Psalms 129:6 — Word Study
WLCיִ֭הְיוּ כַּחֲצִ֣יר גַּגּ֑וֹת שֶׁקַּדְמַ֖ת שָׁלַ֣ף יָבֵֽשׁ׃
BSAMay they behâyâh▸ like grasschâtsîyr [a type of plant, such as a leek] on the rooftopsgâg [the top of a house or building] which withersyâbêsh■ [to dry up, become ashamed] ◂beforeqadmâh it can growshâlaph■ [come to full maturity, be harvested]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| יִ֭הְיוּ | may they be | Verb, Qal, imperfect third person masculine plural |
| כַּחֲצִ֣יר | like [the] grass of | Preposition, noun common masculine singular construct |
| גַּגּ֑וֹת | roofs | Noun common, feminine plural absolute |
| שֶׁקַּדְמַ֖ת | that before | Particle, noun common feminine singular construct |
| שָׁלַ֣ף | it has shot up | Verb, Qal, perfect third person masculine singular |
| יָבֵֽשׁ׃ | it has withered | Verb, Qal, perfect third person masculine singular |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | May they be like grass on the rooftops, which withers before it can grow, |
| KJV | Let them be as the grass upon the housetops, which withereth afore it groweth up: |
| ASV | Let them be as the grass upon the housetops, Which withereth before it groweth up; |
| YLT | They are as grass of the roofs, That before it was drawn out withereth, |
| WEB | Let them be as the grass on the housetops, which withers before it grows up, |
| BBE | Let them be like the grass on the house-tops, which is dry before it comes to full growth. |
The translations agree on the rendering of the key phrases in this verse.
One main clause with two subordinate phrases that elaborate on the comparison and condition.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbהָיָה
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 129:6
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 — The Fate of the Wickedgenerated
Psalm 129:6 expresses a desire for those who hate Zion to be as inconsequential as grass that grows on rooftops, which cannot survive long enough to be harvested. This verse is part of a larger theme in the psalm, which discusses the struggles faced by the people of Israel and the ultimate fate of their enemies, similar to the sentiments expressed in Psalm 37:2 and Jeremiah 17:5–6.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 37:2 | For they wither quickly like grass and wilt like tender plants. |
| 2 | Psalm 92:7 | that though the wicked sprout like grass, and all evildoers flourish, they will be forever destroyed. |
| 3 | Jeremiah 17:5–6 | This is what the LORD says: “Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind, who makes the flesh his strength and turns his heart from the LORD. |
| 4 | Matthew 13:6 | But when the sun rose, the seedlings were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 4 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — הָיָה, Yih.yugenerated
The verb הָיָה (hayah) is a foundational Hebrew root meaning to exist or come into being. It conveys the notion of something happening or coming to pass, often used in narrative contexts. In this verse, it sets the expectation for the fate of the wicked.
As a Qal imperfect verb in the third person masculine plural, it indicates a wish or desire, as reflected in the phrase 'may they be.' This construction emphasizes the psalmist's hope for the fate of those who oppose Zion.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
In this study, we refer to the Berean Standard Bible (BSB), which uses the phrase may they be.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb of the verse is יִ֭הְיוּ (yih.yu), which governs the entire sentence. The structure includes a prepositional phrase indicating the comparison, a noun phrase for the subject, and a relative clause describing the condition of the grass.
The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the verb, highlighting the psalmist's wish, while the subsequent phrases elaborate on the nature of that wish.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates הָיָה as γενηθήτωσαν (genēthētōsan), which carries a similar meaning of becoming or coming into being. This choice reflects a direct connection to the Hebrew intention of existence.
The Greek term ξόρτος (xortos) for grass suggests a more general term for herbage, aligning with the imagery of fleeting growth.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 129:6 expresses a wish that those who hate Zion will be like grass that grows on rooftops, which withers before it can fully grow. This imagery highlights their fragility and the psalmist's hope for their downfall.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The psalmist uses this imagery to illustrate the frailty and insignificance of those who oppose Zion, suggesting they will not endure.
This wish reflects a desire for justice and for the enemies of Zion to face the consequences of their actions.
The verse fits within the psalm's theme of lamenting the struggles of Israel while expressing confidence in God's ultimate justice against their foes.
