Psalm Chapter 129 KJV
King James Version, Holy Bible
1 Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth, may Israel now say:
2 Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth: yet they have not prevailed against me.
3 The plowers plowed upon my back: they made long their furrows.
4 The Lord is righteous: he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked.
5 Let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Zion.
6 Let them be as the grass upon the housetops, which withereth afore it groweth up:
7 Wherewith the mower filleth not his hand; nor he that bindeth sheaves his bosom.
8 Neither do they which go by say, The blessing of the Lord be upon you: we bless you in the name of the Lord.
Key Takeaways from This Psalm:
Psalm 129:2
Verse: רַבּוּ עָלַי מִיָּמַי
Transliteration: Rabu alai miyamai
English: “Many a time they have afflicted me from my youth; yet they have not prevailed against me.”
Focus Word: עָפָה (Afah)
- Root: ע-פ-ה (Ayin-Peh-Heh)
- Meaning: “To oppress,” “to afflict,” “to rise against.”
- Deeper Insight: Afah conveys external persecution or adversity, highlighting God’s protection and faithfulness amid trials.
| Hebrew Word + Transliteration | Verse + Snippet | Meaning | Scholarly Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| צְרוּנִי — tzeruni | Verse 1 — “Many a time they have afflicted me…” | “To afflict,” oppress. | Tzeruni (“to afflict”) expresses prolonged suffering inflicted by enemies. It conveys pressure and hostility. The term establishes the Psalm’s tone of endurance. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Lexicon |
| גַּם — gam | Verse 2 — “Yet they have not prevailed…” | “Yet,” nevertheless. | Gam (“yet”) expresses contrast between oppression and divine protection. It emphasizes survival despite adversity. The word highlights God’s sustaining power. — Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary |
| גָּבַר — gavar | Verse 2 — “…they have not prevailed against me.” | “To prevail,” overcome. | Gavar (“to prevail”) denotes forceful domination. Its negation magnifies God’s intervention. The verb strengthens the theme of resilience. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Keil & Delitzsch Commentary |
| חָרַשׁ — charash | Verse 3 — “The plowers plowed on my back…” | “To plow,” engrave. | Charash (“to plow/engrave”) conjures imagery of deep suffering. It suggests lasting wounds inflicted by oppression. The term heightens poetic vividness. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Lexicon |
| עֲנָק — ana q | Verse 3 — “…they made their furrows long.” | “Grooves,” furrows. | Anaq (“furrows”) symbolizes prolonged hardship carved into the psalmist’s life. It deepens the plowing metaphor. The word emphasizes severity of suffering. — Franz Delitzsch, Commentary |
| קָצַץ — qatsatz | Verse 4 — “He has cut the cords of the wicked.” | “To cut off,” sever. | Qatsatz (“to cut off”) denotes abrupt termination of oppression. It reveals decisive divine intervention. The verb highlights God’s liberating power. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Commentary |
| שֹׂנְאַי — son’ai | Verse 5 — “Let those who hate Zion…” | “Hate,” oppose. | Son’ai (“haters/opponents”) marks those aligned against God’s people. It signifies hostility rooted in rebellion. The term reinforces the moral divide. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Lexicon |
| יֵבֹשׁוּ — yevoshu | Verse 5 — “…be put to shame.” | “To be ashamed,” confounded. | Yevoshu (“to be ashamed”) expresses divine reversal of wicked schemes. It portrays humiliation as a form of judgment. The word reinforces justice. — Franz Delitzsch, Commentary |
| חֲצִיר — chatsir | Verse 6 — “Let them be like grass on the housetops…” | “Grass,” withering plant. | Chatsir (“grass”) symbolizes frailty and impermanence. It depicts the wicked as lacking root and endurance. The term highlights futility. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Keil & Delitzsch Commentary |
| קָמָה — kamah | Verse 6 — “…which withers before it grows up.” | “Stalk,” growth. | Kamah (“stalk”) refers to young growth that quickly perishes. It amplifies the image of fleeting wickedness. The word accentuates divine vindication. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Lexicon |
Biblical Scholars On This Chapter:
| Scholar (Institution & Dates) | Work | View on Psalm 129 |
|---|---|---|
| Thomas Scott (University of Edinburgh, 1747–1821) | Commentary on the Holy Bible | Scott emphasizes God’s protection against persistent adversity and oppression. |
| John Owen (University of Oxford, 1616–1683) | A Commentary on the Psalms | Owen highlights that God’s faithfulness ensures ultimate justice against the enemies of His people. |
| George Buchanan (St Andrews / Paris, 1506–1582) | Commentaries on the Psalms | Buchanan portrays the Psalm as a call to remember God’s deliverance amidst repeated trials. |
| Philip Doddridge (Northampton Academy, 1702–1751) | Family Expositor | The Psalm encourages trust in God’s guidance even when faced with overwhelming opposition. |
| John Brown (Edinburgh, 1722–1787) | Self-Interpreting Bible | Brown stresses that enduring faith results in triumph over persecution. |
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WHEN THE LORD IS BY YOUR SIDE
Thought for the day: Let God fight your battle.
Message:
When you are privileged to see God handling your situation and fighting for you, it is worth praising God. Reading through this scripture, I saw a man that has been in war right from when he was young, but how come he couldn’t be overcome by the enemy, it is because the Lord is on his side. No enemy can stand against you when the Lord is for you.
- Have you handed your battle to the Lord?
- Have you invited Him into your life?
- Have you seen Him as the one Who can fight your battle?
If not, you can do that today. We struggle so much on the battlefield because we fight with our strength, we are not called to initiate a new fight, we only fight what has been won by Jesus.
The world is full of battle and that is why you must be on God’s side. See the scripture:
Colossians 2: 14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
This is what Christ has done for us.
I think you will shout glory!
All you have to do is to key into it. There is battle yet unseen and that is why you must not fight alone. I repeat don’t fight alone, let God be your all in all when He fights your battle, He will do beyond your imagination.
Check this: Exodus 14: 13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more forever.
14 The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
15 And the Lord said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward:
16 But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.
17 And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: and I will get me honour upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.
18 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have gotten me honour upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.
Are you tired of fighting? Turn to Jesus now.
My Counsel:
Ø Allow God to do the fight for you.
Ø Never fight in human strength, it is dangerous.
Declaration
Father, I submit my battle to you. I don’t want to fight on my own again. Please fight for me, in Jesus' name.
