Psalms 124:3

3 they would have swallowed us alive when their anger flared against us;

Psalms 124:3 in Other Translations

3 Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us:

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

3 They would have swallowed us alive in their burning anger.

3 We would have been swallowed alive by their violent anger,

3 Then they had swallowed us up alive, When their wrath was kindled against us;

3 then they would have swallowed us alive when their anger exploded against us.

3 then they would have swallowed us alive in their burning anger against us.

3 Suppose he had not been on our side when their anger blazed out against us. Then they would have swallowed us alive.

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 If the LORD had not been on our side— let Israel say—

2 if the LORD had not been on our side when people attacked us,

3 they would have swallowed us alive when their anger flared against us;

4 the flood would have engulfed us, the torrent would have swept over us,

5 the raging waters would have swept us away.