Psalm 124:3

3 Then they would have ¹swallowed us alive, When their ²anger 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 "Had it not been the LORD who was on our side," Let Israel now say,

2 "Had it not been the LORD 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 engulfed us, The stream would have swept over our soul;

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

Cross References

• 1. Numbers 16:30; Psalms 35:25; Psalms 56:1; Psalms 57:3; Proverbs 1:12
• 2. Genesis 39:19; Psalms 138:7