (as here) it is rendered “needlework;” 1Ch 29:2; Eze 17:3, rendered “divers colors;” and Eze 16:10, Eze 16:13, Eze 16:18; Eze 26:16; Eze 27:7, Eze 27:16, Eze 27:24, where it is rendered “broidered work.” It has reference probably to embroidery or needlework, though the particular idea is rather that of the variegated “appearance” of the garment than to the manner in which it is made. The virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee - literally, “virgins after her, her companions, brought unto thee.” That is, they will be brought to the king. They will come in the same state as the queen herself; they, her companions, will be of so illustrious rank and birth, and apparelled with so much richness, that even “they” will be regarded as worthy to be treated as queens, or in the manner of queens. The design of the whole is to show the rank, the dignity, the splendor of the bride; herself gorgeously apparelled, and attended with companions so exalted as to he worthy of being treated as queens themselves. If this is to be regarded as applicable to the church, “the Lamb’s wife” Rev 21:9, it is designed to describe that church as beautiful and glorious, and as worthy of the affection of its Saviour. Compare Eph 5:27.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
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.
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| לִרְקָמוֹת֮ | lirkamot | to embroidered robes | H7553 → | |
| תּוּבַ֪ל | tuval | she is brought | H2986 → | 18 times |
| לַ֫מֶּ֥לֶךְ | lamelekh | to the king | H4428 → | 2525 times |
| בְּתוּל֣וֹת | betulot | virgins | H1330 → | 50 times |
| אַ֭חֲרֶיהָ | ʾachareiha | behind her | H310 → | 715 times |
| רֵעוֹתֶ֑יהָ | reoteiha | [female] companions her | H7464 → | |
| מ֖וּבָא֣וֹת | muvaot | [are] being brought | H935 → | 2568 times |
| לָֽךְ׃ | lakh | to you |
לִרְקָמוֹת֮to embroidered robes
lirkamotH7553 →
תּוּבַ֪לshe is brought
tuvalH2986 →18 times
לַ֫מֶּ֥לֶךְto the king
lamelekhH4428 →2525 times
בְּתוּל֣וֹתvirgins
betulotH1330 →50 times
אַ֭חֲרֶיהָbehind her
ʾachareihaH310 →715 times
רֵעוֹתֶ֑יהָ[female] companions her
reoteihaH7464 →
מ֖וּבָא֣וֹת[are] being brought
muvaotH935 →2568 times
לָֽךְ׃to you
lakh
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
2 Corinthians 11:2I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. For I promised you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.
it leads to
- Hosea 2:19–20
So I will betroth you to Me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in loving devotion and compassion.
- Ephesians 5:26–27
to sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,
- Isaiah 54:5
For your husband is your Maker—the LORD of Hosts is His name—the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; He is called the God of all the earth.
- Colossians 1:28
We proclaim Him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.
- Leviticus 21:13–15
The woman he marries must be a virgin.
- Hosea 2:19–20
Through
Song of Solomon 2:7O daughters of Jerusalem, I adjure you by the gazelles and does of the field: Do not arouse or awaken love until the time is right.
it leads to
- Song of Solomon 3:5
O daughters of Jerusalem, I adjure you by the gazelles and does of the field: Do not arouse or awaken love until the time is right.
- Song of Solomon 8:4
O daughters of Jerusalem, I adjure you: Do not arouse or awaken love until the time is right.
- Song of Solomon 3:5
Through
Song of Solomon 6:13Come back, come back, O Shulammite! Come back, come back, that we may gaze upon you. Why do you look at the Shulammite, as on the dance of Mahanaim?
it leads to
- Genesis 32:2
When Jacob saw them, he said, “This is the camp of God.” So he named that place Mahanaim.
- Genesis 32:2
Where this verse is studied
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About Psalms
This page draws on 10 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; 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; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 2; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Thomas Aquinas, Exposition on the Psalms of David.