Hebrew Text · Translation · Interlinear · Discourse Structure

The Book of Psalms, Chapter 124תהלים 124

Each verse opens with the running Hebrew, an English translation, and a discourse note (its connective, relation, and role in the argument). Below follows the word-by-word breakdown in six tiers: gloss, case/state or parsing, syntax, semantic force, and a lexical note.

Case Nominative Genitive Dative Accusative Vocative Verb (no case) Indeclinable

Discourse notes head each verse: relation · connective · clause-flow. Indentation marks prominence — flush-left = main line of argument; indented = supporting / subordinate material.

Theme

Psalms 124 (8 verses in the MT) opens: [A Song of degrees of David.] If YHWH who was on our side, now may Israel say; The middle of the chapter continues: Then the proud waters had gone over our soul. It closes: Our help in the name of YHWH, who made heaven and earth.

Translation & textual notes

The Hebrew base text here follows the Masoretic Text in the Leningrad tradition as represented by the Westminster Leningrad Codex / MorphHB diplomatic stream imported from OSHB; distinctively copyrighted apparatus from BHS or BHQ is not reproduced. Psalms 124 comprises 8 verses in MT order. Movement I (vv. 1-4) — [A Song of degrees of David. [A Song of degrees of David.] If YHWH who was on our side, now may Israel say; If YHWH who was on our side, when men rose up against us: Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us: Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul: Movement II (vv. 5-8) — Then the proud waters had gone over our soul. Then the proud waters had gone over our soul. Blessed YHWH, who has not given us a prey to their teeth. Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped. Our help in the name of YHWH, who made heaven and earth. Where English printed Bibles divide verses differently, this annotation follows MT versification throughout.

1

שִׁ֥יר הַֽמַּעֲל֗וֹת לְדָ֫וִ֥ד לוּלֵ֣י יְ֭הוָה שֶׁהָ֣יָה לָ֑נוּ יֹֽאמַר נָ֝א יִשְׂרָאֵֽל

[A Song of degrees of David.] If YHWH who was on our side, now may Israel say;

Qatal — perfective or stative predicationasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Qatal — perfective or stative predication. Wayyehî scene-setting or temporal hinge. Opens the chapter. Speech formula or quoted address.
Word-by-word analysis· 10 words
שִׁ֥ירa songN c · שִׁירָה (H7892)Construct chain (genitival)שִׁירָה (H7892) 'a song'.
הַֽמַּעֲל֗וֹתby stepsart + N com f pl abs · מַעֲלָה (H4609)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)מַעֲלָה (H4609) 'by steps'.
לְדָ֫וִ֥דtoprep + N proper · דָּוִד (H1732)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)דָּוִד (H1732) 'to'.
לוּלֵ֣יwere it not thatconj וְ · לוּלֵי (H3884)Particle or relational elementלוּלֵי (H3884) 'were it not that'.
יְ֭הוָהYHWHN · יְהוָה (H3068)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יְהוָה (H3068) 'YHWH'.
שֶׁהָ֣יָהand it happenedrel. שֶׁ + Qal perf 3ms · הָיָה (H1961)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actהָיָה (H1961) 'and it happened'.
לָ֑נוּto usprep + sfx 1cpParticle or relational elementFunction word: 'to us'.
יֹֽאמַרhe saysQal jussive 3ms · אָמַר (H559)Predicate verb (jussive)→ Jussive: volitionalאָמַר (H559) 'he says'.
נָ֝אpleaseparticle · נָא (H4994)Particle or relational elementנָא (H4994) 'please'.
יִשְׂרָאֵֽלIsraelN · יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478) 'Israel'.
2

לוּלֵ֣י יְ֭הוָה שֶׁהָ֣יָה לָ֑נוּ בְּק֖וּם עָלֵ֣ינוּ אָדָֽם

If YHWH who was on our side, when men rose up against us:

Qatal — perfective or stative predicationwə
wə-chaining from the preceding clause. Qatal — perfective or stative predication. Wayyehî scene-setting or temporal hinge.
Word-by-word analysis· 7 words
לוּלֵ֣יwere it not thatconj וְ · לוּלֵי (H3884)Particle or relational elementלוּלֵי (H3884) 'were it not that'.
יְ֭הוָהYHWHN · יְהוָה (H3068)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יְהוָה (H3068) 'YHWH'.
שֶׁהָ֣יָהand it happenedrel. שֶׁ + Qal perf 3ms · הָיָה (H1961)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actהָיָה (H1961) 'and it happened'.
לָ֑נוּto usprep + sfx 1cpParticle or relational elementFunction word: 'to us'.
בְּק֖וּםand he aroseprep + Qal inf constr · קוּם (H6965)Infinitive construct→ Infinitive construct: purpose, result, or complementקוּם (H6965) 'and he arose'.
עָלֵ֣ינוּupon usprep + sfx 1cp · עַל (H5921)Particle or relational elementעַל (H5921) 'upon us'.
אָדָֽםmanN c · אָדָם (H120)Construct chain (genitival)אָדָם (H120) 'man'.
3

