Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 45:13
The king’s daughter [is] all glorious within: her clothing [is] of wrought gold.
13. The King’s daughter within (the palace) is all glorious:
Her clothing is inwrought with gold. (R.V.)
The bride is described in all the splendour of her bridal attire. Within the palace, or in the inner part of the palace, may refer to her old home, the Psalmist by poetical licence ignoring intervals of time and place; but, more probably, to the house in Jerusalem to which she had been brought, and from which she is now to be conducted in state to the king’s palace ( Psa 45:14-15).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
13 15. Description of the bride adorned for her husband.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The kings 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 fathers 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 – penymah – 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 kings 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.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Psa 45:13
The Kings daughter is all glorious within.
The Kings daughter glorious within and clothed with a garment of wrought gold
I. The believers inward glory.
1. All true believers have a glorious life. They live a life of justification, a life of holiness, and of sweet fellowship with God.
2. Believers have a glorious understanding and knowledge of God and Divine things. They have all received a heart to know God as their God in Christ; and that knowledge is eternal life begun.
3. Believers have a glorious conformity to and compliance with the will of God, wrought in their hearts by the Holy Spirit.
4. All true believers have a precious faith in, and a glorious love to, God in Christ implanted in their hearts by the Holy Spirit.
5. Believers have a glorious inward peace (Rom 5:1), a peace that passeth knowledge, a peace that the world knows not of, and which it can neither give nor take away.
6. Believers are possessed of a glorious joy and spiritual gladness. They stand by faith upon the sure foundation which God hath laid in Zion, and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God (Rom 5:2).
7. Believers are possessed of a meek and humble frame of heart and spirit, which is a great ornament to the soul in the sight of God; and is accordingly said to be of great price in His esteem (1Pe 3:4).
II. The apparel wherewith the believer is clothed. Wrought gold.
1. What we are to understand by it. All true believers are daughters of the King; they are chaste virgins, being espoused to His Son. They are a peculiar people; they dwell alone, and are not reckoned among the nations.
2. Its excellence.
(1) It is of an infinite value and worth, being the righteousness of God (Rom 1:17). It is a righteousness of Gods providing. The glorious Person who wrought out this righteousness is God (Rom 9:5); and the applier of it is God the Holy Ghost.
(2) It is of a durable and lasting nature.
(3) It is a garment for glory and for beauty.
(4) It is perfect and unsullied.
III. Use.
1. For information.
(1) Hence, see what a great and wonderful change, union to the person of Christ makes in the case of a poor, guilty, polluted sinner.
(2) Hence, see that imputed righteousness and inherent holiness go hand in hand together; where the one is, there is also the other.
(3) Hence, see what a precious thing the Gospel is; and how highly it ought to be had in estimation by all who enjoy it in purity. It reveals and brings the clothing of wrought gold near to the naked and starving soul (Isa 46:11-12).
(4) Hence, see that when one grace is implanted in the heart, there all grace is to be found.
(5) We may hence see the difference between the true believer and the hypocrite. The latter may have as fair an outside as the former; but he has no inward glory.
(6) Hence see who they are that are truly the excellent ones of the earth. They are not those whom the world generally takes to be so; nor those who are most disposed to account themselves so; but the truly excellent and honourable persons are those who are clothed in the robe of wrought gold, the embroidered garment of Immanuels righteousness, and made glorious within. These are the men whom the King hath highly advanced, and whom He delights to honour. (T. Bennet.)
The internal glory of the Kings daughter
The spiritual union that exists between Christ and His Church is here beautifully described. Within her pale were to be found in future ages the noble, the learned and the great. Kings daughters were to tread her courts and defend her bulwarks. Her territory was to be enlarged, for the daughter of Tyre was to be there as pro-figurative of that vast and large accession of heathen nations to the profession Of the Christian faith.
I. Gods glory is displayed in her as his residence and place of habitation. Transcendent on this account are the glory and beauty of the Church, which is called the city of God (Psa 46:4). In this city God dwells–God is in the midst of her (Psa 46:5); and she cannot but be glorious, because God delights in her for mans good: He is represented as loving the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob (Psa 48:2). The Church is described as beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth (Psa 48:2). Yea, glorious things are spoken of thee, thou city of God (Psa 87:3). Christ has secured to His Church the perpetuity of His presence by His own unalterable words (Mat 28:20). The Church is the depositary of Gods Word (1Ti 3:15). The Church is a witness and a keeper of holy writ (Art. 20); and by her is manifested all the glory of the Godhead in the face of Jesus Christ. Angels above and men below consider His salvation of His people glorious (Luk 15:7). The unsearchable riches of Christ are preached, to the intent that now unto the principalities, etc. (Eph 3:10). God does not now answer His people in a visible way, by Urim and Thummim, but yet in a real and effectual way, drawing nigh to them that draw nigh to Him; and, though God be neglected and forgotten and despised, yet He is known in her palaces for a refuge (Psa 48:3)–God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble (Psa 46:1).