Yes, similar imagery can be found in passages like Psalm 37:2 and Jeremiah 17:5–6, which also emphasize the transient nature of the wicked.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What does the imagery of grass on rooftops teach us about the nature of opposition?
- In what ways can I recognize and address the fleeting nature of negative influences in my life?
- How can I cultivate resilience in my faith, similar to how the psalmist expresses hope for Zion?
- What steps can I take to ensure I am not like the grass that withers but rather like a strong tree planted by streams of water?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early church fathers like Augustine and Cassiodorus reference this verse to illustrate the fate of the wicked, drawing on its imagery of withering grass.
But what says he of them? The next words are, "Let them be even as the grass of the house tops: that withers before it be plucked up" [Psalms 129:6].Early Church Fathers on Psalms 129 →
“Let them be like the grass on buildings, which dries up before it is plucked up.” Abandoned buildings usually produce frail grass on their peaks.Early Church Fathers on Psalms 129 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 129:6 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleLet them be as the grass [upon] the housetops,.... The tops of the houses in Judea were flat, and so grass grew upon them, being covered with plaster of terrace; though it was but small and weak, and
Read John Gill on Psalms 129 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryLet them be as the grass upon the housetops, which withereth afore it groweth up: Let them be as the grass upon the house-tops, which withereth afore it groweth up - (Psalms 37:2; Isaiah 37:27.)
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 129 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleThe house-tops there were flat, and therefore more capable of grass or green corn growing between the stones than ours are. Which withereth afore it groweth up; which having no deep root, never comes to maturity. And so all their designs shall be abortive, and never come to perfection.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 129 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 129:6 Let them be as the grass [upon] the housetops, which withereth afore it groweth up:Ver. 6. Let them be as the grass, &c.] They are cursed with a witness whom the Holy Ghost thus curseth in such an emphatic manner, in such exquisite terms.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 129 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(6) Which withereth afore it groweth up.—This clause, with its Aramaic colouring, probably contains a textual error. The context seems certainly to require the meaning “before it is plucked up,” and many scholars get this meaning out of the Hebrew verb used elsewhere of “plucking off a shoe” and “drawing a sword.” They give, which is no doubt legitimate, an impersonal sense to the active verb, “which withereth before one pulls it up.” The LXX. (received text), the Vulg., Theodotion, and the Quinta favour this rendering. On the other hand, the image of grass withering before it comes to maturity is exactly what we should expect here, growing as it does without soil (comp. the “seed on the…
Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 129 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 6. As the grass upon the housetops] As in the east the roofs of the houses were flat, seeds of various kinds falling upon them would naturally vegetate, though in an imperfect way; and, because of the want of proper nourishment, would necessarily dry and wither away. If grass, the mower cannot make hay of it; if corn, the reaper cannot make a sheaf of it. Let the Babylonians be like such herbage-good for nothing, and come to nothing. Withereth afore it groweth up] Before שלק shalak, it is unsheathed; i.e., before it ears, or comes to seed.
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 129 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges6. as the grass upon the housetops] Cp. Isaiah 37:27. Grass or corn springs up quickly on the flat roofs of oriental houses, but having no depth of soil (Matthew 13:5 f.) it withers prematurely away, and yields no joyous harvest. afore it groweth up] Lit. before it has unsheathed, put out its flower-stalk and given promise of fruit. So let Zion’s enemies perish before they can mature their plots. The rendering of P.B.V., afore it be plucked up, is that of some MSS of the LXX, and the Vulg. (‘priusquam evellatur’), but though possible, is less suitable.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 129 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleLet them be as the grass upon the housetops - The housetops, or roofs of houses, covered with sand or earth, in which seeds of grass may germinate and begin to grow, but where, as there is no depth
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 129 →The verse in English, compared — 17 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
May they be like grass on the rooftops, which withers before it can grow,
Let them be as the grass on the housetops, which withers before it grows up,
May they be like grass on the rooftops, which withers before it can grow,
May they be like the grass on the rooftops which withers before one can even pull it up,
Tyndale line
Let them be as the grass upon the housetops, which withereth afore it groweth up:
Let them be as the grass upon the housetops, Which withereth before it groweth up;
Let them be as the grass upon the housetops, which withereth afore it groweth up:
Let them be as the grass upon the house-tops, which withereth before it groweth up:
They shalbe as the grasse on the house tops, which withereth afore it commeth forth.
