Psalms 129:7

7 a reaper cannot fill his hands with it, nor one who gathers fill his arms.

Psalms 129:7 in Other Translations

KJV
7 Wherewith the mower filleth not his hand; nor he that bindeth sheaves his bosom.
ESV
7 with which the reaper does not fill his hand nor the binder of sheaves his arms,
NLT
7 ignored by the harvester, despised by the binder.
MSG
7 Before the farmhands can gather it in, the harvesters get in the crop,
CSB
7 and can't even fill the hands of the reaper or the arms of the one who binds sheaves.

Psalms 129:7 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 129:7

Wherewith the mower filleth not his hand
Such grass never rises high enough to be mowed, nor is of that account to have such pains taken with it; nor the quantity so large as to fill a mower's hand, and carry it away in his arms;

nor he that bindeth sheaves his bosom;
when corn is mowed or reaped, the binders come and gather it up in their arms, and bind it in sheaves, and then bring it into the barn; but nothing of this kind is done with grass on the housetops. This represents the insignificancy and worthlessness of wicked men; who, when the harvest comes, the end of the world, will not be gathered in by the reapers, the angels, into Christ's garner into heaven as the wheat, the righteous will; but like the tares and chaff will be cast into unquenchable fire, ( Matthew 3:12 ) ( Luke 3:17 ) .

Psalms 129:7 In-Context

5 May all who hate Zion be turned back in shame.
6 May they be like grass on the roof, which withers before it can grow;
7 a reaper cannot fill his hands with it, nor one who gathers fill his arms.
8 May those who pass by not say to them, “The blessing of the LORD be on you; we bless you in the name of the LORD.”

Cross References 1

  • 1. S Deuteronomy 28:38; Psalms 79:12
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