Psalms 124:6 — Word Study
WLCבָּר֥וּךְ יְהוָ֑ה שֶׁלֹּ֥א נְתָנָ֥נוּ טֶ֝֗רֶף לְשִׁנֵּיהֶֽם׃
BSABlessedbârak [praised, worshiped] [be] the LORDYᵉhôvâh [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] who has notlôʼ [absent, withheld] given usnâthan■ [delivered, entrusted] as preyṭereph [food, something torn apart] to their teethshên [sharp edges]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| בָּר֥וּךְ | [be] blessed | Verb, Qal, participle (passive) masculine singular |
| יְהוָ֑ה | Yahweh | Noun proper |
| שֶׁלֹּ֥א | who not | Particle, particle |
| נְתָנָ֥נוּ | he has given us | Verb qal perfect third person masculine singular, suffix |
| טֶ֝֗רֶף | prey | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| לְשִׁנֵּיהֶֽם׃ | to teeth their | Preposition, noun common feminine dual construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Blessed be the LORD, who has not given us as prey to their teeth. |
| KJV | Blessed be the LORD, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth. |
| ASV | Blessed be Jehovah, Who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth. |
| YLT | Blessed [is] Jehovah who hath not given us, A prey to their teeth. |
| WEB | Blessed be Yahweh, who has not given us as a prey to their teeth. |
| BBE | Praise be to the Lord, who has not let us be wounded by their teeth. |
Translations agree on the key terms without significant variation.
The structure consists of a main clause with a relative clause and a prepositional phrase, creating a clear statement of praise.





6 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbבָּרַךְ
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Psalms 124:6
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — A Psalm of Thanksgivinggenerated
Psalms 124:6 expresses gratitude to the LORD for His protection. The psalmist reflects on the dangers faced and acknowledges that God has not allowed His people to be devoured by their enemies. This theme of divine deliverance is common in the psalms, where the faithful recognize God's hand in their salvation, as also seen in Psalm 17:9 and Exodus 15:9-10.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 17:9 | from the wicked who assail me, from my mortal enemies who surround me. |
| 2 | Psalm 118:13 | I was pushed so hard I was falling, but the LORD helped me. |
| 3 | Psalm 145:5–6 | the glorious splendor of Your majesty. And I will meditate on Your wondrous works. |
| 4 | Exodus 15:9–10 | The enemy declared, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake. I will divide the spoils; I will gorge myself on them. I will draw my sword; my hand will destroy them.’ |
| 5 | Judges 5:30–31 | ‘Are they not finding and dividing the spoil— a girl or two for each warrior, a plunder of dyed garments for Sisera, the spoil of embroidered garments for the neck of the looter?’ |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 7 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — בָּר֥וּךְ, ba.Rukhgenerated
The word בָּרַךְ (*barak*) is a verb in the Qal stem, indicating a passive participle meaning 'blessed.' It is derived from a root that conveys the idea of kneeling, which implies an act of praise or honor. This word is used to express worship towards God, reflecting a relationship of reverence and acknowledgment of His greatness.
In this verse, the psalmist invokes blessing upon the LORD, recognizing His role as the protector of His people. The context emphasizes the importance of gratitude and worship in response to God's deliverance.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study references the Berean Standard Bible (BSB), which uses the term blessed.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb is בָּר֥וּךְ, blessed, which governs the entire clause. It is followed by a relative clause that describes the subject, the LORD, and a subordinate clause that details what He has not done.
The structure emphasizes the act of blessing God first, followed by the reason for that blessing, creating a clear and direct expression of worship.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates בָּר֥וּךְ as εὐλογητὸς, which carries the same meaning of 'blessed.' This choice aligns closely with the Hebrew, indicating a consistent understanding of the term across both texts.
The translation of the entire verse reflects a similar sentiment of praise and acknowledgment of God's protection, emphasizing the continuity of the message.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalms 124:6 praises the LORD for not allowing His people to be harmed by their enemies. The psalmist expresses gratitude for God's protection, reflecting on the dangers faced and the deliverance experienced.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
To bless the LORD means to express praise and honor towards Him, recognizing His greatness and goodness.
The psalmist acknowledges God's protection from enemies who seek to harm His people, which is a common theme in the psalms.
It connects with other passages that highlight God's deliverance, such as Psalm 17:9 and Exodus 15:9-10, emphasizing His role as protector.
The term 'prey' signifies vulnerability and danger, illustrating the threat faced by the psalmist and the deliverance provided by God.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways have I experienced God's protection in my life?