II. The Kings daughter is all glorious within because Gods children are born is her, The figure of being all glorious within is, no doubt, taken from the splendour of Eastern palaces. The Asiatic queens, sultanas and begums scarcely ever appeared in public. They remained, as they do to the present day, in their harems, amidst splendid and gorgeous decorations. In the former part of the psalm are described the excellencies of God–in the latter part the excellencies of Gods Church. Now, whether we speak of the Church collectively, or of individual believers, their graces, their gifts, and their holiness, are the fruits of Christs passion and the work of the Holy Ghost, who renews the heart and rectifies the will. Of Zion it shall be said, this and that man was born in her (Psa 87:6). When a man is born again from above, he is accepted of God in the Beloved; Christs righteousness covers his past sins, and gives him a title to heaven. But the work does not stop here. Along with the title to heaven given to the believer in justification, there is also wrought in his heart, a meetness for heaven by sanctification. And what a privilege is this! Satan is trodden down under foot; the old man is supplanted by the new man; a depraved nature gives way to a divine nature; the image of Christ is imprinted on the heart; the believer is made like his Lord and Master–is changed from glory to glory. Now, whence is the source of all these blessings? They proceed from the King of the Church–from Him who has adopted the Church to be His daughter. With this agrees the language of the apostle (1Co 1:30). God is the Churchs glory; her honour, her wisdom and her grace proceed from Him who is, and shall be, the praise of the redeemed for ever.
III. The kings daughter is all glorious, because she is emblematic of heaven itself. Surely, when we are robed in Christs righteousness and blessed with His salvation, we shall go to the Church triumphant, of which the Church militant is a type, and has a rich foretaste. When the Church of Christ is fully prepared, she will at last be presented to God without spot. The union begun on earth will be satisfied and avowed in the Kings palace in heaven. Then will it be shouted through the universe (Rev 19:7). Then will there be a jubilee on earth; and then will the angels tune their golden harps to joyous hallelujahs in the heavens. The Church of God will then be complete; she shall be brought unto the King in raiment of needlework, etc. Then will angels rejoice; then will prophets, apostles, and martyrs, and saints in glory sing (Rev 5:13). Surely the Church is an emblem of heaven; for all who are born in her are come unto Mount Zion, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem (Heb 12:22). The temple of God on earth and His temple in heaven are two parts of one glorious whole. They enjoy distinctions far above any earthly temple. Of our earthly Zion it is said (Isa 60:19). And thus it is also in the heavenly Zion (Rev 21:23). It is but one family inhabiting both the one city and the other, even the family of our Lord Jesus Christ; and their employments are altogether the same; for whilst the one are rejoicing in the Lord always here below, the other are incessantly engaged in singing praises to Him above–even to Him who loved them, etc. (Rev 1:5-6). (E. Striokland, M. A.)
The beauty of the Kings Daughter
It has happened sometimes that persons of royal birth have not known their high rank. It was so with the founders of the great empire of Rome. Through jealousy two young princes were exposed on the banks of a river. After going through a strange experience they were found by a shepherd, whose simple, homely wife brought them up in her cottage as her own sons. Not till they were grown up did they discover their royal origin, and then together they founded Rome. Like them, some of us have never dreamt that we were kings daughters. Some smile incredulously at the very idea. But it is a fact that every one of us may be a kings daughter (2Co 6:18; Rom 8:29; Mat 12:50). Then what a comfort to remember that since we are the Kings daughters His wealth is ours. The King, our Father, has wonderful resources. There is one word of warning I would like to say. Many folk, when they are in trouble, say, Oh yes, if I trust in God, it will be all right. I must trust Him; theres no one else to trust to. But they forget that if they want to claim Gods fatherly provision they must live as His daughters. Then, the Kings daughter is all glorious within. She is not a sham. Mere outside goodness is not enough. The mind must be cleansed from all evil imaginations, the affections withdrawn from all wrong objects. If we nurse and foster any heart sin we are dead to our high privilege as the Kings daughters, for they are all glorious within. You notice the clothing is of wrought gold. Trouble has been taken with it, it has been worked or wrought. And it is made of gold, it is durable, it will stand the testing fires. Let us take more trouble to make our garment of lifework durable and beautiful. And then the Kings daughter is to be brought in raiment of needlework. Day by day we are putting in the stitches. Every word, every act is a stitch making or marring the beauty of the whole. Those mistaken stitches can never be drawn out. Then take the marred work to the King now, by faith place it in His hands, tell Him just how you feel about it; and you will find that for the truly contrite soul filled with sorrow and regret for past failures the King has a marvellous fashion of beautifying spoilt work, and covering the ugly stitches with His own embroidery of love. And let us remember that beauty comes from within. Paint and powder do not make beauty. Health and goodness do. Made beautiful within, we shall be enabled to express the inner life in a consistent and beautiful outward life which may well be compared to wrought gold and embroidered work. (Anon.)
The Kings daughters
1. The bridegroom is Jesus Himself; Solomon is but His type. The Church that is without wrinkle or spot, or any such thing is the beautiful bride. She is possessed of all those graces of heart and mind as well as of person which would incline the king to rejoice in her beauty.
