Psalms 124:3
Psalms 124:3 in Multiple Translations
when their anger flared against us, then they would have swallowed us alive,
Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us:
Then they had swallowed us up alive, When their wrath was kindled against us:
They would have made a meal of us while still living, in the heat of their wrath against us:
They would have swallowed us alive when their anger raged against us.
They had then swallowed vs vp quicke, when their wrath was kindled against vs.
Then alive they had swallowed us up, In the burning of their anger against us,
then they would have swallowed us up alive, when their wrath was kindled against us,
Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us:
For the Lord will not leave the rod of sinners upon the lot of the just: that the just may not stretch forth their hands to iniquity.
we would have all been killed [IDM] because they were very angry with us!
Berean Amplified Bible — Psalms 124:3
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 124:3 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
אֲ֭זַי
חַיִּ֣ים
בְּלָע֑וּ/נוּ
בַּ/חֲר֖וֹת
אַפָּ֣/ם
בָּֽ/נוּ
אֲ֭זַי
ʼăzay
H233
in that case
Adv
חַיִּ֣ים
chay
H2416
alive
Adj
בְּלָע֑וּ/נוּ
bâlaʻ
H1104
to swallow up
V-Qal-Perf-3cp | Suff
בַּ/חֲר֖וֹת
chârâh
H2734
to be incensed
Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a
אַפָּ֣/ם
ʼaph
H639
face
N-ms | Suff
בָּֽ/נוּ
Prep | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Psalms 124:3
אֲ֭זַי
ʼăzay
H233
"in that case"
Adv
This word means 'at that time' or 'in that case'. It is used to indicate a specific point in time. The KJV translates it as 'then'.
Definition: then, in that case
Usage: Occurs in 3 OT verses. KJV: then. See also: Psalms 124:3; Psalms 124:4; Psalms 124:5.
חַיִּ֣ים
chay
H2416
"alive"
Adj
In the Bible, this word means life or being alive. It can refer to physical life, like in Genesis 1:20, or spiritual life, like in Psalm 30:5.
Definition: adj 1) living, alive 1a) green (of vegetation) 1b) flowing, fresh (of water) 1c) lively, active (of man) 1d) reviving (of the springtime) Aramaic equivalent: chay (חַי "living" H2417)
Usage: Occurs in 450 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] age, alive, appetite, (wild) beast, company, congregation, life(-time), live(-ly), living (creature, thing), maintenance, [phrase] merry, multitude, [phrase] (be) old, quick, raw, running, springing, troop. See also: Genesis 1:20; Deuteronomy 4:9; 2 Kings 5:16.
בְּלָע֑וּ/נוּ
bâlaʻ
H1104
"to swallow up"
V-Qal-Perf-3cp | Suff
This word means to swallow or destroy something completely. It can be used to describe something being eaten up or destroyed, like in a natural disaster or a strong storm. The Bible uses it to convey total destruction.
Definition: 1) to swallow down, swallow up, engulf, eat up 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to swallow down 1a2) to swallow up, engulf 1b) (Niphal) to be swallowed up 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to swallow 1c2) to swallow up, engulf 1c3) squandering (fig.) 1d) (Pual) to be swallowed up 1e) (Hithpael) to be ended
Usage: Occurs in 48 OT verses. KJV: cover, destroy, devour, eat up, be at end, spend up, swallow down (up). See also: Genesis 41:7; Psalms 106:17; Psalms 21:10.
בַּ/חֲר֖וֹת
chârâh
H2734
"to be incensed"
Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a
To be incensed means to be very angry or furious, like a fire burning. It describes strong emotions like anger, zeal, or jealousy, and is used to express intense feelings in the Bible.
Definition: 1) to be hot, furious, burn, becomeangry, be kindled 1a) (Qal) to burn, kindle (anger) 1b) (Niphal) to be angry with, be incensed 1c) (Hiphil) to burn, kindle 1d) (Hithpael) to heat oneself in vexation
Usage: Occurs in 87 OT verses. KJV: be angry, burn, be displeased, [idiom] earnestly, fret self, grieve, be (wax) hot, be incensed, kindle, [idiom] very, be wroth. See H8474 (תַּחָרָה). See also: Genesis 4:5; 1 Samuel 15:11; Psalms 18:8.