- How can I express my gratitude to God for His deliverance?
- What does it mean for me to bless the LORD in my daily life?
- How can I remind myself of God's faithfulness in times of trouble?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early Church Fathers, such as Augustine of Hippo, reference this verse to highlight gratitude for God's protection and deliverance.
Let them escape the water without substance, and say, "Blessed be the Lord, who has not given us over for a prey unto their teeth" [Psalms 124:6].Early Church Fathers on Psalms 124 →
We have sung a psalm: "Blessed is the Lord, who has not given us as a quarry to their teeth." A proper expression of gratitude for the gifts of God.Early Church Fathers on Psalms 124 →
Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 124:6 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleBlessed [be] the Lord,.... Here begins the church's thanksgiving for deliverance from all their enemies, their proud persecutors; and from all afflictions and troubles by them; which they could never
Read John Gill on Psalms 124 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryBlessed be the LORD, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth. Blessed be the Lord, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth - as wild beasts thirst for the blood of their prey.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 124 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleA metaphor from wild beasts, which tear and devour their prey with their teeth.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 124 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 124:6 Blessed [be] the LORD, who hath not given us [as] a prey to their teeth.Ver. 6. Blessed be the Lord, &c.] Deo gratias, thanks be to God was much in Austin’ s mouth, and should be so in ours, but especially upon some signal deliverance. How was God blessed at Berachah? 2 Chronicles 20:26 As a prey to their teeth] Who meant to have made but a breakfast of us, and had already devoured us in their hopes, but God defeated them.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 124 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges6–8. Thanksgiving and confidence for the future.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 124 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleBlessed be the Lord - The Lord be praised; or, We have reason to praise the Lord because we have been delivered from these calamities.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 124 →The verse in English, compared — 16 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Blessed be the LORD, who has not given us as prey to their teeth.
Blessed be Yahweh, who has not given us as a prey to their teeth.
Blessed be the LORD, who has not given us as prey to their teeth.
The Lord deserves praise, for he did not hand us over as prey to their teeth.
Tyndale line
Blessed be the LORD, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth.
Blessed be Jehovah, Who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth.
Blessed be the LORD, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth.
Blessed be the LORD, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth.
Praysed be the Lord, which hath not giuen vs as a praye vnto their teeth.
Strictly literal
Blessed be Jehovah, who gave us not up a prey to their teeth!
Blessed [is] Jehovah who hath not given us, A prey to their teeth.
Blessed [is] YHWH who has not given us, || [As] prey to their teeth.
Blessed be the Lord, who hath not given us up as a prey to their teeth.
Blessed be Yahweh, who has not allowed us to be torn by their teeth.
Simplified
Praise the Lord, who didn't hand us over to them as prey to be ripped apart by their teeth.
Praise be to the Lord, who has not let us be wounded by their teeth.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint largely agree on the wording of this verse, with five of the six words matching. This indicates a strong consistency in the transmission of this text across different traditions.
בָּר֥וּךְ יְהוָ֑ה שֶׁלֹּ֥א נְתָנָ֥נוּ טֶ֝֗רֶף לְשִׁנֵּיהֶֽם׃
5 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Psalms 124:6
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
The Hebrew word בָּרַךְ (*barak*) is built from a primitive root meaning 'to kneel' and encompasses a range of meanings including 'to bless' and 'to curse.' It can refer to blessing God or men, as well as the act of kneeling in adoration. The entries note that it can also imply a curse in certain contexts, reflecting a nuanced use in greetings and farewells.
[בָּרַךְ] 329 vb. kneel, bless
Qal
kneel down
bless
Niph. bless oneself
Pi.
bless God, adore with bended knees
God blesses
men bless men
salute, greet, with an invocation of blessing
bless, with the antithetical meaning curse from the greeting in departing, saying adieu to, taking leave of; but rather a blessing overdone and so really a curse as in vulgar English as well as in the Shemitic cognates
Pu.
pass. to be blessed, adored
prospered by God
have prosperity invoked, by Balaam
in gratitude
Hiph. and he made his camel kneel
Hithp. bless oneself, congratulate oneself in his heart
base
H1288 בָּרַךְ kneel, bless .. kneel down
. bless
. bless oneself
. . bless God, adore with bended knees
. God blesses
. men bless men
. salute, greet, with an invocation of blessing
. bless, with the antithetical meaning curse from the greeting in departing, saying adieu to, taking leave of; but rather a blessing overdone and so really a curse as in vulgar English as well as in the Shemitic cognates
. . pass. to be blessed, adored
. prospered by God
. have prosperity invoked, by Balaam
. in gratitude
. and he made his camel kneel
. bless oneself, congratulate oneself in his heart
1288 barak baw-rak'
a primitive root; to kneel; by implication to bless God (as
an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as a benefit);
also (by euphemism) to curse (God or the king, as treason):--X
abundantly, X altogether, X at all, blaspheme, bless,
congratulate, curse, X greatly, X indeed, kneel (down),
praise, salute, X still, thank.
