Hebrew Text · Translation · Interlinear · Discourse Structure

The Book of Psalms, Chapter 126תהלים 126

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 126 (6 verses in the MT) opens: [A Song of degrees.] When YHWH turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. The middle of the chapter continues: Turn again our captivity, O YHWH, as the streams in the south. It closes: He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves .

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 126 comprises 6 verses in MT order. Movement I (vv. 1-4) — [A Song of degrees. [A Song of degrees.] When YHWH turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, YHWH has done great things for them. YHWH has done great things for us; we are glad. Turn again our captivity, O YHWH, as the streams in the south. Movement II (vv. 5-6) — They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves . Where English printed Bibles divide verses differently, this annotation follows MT versification throughout.

1

שִׁ֗יר הַֽמַּ֫עֲל֥וֹת בְּשׁ֣וּב יְ֭הוָה אֶת שִׁיבַ֣ת צִיּ֑וֹן הָ֝יִ֗ינוּ כְּחֹלְמִֽים

[A Song of degrees.] When YHWH turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.

Infinitive construct — purpose, result, or complementasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Infinitive construct — purpose, result, or complement. Lead predicate is 'and he returned'. Opens the chapter.
Word-by-word analysis· 9 words
שִׁ֗ירa songN c · שִׁירָה (H7892)Construct chain (genitival)שִׁירָה (H7892) 'a song'.
הַֽמַּ֫עֲל֥וֹתby stepsart + N com f pl abs · מַעֲלָה (H4609)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)מַעֲלָה (H4609) 'by steps'.
בְּשׁ֣וּבand he returnedprep + Qal inf constr · שׁוּב (H7725)Infinitive construct→ Infinitive construct: purpose, result, or complementשׁוּב (H7725) 'and he returned'.
יְ֭הוָהYHWHN · יְהוָה (H3068)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יְהוָה (H3068) 'YHWH'.
אֶת(obj)obj marker · אֵת (H853)Particle or relational elementאֵת (H853) '(obj)'.
שִׁיבַ֣תcaptivityN c · שִׁיבָה (H7870)Construct chain (genitival)שִׁיבָה (H7870) 'captivity'.
צִיּ֑וֹןZionN · צִיּוֹן (H6726)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)צִיּוֹן (H6726) 'Zion'.
הָ֝יִ֗ינוּwe wereQal perf 1cp · הָיָה (H1961)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actהָיָה (H1961) 'we were'.
כְּחֹלְמִֽיםI have dreamedprep + Qal ptc mp · חָלַם (H2492)Participle→ Participle: attendant circumstance or substantival actorחָלַם (H2492) 'I have dreamed'.
2

אָ֤ז יִמָּלֵ֪א שְׂח֡וֹק פִּינוּ֮ וּלְשׁוֹנֵ֪נוּ רִ֫נָּ֥ה אָ֭ז יֹאמְר֣וּ בַגּוֹיִ֑ם הִגְדִּ֥יל יְ֝הוָ֗ה לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת עִם אֵֽלֶּה

Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, YHWH has done great things for them.

Yiqtol — imperfective, modal, or future-orientedasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Yiqtol — imperfective, modal, or future-oriented. Lead predicate is 'they say'.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
אָ֤זthenart · אָז (H227)Particle or relational elementאָז (H227) 'then'.
יִמָּלֵ֪אis ordainedN · מָלֵא (H4390)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)מָלֵא (H4390) 'is ordained'.
שְׂח֡וֹקtoN c · שְׂחוֹק (H7814)Construct chain (genitival)שְׂחוֹק (H7814) 'to'.
פִּינוּ֮the mouth ofN c · פֶּה (H6310)Construct chain (genitival)פֶּה (H6310) 'the mouth of'.
וּלְשׁוֹנֵ֪נוּby their languagesconj וְ + N com c sg constr + sfx 1cp · לָשׁוֹן (H3956)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)לָשׁוֹן (H3956) 'by their languages'.
רִ֫נָּ֥הcryN c · רִנָּה (H7440)Construct chain (genitival)רִנָּה (H7440) 'cry'.
אָ֭זthenart · אָז (H227)Particle or relational elementאָז (H227) 'then'.
יֹאמְר֣וּthey sayQal impf 3mp · אָמַר (H559)Predicate verb (yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: imperfective or modalאָמַר (H559) 'they say'.
בַגּוֹיִ֑םamong the nationsprep + art + N com m pl abs · גּוֹי (H1471)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)גּוֹי (H1471) 'among the nations'.
הִגְדִּ֥ילand he grewHiphil perf 3ms · גָּדַל (H1431)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actגָּדַל (H1431) 'and he grew'.
יְ֝הוָ֗הYHWHN · יְהוָה (H3068)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יְהוָה (H3068) 'YHWH'.
לַעֲשׂ֥וֹתto doprep + Qal inf constr · עָשָׂה (H6213)Infinitive construct→ Infinitive construct: purpose, result, or complementעָשָׂה (H6213) 'to do'.
עִםwithprep · עִם (H5973)Particle or relational elementעִם (H5973) 'with'.
אֵֽלֶּהthesedem. pron xcp · אֵלֶּה (H428)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)אֵלֶּה (H428) 'these'.
3

הִגְדִּ֣יל יְ֭הוָה לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת עִמָּ֗נוּ הָיִ֥ינוּ שְׂמֵחִֽים

YHWH has done great things for us; we are glad.

