Psalms 123:3
Psalms 123:3 in Multiple Translations
Have mercy on us, O LORD, have mercy, for we have endured much contempt.
Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt.
Have mercy upon us, O Jehovah, have mercy upon us; For we are exceedingly filled with contempt.
Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us: for all men are looking down on us.
Please have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy. We've had enough of people's contempt.
Haue mercie vpon vs, O Lord, haue mercie vpon vs: for we haue suffered too much contempt.
Favour us, O Jehovah, favour us, For greatly have we been filled with contempt,
Have mercy on us, LORD, have mercy on us, for we have endured much contempt.
Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us; for we are exceedingly filled with contempt.
Perhaps they had swallowed us up alive. When their fury was enkindled against us,
Yahweh, be very merciful [DOU] to us because our enemies have acted very contemptuously toward us.
Berean Amplified Bible — Psalms 123:3
BAB
Word Study
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Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Psalms 123:3 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
חָנֵּ֣/נוּ
יְהוָ֣ה
חָנֵּ֑/נוּ
כִּֽי
רַ֝֗ב
שָׂבַ֥עְנוּ
בֽוּז
חָנֵּ֣/נוּ
chânan
H2603
be gracious
V-Qal-Impv-2ms | Suff
יְהוָ֣ה
Yᵉhôvâh
H3068
The Lord
N-proper
חָנֵּ֑/נוּ
chânan
H2603
be gracious
V-Qal-Impv-2ms | Suff
כִּֽי
kîy
H3588
for
Conj
רַ֝֗ב
rab
H7227
many
Adj
שָׂבַ֥עְנוּ
sâbaʻ
H7646
to satisfy
V-Qal-Perf-1cp
בֽוּז
bûwz
H937
contempt
N-ms
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Psalms 123:3
חָנֵּ֣/נוּ
chânan
H2603
"be gracious"
V-Qal-Impv-2ms | Suff
This Hebrew word means to show kindness or favor, often by bending or stooping to help someone in need, as seen in the actions of God towards his people.
Definition: 1) to be gracious, show favour, pity 1a) (Qal) to show favour, be gracious 1b) (Niphal) to be pitied 1c) (Piel) to make gracious, make favourable, be gracious 1d) (Poel) to direct favour to, have mercy on 1e) (Hophal) to be shown favour, be shown consideration 1f) (Hithpael) to seek favour, implore favour
Usage: Occurs in 73 OT verses. KJV: beseech, [idiom] fair, (be, find, shew) favour(-able), be (deal, give, grant (gracious(-ly), intreat, (be) merciful, have (shew) mercy (on, upon), have pity upon, pray, make supplication, [idiom] very. See also: Genesis 33:5; Psalms 37:21; Psalms 4:2.
יְהוָ֣ה
Yᵉhôvâh
H3068
"The Lord"
N-proper
Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.
Definition: Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
Usage: Occurs in 5522 OT verses. KJV: Jehovah, the Lord. Compare H3050 (יָהּ), H3069 (יְהֹוִה). See also: Genesis 2:4; Genesis 24:42; Exodus 8:8.
חָנֵּ֑/נוּ
chânan
H2603
"be gracious"
V-Qal-Impv-2ms | Suff
This Hebrew word means to show kindness or favor, often by bending or stooping to help someone in need, as seen in the actions of God towards his people.
Definition: 1) to be gracious, show favour, pity 1a) (Qal) to show favour, be gracious 1b) (Niphal) to be pitied 1c) (Piel) to make gracious, make favourable, be gracious 1d) (Poel) to direct favour to, have mercy on 1e) (Hophal) to be shown favour, be shown consideration 1f) (Hithpael) to seek favour, implore favour
Usage: Occurs in 73 OT verses. KJV: beseech, [idiom] fair, (be, find, shew) favour(-able), be (deal, give, grant (gracious(-ly), intreat, (be) merciful, have (shew) mercy (on, upon), have pity upon, pray, make supplication, [idiom] very. See also: Genesis 33:5; Psalms 37:21; Psalms 4:2.
כִּֽי
kîy
H3588
"for"
Conj
A conjunction used to show cause or connection, as in Genesis 2:23 where Adam says the woman is bone of his bone because she was taken out of him. It is often translated as 'for', 'because', or 'since'.
Definition: 1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since 1a) that 1a1) yea, indeed 1b) when (of time) 1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force) 1c) because, since (causal connection) 1d) but (after negative) 1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if 1f) but rather, but 1g) except that 1h) only, nevertheless 1i) surely 1j) that is 1k) but if 1l) for though 1m) forasmuch as, for therefore
Usage: Occurs in 3910 OT verses. KJV: and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al-) though, + till, truly, + until, when, whether, while, whom, yea, yet. See also: Genesis 1:4; Genesis 26:16; Genesis 42:15.
רַ֝֗ב
rab
H7227
"many"
Adj
This Hebrew word means a chief or captain, someone in charge. It is used in 2 Samuel 23:19 to describe a great and powerful man. The idea is one of leadership and authority.
