Deep Dive

Psalms 126:2

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Then our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with shouts of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.”

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Commentaries

Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.

Matthew Henry Bible Commentaryv. 2

It was with reference to some great and surprising deliverance of the people of God out of bondage and distress that this psalm was penned, most likely their return out of Babylon in Ezra's time. Though Babylon be not mentioned here (as it is, Psa 137:1-9) yet their captivity there was the most remarkable captivity both in itself and as their return out of it was typical of our redemption by Christ. Probably this psalm was penned by Ezra, or some of the prophets that came up with the first. We read of singers of the children of Asaph, that famous psalmist, who returned then, Ezr 2:41. It being a song of ascents, in which the same things are twice repeated with advancement (Psa 126:2, Psa 126:3, and Psa 126:4, Psa 126:5), it is put here among the rest of the psalms that bear that title. I. Those that had returned out of captivity are here called upon to be thankful (Psa 126:1-3). II. Those that were yet remaining in captivity are here prayed for (Psa 126:4) and encouraged (Psa 126:5, Psa 126:6). It will be easy, in singing this psalm, to apply it either to any particular deliverance wrought for the church or our own land or to the great work of our salvation by Christ. A song of degrees.

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Original language

The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).

Strong's Concordancev. 2

פֶּה (peh, H6310) — the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech);… מָלֵא (mâlêʼ, H4390) — to fill or (intransitively) be full of, in a wide application (literally and figuratively) שְׂחוֹק (sᵉchôwq, H7814) — laughter (in merriment or defiance) לָשׁוֹן (lâshôwn, H3956) — the tongue (of man or animals), used literally (as the instrument of licking, eating, or… רִנָּה (rinnâh, H7440) — properly, a creaking (or shrill sound), i.e. shout (of joy or grief) אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) גּוֹי (gôwy, H1471) — a foreign nation; hence, a Gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application גָּדַל (gâdal, H1431) — to be (causatively make) large (in various senses, as in body, mind, estate or honor,…

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Cross-references

Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.

Job 8:21rank 11

He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with a shout of joy.

Isaiah 35:10rank 7

So the redeemed of the LORD will return and enter Zion with singing, crowned with everlasting joy. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee.

Psalms 71:19rank 6

Your righteousness reaches to the heavens, O God, You who have done great things. Who, O God, is like You?

Jeremiah 33:11rank 4

the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of the bride and bridegroom, and the voices of those bringing thank offerings into the house of the LORD, saying: ‘Give thanks to the LORD of Hosts, for the LORD is good; His loving devotion endures forever.’ For I will restore the land from captivity as in former times, says the LORD.

Psalms 53:6rank 4

Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come from Zion! When God restores His captive people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad!

Nehemiah 6:16rank 4

When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and disheartened, for they realized that this task had been accomplished by our God.

Numbers 23:23rank 2

For there is no spell against Jacob and no divination against Israel. It will now be said of Jacob and Israel, ‘What great things God has done!’

Psalms 14:7rank 2

Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come from Zion! When the LORD restores His captive people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad!

Romans 11:15rank 2

For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?

Ezra 3:11rank 2

And they sang responsively with praise and thanksgiving to the LORD: “For He is good; for His loving devotion to Israel endures forever.” Then all the people gave a great shout of praise to the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD had been laid.

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