Psalms 120 · Verse 7

Psalms 120:7

I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war.
Psalms 120:7, King James Version

Psalms 120:7 in other translations

BSBI am in favor of peace; but when I speak, they want war.
WEBI am for peace, but when I speak, they are for war.
ASVI am for peace: But when I speak, they are for war.
YLTI am peace, and when I speak they are for war!
DARBYI am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war.
BBEI am for peace: but when I say so, they are for war.
WebsterI am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war.

What does Psalms 120:7 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 120:6-7

6-7. While those who surrounded him were maliciously hostile, he was disposed to peace. This Psalm may well begin such a series as this, as a contrast to the promised joys of God's worship.

Read the full comment on Psalms 120:6-7 →

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 7 I am for peace - We love to be quiet and peaceable; but they are continually engaged in excursions of rapine and plunder. It is evident that the psalmist refers to a people like the Scenitae or wandering Arabs, who live constantly in tents, and subsist by robbery; plundering and carrying away all that they can seize. The poor captives wished them to cultivate the arts of peace, and live quietly; but they would hear of nothing but their old manner of life.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 120:5-7

It is very grievous to a good man, to be cast into, and kept in the company of the wicked, from whom he hopes to be for ever separated. See here the character of a good man; he is for living peaceably with all men. And let us follow David as he prefigured Christ; in our distress let us cry unto the Lord, and he will hear us. Let us follow after peace and holiness, striving to overcome evil with good.

Read the full comment on Psalms 120:5-7 →

Psalms 120:7 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

אֲֽנִי\־'ani.Sha-IH589
שָׁ֭לוֹםSha.lom[am] peaceH7965
וְכִ֣יve.Khiand thatH3588
אֲדַבֵּ֑ר'a.da.BerI speakH1696
הֵ֝֗מָּהHe.mahtheyH1992
לַמִּלְחָמָֽה\׃la.mil.cha.Mah[are] for <the> warH4421

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Psalms 120:7

  • Matthew 5:9

    Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

  • Psalms 109:4

    For my love they are my adversaries: but I give myself unto prayer.

  • Psalms 34:14

    Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

  • Hebrews 12:14

    Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

  • Romans 12:18

    If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

  • Psalms 35:20

    For they speak not peace: but they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land.

  • Ephesians 2:14-17

    For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

  • 1 Samuel 24:9-11

    And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men’s words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt? Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the Lord had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee: but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the Lord’s anointed. Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou huntest my soul to take it.

  • 2 Samuel 20:19

    I am one of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the Lord?

  • Psalms 55:20

    He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant.

  • 1 Samuel 26:2-4

    Then Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul pitched in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon, by the way. But David abode in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness. David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul was come in very deed.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
for peace. or, a man of peace.
34:14; 35:20; 55:20; 2Sa 20:19; Mt 5:9; Ro 12:18; Eph 2:14-17
Heb 12:14
when.
1Sa 24:9-11; 26:2-4

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Psalms 120:6

    My soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace.

  • Psalms 120:7

    I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war.

Read all of Psalms 120

Psalms 120:7 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Yo soy pacífico: mas ellos, así que hablo, me hacen guerra.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Je veux la paix; mais si j’en parle, ils sont, eux, pour la guerre.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Ich will nur Frieden; aber wenn ich rede, so sind sie für Krieg.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Dominus custodit te ab omni malo; custodiat animam tuam Dominus.