אַפָּ֣/ם
ʼaph
H639
"face"
N-ms | Suff
This Hebrew word can mean face, but also anger or nose. It is used to describe someone's countenance or emotions, like anger or patience. In the Bible, it appears in various contexts, including descriptions of God's emotions.
Definition: : face 1) nostril, nose, face 2) anger
Usage: Occurs in 269 OT verses. KJV: anger(-gry), [phrase] before, countenance, face, [phrase] forebearing, forehead, [phrase] (long-) suffering, nose, nostril, snout, [idiom] worthy, wrath. See also: Genesis 2:7; Nehemiah 8:6; Psalms 2:5.
בָּֽ/נוּ
""
Prep | Suff
Study Notes — Psalms 124:3
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Psalms 124:3 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Psalms 124:3
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 124:3
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 124:3
- Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 124:3
- Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 124:3
- Cambridge Bible on Psalms 124:3
- Barnes' Notes on Psalms 124:3
- Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 124:3
- Sermons on Psalms 124:3
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,
4then the floods would have engulfed us, then the torrent would have overwhelmed us, 5then the raging waters would have swept us away.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Acts 9:2 | and requested letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women belonging to the Way, he could bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem. |
| 2 | Esther 3:12–13 | On the thirteenth day of the first month, the royal scribes were summoned and the order was written exactly as Haman commanded the royal satraps, the governors of each province, and the officials of each people, in the script of each province and the language of every people. It was written in the name of King Xerxes and sealed with the royal signet ring. And the letters were sent by couriers to each of the royal provinces with the order to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the Jews—young and old, women and children—and to plunder their possessions on a single day, the thirteenth day of Adar, the twelfth month. |
| 3 | Psalms 27:2 | When the wicked came upon me to devour my flesh, my enemies and foes stumbled and fell. |
| 4 | Psalms 35:25 | Let them not say in their hearts, “Aha, just what we wanted!” Let them not say, “We have swallowed him up!” |
| 5 | Psalms 57:3 | He reaches down from heaven and saves me; He rebukes those who trample me. Selah God sends forth His loving devotion and His truth. |
| 6 | Matthew 2:16 | When Herod saw that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was filled with rage. Sending orders, he put to death all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, according to the time he had learned from the Magi. |
| 7 | Numbers 16:30–34 | But if the LORD brings about something unprecedented, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them and all that belongs to them so that they go down alive into Sheol, then you will know that these men have treated the LORD with contempt.” As soon as Moses had finished saying all this, the ground beneath them split open, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households—all Korah’s men and all their possessions. They went down alive into Sheol with all they owned. The earth closed over them, and they vanished from the assembly. At their cries, all the people of Israel who were around them fled, saying, “The earth may swallow us too!” |
| 8 | Daniel 3:19 | At this, Nebuchadnezzar was filled with rage, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He gave orders to heat the furnace seven times hotter than usual, |
| 9 | Jeremiah 51:34 | “Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has devoured me; he has crushed me. He has set me aside like an empty vessel; he has swallowed me like a monster; he filled his belly with my delicacies and vomited me out. |
| 10 | Psalms 74:8 | They said in their hearts, “We will crush them completely.” They burned down every place where God met us in the land. |
Psalms 124:3 Summary
[This verse, Psalms 124:3, says that when our enemies get really angry with us, they would like to completely destroy us, but God is our protector and saves us from harm, just like He did for the Israelites in the Old Testament, as seen in Psalms 23:4, where David says 'Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.' The Bible teaches us that God is always with us and will never leave us, even when things seem really tough, as it says in Hebrews 13:5, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.' We can trust in God's love and care for us, even when we face opposition and anger from others, because He is our rock and our salvation, as stated in Psalms 62:2, 'He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.']
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean for the anger of our enemies to 'flare' against us?
This phrase, found in Psalms 124:3, indicates a strong and intense emotional response, similar to the anger of God against sin, as seen in Deuteronomy 29:20, where God's wrath is poured out against those who disobey Him.
How can we know if God is on our side, like it says in the preceding verse?
We can know that God is on our side when we are following His will and living according to His Word, as stated in Romans 8:31, which says 'If God is for us, who can be against us?'
What does it mean to be 'swallowed alive' by our enemies?