בָּרַךְ (ba.rakh) — to bless.
1) to bless, kneel
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to kneel
1a2) to bless
1b) (Niphal) to be blessed, bless oneself
1c) (Piel) to bless
1d) (Pual) to be blessed, be adored
1e) (Hiphil) to cause to kneel
1f) (Hithpael) to bless oneself
2) (TWOT) to praise, salute, curse
Aramaic equivalent: be.rakh (בְּרַךְ "to bless" H1289)
V-Qal-Inf-c — Verb · Qal · participle (passive) masculine singularHVqsmsa
bles'-ed (barukh): Where God is referred to, this word has the sense of "praise," as in 1Sa 25:32, "Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel." But where man is in mind it is used in the sense of "happy" or "favored," and most frequently so in the Psalms and the Gospels, as for example, "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the wicked" (Ps 1:1); "Blessed art thou among women" (Lu 1:42); "Blessed are the poor in spirit" (Mt 5:3).
See BEATITUDES.
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) is the proper name of the God of Israel, often rendered as Jehovah or the Lord. It signifies the self-existent or eternal nature of God. The name is closely associated with the revelation to Moses in Exodus 3:12-15 and is used in conjunction with other terms to denote sacred places. Some scholars suggest it derives from a root meaning 'to bring into being.'
יהוה c. 6823 i.e. יַהְוֶה n.pr.dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel—(1. MT יְהֹוָה 6518 (Qr אֲדֹנָי), or יֱהֹוִה 305 (Qr אֱלֹהִים) 2. Many recent scholars explain יַהְוֶה as Hiph. of הוה (= היה) the one bringing into being, life-giver)
יהוה is not used by E in Gn, but is given Ex 3:12-15 as the name of the God who revealed Himself to Moses at Horeb
יהוה is used with אלהים and suffixes, especially in D
the phrase † אֲנִי יהוה is noteworthy
יהוה is also used with several predicates, to form sacred names of holy places of Yahweh
base
H3068 יהוה i.e. יַהְוֶה n. pr. dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel
3068 Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw'
from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish
national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord. Compare 3050, 3069.
see HEBREW for 01961
see HEBREW for 03050
see HEBREW for 03069
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — LORD.
Jehovah = "the existing One"
1) the proper name of the one true God
1a) unpronounced except with the vowel pointings of a.do.na (אֲדֹנָי "Lord" H0136)
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — The Lord.
Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — (Jerusalem of) the Lord.
Combined with ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
N-proper — Noun properHNpt
לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'
לֹא or לוֹא adv. not
base
H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not
3808 lo' lo
or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often
used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,
ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,
no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out
of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +
of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.
לֹא (lo) — not.
1) not, no
1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)
1b) not (with modifier-negation)
1c) nothing (subst)
1d) without (with particle)
1e) before (of time)
Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)
Rel | Part — Particle · particleHTr/Tn
The Hebrew word נָתַן (natan) means 'to give' and encompasses a wide range of applications such as putting, setting, and making. It can also indicate actions like bestowing, delivering, and assigning. The entries describe its use in various forms, including Qal, Niphal, and Hophal, but do not present any significant disagreements among lexicons.
נָתַן 2007 vb. give, put, set
Qal 1917
give
Put, set
Make, constitute
Niph.
82be given
Be put, set
Hoph.
be given, bestowed
= be given to one for wife
be put upon
base
H5414 נָתַן give, put, set .. give
. Put, set
. Make, constitute
. . be given
. Be put, set
. . . be given, bestowed
. = be given to one for wife
. be put upon
5414 nathan naw-than'
a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of
application (put, make, etc.):--add, apply, appoint, ascribe,
assign, X avenge, X be ((healed)), bestow, bring (forth,
hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, +
cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, X doubtless, X
without fail, fasten, frame, X get, give (forth, over, up),
grant, hang (up), X have, X indeed, lay (unto charge, up),
(give) leave, lend, let (out), + lie, lift up, make, + O that,
occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, X
pull , put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send
(out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), + sing, + slander,
strike, (sub-)mit, suffer, X surely, X take, thrust, trade,
turn, utter, + weep, + willingly, + withdraw, + would (to)
God, yield.
