Psalm Chapter 122 KJV
King James Version, Holy Bible
1 I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.
2 Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem.
3 Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together:
4 Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the Lord.
More Psalms Chapter 122 (Old Testament)
5 For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David.
6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.
7 Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces.
8 For my brethren and companions' sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee.
9 Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek thy good.
Key Takeaways from This Psalm:
Psalm 122:1
Verse: שָׂמַחְתִּי בְּאֹמְרִי לְבֵית-יְהוָה
Transliteration: Samachti b’omri l’beit-Adonai
English: “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord!’”
Focus Word: שָׂמַח (Samach)
- Root: ש-מ-ח (Shin-Mem-Chet)
- Meaning: “To rejoice,” “to be glad,” “to celebrate.”
- Deeper Insight: Samach conveys joyful anticipation, particularly in gathering for worship and community.
| Hebrew Word + Transliteration | Verse + Snippet | Meaning | Scholarly Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| שָׂמַח — samach | Verse 1 — “I was glad…” | “To rejoice,” be joyful. | Samach (“to rejoice”) expresses heartfelt joy in communal worship. It emphasizes delight in God’s house. The verb shapes the Psalm’s celebratory spirit. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Lexicon |
| בַּיִת — bayit | Verse 1 — “…let us go to the house of the LORD.” | “House,” dwelling. | Bayit (“house”) refers to the sanctuary as the symbolic center of God’s presence. It reflects covenant fellowship. The term anchors the Psalm in worship. — Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary |
| רַגְלֵינוּ — ragleinu | Verse 2 — “Our feet have stood…” | “Feet,” stance. | Ragleinu (“feet”) symbolizes arrival, participation, and commitment. It conveys the sense of entering sacred space. The word highlights reverence for Jerusalem. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Commentary |
| יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם — Yerushalayim | Verse 2 — “…within your gates, O Jerusalem.” | “Jerusalem,” city of peace. | Yerushalayim (“Jerusalem”) signifies the spiritual and political center of Israel. It embodies unity and divine presence. The name enriches the Psalm’s longing for harmony. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Lexicon |
| חֻבְּרָה־לָּהּ — chubrah lah | Verse 3 — “Jerusalem is built as a city compact together…” | “Joined,” bound firmly. | Chubrah Lah (“joined together”) suggests unity, coherence, and solidarity. It symbolizes communal harmony. The phrase strengthens the Psalm’s theme of togetherness. — Franz Delitzsch, Commentary |
| שֵׁבֶט — shevet | Verse 4 — “Where the tribes go up…” | “Tribe,” clan. | Shevet (“tribe”) points to Israel’s covenantal identity. It highlights the unified worship of diverse groups. The word underscores the national dimension of praise. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Keil & Delitzsch Commentary |
| הוֹדוֹת — hodot | Verse 4 — “…to give thanks to the LORD.” | “Thanksgiving,” praise. | Hodot (“thanksgiving”) expresses vocal acknowledgment of divine goodness. It reinforces Jerusalem’s role as worship center. The term ties gratitude to communal gathering. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Lexicon |
| כִּסְאוֹת — kise’ot | Verse 5 — “Thrones are set there for judgment…” | “Thrones,” seats of rule. | Kise’ot (“thrones”) symbolizes authority and judicial power. It highlights Jerusalem’s political and spiritual leadership. The word emphasizes stability in governance. — Franz Delitzsch, Commentary |
| שָׁלוֹם — shalom | Verse 6 — “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem…” | “Peace,” wholeness. | Shalom (“peace/wholeness”) conveys harmony, wellbeing, and divine favor. It expresses spiritual and social prosperity. The term encapsulates the Psalm’s primary prayer. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Commentary |
| שַׁלְוָה — shalvah | Verse 7 — “Peace within your walls…” | “Security,” tranquility. | Shalvah (“tranquility”) expresses safe, restful prosperity. It portrays Jerusalem as a place of divine protection. The term complements the broader theme of shalom. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Lexicon |
Biblical Scholars On This Chapter:
| Scholar (Institution & Dates) | Work | View on Psalm 122 |
|---|---|---|
| Hugh Binning (University of Glasgow, 1627–1653) | Sermons on the Psalms | Binning celebrates the joy of communal worship and the unity of God’s people. |
| William Lowth (University of Oxford, 1660–1732) | Commentary on the Psalms | The Psalm highlights the blessings of dwelling in God’s house and living in peace. |
| Johann Albrecht Bengel (University of Tübingen, 1687–1752) | Gnomon Novi Testamenti | Bengel notes that pilgrimage to God’s presence inspires devotion and communal harmony. |
| Philip Doddridge (Northampton Academy, 1702–1751) | Family Expositor | Doddridge emphasizes that worship unites hearts in gratitude and shared faith. |
| James Durham (St Andrews / Edinburgh, 1622–1658) | Commentary on the Psalms | Durham presents the Psalm as a celebration of spiritual fellowship and peace among believers. |
PRAY FOR THE PEACE OF JERUSALEM
Thought for the day: Always pray for where you live
Message:
Today, we shall be using Jerusalem as a metaphor for our dwelling place, our community and our home country. Looking through this verse, the motive behind it is for people to pray for where they live. Since the writer and the original receiver lives in Jerusalem, the name Jerusalem was mentioned. This means you can apply this scripture to your house, your community, your city and your home country.
Also, the writer wants us to know that your word has impact.
Truthfully, it is becoming alarming that people see praying for their country as a waste of time. We complain about bad leaders, bad government, bad infrastructure and many others things. In the country where I am, you will see many young and vibrant youth, sitting at the newspaper stand daily to argue, but nothing has changed since they have been complaining.
- I wish we can change and turn our complaints to prayer.
- I wish we would call God’s attention to the issues in our home and our country.
- I also wish that we would report the lawlessness and atrocity going on to God.
Our prayers can do great things. They can make an impact, turn lives around, and give us good leaders.
See the scripture:
For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth.
2 And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name.
3 Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God. Isaiah 62:1-3
Don’t stop praying until the peace of God shines forth on the land.
My Counsel
Ø Don’t be comfortable with things that are happening in your country. Please pray.
Ø Your complaint cannot change anything, it will only cause bitterness of heart. Turn it into prayer.
Declaration
Father, I pray for the peace of my home, my community and my nation in Jesus' Name.
