Psalms 124:3

3 Then they would have swallowed us alive, When their wrath was kindled against us;

Psalms 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.

Psalms 124:3 In-Context

1 A Song of Ascents. Of David. "If it had not been the Lord who was on our side," Let Israel now say--

2 "If it had 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 wrath was kindled against us;

4 Then the waters would have overwhelmed us, The stream would have gone over our soul;

5 Then the swollen waters Would have gone over our soul."