H5605 H5605
stand at threshold—serve as doorkeeper
This reflexive verb means to position oneself at the threshold, serving as a doorkeeper or guard. The psalmist uses it to express his devotion to God's house, declaring he would rather stand at the threshold of God's temple than dwell in the tents of wickedness. The imagery conveys humble service—even the lowliest position in God's presence surpasses any worldly privilege. The Hitpael stem emphasizes deliberate self-positioning and sustained standing.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Hitpael infinitive 'to stand at the threshold' or serve as doorkeeper (Ps 84:10). The psalmist prefers the humblest temple service—guarding the entrance—over dwelling with the wicked. The verb choice emphasizes voluntary positioning and sustained presence. Spanish 'estar en el umbral' captures the locational aspect, while the theological point values any proximity to God's presence. 1×
AR["الْوُقُوفَ"]·ben["দোরগোড়ায়-দাঁড়াতে"]·DE["zu-stehen-bei-der-threshold"]·EN["to-stand-at-the-threshold"]·FR["le-seuil"]·heb["הסתופף"]·HI["द्वारपाल-होना"]·ID["berdiri-di-ambang-pintu"]·IT["[הסתופף]"]·jav["jumeneng-ing-kori"]·KO["문지방-서기-를"]·PT["estar-à-porta"]·RU["стоять-у-порога"]·ES["estar-en-el-umbral"]·SW["kusimama-mlangoni"]·TR["eşikte-durmayı"]·urd["دہلیز-پر-کھڑا-رہنا"]
Related Senses
H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)G1909 1. on, upon (spatial surface) (757×)H0369 1. existential negation: there is not (738×)H5869a 1. in the eyes/sight of (evaluative) (734×)H5650 1. Servant, attendant, subject (723×)H0408 1. prohibitive negation do-not (712×)G2443 1. so that, in order that (purpose/result) (665×)G0575 1. from (649×)G1223 1. through, by means of (582×)H3541 1. thus, so, in this manner (569×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† [ספף] vb. denom. Hithpôʿ. stand at, or guard, the threshold;—Inf. cstr. בָּחַ֫רְתִּי הִסְתּוֹפֵף בְּבֵית אֱלֹהַי ψ 84:11 I choose standing at the threshold in the house of my God.