Psalm 126 KJV
King James Version, Holy Bible
1 When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.
2 Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The Lord hath done great things for them.
3 The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.
4 Turn again our captivity, O Lord, as the streams in the south.
5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.
Key Takeaways from This Psalm:
Psalm 126:3
Verse: גָּדֹל עָשָׂה יְהוָה
Transliteration: Gadol asah Adonai
English: “The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad.”
Focus Word: עָשָׂה (Asah)
- Root: ע-ש-ה (Ayin-Shin-Heh)
- Meaning: “To make,” “to do,” “to accomplish.”
- Deeper Insight: Asah conveys God’s creative and providential work, highlighting His active role in blessing His people.
| Hebrew Word + Transliteration | Verse + Snippet | Meaning / Morphology | Scholarly Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| שׁוּב — shuv | Verse 1 — “When the LORD brought back the captivity…” | “To return,” restore. | Shuv (“to return/restore”) expresses reversal of circumstances through divine intervention. It signals renewal after exile. The verb sets the Psalm’s redemptive tone. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon of the Old Testament |
| חָלַם — chalam | Verse 1 — “…we were like those who dream.” | “To dream,” experience vision. | Chalam (“to dream”) conveys amazement at unexpected blessing. It highlights the incredibility of restoration. The term deepens the sense of joyful astonishment. — Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Psalms |
| שְׂחוֹק — sechok | Verse 2 — “Then our mouth was filled with laughter…” | “Laughter,” rejoicing. | Sechok (“laughter”) expresses exuberant joy. It signifies emotional overflow after deliverance. The word underlines communal celebration. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament |
| רִנָּה — rinah | Verse 2 — “…and our tongue with singing.” | “Shouting,” joyful cry. | Rinah (“joyful shout”) denotes victorious praise. It emphasizes heartfelt gratitude. The term enriches the Psalm’s celebratory tone. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Lexicon |
| גִּדִּיל — giddil | Verse 2 — “…The LORD has done great things…” | “Great things,” magnified acts. | Giddil (“great things”) emphasizes God’s notable deeds in salvation history. It conveys extraordinary acts inspiring awe. The word highlights divine power displayed publicly. — Franz Delitzsch, Commentary |
| הָפַךְ — hafach | Verse 4 — “Restore our fortunes, O LORD…” | “To turn,” reverse. | Hafach (“to turn/transform”) implies dramatic reversal of situation. It connects past deliverance with future hope. The verb strengthens the theme of renewal. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Commentary |
| אֲפִיקִים — apikim | Verse 4 — “…like streams in the Negev.” | “Channels,” watercourses. | Apikim (“streams/channels”) symbolizes sudden, life-giving abundance. It contrasts dryness with divine supply. The term enriches imagery of restoration. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Lexicon |
| זָרַע — zara | Verse 5 — “Those who sow in tears…” | “To sow,” scatter seed. | Zara (“to sow”) reflects labor undertaken amid sorrow. It expresses hope embedded within hardship. The verb forms the Psalm’s central metaphor. — Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary |
| דִּמְעָה — dim‘ah | Verse 5 — “…with tears…” | “Tears,” sorrow. | Dim‘ah (“tear”) conveys grief and emotional weight. It highlights the pain preceding joy. The word intensifies the Psalm’s emotional depth. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Commentary |
| רָנָה — ranah | Verse 6 — “…shall doubtless come again with rejoicing.” | “Rejoicing,” loud joy. | Ranah (“to shout for joy”) expresses triumphant celebration upon harvest. It completes the sorrow-to-joy progression. The term reinforces confidence in God’s restorative work. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Lexicon |
Biblical Scholars On This Chapter:
| Scholar (Institution & Dates) | Work | View on Psalm 126 |
|---|---|---|
| Hugh Binning (University of Glasgow, 1627–1653) | Sermons on the Psalms | Binning highlights the restoration of joy and the sense of divine blessing following hardship. |
| William Lowth (University of Oxford, 1660–1732) | Commentary on the Psalms | The Psalm emphasizes gratitude for God’s intervention and the renewal of hope. |
| Johann Albrecht Bengel (University of Tübingen, 1687–1752) | Gnomon Novi Testamenti | Bengel interprets the Psalm as demonstrating God’s faithfulness in reversing sorrow into gladness. |
| Philip Doddridge (Northampton Academy, 1702–1751) | Family Expositor | Doddridge stresses that recounting past deliverances encourages continued trust in God. |
| James Durham (St Andrews / Edinburgh, 1622–1658) | Commentary on the Psalms | Durham presents the Psalm as an invitation to communal rejoicing over God’s providential acts. |
More On This Psalm: Commentary From Biblical Scholars
| Scholar | Paraphrase of the psalm |
|---|---|
| Richard Baxter (University of Oxford, 1615–1691, The Practical Works of Richard Baxter) | Baxter sees this psalm as celebrating God’s mercy in restoring His people and the joy that follows hardship. |
| John Lightfoot (University of Cambridge, 1602–1675, Horae Hebraicae et Talmudicae) | Lightfoot emphasizes that the psalm highlights hope and rejoicing after times of sorrow or captivity. |
| Philip Doddridge (Northampton Academy, 1702–1751, Family Expositor) | Doddridge interprets the psalm as showing God’s power to turn mourning into gladness and restore His people. |
| George Adam Smith (University of Aberdeen, 1856–1942, The Book of Psalms, Commentary) | The psalm, Smith notes, celebrates the joy of restoration and the faithfulness of God to His promises. |
| F.D. Maurice (King’s College London, 1805–1872, Theological Essays) | Maurice points out that the psalm teaches how God transforms despair into rejoicing for those who trust Him. |
Psalms Chapter 126 Devotional: RESTORATION TIME
Thought for the day: It is not too late, the Lord will restore all that you have lost.
Message:
Praise the Lord everywhere you may be reading this, and get set for an amazing visitation of God, I will be speaking prophetically to your life here and I will beg you to connect with me and get set for an instant miracle.
The situation in this chapter is the children of Israel that were taken out of their land to slavery land and they have been there for years thinking God will not intervene but He did, He shut the mouth of the devil and caused them to laugh.
I prophesy, everywhere you have been sold, I command your instant release now in the Name of Jesus.
Anything can tie down a man, yours may be poverty, failure, disappointment, miscarriages, and many others.
Listen, no matter the situation, it is coming to an end now in Jesus' name.
Every force killing your seed, that didn’t allow it to germinate, I stand against them now and I take authority over every disturbance in Jesus' name.
See what God told David:
1 Samuel 30: 8 And David enquired at the Lord, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.
Today I put a stop to every pursuer of your life, I command that you recover all taken from you in Jesus' name
See another scripture: Amos 9: 14 and I will bring my people Israel back from exile.“They will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them. They will plant vineyards and drink their wine; they will make gardens and eat their fruit.
This will be your portion in Jesus' name, claim this word of God that is coming to you today, I will love to read your testimony soon in Jesus' name.
The name of Jesus has the power to change every situation and I believe that your situation is changing now in Jesus' name
My Counsel:
Ø Never look down on yourself God is still at work in your life
Ø Call on Jesus and He will turn things around
Psalms 126 Declaration
Father, I thank you for the recovery you have done in Jesus' name.
Hope you enjoyed Psalms Chapter 126 from the Old Testament of the King James Bible.
