Psalm 129:5-8

5 May all who hate Zion be ¹put to shame and turned backward!

6 Let them be like ²the grass on the housetops, which ³withers before it grows up,

7 with which the reaper does not fill his hand nor the binder of sheaves his arms,

8 nor do those who pass by say, ⁴“The blessing of the Lord be upon you! We ⁵bless you in the name of the Lord! ”

Psalm 129:5-8 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

• 1. 129:5 See Ps. 35:4
• 2. 129:6 2 Kgs. 19:26; Isa. 37:27
• 3. 129:6 Ps. 37:2; Job 8:12
• 4. 129:8 Ruth 2:4
• 5. 129:8 Ps. 118:26