Definition: adj 1) much, many, great 1a) much 1b) many 1c) abounding in 1d) more numerous than 1e) abundant, enough 1f) great 1g) strong 1h) greater than adv 1i) much, exceedingly
Usage: Occurs in 443 OT verses. KJV: (in) abound(-undance, -ant, -antly), captain, elder, enough, exceedingly, full, great(-ly, man, one), increase, long (enough, (time)), (do, have) many(-ifold, things, a time), (ship-)master, mighty, more, (too, very) much, multiply(-tude), officer, often(-times), plenteous, populous, prince, process (of time), suffice(-lent). See also: Genesis 6:5; 1 Kings 11:1; Psalms 3:2.
שָׂבַ֥עְנוּ
sâbaʻ
H7646
"to satisfy"
V-Qal-Perf-1cp
To satisfy means to fill someone with enough of something, like food or desire, and can also mean to have too much of something.
Definition: 1) to be satisfied, be sated, be fulfilled, be surfeited 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to be sated (with food) 1a2) to be sated, be satisfied with, be fulfilled, be filled, have one's fill of (have desire satisfied) 1a3) to have in excess, be surfeited, be surfeited with 1a3a) to be weary of (fig) 1b) (Piel) to satisfy 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to satisfy 1c2) to enrich 1c3) to sate, glut (with the undesired)
Usage: Occurs in 93 OT verses. KJV: have enough, fill (full, self, with), be (to the) full (of), have plenty of, be satiate, satisfy (with), suffice, be weary of. See also: Exodus 16:8; Proverbs 12:11; Psalms 17:14.
בֽוּז
bûwz
H937
"contempt"
N-ms
This noun refers to contempt or disrespect, and can stem from evil, prosperity, or judgment, as described in the book of Job. It is used to describe a negative attitude or feeling towards someone or something. This term is translated as contempt or despised in the KJV Bible.
Definition: 1) contempt 1a) springing from evil 1b) springing from prosperity 1c) springing from judgment
Usage: Occurs in 11 OT verses. KJV: contempt(-uously), despised, shamed. See also: Genesis 38:23; Psalms 107:40; Psalms 31:19.
Study Notes — Psalms 123:3
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Psalms 123:3 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Psalms 123:3
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 123:3
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 123:3
- Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 123:3
- Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 123:3
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 123:3
- Cambridge Bible on Psalms 123:3
- Barnes' Notes on Psalms 123:3
- Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 123:3
- Sermons on Psalms 123:3
Context — I Lift Up My Eyes to You
1I lift up my eyes to You, the One enthroned in heaven.
2As the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maidservant look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes are on the LORD our God until He shows us mercy.
3Have mercy on us, O LORD, have mercy, for we have endured much contempt.
4We have endured much scorn from the arrogant, much contempt from the proud.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Luke 18:11–13 | The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like the other men—swindlers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and pay tithes of all that I acquire.’ But the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling even to lift up his eyes to heaven. Instead, he beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’ |
| 2 | Psalms 57:1 | Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy, for in You my soul takes refuge. In the shadow of Your wings I will take shelter until the danger has passed. |
| 3 | Psalms 89:50–51 | Remember, O Lord, the reproach of Your servants, which I bear in my heart from so many people— how Your enemies have taunted, O LORD, and have mocked every step of Your anointed one! |
| 4 | Nehemiah 4:2–4 | before his associates and the army of Samaria, saying, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Can they restore the wall by themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they complete it in a day? Can they bring these burnt stones back to life from the mounds of rubble?” Then Tobiah the Ammonite, who was beside him, said, “If even a fox were to climb up on what they are building, it would break down their wall of stones!” Hear us, O God, for we are despised. Turn their scorn back upon their own heads, and let them be taken as plunder to a land of captivity. |
| 5 | Luke 16:14 | The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all of this and were scoffing at Jesus. |
| 6 | Isaiah 53:3 | He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not. |
| 7 | Luke 23:35 | The people stood watching, and the rulers sneered at Him, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.” |
| 8 | Psalms 69:13–16 | But my prayer to You, O LORD, is for a time of favor. In Your abundant loving devotion, O God, answer me with Your sure salvation. Rescue me from the mire and do not let me sink; deliver me from my foes and out of the deep waters. Do not let the floods engulf me or the depths swallow me up; let not the Pit close its mouth over me. Answer me, O LORD, for Your loving devotion is good; turn to me in keeping with Your great compassion. |
| 9 | Psalms 44:13–16 | You have made us a reproach to our neighbors, a mockery and derision to those around us. You have made us a byword among the nations, a laughingstock among the peoples. All day long my disgrace is before me, and shame has covered my face, at the voice of the scorner and reviler, because of the enemy, bent on revenge. |
| 10 | Psalms 56:1–2 | Be merciful to me, O God, for men are hounding me; all day they press their attack. My enemies pursue me all day long, for many proudly assail me. |
Psalms 123:3 Summary
[Psalms 123:3 is a prayer for God's mercy and help in the face of contempt and scorn. The psalmist is asking God to have mercy on them because they have endured a lot of ridicule and mocking from others, as seen in Psalms 123:4. This verse reminds us that we can always cry out to God for help and relief, no matter what we are facing, and that He is a God of mercy and compassion, as seen in Psalms 86:5 and Matthew 5:7. By asking for God's mercy, we are recognizing our dependence on Him and our need for His grace and forgiveness.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significance of asking for mercy in Psalms 123:3?