נָתַן (na.tan) — to give: give.
: give/deliver/send/produce
1) to give, put, set
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to give, bestow, grant, permit, ascribe, employ, devote, consecrate, dedicate, pay wages, sell, exchange, lend, commit, entrust, give over, deliver up, yield produce, occasion, produce, requite to, report, mention, utter, stretch out, extend
1a2) to put, set, put on, put upon, set, appoint, assign, designate
1a3) to make, constitute
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be given, be bestowed, be provided, be entrusted to, be granted to, be permitted, be issued, be published, be uttered, be assigned
1b2) to be set, be put, be made, be inflicted
1c) (Hophal)
1c1) to be given, be bestowed, be given up, be delivered up
1c2) to be put upon
נָתַן (na.tan) — to give: put.
: put/set/apppoint
1) to give, put, set
1a) (Qal)
V-Qal-Perf-3ms | Suff — Verb qal perfect third person masculine singular · suffixHVqp3ms/Sp1bp
US, pronoun objective case of we.
Give us this day our daily bread.
Us , pron. [OE. us, AS. s; akin to OFries. & OS. s, D. ons, G. uns, Icel. & Sw. oss, Dan. os, Goth. uns, L. nos we, us, Gr. we, Skr. nas us. . Cf. Nostrum, Our.] The persons speaking, regarded as an object; ourselves; — the objective case of we. See We. “Tell us a tale.” Chaucer.
Give us this day our daily bread. Matt. vi. 11.
Us, pron. oblique case of we
טֶ֫רֶף (teref) refers to something that is torn, such as prey or food, and can also mean a leaf. It is derived from a root that conveys the idea of fragments. The entries consistently highlight its meanings related to prey and food, with no significant disagreement among the lexicons.
טֶ֫רֶף n.m. prey, food; leaf
base
H2964 טֶ֫רֶף prey, food; leaf
2964 tereph teh'-ref
from 2963; something torn, i.e. a fragment, e.g. a fresh
leaf, prey, food:--leaf, meat, prey, spoil.
see HEBREW for 02963
טֶ֫רֶף (te.reph) — prey.
1) prey, food, leaf
1a) prey
1b) food
1c) leaf
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
pra (baz, Tereph, shalal): "Prey" is frequent in the Old Testament, chiefly as the translation of baz, "spoil," "plunder" (Nu 14:3,11; De 1:39; Isa 10:6, etc.); of Tereph, "prey of wild beasts," "torn thing" (Ge 49:9; Nu 23:24; Job 4:11, etc.); of malqoah, "a taking" (Nu 31:11, etc.; Isa 49:24,25); of shalal, "spoil" or "booty" (Jud 5:30 twice; Jud…
The Hebrew word שֵׁן (shen) primarily means 'tooth' and can also refer to 'ivory.' It is derived from the root associated with sharpness, and it can figuratively denote a cliff or crag. The entries highlight various contexts, including its use in legal terms (lex talionis) and as a material in commerce.
שֵׁן n.f. tooth, ivory
base
H8127 שֵׁן tooth, ivory
8127 shen shane
from 8150; a tooth (as sharp); specifically (for 8143) ivory;
figuratively, a cliff:--crag, X forefront, ivory, X sharp,
tooth.
see HEBREW for 08150
see HEBREW for 08143
שֵׁן (shen) — tooth.
: tooth
1) tooth, ivory
1a) tooth
1a1) of man, lex talionis, beast
1b) tooth, tine (of fork)
1c) ivory
1c1) as material
1c2) of commerce
1d) sharp pointed rock
שֵׁן (shen) — tooth: ivory.
: ivory
1) tooth, ivory
1a) tooth
1a1) of man, lex talionis, beast
1b) tooth, tine (of fork)
1c) ivory
1c1) as material
1c2) of commerce
1d) sharp pointed rock
שֵׁן (shen) — tooth: crag.
: crag
1) tooth, ivory
1a) tooth
1a1) of man, lex talionis, beast
1b) tooth, tine (of fork)
1c) ivory
1c1) as material
1c2) of commerce
1d) sharp pointed rock
שֵׁן (shen) — tooth: prong.
: prong
1) tooth, ivory
1a) tooth
1a1) of man, lex talionis, beast
1b) tooth, tine (of fork)
1c) ivory
1c1) as material
1c2) of commerce
1d) sharp pointed rock
Prep | N-cd | Suff — Preposition · noun common feminine dual construct · suffixHR/Ncfdc/Sp3mp