Qatal — perfective or stative predicationwə
wə-chaining from the preceding clause. Qatal — perfective or stative predication. Lead predicate is 'and he grew'.
Word-by-word analysis· 6 words
הִגְדִּ֣ילand he grewHiphil perf 3ms · גָּדַל (H1431)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actגָּדַל (H1431) 'and he grew'.
יְ֭הוָהYHWHN · יְהוָה (H3068)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יְהוָה (H3068) 'YHWH'.
לַעֲשׂ֥וֹתto doprep + Qal inf constr · עָשָׂה (H6213)Infinitive construct→ Infinitive construct: purpose, result, or complementעָשָׂה (H6213) 'to do'.
עִמָּ֗נוּwith usprep + sfx 1cp · עִם (H5973)Particle or relational elementעִם (H5973) 'with us'.
הָיִ֥ינוּwe wereQal perf 1cp · הָיָה (H1961)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actהָיָה (H1961) 'we were'.
שְׂמֵחִֽיםjoyfulAdj · שָׂמֵחַ (H8056)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)שָׂמֵחַ (H8056) 'joyful'.
4

שׁוּבָ֣ה יְ֭הוָה אֶת שבותנו שְׁבִיתֵ֑נוּ כַּאֲפִיקִ֥ים בַּנֶּֽגֶב

Turn again our captivity, O YHWH, as the streams in the south.

Imperative — volitional addressasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Imperative — volitional address. Lead predicate is 'Return!'.
Word-by-word analysis· 7 words
שׁוּבָ֣הReturn!Qal impv 2ms + Sh · שׁוּב (H7725)Predicate verb (imperative)→ Volitional: imperativeשׁוּב (H7725) 'Return!'.
יְ֭הוָהYHWHN · יְהוָה (H3068)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יְהוָה (H3068) 'YHWH'.
אֶת(obj)obj marker · אֵת (H853)Particle or relational elementאֵת (H853) '(obj)'.
שבותנוyour captivityN c · שְׁבוּת (H7622)Construct chain (genitival)שְׁבוּת (H7622) 'your captivity'.
שְׁבִיתֵ֑נוּyour captivityN c · שְׁבוּת (H7622)Construct chain (genitival)שְׁבוּת (H7622) 'your captivity'.
כַּאֲפִיקִ֥יםbrookprep + N com m pl abs · אָפִיק (H650)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)אָפִיק (H650) 'brook'.
בַּנֶּֽגֶבinto the Negevprep + art + N com m sg abs · נֶגֶב (H5045)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)נֶגֶב (H5045) 'into the Negev'.
5

הַזֹּרְעִ֥ים בְּדִמְעָ֗ה בְּרִנָּ֥ה יִקְצֹֽרוּ

They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.

Participle — attendant circumstance or substantival actorasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Participle — attendant circumstance or substantival actor. Lead predicate is 'you shall sow'.
Word-by-word analysis· 4 words
הַזֹּרְעִ֥יםyou shall sowart + Qal ptc mp · זָרַע (H2232)Participle→ Participle: attendant circumstance or substantival actorזָרַע (H2232) 'you shall sow'.
בְּדִמְעָ֗הtearsprep + N com f sg abs · דִּמְעָה (H1832)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)דִּמְעָה (H1832) 'tears'.
בְּרִנָּ֥הcryprep + N com f sg abs · רִנָּה (H7440)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)רִנָּה (H7440) 'cry'.
יִקְצֹֽרוּand it became impatientQal impf 3mp · קָצַר (H7114)Predicate verb (yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: imperfective or modalקָצַר (H7114) 'and it became impatient'.
6

הָ֘ל֤וֹךְ יֵלֵ֨ךְ וּבָכֹה֮ נֹשֵׂ֪א מֶֽשֶׁךְ הַ֫זָּ֥רַע בֹּֽ֬א יָב֥וֹא בְרִנָּ֑ה נֹ֝שֵׂ֗א אֲלֻמֹּתָֽיו

He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves .

Infinitive absolute — emphasis or attendant actionasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Infinitive absolute — emphasis or attendant action. Lead predicate is 'going'. Closes the chapter.
Word-by-word analysis· 11 words
הָ֘ל֤וֹךְgoingQal inf abs · הָלַךְ (H1980)Infinitive absolute→ Infinitive absolute: emphasis or attendant actionהָלַךְ (H1980) 'going'.
יֵלֵ֨ךְlet him goQal impf 3ms · הָלַךְ (H3212)Predicate verb (yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: imperfective or modalהָלַךְ (H3212) 'let him go'.
וּבָכֹה֮and they weptconj וְ + Qal inf abs · בָּכָה (H1058)Infinitive absolute→ Infinitive absolute: emphasis or attendant actionבָּכָה (H1058) 'and they wept'.
נֹשֵׂ֪אlifts upQal ptc ms · נָשָׂא (H5375)Participle→ Participle: attendant circumstance or substantival actorנָשָׂא (H5375) 'lifts up'.
מֶֽשֶׁךְandN c · מֶשֶׁךְ (H4901)Construct chain (genitival)מֶשֶׁךְ (H4901) 'and'.
הַ֫זָּ֥רַעthe seedart + N com m sg abs · זֶרַע (H2233)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)זֶרַע (H2233) 'the seed'.
בֹּֽ֬אcameQal inf abs · בּוֹא (H935)Infinitive absolute→ Infinitive absolute: emphasis or attendant actionבּוֹא (H935) 'came'.
יָב֥וֹאhe may comeQal impf 3ms · בּוֹא (H935)Predicate verb (yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: imperfective or modalבּוֹא (H935) 'he may come'.
בְרִנָּ֑הcryprep + N com f sg abs · רִנָּה (H7440)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)רִנָּה (H7440) 'cry'.
נֹ֝שֵׂ֗אlifts upQal ptc ms · נָשָׂא (H5375)Participle→ Participle: attendant circumstance or substantival actorנָשָׂא (H5375) 'lifts up'.
אֲלֻמֹּתָֽיוsheavesN c · אֲלֻמָּה (H485)Construct chain (genitival)אֲלֻמָּה (H485) 'sheaves'.