Strictly literal
Let them be as the grass upon the house-tops, which withereth before it is plucked up,
They are as grass of the roofs, That before it was drawn out withereth,
They are as grass of the roofs, || That withers before it was drawn out,
May they become like the grass of the roofs, which withereth before it is pulled up;
May they be like the grass on the housetops that withers before it grows up,
From the Latin
From the morning watch even until night, let Israel hope in the Lord.
Simplified
May they be like grass that grows on a roof that withers before it can be harvested,
Let them be like the grass on the house-tops, which is dry before it comes to full growth.
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 in their wording, with five of the six words matched. The Dead Sea Scrolls show a similar text, with one word partially restored, indicating consistency across these ancient witnesses.
יִ֭הְיוּ כַּחֲצִ֣יר גַּגּ֑וֹת שֶׁקַּדְמַ֖ת שָׁלַ֣ף יָבֵֽשׁ׃
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.
יהיו כחציר גגות שקדמת שלף יבש
5 words on the leather — 1 partly restored.
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 129:6
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 הָיָה (hayah) is a primitive root meaning to exist or become, and it encompasses a range of meanings including to happen, occur, and come to pass. It is often used in narrative contexts, particularly in phrases like "and it came to pass." The word can also denote a state of being or existence, and it appears frequently in various forms throughout the Old Testament.
הָיָה 3570 vb. fall out, come to pass, become, be
Qal
Fall out, happen
occur, take place, come about, come to pass
esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass
וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)
rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה
less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)
Come into being, become
abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come
sq. prep.
become
sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)
sq. pred. adj.
become like
sq. pred. לְ pers.
sq. לְ pred.
oft. c. לְ pred. לְ pers.
with עַל and לְ
sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of
Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming)
exist, be in existence
abide, remain, continue
with word of locality, be in or at a place, be situated, stand, lie
as copula, joining subj. & pred.
H1961 הָיָה fall out, come to pass, become, be .. . . Fall out, happen
. occur, take place, come about, come to pass
. esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass . . וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)
. rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה
. less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)
. Come into being, become . . abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come
. sq. prep.
. become . sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)
. sq. pred. adj.
. become like
. sq. pred. + לְ pers.
. sq. לְ pred.
. oft. c. לְ pred. + לְ pers.
. with עַל and לְ
. sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of
. Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming) . exist, be in existence
. abide, remain, continue
1961 hayah haw-yaw
a primitive root (compare 1933); to exist, i.e. be or become,
come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or
auxiliary):--beacon, X altogether, be(-come), accomplished,
committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint,
fall, + follow, happen, X have, last, pertain, quit
(one-)self, require, X use.
see HEBREW for 01933
הָיָה (ha.yah) — to be.
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
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine pluralHVqi3mp
חָצִיר (chatsiyr) refers to green grass or herbage, and can also denote leeks. The entries highlight its association with the greenness of a courtyard and its use as food for animals. Additionally, it is noted as a symbol of things that perish quickly.
חָצִיר n.m. green grass, herbage
grass, as food for animals;spec. of leeks
as type of what is quickly perishing
base
H2682a חָצִיר green grass, herbage H2682b חָצִיר green grass, herbage
2682 chatsiyr khaw-tseer'
perhaps originally the same as 2681, from the greenness of a
courtyard; grass; also a leek (collectively):--grass, hay,
herb, leek.
see HEBREW for 02681
חָצִיר (cha.tsir) — grass.
1a) grass
1b) of the quickly perishing (fig.)
חָצִיר (cha.tsir) — leek.
grass, leek, green grass, herbage
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular constructHR/Ncmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
גָּג (gag) means 'roof' or 'top,' often referring specifically to the roof of a house or the top of an altar. It is derived from a root that suggests a form of reduplication. The term is used in contexts related to buildings and altars, indicating both physical structures and their elevated parts.
גָּג n.m. roof, top
roof
top of altar of incense, in tabern.
base
H1406 גָּג roof, top
1406 gag gawg
probably by reduplication from 1342; a roof; by analogy, the
top of an altar:--roof (of the house), (house) top (of the
house).
see HEBREW for 01342
גָּג (gag) — roof.