2. Not unsuited to this occasion are allusions to this beautiful psalm. Before us we see the virgins that should be the attendants of the bride of Christ, the kings daughters who should be her honourable women. It is their vocation to do her honour, to lend additional though reflected lustre to her court. Whatever of beauty is theirs; whatever of grace and winning ways; whatever gives them influence or power in the Church or in the world–they are all the attributes that better qualify them for the duties of their high station. There may well be, there should be, gifts of gold, the fragrance of myrrh, aloes and cassia, beautiful forms and features, shining eyes, and ivory palaces at the marriage of the kings son. They are, however, the accidents and not the essential attributes of the virgins who are worthy to wait upon the spouse of Christ; like her, they must be all glorious within. No age ever excelled that of Pericles in all the arts that give softness and refinement to life. Painting, sculpture, the genius of Phidias and Praxiteles, the pencil of Zeuxis; the temple of the virgin goddess, with its elegant proportions and its carved facade, even in ruins one of the wonders of the world; poetry, oratory–all illustrated it and adorned it. The splendour of its court has passed into a proverb. Aspasia presided over it, wonderful for her wit, and beauty, and grace, yea, for her wisdom and learning, the confidante and counsellor of statesmen and kings. Her intellect, as her person, had been cultivated to its utmost limit; in that respect she was the paragon of her sex. But what ago was more corrupt than that of Pericles? Aspasia herself, the education of her moral nature and of her heart neglected, was a wreck; as the poet says, one of those shameless women who are the worst of men. She was a splendid monument of what the unsanctified can be and do. Her clothing was of wrought gold, but she was not worthy to be a daughter of the King, for she was not all glorious within. No regard was paid to her complex being; her nature was distorted, and in the absence of virtue and religion she was not an unmeet prototype of many of the discrowned women of our own age. When you increase the capacity of the intellect and dwarf the moral nature, you produce not symmetry and grace, but spiritual deformity. There is in all true education a law of proportion; the mind, the heart, the body, must all be cultured if we would have a truly cultured man.
3. Therefore it is, O daughters of the Church! that we rejoice with you on this anniversary; therefore do we feel in the deep of our heart the munificence which has provided for you this sequestered and beautiful retreat, where learning is to be for over the handmaid of religion. Religion has made woman what she is. It has lifted her out of the slough of slavery and placed her upon a pedestal where she commands the admiration and love of the world; it has given her a potent influence in moulding its destiny. Deprive her of it, and she would fall back into the starless night whence she was so long emerging. Her clothing may be of wrought gold, she may be all covered with barbaric pearl; but only as she is a daughter of the King can she be all glorious within. (G. F. Cushman.)
The kings daughter
Here are two aspects of the kings daughter–the internal and the external; within all glorious, without covered with wrought gold–a magnificent congruity, a spiritual miracle of consistency. Glorious, not commonplace; separated from every other institution or mode of life by a dazzling, gleaming brightness above the shining of the sun. All glorious–not one shadow, not one indication of love of darkness. All glorious in doctrine, in conduct, in speech, in thought, in the innermost recesses of the heart–all glorious within. Why? Because of a conscious realization of the Divine presence. Have we made our preparation for the Chief of Guests? Has the housewife made no arrangement to receive her visitor with becoming care and distinction? Mystery of mysteries is this, that the mortal can talk with the Eternal; that the creature can commune with the Creator; that a life so low that presently it will be cut down and burned like grass in the oven can go right up to eternal Kingliness and say, Let us commune together concerning the mystery of being and the mystery of destiny, the mystery of conduct and the mystery of service; O Eternal King, let poor me talk with Thee a tong time! Out of this must come a growing solicitude to be transformed into the Divine likeness. What is the kings daughter without? Look at her clothing; that will answer the inquiry–Her clothing is of wrought gold. The internal glory is proved by the external beauty. There is a clothing which we are called upon to admire–the clothing of the kings daughter is of wrought gold: no dress can be too beautiful if it express a beautiful character. We are not to be too literal in our construction of these sentences–there is a transfiguring process of soul upon cloth, if you will have it so; there is a possibility that a carpenters raiment may become white and glistering. The internal light illumines the external robe. Here is a man who has been a long time in prayer; he comes down the hill as morning might come down the quickly illuminated mountain; speak to the man, and he wists not that his face doth shine. This is the beauty of heaven; this is not formal beauty; this is the light that springeth from within, which will be as beauteous in the morning as it is at night, in the winter as in the summer; how trying soever the circumstances through which the man may pass, he will throw a sacred radiance upon his whole condition, and make a space for himself by the power of wisdom. Sometimes we have seen a man surrounded by estates, and have felt that the man was greater than the property; we have said, What a soul this man has! Listen to his thoughts, hear his conversation; presently he will rise into prayer, or utter himself in sacred song, or speak lovingly and redeemingly about the poor and those who have no helper; and then the environment falls away into its right perspective, and we say, Would God this man owned the whole world I for then the poor would be made to rejoice, and the sad of heart would know what a friend they had. If there is any disparity it should be on the spiritual side, so that we shall say concerning a man, however much he has, he ought to have more; he is a faithful steward, a generous administrator; appoint him the guardian of society. In the costume as described by the poet we have no contradiction, no irony, no sense of incongruity; we have a massive, simple, beautiful, beneficent consistency. What is the miracle that Jesus Christ wants to work? It is the miracle of congruity, the miracle of harmony, the miracle of music; it is to make us internally right that He may make us externally beautiful and noble. (J. Parker, D. D.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 13. 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 splendour of her palace. The Asiatic queens, sultanas, and begums, scarcely ever appear in public. They abide in the harem in the greatest luxury and splendour; 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.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The kings daughter, i.e. the spouse; so called, either because she was the daughter of one king, and the wife of another; or because the spouse or wife is sometimes called the husbands daughter; partly because she is supposed to be younger than he; and partly because of that respect and subjection which she oweth to him, and that fatherly care and affection which he oweth to her. See 2Sa 12:3; Jer 3:4. So the bridegroom calls his spouse his sister, Son 4:9. Thus Livia, the wife of Augustus, is called his sister in ancient coins.
