Psalms 124:1
Psalms 124:1 in Multiple Translations
If the LORD had not been on our side— let Israel now declare—
If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, now may Israel say;
If it had not been Jehovah who was on our side, Let Israel now say,
If it had not been the Lord who was on our side (let Israel now say);
If the Lord hadn't been for us, what would have happened? Let everyone in Israel say:
A song of degrees, or Psalme of David. If the Lord had not bene on our side, (may Israel now say)
A Song of the Ascents, by David. Save [for] Jehovah — who hath been for us, (Pray, let Israel say),
If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, let Israel now say,
A Song of degrees of David. If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, now may Israel say;
They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Sion: he shall not be moved for ever that dwelleth
You Israeli people, answer this question: What would have happened to us if Yahweh had not been ◄helping/fighting for► us?
Berean Amplified Bible — Psalms 124:1
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
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 124:1 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
שִׁ֥יר
הַֽ/מַּעֲל֗וֹת
לְ/דָ֫וִ֥ד
לוּלֵ֣י
יְ֭הוָה
שֶׁ/הָ֣יָה
לָ֑/נוּ
יֹֽאמַר
נָ֝א
יִשְׂרָאֵֽל
שִׁ֥יר
shîyr
H7892
song
N-cs
הַֽ/מַּעֲל֗וֹת
maʻălâh
H4609
thought
Art | N-fp
לְ/דָ֫וִ֥ד
Dâvid
H1732
David
Prep | N-proper
לוּלֵ֣י
lûwlêʼ
H3884
unless
Conj
יְ֭הוָה
Yᵉhôvâh
H3068
The Lord
N-proper
שֶׁ/הָ֣יָה
hâyâh
H1961
to be
Rel | V-Qal-Perf-3ms
לָ֑/נוּ
Prep | Suff
יֹֽאמַר
ʼâmar
H559
to say
V-Qal-Juss-3ms
נָ֝א
nâʼ
H4994
please
Part
יִשְׂרָאֵֽל
Yisrâʼêl
H3478
Israel
N-proper
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Psalms 124:1
שִׁ֥יר
shîyr
H7892
"song"
N-cs
This word refers to a song or singing, and it is used in the Bible to describe musical expressions of praise and worship, like the songs of David in the book of Psalms. It can also be used to describe a specific song or ode.
Definition: 1) song 1a) lyric song 1b) religious song 1c) song of Levitical choirs Also means: shi.rah (שִׁירָה "song" H7892B)
Usage: Occurs in 87 OT verses. KJV: musical(-ick), [idiom] sing(-er, -ing), song. See also: Genesis 31:27; Psalms 76:1; Psalms 18:1.
הַֽ/מַּעֲל֗וֹת
maʻălâh
H4609
"thought"
Art | N-fp
Represents a step or journey upward, like the steps of a stair or a song of ascent, as in Psalm 120-134, which are songs the Israelites sang while traveling to Jerusalem for festivals. It symbolizes spiritual ascent.
Definition: what comes up, thoughts
Usage: Occurs in 40 OT verses. KJV: things that come up, (high) degree, deal, go up, stair, step, story. See also: Exodus 20:26; Psalms 126:1; Psalms 120:1.
לְ/דָ֫וִ֥ד
Dâvid
H1732
"David"
Prep | N-proper
David was the youngest son of Jesse and a king of Judah, first mentioned in Ruth 4:17, and an ancestor of Jesus.