1) roof, top, housetop
1a) roof (of house)
1b) top (of altar of incense)
N-mp — Noun common · feminine plural absoluteHNcfpa
קַדְמָה (qadmah) refers to concepts of antiquity and former states or situations. It can denote the beginning or origin of something and is also used as a conjunction meaning 'before' in a temporal sense. The word is derived from a root meaning priority in time.
[קַדְמָה] n.f. antiquity, former state;—
antiquity, beginning
former state
cstr. sg. = conj. before (temp.)
base
H6927 [קַדְמָה] antiquity, former state;— . antiquity, beginning
. former state
. cstr. sg. = conj. before (temp.)
6927 qadmah kad-maw'
from 6923; priority (in time); also used adverbially
(before):--afore, antiquity, former (old) estate.
see HEBREW for 06923
קַדְמָה (qad.mah) — former.
1) antiquity, former state or estate or situation, before, origin
1a) antiquity, beginning, origin
1b) former state or situation conj
1c) before
Aramaic equivalent: qad.mah (קַדְמָה "previously" H6928)
Rel | N-fs — Particle · noun common feminine singular constructHTr/Ncfsc
be-for': The translation of a great variety of Hebrew and Greek words. "Haran died before (the English Revised Version "in the presence of," literally "before the face of") his father Terah" (Ge 11:28). To be "before" God is to enjoy His favor (Ps 31:22). "The Syrians before" (Isa 9:12 the Revised Version, margin "on the east," as "behind," owing to the position of Canaan, relative to Syria, implies the west).
The Hebrew word שָׁלַף (*shalaph*) is a primitive root meaning to draw out, off, or to pull up. It encompasses actions such as drawing off or plucking, and can also refer to growth, like a blade of grass shooting up. The entries consistently highlight these meanings without significant disagreement.
שָׁלַף vb. draw out, off
base
H8025 שָׁלַף draw out, off
8025 shalaph saw-laf'
a primitive root; to pull out, up or off:--draw (off), grow
up, pluck off.
שָׁלַף (sha.laph) — to draw.
1) to draw out or off, take off
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to draw out
1a2) to draw off
1a3) to shoot up, draw out (of blade of grass on roof)
V-Qal-Perf-3ms — Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singularHVqp3ms
יָבֵשׁ (yabesh) primarily means to be dry or to wither. It can refer to something that is dried up or lacking moisture, as well as the act of drying something out. The word has different forms, including Qal (to be dry), Piel (to make dry), and Hiphil (to dry up). It conveys a sense of desiccation or loss of vitality.
יָבֵשׁ vb. be dry, dried up, withered
Qal
be dry, dried up without moisture
be dried up
Pi. make dry, dry up
Hiph. dry up, make dry
dry up water
make dry, wither
exhibit dryness
base
H3001 יָבֵשׁ be dry, dried up, withered
3001 yabesh yaw-bashe'
a primitive root; to be ashamed, confused or disappointed;
also (as failing) to dry up (as water) or wither (as
herbage):--be ashamed, clean, be confounded, (make) dry (up),
(do) shame(-fully), X utterly, wither (away).
יָבֵשׁ (ya.vesh) — to wither.
1) to make dry, wither, be dry, become dry, be dried up, be withered
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to be dry, be dried up, be without moisture
1a2) to be dried up
1b) (Piel) to make dry, dry up
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to dry up, make dry
1c1a) to dry up (water)
1c1b) to make dry, wither
1c1c) to exhibit dryness
V-Qal-Perf-3ms — Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singularHVqp3ms
with'-erd (nabhel, "to fade away," "to be dried up"):
(1) Used figuratively to express leanness of soul, spiritual impotence, a low condition of spiritual life, a lack of moral nourishment: "My heart is smitten like grass, and withereth" (Ps 102:4). The contrasting figure emphasizes this idea: "All my fountains are in thee" (Ps 87:7). Also Ps 1:3, where the freshness and beauty of the righteous man's life are thus described: "And he shall be like a tree planted by the streams of water, .... whose leaf also doth not wither." In the New Testament xeraino, "to wither," is used to carry out the same idea of moral decay, or malnutrition of soul (Mt 13:6; 21:19).