Within; either,
1. Even in her retiring chambers in the kings palace, and not only when she showeth herself abroad. Or rather,
2. In her mind and soul, or in spiritual endowments, the excellent virtues and graces wherewith she is accomplished. For,
1. This is opposed to her outward clothing.
2. This being so great and so necessary a qualification of a worthy spouse, it is not likely it should be omitted in her description and commendation, especially when the bridegroom is commended for his inward accomplishments as well as for his outward glory, Psa 45:4,7
3. The church is this bride, as hath been said and proved before, whose true and chief beauty is inward and spiritual, and not consisting in outward pomp and glory.
Her clothing is of wrought gold; her inward perfections do not rest within her, but break forth into virtuous and honourable actions, wherewith she is adorned in the view of the world. This suits well with the style of the Holy Scriptures, wherein the saints are oft said to be clothed with virtues and virtuous actions. See Psa 132:9; 1Pe 5:5.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
13. the king’s daughtera termof dignity. It may also intimate, with some allusion to the teachingof the allegory, that the bride of Christ, the Church, is thedaughter of the great king, God.
withinNot only is heroutward raiment costly, but all her apparel is of the richesttexture.
wrought goldgoldembroidery, or cloth in which gold is woven.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
The King’s daughter [is] all glorious within,…. The “King’s daughter” is the same with the “queen”, Ps 45:9; the church, who is the King’s daughter, the daughter of the King of kings, through adopting grace, by marriage to Christ the King’s son, and by regeneration, or being born of God: and she is “all glorious within”; within doors, in the inner chamber of the King, where being brought, she enjoys such communion with him as reflects a glory upon her; in his banqueting house, where his banner over her is love, and where her members enjoy fellowship with one another, and this in harmony, unity, and love; which make her look amiable, pleasant, beautiful and glorious: or within the hearts of her members, through the internal graces of the Spirit wrought there; the work of grace is an inward work; it has its seat in the heart or spirit of man, and is a glorious one, in its author, original, and usefulness; it is the workmanship of the Spirit, and a curious piece it is; it is the image of Christ upon the soul, a partaking of the divine nature; it is pure and spotless; it is clear of all sin, there is no sin in it, nor any comes from it; it is the saints’ meetness for glory; it is the pledge, earnest, and beginning of it; it is “all glorious”, and so are the persons that are the subjects of it, as born of God: there is nothing glorious in the old man, or corrupt nature; but in the new man, or work of grace upon the soul, everything is glorious, and it will issue in eternal glory and happiness: or all glorified within r; like any house or building, to which the church is sometimes compared, particularly the tabernacle or temple, which were glorious within side being greatly adorned, and having many glorious things therein; as the church is with the graces of the spirit, and with the word and ordinances, and the presence of God in them;
her clothing [is] of wrought gold; this is different from internal grace, which is sometimes spoken of as a clothing, 1Pe 5:5; since that is designed in the preceding clause; and yet this does not intend the outward conversation garments of the saints, which, though ornamental, are not so glorious as to be said to be of wrought gold; and yet not the robes of immortality and glory are meant; but the robe of Christ’s righteousness, which he has wrought out for his church, the Father imputes unto her, and bestows upon her, and faith receives at his hand, and puts it on as a clothing, to appear in before God; and this may be said to be “of wrought gold”; because rich and valuable, splendid and glorious, substantial and durable.
r “honorata”, Junius Tremellius “glorificata”, Gussetius, p. 362.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(Heb.: 45:14-16) Now follows the description of the manner in which she absolutely leaves her father’s house, and richly adorned and with a numerous train is led to the king and makes her entry into his palace; and in connection therewith we must bear in mind that the poet combines on the canvas of one picture (so to speak) things that lie wide apart both as to time and place. He sees her first of all in her own chamber ( , prop. towards the inside, then also in the inside, Ges. 90, 2, b), and how there
(Note: In Babylonia these words, according to B. Jebamoth 77 a, are cited in favour of domesticity as a female virtue; in Palestine ( ), more appropriately, Gen 18:9. The lxx Codd. Vat. et Sinait. has (Eusebius), which is meaningless; Cod. Alex. correctly, (Italic, Jerome, Syriac, Chrysostom, Theodoret, Apollinaris).)