Definition: A king of the tribe of Judah living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at Rut.4.17; son of: Jesse (H3448) and Nahash (H5176I); brother of: Eliab (H0446I), Abinadab (H0041I), Shimeah (H8093), Zeruiah (H6870), Abigail (H0026H)(?), Nethanel (H5417H), Raddai (H7288), Ozem (H0684) and Elihu (H0453J); married to Michal (H4324), Abigail (H0026), Ahinoam (H0293H), Maacah (H4601I), Haggith (H2294), Abital (H0037), Eglah (H5698) and Bathsheba (H1339); father of: Amnon (H0550), Chileab (H3609), Absalom (H0053), Adonijah (H0138), Shephatiah (H8203), Ithream (H3507), Shammua (H8051H), Shobab (H7727), Nathan (H5416), Solomon (H8010), Ibhar (H2984), Elishua (H0474), Nepheg (H5298H), Japhia (H3309I), Elishama (H0476H), Eliada (H0450), Eliphelet (H0467), Tamar (H8559H), Elpelet (H0467I), Nogah (H5052) and Jerimoth (H3406N) Also named: Daueid, Dauid, Dabid (Δαυείδ, Δαυίδ, Δαβίδ "David" G1138) § David = "beloved" youngest son of Jesse and second king of Israel
Usage: Occurs in 912 OT verses. KJV: David. See also: Ruth 4:17; 1 Samuel 20:41; 1 Samuel 27:9.
לוּלֵ֣י
lûwlêʼ
H3884
"unless"
Conj
Unless or if not, this word is used to show an exception or a condition. It is often translated as except or unless in English Bibles.
Definition: unless, if not, except
Usage: Occurs in 14 OT verses. KJV: except, had not, if (...not), unless, were it not that. See also: Genesis 31:42; Psalms 27:13; Psalms 94:17.
יְ֭הוָה
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.
שֶׁ/הָ֣יָה
hâyâh
H1961
"to be"
Rel | V-Qal-Perf-3ms
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Definition: 1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) --- 1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass 1a1b) to come about, come to pass 1a2) to come into being, become 1a2a) to arise, appear, come 1a2b) to become 1a2b1) to become 1a2b2) to become like 1a2b3) to be instituted, be established 1a3) to be 1a3a) to exist, be in existence 1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time) 1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality) 1a3d) to accompany, be with 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about 1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
Usage: Occurs in 3131 OT verses. KJV: beacon, [idiom] altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, [phrase] follow, happen, [idiom] have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, [idiom] use. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 17:4; Genesis 36:11.
לָ֑/נוּ
""
Prep | Suff
יֹֽאמַר
ʼâmar
H559
"to say"
V-Qal-Juss-3ms
This Hebrew word means to say or speak, and it's used in many different ways in the Bible. It can mean to command, promise, or think, and it's translated in the KJV as 'answer', 'appoint', or 'command'.
Definition: 1) to say, speak, utter 1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend 1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called 1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly 1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)
Usage: Occurs in 4337 OT verses. KJV: answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet. See also: Genesis 1:3; Genesis 18:23; Genesis 25:32.
נָ֝א
nâʼ
H4994
"please"
Part
The Hebrew word 'nâ'' is used to express a polite request, like 'please' or 'I pray', and is often added to verbs to make them more polite. In the Bible, it appears in passages like Ezra's reading of the law to the people.
Definition: 1) I (we) pray, now, please 1a) used in entreaty or exhortation
Usage: Occurs in 374 OT verses. KJV: I beseech (pray) thee (you), go to, now, oh. See also: Genesis 12:11; Judges 4:19; 1 Kings 13:6.
יִשְׂרָאֵֽל
Yisrâʼêl
H3478
"Israel"
N-proper
Israel is the symbolic name of Jacob, also referring to his descendants. Jacob, son of Isaac and Rebekah, had 12 sons who became the tribes of Israel, as told in Genesis 25:26. His story is crucial to the Bible's narrative.
Definition: A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.25.26; son of: Isaac (H3327) and Rebekah (H7259); brother of: Esau (H6215); married to Rachel (H7354), Leah (H3812), Zilpah (H2153) and Bilhah (H1090A); father of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Judah (H3063), Dan (H1835H), Naphtali (H5321), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074), Dinah (H1783), Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144); also called Jacob frequently § Israel = "God prevails" 1) the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel 2) the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob 2a) the name of the nation until the death of Solomon and the split 2b) the name used and given to the northern kingdom consisting of the 10 tribes under Jeroboam; the southern kingdom was known as Judah 2c) the name of the nation after the return from exile
Usage: Occurs in 2231 OT verses. KJV: Israel. See also: Genesis 32:29; Exodus 13:18; Exodus 40:38.
