Psalm 124:3

3 then they would have swallowed us alive, when their anger was kindled against us.

Psalm 124:3 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 124:3

Then they had swallowed us up quick
Or "alive"; as the earth swallowed up Korah and his company; or as the fish swallowed up Jonah; or rather as ravenous beasts swallow their prey; to which the allusion is. The people of God are comparable to sheep and lambs, and such like innocent creatures: and the wicked to lions, tigers, wolves, bears, and such like beasts of prey that devour living creatures;

when their wrath was kindled against us;
which is cruel and outrageous; there is no standing against it, nor before it; it is like a fierce flame of fire that burns furiously, and there is no stopping it; none but God can restrain it.

Psalm 124:3 In-Context

1 "If [it had] not [been] Yahweh who was on our side," do let Israel say,

2 "If [it had] not [been] Yahweh who was on our side, when men rose up against us,

3 then they would have swallowed us alive, when their anger was kindled against us.

4 Then the waters would have flooded over us, [the] torrent would have passed over our soul.

5 Then over our soul would have passed the raging waters."