Psalms129
New International Version
1 “They have greatly oppressed me from my youth,” let Israel say;
2 “they have greatly oppressed me from my youth, but they have not gained the victory over me.
3 Plowmen have plowed my back and made their furrows long.
4 But the Lord is righteous; he has cut me free from the cords of the wicked.”
5 May all who hate Zion be turned back in shame.
6 May they be like grass on the roof, which withers before it can grow;
7 a reaper cannot fill his hands with it, nor one who gathers fill his arms.
8 May those who pass by not say to them, “The blessing of the Lord be on you; we bless you in the name of the Lord.”
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Psalms 129Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Psalms 129. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Thankfulness for former deliverances. (1–4). A believing prospect of the destruction of the enemies of Zion. (5–8).
vv1-4
The enemies of God's people have very barbarously endeavoured to wear out the saints of the Most High. But the church has been always graciously delivered. Christ has built his church upon a rock. And the Lord has many ways of disabling wicked men from doing the mischief they design against his church. The Lord is righteous in not suffering Israel to be ruined; he has promised to preserve a people to himself.
vv5-8
While God's people shall flourish as the loaded palm-tree, or the green and fruitful olive, their enemies shall wither as the grass upon the house-tops, which in eastern countries are flat, and what grows there never ripens; so it is with the designs of God's enemies. No wise man will pray the Lord to bless these mowers or reapers. And when we remember how Jesus arose and reigns; how his people have been supported, like the burning but unconsumed bush, we shall not fear.
Key Words
שִׁיר: a song; abstractly, singing
מַעֲלָה: elevation, i.e. the act (literally, a journey to a higher place, figuratively, a thought arising), or (concretely) the condition (literally, a step or grademark, figuratively, a superiority of station); specifically a climactic progression (in certain Psalms)
רַב: abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality)
צָרַר: to cramp, literally or figuratively, transitive or intransitive
מִן: properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
נָעוּר: (only in plural collectively or emphatic form) youth, the state (juvenility) or the persons (young people)
נָא: 'I pray', 'now', or 'then'; added mostly to verbs (in the Imperative or Future), or to interjections, occasionally to an adverb or conjunction
יִשְׂרָאֵל: Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
אָמַר: to say (used with great latitude)
גַּם: properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and
Cross References
Psalms 129Jeremiah describes Israel's early history in Egypt as the time of her 'youth' or espousals.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Refers to Israel's historical origins in Egypt as the days of her 'youth'.
Supported by JFB
Describes the afflictions and spiritual trials of Israel's national 'youth' in Egypt.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Identical opening formula calling on the nation: 'may Israel now say'.
Supported by JFB
Parallels the vivid image of oppressors laying the body down to walk over like the ground.
Supported by John Calvin, JFB
Compares vulnerable, short-lived enemies of God to 'the grass on the housetops'.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallel description of doomed adversaries being like blasted, short-lived roof-grass.
Supported by Matthew Poole
God calling His son out of Egypt during the 'childhood' (youth) of Israel.
Supported by John Calvin
Christ's promise that the gates of hell will not prevail against His church.
Supported by Matthew Henry
They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you.
Supported by John Calvin
Parallels God breaking the snares and cords to set His people free.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
The foundational affliction of Israel in Egypt; the more oppressed, the more they grew.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Christ's physical scourging fulfills the ultimate typology of plowers making long furrows.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB