ASV
Psalms 129
1[A Song of Ascents]. Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth up, Let Israel now say,
2Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth up: Yet they have not prevailed against me.
3The plowers plowed upon my back; They made long their furrows.
4Jehovah is righteous: He hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked.
5Let them be put to shame and turned backward, All they that hate Zion.
6Let them be as the grass upon the housetops, Which withereth before it groweth up;
7Wherewith the reaper filleth not his hand, Nor he that bindeth sheaves his bosom.
8Neither do they that go by say, The blessing of Jehovah be upon you; We bless you in the name of Jehovah.
Study This Passage
Key Words and Topics
These study connections are drawn from the internal BSB concordance and topical index imported into Daily Bread Intake.
Key Words in This Passage
Select a word to open the full concordance search.
Related Topics
Agriculture or Farming: Operations in Mowing Psalm 129:7
unable to fill the hands of the reaper, or the arms of the binder of sheaves.
Church: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Psalm 129:5
May all who hate Zion be turned back in shame.
Enemy: The Wickedness of David's Psalm 129:1–3
A song of ascents. Many a time they have persecuted me from my youth—let Israel now declare— / many a time they have persecuted me from my youth, but they have not prevailed against me. / The plowmen plowed over my back; they made their furrows long.
God: Judge, and his Justice Psalm 129:4
The LORD is righteous; He has cut me from the cords of the wicked.
Grass: Often Grew on the Tops of Houses Psalm 129:6
May they be like grass on the rooftops, which withers before it can grow,
Grass: On Roofs of Houses Psalm 129:6
May they be like grass on the rooftops, which withers before it can grow,
Houses: The Flat Roofs of Often Covered with Week Grass Psalm 129:6, 7
May they be like grass on the rooftops, which withers before it can grow, / unable to fill the hands of the reaper, or the arms of the binder of sheaves.
Mowing: General Scriptures Concerning Psalm 129:7
unable to fill the hands of the reaper, or the arms of the binder of sheaves.
Persecution of the Righteous: Deliverance From Psalm 129:1, 2
A song of ascents. Many a time they have persecuted me from my youth—let Israel now declare— / many a time they have persecuted me from my youth, but they have not prevailed against me.
Ploughing: Performed in Long and Straight Furrows Psalm 129:3
The plowmen plowed over my back; they made their furrows long.
Plow of Afflictions Psalm 129:3
The plowmen plowed over my back; they made their furrows long.
Praise: Psalms of, for God's Goodness to Israel Psalm 129:1
A song of ascents. Many a time they have persecuted me from my youth—let Israel now declare—
Prayer: Imprecatory Psalm 129:5
May all who hate Zion be turned back in shame.
Psalms: Afflictions Psalm 129:1
A song of ascents. Many a time they have persecuted me from my youth—let Israel now declare—
Psalms: Thanksgiving Psalm 129:1
A song of ascents. Many a time they have persecuted me from my youth—let Israel now declare—
Reaping: Corn After, Was Bound up Into Sheaves Psalm 129:7
unable to fill the hands of the reaper, or the arms of the binder of sheaves.
Reaping: General Scriptures Concerning Psalm 129:7
unable to fill the hands of the reaper, or the arms of the binder of sheaves.
Reaping: Mode of Gathering the Corn For, Alluded To Psalm 129:7
unable to fill the hands of the reaper, or the arms of the binder of sheaves.
Salutations were Given by all Passers-By Psalm 129:8
May none who pass by say to them, “The blessing of the LORD be on you; we bless you in the name of the LORD.”
Salutations: Expressions Used as The Blessing of the Lord be Upon You, we Bless You in The Psalm 129:8
May none who pass by say to them, “The blessing of the LORD be on you; we bless you in the name of the LORD.”
The Harvest: Persons Engaged in Binders Psalm 129:7
unable to fill the hands of the reaper, or the arms of the binder of sheaves.
The Jews: Denunciations Against Those Who: Hated Psalm 129:5
May all who hate Zion be turned back in shame.
Wicked (People): Punishment of Psalm 129:4
The LORD is righteous; He has cut me from the cords of the wicked.
Select a topic to open the full topical search.
Bible Dictionary
Related Dictionary Terms
Explore people, places, themes, and biblical terms connected to this passage.
Commentary Insights
Study and Reflection
Explore devotional and study commentary connected to this passage.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary
Historical, contextual, and verse-level study notes for deeper biblical exploration.
Psalms 129:1-8 The people of God, often delivered from enemies, are
confident of His favor, by their overthrow in the future.
Psalms 129:1-2 Verses 1-2
may Israel now say--or, "oh! let Israel say" (Ps 124:1). Israel's youth was the sojourn in Egypt (Jer 2:2; Ho 2:15).
Psalms 129:2 Verse 2
prevailed--literally, "been able," that is, to accomplish their purpose against me (Ps 13:4).
Psalms 129:3-4 Verses 3-4
The ploughing is a figure of scourging, which most severe physical infliction aptly represents all kinds.
Psalms 129:4 Verse 4
the cords--that is, which fasten the plough to the ox; and cutting denotes God's arresting the persecution;
Psalms 129:5-6 Verses 5-6
The ill-rooted roof grass, which withers before it grows up and procures for those gathering it no harvest blessing (Ru 2:4), sets forth the utter uselessness and the rejection of the wicked. PSALM 130
Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
Pastoral and devotional reflections focused on spiritual formation and application.
Psalms 129:1-4 Verses 1-4
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.
Psalms 129:5-8 Verses 5-8
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.