Psalms 126 · Verse 4

Psalms 126:4

Turn again our captivity, O Lord, as the streams in the south.
Psalms 126:4, King James Version

Psalms 126:4 in other translations

BSBRestore our captives, O LORD, like streams in the Negev.
WEBRestore our fortunes again, LORD, like the streams in the Negev.
ASVTurn again our captivity, O Jehovah, As the streams in the South.
YLTTurn again, O Jehovah, to our captivity, As streams in the south.
DARBYTurn our captivity, O Jehovah, as the streams in the south.
BBELet our fate be changed, O Lord, like the streams in the South.
WebsterTurn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south.

What does Psalms 126:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
4. All did not return at once; hence the prayer for repeated favors. as the streams in the south--or, the torrents in the desert south of Judea, dependent on rain (Jos 15:9), reappearing after dry seasons (compare Job 6:15; Psa 68:9). The point of comparison is joy at the reappearing of what has been so painfully missed.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 4 Turn again our captivity - This is either a recital of the prayer they had used before their deliverance; or it is a prayer for those who still remained in the provinces beyond the Euphrates. The Jewish captives did not all return at once; they came back at different times, and under different leaders, Ezra, Nehemiah, Zerubbabel, etc. As the streams in the south - Probably the Nile is meant. It is now pretty well known that the Nile has its origin in the kingdom of Damot; and runs from south to north through different countries, till, passing through Egypt, it empties itself into the Mediterranean Sea. It it possible, however, that they might have had in view some rapid rivers that either rose in the south, or had a southern direction; and they desired that their return might be as rapid and as abundant as the waters of those rivers. But we know that the Nile proceeds from the south, divides itself into several streams as it passes through Egypt, and falls by seven mouths into the Mediterranean.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 126:4-6
The beginnings of mercies encourage us to pray for the completion of them. And while we are in this world there will be matter for prayer, even when we are most furnished with matter for praise. Suffering saints are often in tears; they share the calamities of human life, and commonly have a greater share than others. But they sow in tears; they do the duty of an afflicted state. Weeping must not hinder sowing; we must get good from times of affliction. And they that sow, in the tears of godly sorrow, to the Spirit, shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting; and that will be a joyful harvest indeed. Blessed are those that mourn, for they shall be for ever comforted. When we mourn for our sins, or suffer for Christ's sake, we are sowing in tears, to reap in joy. And remember that God is not mocked; for whatever a man soweth that shall he reap, Ga 6:7-9. Here, O disciple of Jesus, behold an emblem of thy present labour and future reward; the day is coming when thou shalt reap in joy, plentiful shall be thy harvest, and great shall be thy joy in the Lord.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Psalms 126:4 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.

שׁוּבָ֣הshu.Vahturn back !H7725
יְ֭הוָהYah.wehO YahwehH3068
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
שְׁבִיתֵ֑נוּshe.vu.te.nucaptivity ourH7622
כַּאֲפִיקִ֥יםka.'a.fi.Kimlike stream-bedsH650
בַּנֶּֽגֶב\׃ba.Ne.gevin the NegevH5045

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

Cross references for Psalms 126:4

  • Psalms 85:4

    Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease.

  • Joshua 3:16

    That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.

  • Psalms 126:1

    A Song of degrees. When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.

  • Hosea 1:11

    Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land: for great shall be the day of Jezreel.

  • Isaiah 35:6

    Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.

  • Isaiah 41:18

    I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.

  • Isaiah 43:19

    Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Turn again.
1; 85:4; Ho 1:11
as the streams.
Jos 3:16; Isa 41:18

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

Context

  • Psalms 126:3

    The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.

  • Psalms 126:4

    Turn again our captivity, O Lord, as the streams in the south.

  • Psalms 126:5

    They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.

Read all of Psalms 126

Psalms 126:4 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Haz volver nuestra cautividad, oh Jehová, como los arroyos en el austro.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Ô Éternel! rétablis nos captifs, comme les ruisseaux dans le midi!
German
Elberfelder 1871		Führe unsere Gefangenen zurück, Jehova, gleich Bächen im Mittagslande!
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Sicut sagittæ in manu potentis, ita filii excussorum.