אֲ֭זַי חַיִּ֣ים בְּלָע֑וּנוּ בַּחֲר֖וֹת אַפָּ֣ם בָּֽנוּ

Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us:

Qatal — perfective or stative predicationasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Qatal — perfective or stative predication. Lead predicate is 'and it swallowed'.
Word-by-word analysis· 6 words
אֲ֭זַיthenart · אֲזַי (H233)Particle or relational elementאֲזַי (H233) 'then'.
חַיִּ֣יםaliveAdj · חַי (H2416)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)חַי (H2416) 'alive'.
בְּלָע֑וּנוּand it swallowedQal perf 3cp + sfx 1cp · בָּלַע (H1104)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actבָּלַע (H1104) 'and it swallowed'.
בַּחֲר֖וֹתand it burnedprep + Qal inf constr · חָרָה (H2734)Infinitive construct→ Infinitive construct: purpose, result, or complementחָרָה (H2734) 'and it burned'.
אַפָּ֣םtheir angerN c · אַף (H639)Construct chain (genitival)אַף (H639) 'their anger'.
בָּֽנוּagainst usprep + sfx 1cpParticle or relational elementFunction word: 'against us'.
4

אֲ֭זַי הַמַּ֣יִם שְׁטָפ֑וּנוּ נַ֗֜חְלָה עָבַ֥ר עַל נַפְשֵֽׁנוּ

Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul:

Qatal — perfective or stative predicationasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Qatal — perfective or stative predication. Lead predicate is 'he had rinsed'.
Word-by-word analysis· 7 words
אֲ֭זַיthenart · אֲזַי (H233)Particle or relational elementאֲזַי (H233) 'then'.
הַמַּ֣יִםthe watersart + N com m pl abs · מַיִם (H4325)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)מַיִם (H4325) 'the waters'.
שְׁטָפ֑וּנוּhe had rinsedQal perf 3cp + sfx 1cp · שָׁטַף (H7857)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actשָׁטַף (H7857) 'he had rinsed'.
נַ֗֜חְלָהto the brook ofN c · נַחַל (H5158)Construct chain (genitival)נַחַל (H5158) 'to the brook of'.
עָבַ֥רis crossingQal perf 3ms · עָבַר (H5674)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actעָבַר (H5674) 'is crossing'.
עַלonprep · עַל (H5921)Particle or relational elementעַל (H5921) 'on'.
נַפְשֵֽׁנוּour lifeN c · נֶפֶשׁ (H5315)Construct chain (genitival)נֶפֶשׁ (H5315) 'our life'.
5

אֲ֭זַי עָבַ֣ר עַל נַפְשֵׁ֑נוּ הַ֝מַּ֗יִם הַזֵּֽידוֹנִֽים

Then the proud waters had gone over our soul.

Qatal — perfective or stative predicationasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Qatal — perfective or stative predication. Lead predicate is 'is crossing'.
Word-by-word analysis· 6 words
אֲ֭זַיthenart · אֲזַי (H233)Particle or relational elementאֲזַי (H233) 'then'.
עָבַ֣רis crossingQal perf 3ms · עָבַר (H5674)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actעָבַר (H5674) 'is crossing'.
עַלonprep · עַל (H5921)Particle or relational elementעַל (H5921) 'on'.
נַפְשֵׁ֑נוּour lifeN c · נֶפֶשׁ (H5315)Construct chain (genitival)נֶפֶשׁ (H5315) 'our life'.
הַ֝מַּ֗יִםthe watersart + N com m pl abs · מַיִם (H4325)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)מַיִם (H4325) 'the waters'.
הַזֵּֽידוֹנִֽיםproudart + Adj · זֵידוֹן (H2121)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)זֵידוֹן (H2121) 'proud'.
6

בָּר֥וּךְ יְהוָ֑ה שֶׁלֹּ֥א נְתָנָ֥נוּ טֶ֝֗רֶף לְשִׁנֵּיהֶֽם

Blessed YHWH, who has not given us a prey to their teeth.

