Psalms 129:1-7

Prayer for the Overthrow of Zion's Enemies.

1 "Many times they have 1persecuted me from my 2youth up," 3Let Israel now say,
2 "Many times they have persecuted me from my youth up; Yet they have 4not prevailed against me.
3 "The plowers plowed upon my back; They lengthened their furrows."
4 The LORD 5is righteous; He has cut in two the 6cords of the wicked.
5 May all who 7hate Zion Be 8put to shame and turned backward;
6 Let them be like 9grass upon the housetops, Which withers before it grows up;
7 With which the reaper does not fill his hand, Or the binder of sheaves his 10bosom;

Psalms 129:1-7 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 129

\\<>\\. This psalm was written in later times, after many of the distresses of Israel; very probably upon the Jews return from the Babylonish captivity, by Ezra, or some other godly person. Aben Ezra says the psalmist speaks in the language of Israel in captivity; and the same is the sense of Kimchi and Arama. The Syriac inscription is, ``a psalm without a name, concerning the distress of the people; but as to us, it intimates to us the victory and triumph of the worshippers.''

Cross References 10

  • 1. Exodus 1:11; Judges 3:8; Psalms 88:15
  • 2. Isaiah 47:12; Jeremiah 2:2; Jeremiah 22:21; Ezekiel 16:22; Hosea 2:15; Hosea 11:1
  • 3. Psalms 124:1
  • 4. Jeremiah 1:19; Jeremiah 15:20; Jeremiah 20:11; Matthew 16:18; 2 Corinthians 4:8, 9
  • 5. Psalms 119:137
  • 6. Psalms 140:5
  • 7. Micah 4:11
  • 8. Psalms 70:3; Psalms 71:13
  • 9. 2 Kings 19:26; Psalms 37:2; Isaiah 37:27
  • 10. Psalms 79:12

Footnotes 6

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