she is nothing but splendour ( , prop. mere splendour, fem. of as in Eze 23:41; cf. , Psa 39:6, mere nothingness), her clothing is gold-interwoven textures (i.e., such as are interwoven with threads of gold, or woven in squares or diamond patterns and adorned with gold in addition). She, just like Esther (Est 2:12), is being led to the king, her husband, and this takes place , in variegated, embroidered garments ( used just as adverbially as in 2Ch 20:21, ), with a retinue of virgins, her companions, who at the same time with herself become the property of her spouse. According to the accents it is to be rendered: virgines post eam, sociae ejus, adducuntur tibi , so that is an apposition. This is also in harmony with the allegorical interpretation of the Psalm as a song of the church. The bride of the Lamb, whom the writer of the Apocalypse beheld, arrayed in shining white linen ( byssus), which denotes her righteousness, just as here the variegated, golden garments denote her glory, is not just one person nor even one church, but the church of Israel together with the churches of the Gentiles united by one common faith, which have taken a hearty and active part in the restoration of the daughter of Zion. The procession moves on with joy and rejoicing; it is the march of honour of the one chosen one and of the many chosen together with her, of her friends or companions; and to what purpose, is shown by the hopes which to the mind of the poet spring up out of the contemplation of this scene.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
13 The daughter of the King is all glorious within (172) This verse may be understood in a twofold sense; either as meaning that the queen, not only when she appears in public before all the people, but also when sitting in private in her own chamber, is always sumptuously apparelled; or, that the splendor and gorgeous appearance of her attire is not merely a thing of display, designed to dazzle the eyes of the simple, but consists of expensive and really substantial material. The prophet accordingly enhances the happy and lofty condition of the queen by the circumstance, that she has not only sumptuous apparel in which she may appear on particular occasions, but also for her ordinary and daily attire. Others expound it in this sense, That all her glory consists in the king inviting her familiarity into his presence; and this opinion they rest on the ground that immediately after there is a description given of her as passing into the chamber of the king accompanied with a great and glorious train of followers. This display of pomp exceeds the bounds of due moderation; but, in the meantime, we are taught by it, that while the Church is thus richly apparelled, it is not designed to attract the notice of men, but only for the pleasure of the King. If in our day the Church is not so richly adorned with that spiritual beauty in which the glory of Christ shines forth, the fault ought to be imputed to the ingratitude of men, who either through their own indifference despise the goodness of God, or else, after having been enriched by him, again fall into a state of poverty and want.
(172) Dathe and Berlin refer within to the interior of the queen’s palace, which seems to agree best with the context. The original word rendered within denotes the interior of a house in Lev 10:18, and 1Kg 6:18. Fry explains the words thus: “ Most splendid is the royal daughter within the awning of her covered vehicle;” and refers to the picture of a bridal procession in Mr Lane’s Egypt. Dr Geddes reads: —
“
All glorious is the queen in her apartment, Her robe is bespangled with gold; To the king she shall be brought in brocade, Attended by her virgin companions.”
“
This,” says he, namely, verse 13th, “and the two next verses, contain a fine description of Oriental manners. The queen, before she be led to the king’s apartment, is gorgeously dressed in her own; and thence proceeds with her female train to the royal palace.”
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(13) The kings daughter is all glorious withini.e., in the interior, in the inner room of the palace. The next clause would alone dismiss the reference to moral qualities from which has sprung such a wealth of mystic interpretation. But what palace is intended? Certainly not that of the royal bridegroom, since the procession (see Psa. 45:14) has not yet reached its destination. We must therefore think of her waiting, in all the splendour of her bridal array, in her own apartments, or in some temporary abode.
Wrought goldi.e., textures woven with gold. The Hebrew word is used also of gems set in gold. The Eastern tales just referred to speak of the custom of repeatedly changing the brides dress during the marriage ceremonies, every time presenting her in greater magnificence than before.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
13. King’s daughter is all glorious within That is, in her interior apartments of the harem. Gesenius supposes it to be the inner wall of the house, opposite the entrance, the place of the throne, and hence equal to “upon the throne.” But it seems more natural and more in accordance with usage to simply understand it of her own apartments, which Solomon had finished in such magnificence.
Clothing is of wrought gold Gold inwrought with the texture of the fabric; an embroidery of gold settings.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
The Glory Of The Bride ( Psa 45:13-15 ).
The glory of the bride, who is a king’s daughter, is now described, and her entrance in splendour into the king’s palace.
Psa 45:13-15
‘The king’s daughter within the palace is all glorious,
Her clothing is inwrought with gold.
She will be led to the king in embroidered work,
The virgins her companions who follow her,
Will be brought to you.’