Study Notes — Psalms 124:1
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Psalms 124:1 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Psalms 124:1
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 124:1
- Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 124:1
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 124:1
- Cambridge Bible on Psalms 124:1
- Barnes' Notes on Psalms 124:1
- Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 124:1
- Sermons on Psalms 124:1
Context — Our Help Is in the Name of the LORD
1If the LORD had not been on our side— let Israel now declare—
2if the LORD had not been on our side when men attacked us, 3when their anger flared against us, then they would have swallowed us alive,Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Romans 8:31 | What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? |
| 2 | Psalms 56:9 | Then my enemies will retreat on the day I cry for help. By this I will know that God is on my side. |
| 3 | Psalms 54:4 | Surely God is my helper; the Lord is the sustainer of my soul. |
| 4 | Psalms 120:1 | In my distress I cried to the LORD, and He answered me. |
| 5 | Hebrews 13:5–6 | Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence: “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” |
| 6 | Psalms 94:17 | Unless the LORD had been my helper, I would soon have dwelt in the abode of silence. |
| 7 | Psalms 118:6–7 | The LORD is on my side; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? The LORD is on my side; He is my helper. Therefore I will look in triumph on those who hate me. |
| 8 | Isaiah 8:9–10 | Huddle together, O peoples, and be shattered; pay attention, all you distant lands; prepare for battle, and be shattered; prepare for battle, and be shattered! Devise a plan, but it will be thwarted; state a proposal, but it will not happen. For God is with us. ” |
| 9 | Psalms 121:1 | I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? |
| 10 | Psalms 125:1 | Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion. It cannot be moved; it abides forever. |
Psalms 124:1 Summary
[This verse is saying that if God had not been helping and protecting the Israelites, they would have been in big trouble, but because He was with them, they were safe. This is similar to what it says in Deuteronomy 31:6, where God promises to never leave or forsake His people. The Psalmist is giving thanks for God's help and presence in their lives, and we can do the same when we remember times when God has helped us, like in Psalms 103:2-5, where it says to 'forget not all His benefits'.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean for the LORD to be 'on our side'?
It means that God is actively working in our lives to help and protect us, as seen in Psalms 23:4 and Exodus 14:13-14, where He delivered the Israelites from the Egyptians.
Why is it important for Israel to declare God's presence in their lives?
Declaring God's presence is a way of acknowledging and giving thanks for His help and protection, as seen in Psalms 107:1-2, where it says to 'give thanks to the LORD, for He is good'.
How can we apply this verse to our own lives?
We can apply this verse by recognizing God's presence and help in our own lives, and giving thanks for it, just as the Psalmist does in Psalms 138:8, where he says 'the LORD will fulfill His purpose for me'.
What would have happened if the LORD had not been on their side?
According to the surrounding verses, Psalms 124:2-3, if the LORD had not been on their side, their enemies would have 'swallowed them alive' and destroyed them, but God's presence and help prevented this from happening, as seen in Jeremiah 29:11, where God says 'I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you'.
Reflection Questions
- What are some times in my life when I have felt like God was 'on my side', and how did I respond to those experiences?
- How can I cultivate a greater awareness of God's presence in my daily life, and give thanks for His help and protection?
- What are some challenges or struggles I am currently facing, and how can I apply the truth of this verse to those situations?
- In what ways can I 'declare' God's presence and help in my life, like the Psalmist does in this verse, and what impact might that have on those around me?
Gill's Exposition on Psalms 124:1
If [it had not been] the Lord who was on our side,.... Or, "was for us" (h).