Asking for mercy in Psalms 123:3 is a cry for help and relief from the contempt and scorn the psalmist and the people of God have endured, as seen in Psalms 123:4, and it is a recognition of their dependence on God's grace and compassion, as expressed in Psalms 86:5.
Why do the people of God endure contempt and scorn?
The people of God endure contempt and scorn because of their faith and their commitment to following God's ways, as seen in Psalms 123:4, and this is a common experience for believers, as noted in Matthew 5:11-12 and 2 Timothy 3:12.
How can we have confidence that God will show us mercy?
We can have confidence that God will show us mercy because of His character, as described in Exodus 34:6-7, and because of His promises to His people, as seen in Psalms 103:8-12 and Lamentations 3:22-23.
What is the relationship between mercy and contempt in this verse?
The relationship between mercy and contempt in Psalms 123:3 is that the people of God are asking for mercy as a relief from the contempt they have endured, and they are recognizing that God's mercy is the antidote to the contempt and scorn of the world, as seen in Psalms 23:4 and Isaiah 49:13.
Reflection Questions
- In what ways have I experienced contempt or scorn for my faith, and how can I cry out to God for mercy in those situations?
- What are some ways that I can show mercy to others who are experiencing contempt or scorn, and how can I be a reflection of God's character in those situations?
- How can I cultivate a deeper sense of dependence on God's mercy and compassion in my daily life, and what are some ways that I can express my gratitude for His mercy?
- What are some ways that the world's contempt and scorn can be a form of spiritual refining, and how can I use those experiences to grow deeper in my faith and closer to God?
Gill's Exposition on Psalms 123:3
Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us,.... Merit is not pleaded; for, though servants, they knew they were unprofitable ones: but mercy is asked; whether by the awakened sinner, under first
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 123:3
Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 123:3
With opprobrious words and injuries.
Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 123:3
Psalms 123:3 Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt.Ver. 3. Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy] This is preces fundere, coelum tundere, misericordiam extorquere, as Tertullian hath it; to wring mercy out of God’ s holy hands, by our utmost importunity. For we are exceedingly filled with contempt] We are made the very scum and scorn of our proud imperious enemies. This the nature of man is very impatient of, and can hardly brook; for there is none so mean but holdeth himself worthy of some regard; and a reproachful scorn showeth an utter disrespect, which issueth from the very superfluity of malice.
Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 123:3
(3) Exceedingly filled.—Or, sated more than enough.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 123:3
Verse 3. Have mercy upon us, O Lord] Chastise us no more; we will no more revolt against thee. We are exceedingly filled with contempt.] We not only suffer grievously from our captivity, but are treated in the most contemptuous manner by our masters.
Cambridge Bible on Psalms 123:3
3, 4. The plea of suffering Israel, scorned and despised by its insolent neighbours.
Barnes' Notes on Psalms 123:3
Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us - The language of earnest pleading, repeating with emphasis the object of the prayer.
Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 123:3
3, 4. Exceedingly filled—Satiated, overflowed with abundance.
Sermons on Psalms 123:3
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Unpardonable Sin by William P. Nicholson | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the fact that preaching the gospel is a serious matter because it deals with the eternal destiny of human beings. He shares a story from the |
|
The Walls Are Down for America and Canada (Conference Call) by Edgar Reich | In this sermon, the speaker addresses the issue of how people, particularly men, are consumed by worldly distractions such as television, jobs, and material possessions. He acknowl |
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Up Means Down by Jim Cymbala | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the concept of a spiritual law of gravity, comparing it to the physical law of gravity. He uses the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collec |
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Enemies of the Cross of Christ by Martin Luther | Martin Luther preaches about the enemies of the cross of Christ and the righteousness of faith in Christ. He emphasizes the dangers of relying on human righteousness, which leads t |
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Know Yourself by John Wesley | John Wesley emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and humility in his sermon 'Know Yourself.' He contrasts the self-righteousness of the Pharisee with the genuine repentance |
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The Hypocrite's Bane by Thomas Brooks | Thomas Brooks emphasizes the dangers of hypocrisy in religious practice, illustrating how the Pharisees performed many outward acts of piety without true inward transformation. He |
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Sketches of Jewish Social Life - Part 1 by Alfred Edersheim | Alfred Edersheim preaches about the historical and cultural context of the land of Palestine at the time of Jesus Christ, focusing on the significance of understanding the surround |