With gladness and rejoicing will they be led,
They will enter into the king’s palace.’
Having responded to the advice given to her the bride now leaves her palace and goes bravely to the king’s palace amidst all the festivities. She is splendidly dressed in a gold interlaced, heavily embroidered outfit, and is led forth to her bridegroom. Her virgin companions accompany her in solemn and stately procession, and they are brought with gladness and rejoicing into the king’s own palace.
‘Will be brought to you.’ The Psalmist has been talking to the prospective queen, (Psa 45:10-11), but had changed tense to describe her splendour, now he turns back to speaking to her again.
We can see in this splendour of the bride a picture of the even greater splendour given to Christ’s church, when she is to be ‘glorious, without spot and blemish and any such thing’ (Eph 5:26). She too will enter Heaven with rejoicing.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Psa 45:13-14. The king’s daughter, &c. The king’s daughter, the church, is said to be all glorious within; that is, adorned with the most excellent graces and virtues. Her clothing is of wrought gold; i.e. those graces and virtues shall display themselves outwardly, and recommend themselves by the lustre of good works. See Mat 5:16 and respecting the companions of the church, and the rejoicing, Rev 1:4; Rev 19:6-7; Act 2:46-47.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
DISCOURSE: 578
THE CHURCHS BEAUTY AND HAPPINESS
Psa 45:13-16. The Kings daughter is all glorious within; her clothing is of wrought gold. She shall be brought unto the King in raiment of needle-work: the virgins, her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee: with gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought; they shall enter into the Kings palace.
AMONGST the schoolmen of former days, there were many disputes about works of condignity, and works of congruity as contributing to effect the salvation of men. That in no point of view whatever, did works render men deserving of Gods favours is the avowed sentiment of our Church; yet to the full attainment of salvation, it is quite necessary that every man be holy, and possess what the Scriptures call a meetness for the inheritance of the saints in light.
The Church is here represented under the character of a Bride that is to be joined, as in the marriage union, to her Lord. For this she must be prepared: and a preparation shall be given her suited to the occasion. In the former part of this psalm, which is penned on the occasion of her marriage, the excellencies of her Lord are set forth: in this latter part, her excellencies also. Let us consider,
I.
Her transcendent qualities
In the words which we have read, we see,
1.
The internal qualities of her mind
[The Kings daughter is all glorious within. She once, in her unconverted state, was corrupt even as others: but she has been born again, and renewed in the spirit of her mind, and made altogether a new creature. Once, being born only after the flesh, she had nothing but what was carnal: but now, having been born of the Spirit, she possesses a truly spiritual nature, or, as St. Peter expresses it, she is a partaker of the Divine nature [Note: 2Pe 1:4.]; and is progressively changed into the image of her Lord himself, from glory to glory, by the Spirit of the Lord [Note: 2Co 3:18.]. Hence the mind that was in Christ Jesus is found in her [Note: Php 2:5.]. She has the same views, the same principles, the same desires, the same delights. There is indeed still a corrupt nature within her, the flesh lusting against the Spirit, as well as the Spirit against the flesh: but she longs to be holy, as her Lord is holy; and strives to be perfect, as her Father which is in heaven is perfect. When compared with what she was, she differs as light from darkness: but in comparison of what she will be, she is only as the dawn to the meridian sun; for her path is as the shining light, which shineth more and more unto the perfect day.]
2.
The external habits of her life
[Her clothing is of wrought gold. This refers to the outward conversation, which is often in Scripture represented as a putting off of the old man, and putting on the new: Put off, as concerning the former conversation, says the Apostle, the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and put on the new man, which after God is created in right-eousness and true holiness [Note: Eph 4:22; Eph 4:24.]. To the same effect is that other expression of his, Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ [Note: Rom 13:14.]: that is, let your whole deportment be such as his was; so that any one who beholds you may be constrained to confess, that you walk as he walked [Note: 1Jn 2:6.], and that, as he was, so are you in this world [Note: 1Jn 4:17.]. Such is every true Believer; nor will the heavenly Bridegroom acknowledge as his, any one, whose spirit, and temper, and conduct do not accord with his. The raiment of needle-work may fitly represent the assemblage of all the diversified graces which adorn her. All her dispositions being duly chastised, harmoniously tempered, and opportunely exercised, she shines in every department, and in every act; and at once approves herself faithful to her obligations, and meet for the ulterior honours that shall be conferred upon her.]
Suited to these qualities is,
II.
The felicity prepared for her
In due time she shall be brought to the Kings palace, there to be united to him in indissoluble and everlasting bonds.
Whilst she is here, she is to be employed in making herself ready
[In royal nuptials, much time was spent in preparing the bride for her husband. In the purification of the virgins from amongst whom King Ahasuerus was to select a wife, a whole year was occupied: six months in purifying them with oil of myrrh, and other six months with sweet odours of different kinds [Note: Est 2:12-13.]: after which they were presented to him. In like manner we are told, that the Church also is dealt with, in order to prepare her for her heavenly Bridegroom: for it is said, that Christ loved the Church, and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious Church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish [Note: Eph 5:25-27.].