Participle — attendant circumstance or substantival actorasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Participle — attendant circumstance or substantival actor. Lead predicate is 'blessed'.
Word-by-word analysis· 6 words
בָּר֥וּךְblessedQal ptc ms · בֵּרַךְ (H1288)Participle→ Participle: attendant circumstance or substantival actorבֵּרַךְ (H1288) 'blessed'.
יְהוָ֑הYHWHN · יְהוָה (H3068)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יְהוָה (H3068) 'YHWH'.
שֶׁלֹּ֥אnotrel. שֶׁ + neg. · לֹא (H3808)Particle or relational elementלֹא (H3808) 'not'.
נְתָנָ֥נוּis givingQal perf 3ms + sfx 1cp · נָתַן (H5414)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actנָתַן (H5414) 'is giving'.
טֶ֝֗רֶףpreyN c · טֶרֶף (H2964)Construct chain (genitival)טֶרֶף (H2964) 'prey'.
לְשִׁנֵּיהֶֽםtoothprep + N com c du constr + sfx 3mp · שֵׁן (H8127)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)שֵׁן (H8127) 'tooth'.
7

נַפְשֵׁ֗נוּ כְּצִפּ֥וֹר נִמְלְטָה֮ מִפַּ֪ח י֫וֹקְשִׁ֥ים הַפַּ֥ח נִשְׁבָּ֗ר וַאֲנַ֥חְנוּ נִמְלָֽטְנוּ

Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped.

Participle — attendant circumstance or substantival actorasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Participle — attendant circumstance or substantival actor. Lead predicate is 'you be ensnared'.
Word-by-word analysis· 9 words
נַפְשֵׁ֗נוּour lifeN c · נֶפֶשׁ (H5315)Construct chain (genitival)נֶפֶשׁ (H5315) 'our life'.
כְּצִפּ֥וֹרthe birdprep + N com c sg abs · צִפּוֹר (H6833)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)צִפּוֹר (H6833) 'the bird'.
נִמְלְטָה֮and he escapedN · מָלַט (H4422)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)מָלַט (H4422) 'and he escaped'.
מִפַּ֪חsheets ofprep + N com m sg constr · פַּח (H6341)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)פַּח (H6341) 'sheets of'.
י֫וֹקְשִׁ֥יםyou be ensnaredQal ptc mp · יָקֹשׁ (H3369)Participle→ Participle: attendant circumstance or substantival actorיָקֹשׁ (H3369) 'you be ensnared'.
הַפַּ֥חsheets ofart + N com m sg abs · פַּח (H6341)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)פַּח (H6341) 'sheets of'.
נִשְׁבָּ֗רis injured/brokenN · שָׁבַר (H7665)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)שָׁבַר (H7665) 'is injured/broken'.
וַאֲנַ֥חְנוּand weconj וְ + pron 1cp · אֲנַחְנוּ (H587)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)אֲנַחְנוּ (H587) 'and we'.
נִמְלָֽטְנוּand he escapedN · מָלַט (H4422)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)מָלַט (H4422) 'and he escaped'.
8

עֶ֭זְרֵנוּ בְּשֵׁ֣ם יְהוָ֑ה עֹ֝שֵׂ֗ה שָׁמַ֥יִם וָאָֽרֶץ

Our help in the name of YHWH, who made heaven and earth.

Participle — attendant circumstance or substantival actorasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Participle — attendant circumstance or substantival actor. Lead predicate is 'he did'. Closes the chapter.
Word-by-word analysis· 6 words
עֶ֭זְרֵנוּa helperN c · עֵזֶר (H5828)Construct chain (genitival)עֵזֶר (H5828) 'a helper'.
בְּשֵׁ֣םin the name ofprep + N com m sg constr · שֵׁם (H8034)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)שֵׁם (H8034) 'in the name of'.
יְהוָ֑הYHWHN · יְהוָה (H3068)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יְהוָה (H3068) 'YHWH'.
עֹ֝שֵׂ֗הhe didQal ptc ms · עָשָׂה (H6213)Participle→ Participle: attendant circumstance or substantival actorעָשָׂה (H6213) 'he did'.
שָׁמַ֥יִםheavenN c · שָׁמַיִם (H8064)Construct chain (genitival)שָׁמַיִם (H8064) 'heaven'.
וָאָֽרֶץand earthconj וְ + N com c sg abs · אֶרֶץ (H776)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)אֶרֶץ (H776) 'and earth'.