Psalm 124:3

3 then would they have swallowed us up alive when their wrath 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 the LORD who was on our side"--now may Israel say--

2 "if it had not been the LORD who was on our side when men rose up against us,

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

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

5 then the proud waters would have gone over our soul."