This process is going forward through the whole of this life. Every work of Providence, every communication of grace, every afflictive dispensation, and every joyous occurrence, is intended to advance it; that so at last the soul of the Believer may be altogether worthy to stand before the King of kings, and to be admitted to the closest fellowship with him for ever and ever.]
This work completed, she is introduced into the palace of her Lord
[It was customary for a number of bridemaids to attend upon the bride, in order to welcome her to her destined home [Note: Mat 25:1.]. Accordingly it is said, The virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought with her to the Kings palace. Even here, whenever any are united unto the Lord, many, both of saints and angels, are ready to congratulate them on the blissful occasion. And how much more will this be the case, when those who are espoused to him in this world shall be brought to consummate their nuptials in the realms of bliss! We read of angels waiting upon Lazarus to bear his spirit to Abrahams bosom. So at the departure of every saint we may well conceive of multitudes of angels and of their former friends coming forth to welcome their arrival. And O! what Joy will fill every soul! It is said, With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: and we may see in the book of Revelations the whole ceremony pass, as it were, before our eyes. I heard the voice of a great multitude, saying, Allelujah! Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to Him; for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the white linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage-supper of the Lamb [Note: Rev 19:6-9.]. Yes, blessed are they indeed, whether in the character of the spouse or her attendants: for though on earth they are different, in heaven they are the same; the one being the collective body of the Church, of which the others are the individual members. This representation, it must be confessed, is figurative: but under the figure there is a reality: for, as the Scripture says, These are the true sayings of God [Note: Rev 19:9.]!]
Address
1.
Those who have never yet been espoused to Christ
[Let it not be forgotten, that this is a very common figure in Scripture to represent the surrender of the soul to God. To his Church of old, God said by the prophet Hosea, Thou shalt abide for me many days; (referring, like our text, to the purifications preparatory to nuptials;) thou shalt not play the harlot; and thou shalt not be for another man: so will I also be for thee [Note: Hos 3:3.]. And again; I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in loving-kindness, and in mercies: I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness, and thou shalt know the Lord [Note: Hos 2:19-20.]. In the New Testament also every believer is spoken of in this view: I have espoused you to one Husband, says St. Paul, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ [Note: 2Co 11:2.]. Know ye then, that if you have never solemnly engaged yourselves to Christ, as a virgin does to the object of her affections, and so pledged yourselves, as not for a moment to admit a rival to your heart, you are not yet Christians indeed: you may bear the name; but you have no just title to the character. I call upon you therefore to do this without delay. And, if you desire to postpone this necessary act, I ask, Whom have you found so worthy of your affections as the Lord Jesus Christ? Who has done so much for you to deserve them? and who will ever make you so rich a return? Say not, What is thy Beloved more than another beloved, that thou dost so charge us [Note: Son 5:9.]: for there is none to be compared with Him, either in heaven or on earth. He is fairer than the children of men [Note: Psa 45:2.]: He is the chiefest among ten thousand: He is altogether lovely [Note: Son 5:10; Son 5:16.]. O, rest not, till with holy confidence you can say, This is my Beloved, and this is my Friend, O daughters of Jerusalem [Note: Son 5:16.]. And so set yourselves from this moment to prepare yourselves for him, that he may shortly bring you to his banqueting-house, and his banner over you be love [Note: Son 2:4.].]
2.
Those who profess to stand in the relation of his Spouse
[Look forward for the period when he will come and take you to himself. The precise hour of his arrival is not known: but it will not be very long, at all events. In the mean time, let your preparation for him be diligent and unintermitted. Seek to be daily more and more glorious within, and to have your clothing of wrought gold ever ready; so that if his arrival be ever so sudden, he may not find you unprepared for his call. Be jealous over yourselves; and forgive me if I also be jealous over you, in relation to this matter. You know how the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety even in Paradise: and you may be sure that he will use his utmost efforts to corrupt you from the simplicity that is in Christ [Note: 2Co 11:3.]. Be on your guard therefore, lest either in principle or in practice you turn aside from him. He has numberless instruments whom he employs as his agents to deceive the world; deceitful workers, who can transform themselves into the Apostles of Christ; as he himself also is not unfrequently transformed into an angel of light [Note: 2Co 11:13-14.]. But entreat of God to keep you: beg of him to hedge up your way with thorns, and even to build up a wall around you, that, if you should for a moment incline to follow after your former lovers , you may not be able to find your paths. If unhappily you have gone in pursuit of them , implore of God, that you may never find them; or, having found, may never overtake them: or, if you have overtaken them , separate yourselves instantly from them, and say, I will go and return to my first husband; for then it was better with me than now [Note: Hos 2:6-7.] ]
Fuente: Charles Simeon’s Horae Homileticae (Old and New Testaments)
Whether the church be called the Spouse of Christ, the daughter of Christ, or the Sister of Christ, (for these are only so many different terms to point out the several gracious connections into which Christ hath condescended to put himself) they all mean to show Jesus’s love to his redeemed. Son 6 . But under everyone of them, the adornings of their persons, being from and in the same apparel, even the righteousness of Jesus, cannot but be all glorious within. It is the hidden man of the heart; that which is spiritual, and altogether of his graces. Hence, in reference to this adorning, both Christ and his Church are represented in Isa 61:10 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 45:13 The king’s daughter [is] all glorious within: her clothing [is] of wrought gold.
