Psalms 124:1
A Song of degrees of David. If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, now may Israel say;
Psalms 124:1 in other translations
| BSB | A song of ascents. Of David. If the LORD had not been on our side— let Israel now declare— |
|---|---|
| WEB | A Song of Ascents. By David. If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, let Israel now say, |
| ASV | A Song of Ascents; of David. If it had not been Jehovah who was on our side, Let Israel now say, |
| YLT | A Song of the Ascents, by David. Save for Jehovah--who hath been for us, (Pray, let Israel say), |
| DARBY | A Song of degrees. Of David. If it had not been Jehovah who was for us — oh let Israel say — |
| BBE | If it had not been the Lord who was on our side (let Israel now say); |
| Webster | A Song of degrees of David. If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, now may Israel say; |
What does Psalms 124:1 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 124:1-2
Psa 124:1-8. The writer, for the Church, praises God for past, and expresses trust for future, deliverance from foes.
1-2. on our side--for us (Psa 56:9). now--or, "oh! let Israel"Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Introduction
A thanksgiving of the godly for extraordinary deliverances, Psa 124:1-4. The great danger they were in, Psa 124:7. Their confidence in God, Psa 124:8. In our present Hebrew copies this Psalm is attributed to David, לדוד ledavid; but this inscription is wanting in three of Kennicott's and De Rossi's MSS., as also in the Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate, Ethiopic, and Arabic; and in most of the ancient fathers, Greek and Latin, who found no other inscription in their copies of the text than A Psalm of degrees. It was composed long after David's days; and appears to be either a thanksgiving for their deliverance from the Babylonish captivity, or for a remarkable deliverance from some potent and insidious enemy after their return to Judea. Or, what appears to be more likely, it is a thanksgiving of the Jews for their escape from the general massacre intended by Haman, prime minister of Ahasuerus, king of Persia. See the whole Book of Esther. Verse 1 If it had not been the Lord - If God had not, in a very especial manner, supported and defended us, we had all been swallowed up alive, and destroyed by a sudden destruction, so that not one would have been left. This might refer to the plot against the whole nation of the Jews by Haman, in the days of Mordecai and Esther; when by his treacherous schemes the Jews, wheresoever dispersed in the provinces of Babylon, were all to have been put to death in one day. This may here be represented under the figure of an earthquake, when a chasm is formed, and a whole city and its inhabitants are in a moment swallowed up alive.Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 124:1-5
Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain
Psalms 124:1 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.
Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).
Cross references for Psalms 124:1
- Romans 8:31
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
- Psalms 56:9
When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.
- Psalms 54:4
Behold, God is mine helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul.
- Psalms 120:1
A Song of degrees. In my distress I cried unto the Lord, and he heard me.
- Hebrews 13:5-6
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
- Psalms 94:17
Unless the Lord had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence.
- Psalms 118:6-7
The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me? The Lord taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me.
- Psalms 125:1
A Song of degrees. They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever.
- Isaiah 8:9-10
Associate yourselves, O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces; and give ear, all ye of far countries: gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces. Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us.
- Psalms 121:1
A Song of degrees. I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
- Psalms 46:7
The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
- Psalms 27:1
A Psalm of David. The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
(Title.) A Song.It is uncertain what the particular deliverance was which is celebrated in this Psalm. Some refer it to the deliverance of Hezekiah from Sennacherib; and others to the return from the Babylonian captivity; while Dr. A. Clarke refers it to that of the Jews from the massacre intended by Haman.
120:1; 121:1; 122:1; 123:1; 124:1; 125:1; 126:1; 127:1; 128:1; *titles
129:1; 130:1; 131:1; 132:1; 133:1; 134:1; *titles
The Lord.
27:1; 46:7,11; 54:4; 56:9; 118:6,7; Ex 15:1; Isa 8:9,10; Ro 8:31
Heb 13:5,6
now may.
129:1
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain
Context
- Psalms 124:1
A Song of degrees of David. If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, now may Israel say;
- Psalms 124:2
If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, when men rose up against us:
Psalms 124:1 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Cántico gradual: de David. A NO haber estado Jehová por nosotros, diga ahora Israel; |
|---|---|
| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Cantique des degrés. De David. N’eût été l’ Éternel, qui a été pour nous, – qu’Israël le dise, |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Wenn nicht Jehova für uns gewesen wäre, sage doch Israel, |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Canticum graduum. Qui confidunt in Domino, sicut mons Sion: non commovebitur in æternum, qui habitat |