Being 'swallowed alive' is a metaphor for being completely consumed and destroyed by our enemies, much like the psalmist describes the danger of being overwhelmed by the floods and raging waters in Psalms 124:4-5.
How does this verse relate to our daily lives as believers?
This verse reminds us that, as believers, we will face opposition and anger from those who do not know God, but we can trust in God's protection and provision, just as the Israelites did, as seen in Exodus 14:13-14, where God parts the Red Sea to save His people from their enemies.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that I have seen God protect me from the anger and opposition of others, just like He did for the Israelites in this verse?
- How can I trust in God's sovereignty and protection when I face difficult circumstances, like the psalmist did in this passage?
- What does it mean for me to 'declare' God's goodness and faithfulness, like the psalmist encourages in Psalms 124:1?
- In what ways can I be a witness to God's power and protection in my own life, so that others may know and trust in Him?
Gill's Exposition on Psalms 124:3
Then they had swallowed us up quick,.... Or "alive"; as the earth swallowed up Korah and his company; or as the fish swallowed up Jonah; or rather as ravenous beasts swallow their prey; to which the allusion is.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 124:3
Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us: Then they had swallowed us up quick - i:e., alive, as in Psalms 55:15; Proverbs 1:12.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 124:3
They had swallowed us up quick; they had speedily and utterly destroyed us, as Korah, &c. were, Numbers 16.
Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 124:3
Psalms 124:3 Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us:Ver. 3. Then had they swallowed us up quick] As the great fish do the little ones, as hungry lions, or wolves, ravin up their prey. Ptolemy Lathurus, king of Egypt, slew thirty thousand Jews, and compelled the living to feed upon the dead. Adrian the emperor made a decree, that he who had not slain a Jew should himself be slain (Gualth Praef. in Marc. R. Obad. Gaon in Psalms 124:1-8). When their wrath was kindled against us] Heb. in the flagrancies or inflammations of their anger.
Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 124:3
(3) Then.—Critics are at issue both as to the form and meaning of the word—whether it is an archaism or an aramaism, expressing time or logical sequence. Swallowed . . . quick (alive).—No doubt an allusion to the fall of Korah (Numbers 16:32-33), where the same verb and adjective occur together. (See also Psalms 55:15.)
Cambridge Bible on Psalms 124:3
3. Then had they swallowed us up alive, as the earth swallowed Korah (Numbers 16:30); or as Sheol devours its victims (Proverbs 1:12), or a monster its prey (Jeremiah 51:34). Cp. Psalms 55:15; Lamentations 2:16. when their wrath &c.] Cp. Nehemiah 4:1 : Sanballat “was wroth and exceedingly vexed,” Psalms 4:7 “they were exceedingly wroth.”
Barnes' Notes on Psalms 124:3
Then they had swallowed us up quick - There was no other help, and ruin - utter ruin - would have soon come upon us.
Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 124:3
3. Swallowed us up quick—Literally, Swallowed us up alive. The allusion seems to be to Korah and his company, (Numbers 16:30,) “If the Lord make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth and swallow
Sermons on Psalms 124:3
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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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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The Power of Prayer and Fasting by Herald Weitsz | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of devotion, consecration, holiness, and power in the life of a believer. He mentions the missionary journeys of the Apostle P |
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K-518 Tv Show Part 2 Testimony by Art Katz | In this video, two Jewish men, Art Katz and Paul Gordon, share their personal experiences with the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They express their dissatisfaction with life an |
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From Genesis to Revelation by George Warnock | George Warnock emphasizes the journey from Genesis to Revelation, illustrating God's unchanging nature as Alpha and Omega, and His desire to transform His people from their beginni |
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The People of the Way by George Warnock | George Warnock emphasizes that Jesus is not just a guide, a teacher, or a giver of life, but that we must fully unite with Him in all aspects - the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE. Be |
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The Lord’s Perfect Provision for His Own Masterpiece by Hans R. Waldvogel | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of going through trials and testing in order to truly know and experience Jesus. He shares a personal story of being surrounde |
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"Loose Him, and Let Him Go!" by T. Austin-Sparks | James emphasizes the importance of drawing near to God, highlighting the significance of approaching Him in worship and communion, seeking to enter into a close relationship with H |