Ver. 13. The king’s daughter is all glorious within] In the inner man, Eph 3:16 , the hidden man of the heart, 1Pe 3:4 . Great is the glory of the new creature; but not discerned by the world, through which the saints must be content to pass as concealed persons; and not think much to have the greater part of their ware in the inner part of their shop, and not all on the board or stall.
Her clothing is of wrought gold
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Psa 45:13-15
13The King’s daughter is all glorious within;
Her clothing is interwoven with gold.
14She will be led to the King in embroidered work;
The virgins, her companions who follow her,
Will be brought to You.
15They will be led forth with gladness and rejoicing;
They will enter in to the King’s palace.
Psa 45:13-15 This refers to the wedding party from the harem (virgins). The other wives (besides the Queen) are called daughters (cf. Psa 45:9-10; Psa 45:12-13).
This strophe was spiritualized by the Church to refer to herself! This was also done with Song of Songs (Canticles).
Psa 45:13
NASB, NKJVwithin
JPSOAinside
The MT has within (, BDB 819, LXX), but some scholars suppose pearls (, BDB 819, cf. Job 28:18; Pro 3:15; Pro 8:11; Pro 31:10; Lam 4:7).
The UBS Text Project gives the MT an A rating.
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
is. The Ellipsis better supplied thus: “all glorious [sitteth enthroned] within”. These Ellipses are caused by the bubbling over of the inditing heart, which is too quick for the pen.
all glorious = nothing but glory. Compare Isa 4:5.
within: i.e. in the inner palace; not internally.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Psa 45:13-14
Psa 45:13-14
“The king’s daughter within the palace is all glorious:
Her clothing is inwrought with gold.
She shall be led unto the king in broidered work:
The virgins her companions that follow her
Shall be brought unto thee.”
“The king’s daughter within the palace.” Ah! Who is the king’s daughter?. She is, of course, the Bride, who in the scriptural sense is also the daughter of the King, all the Redeemed of all ages being in truth, “The children of God.” Mixed metaphors of this kind are a distinctive characteristic of the Hebrew mind.
In this chapter the believing community of God’s people appears under three different metaphors. In their experience of the new birth, all were born into God’s family and are therefore sons and daughters of the King. (1) Thus the church here is called the King’s Daughter; (2) she is also the Queen clad in the gold of Ophir; and (3) she is the Bride of the Lamb of God. This is not any more mysterious than the doctrine of the Trinity; and neither of these is capable of being understood by radical critics. There are many precious realities of God’s kingdom that cannot be discerned by natural (or unregenerated) man, nor by any whose minds have been blinded by the god of this world. As Paul expressed it:
“Now the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him; and he cannot … know them because they are spiritually judged” (1Co 2:14).
E.M. Zerr:
Psa 45:13. It is indicative of the high estate of a king that his family can be equipped with the gorgeous raiment. Such a state was predicted for the king in the mind of the Spirit as he directed David in this wonderful chapter.
Psa 45:14. This verse continues along the same line as that in the preceding one. Needlework was a leading finery of old times and indicated a state of delicate dignity.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
king’s: Psa 45:9, Psa 45:10, Son 7:1, Isa 61:10, 1Pe 2:9, Rev 19:7, Rev 19:8
all glorious: 1Sa 16:7, Luk 11:40, Rom 2:29, 2Co 5:17, 1Pe 3:3, 1Pe 3:4
clothing: Psa 45:9, Mat 5:16, Mat 22:11, Mat 22:12, Rom 3:22, Rom 13:14, Rev 3:18
Reciprocal: Gen 24:47 – I put Gen 37:3 – a coat Exo 26:7 – curtains 2Sa 13:18 – a garment Pro 31:22 – clothing Son 1:8 – O thou Son 4:7 – General Son 5:9 – O thou Jer 2:32 – a maid Eze 16:10 – clothed Eze 16:13 – thou didst Luk 15:22 – the best Eph 5:27 – glorious 1Ti 2:9 – not
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Psa 45:13. The Kings daughter The spouse, so called, because she was the daughter of one king, and the wife of another: intending the church of Christ; is all glorious within In internal graces and gifts, with which she is adorned and accomplished. Her clothing is of wrought gold Her internal perfections do not rest within her, but break forth into virtuous and honourable actions, wherewith she is adorned in the view of the world.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
45:13 The king’s daughter [is] all glorious {l} within: her clothing [is] of wrought gold.
(l) There is nothing feigned or hypocritical but she is glorious both within and without: and even though the Church has not always had this outward glory, the fault is to be imputed only to their own ingratitude.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
The bride was the daughter of a king herself. In these verses the psalmist pictured her coming into the palace for her marriage to her husband.