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 124:1
If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, now may Israel say; Psalms 124:1-8.-Israel declares how inevitably she must have been swallowed up if the Lord had not been on our side (Psalms
Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 124:1
Psalms 124:1 « A Song of degrees of David. » If [it had not been] the LORD who was on our side, now may Israel say;Ver. 1. If it had not been the Lord, &c.] God may far better say than our Henry VIII, Cui adhaereo, praeest, He whose part I take is sure to prevail. But Christ hath ever been the Church’ s champion, and hence she is insuperable. The Chaptain of the Lord’ s hosts is Captain of our salvation, Joshua 5:14 Hebrews 2:10.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 124:1
PSALM CXXIV A thanksgiving of the godly for extraordinary deliverances, 1-4. The great danger they were in, 7. Their confidence in God, 8. NOTES ON PSALM CXXIV In our present Hebrew copies this Psalm is attributed to David, לדוד ledavid; but this inscription is wanting in three of Kennicott's and De Rossi's MSS., as also in the Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate, AEthiopic, and Arabic; and in most of the ancient fathers, Greek and Latin, who found no other inscription in their copies of the text than A Psalm of degrees. It was composed long after David's days; and appears to be either a thanksgiving for their deliverance from the Babylonish captivity, or for a remarkable deliverance from some potent and insidious enemy after their return to Judea. Or, what appears to be more likely, it is a thanksgiving of the Jews for their escape from the general massacre intended by Haman, prime minister of Ahasuerus, king of Persia. See the whole Book of Esther. Verse 1. If it had not been the Lord] If God had not, in a very especial manner, supported and defended us, we had all been swallowed up alive, and destroyed by a sudden destruction, so that not one would have been left. This might refer to the plot against the whole nation of the Jews by Haman, in the days of Mordecai and Esther; when by his treacherous schemes the Jews, wheresoever dispersed in the provinces of Babylon, were all to have been put to death in one day.
This may here be represented under the figure of an earthquake, when a chasm is formed, and a whole city and its inhabitants are in a moment swallowed up alive.
Cambridge Bible on Psalms 124:1
1–5. Unless Jehovah had taken our part, we should have been destroyed by our enemies.
Barnes' Notes on Psalms 124:1
If it had not been the Lord who was on our side - Unless it was Yahweh who was with us.
Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 124:1
1. If it had not been—The Hebrew is abrupt and elliptical, If not, or unless, Jehovah was for us. Alexander proposes, as tantamount, “What if the Lord had not been for us?” leaving the answer to the imagination of the reader.
Sermons on Psalms 124:1
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
(The Lord - Merciful and Gracious) 5. the Triumph of the Poor and Needy by Roy Hession | In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the story of David from the Bible, particularly during the time when he was hunted by Saul and lived in the wilderness for 10 years. David d |
|
These Times Demand Special Trust by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the preacher warns of various calamities and signs of the end times, including famine, war, pestilence, earthquakes, and fear. He emphasizes the importance of trust |
|
Judges 5:23 by Chuck Smith | Chuck Smith emphasizes the curse of Meroz, highlighting the consequences of inaction in the face of evil. He recounts the story of Israel's oppression under Jabin and Sisera, and h |
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Psalm 124 by Henry Law | Henry Law emphasizes that all deliverance comes freely from God's hand, deserving grateful blessings. The enemies of God's children, led by the devil, are numerous and malicious, s |
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Exposition on Psalm 125 by St. Augustine | St. Augustine preaches on the importance of not fixing our gaze on worldly prosperity but on God, warning against pride and hardness of heart. He emphasizes the eternal stability o |
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Gods Presence by Kathryn Kuhlman | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes that God is interested in each individual as if they were the only person in the world. He uses the story of Elisha and his servant to illus |
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A Day's Journey Into the Wilderness by Carter Conlon | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the power and authority of God. He references the story of Elijah and how God demonstrated His power by consuming the captain and his 50 men |