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Psalms 122

BSB·9 verses ·Old Testament
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1I was gladשָׂ֭מַחְתִּיśā·maḥ·tî — To rejoice, be glad, make merryH8055 — Full Word Study → when they saidבְּאֹמְרִ֣יםbə·’ō·mə·rîm — to say, speak, declareH559 — Full Word Study → to me, “Let us goנֵלֵֽךְ׃nê·lêḵ — to go, walk, travel, proceedH1980 — Full Word Study → to the houseבֵּ֖יתbêṯ — A house; dwelling place; household; familyH1004 — Full Word Study → of the LORDיְהוָ֣הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →.” 2Our feetרַגְלֵ֑ינוּraḡ·lê·nū — Foot; by extension, journey, way, or standingH7272 — Full Word Study → are standingעֹ֭מְדוֹת‘ō·mə·ḏō·wṯ — to stand, take a stand, be establishedH5975 — Full Word Study → in your gatesבִּ֝שְׁעָרַ֗יִךְbiš·‘ā·ra·yiḵ — Gate; entrance to a city or enclosureH8179 — Full Word Study →, O Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃yə·rū·šā·lim — City of peaceH3389 — Full Word Study →. 3Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֥םyə·rū·šā·lim — City of peaceH3389 — Full Word Study → is built upהַבְּנוּיָ֑הhab·bə·nū·yāh — to build, construct, establishH1129 — Full Word Study → as a cityכְּ֝עִ֗ירkə·‘îr — City; fortified settlement or townH5892 — Full Word Study → unitedשֶׁחֻבְּרָה־še·ḥub·bə·rāh- — To join together, unite, form a bondH2266 — Full Word Study → togetherיַחְדָּֽו׃yaḥ·dāw — together, united, as oneH3162 — Full Word Study →, 4whereשֶׁשָּׁ֨םšeš·šām — There, in that placeH8033 — Full Word Study → the tribesשְׁבָטִ֡יםšə·ḇā·ṭîm — tribe; staff; scepter; rodH7626 — Full Word Study → go upעָל֪וּ‘ā·lū — to ascend, rise up, go upH5927 — Full Word Study →, the tribesשִׁבְטֵי־šiḇ·ṭê- — tribe; staff; scepter; rodH7626 — Full Word Study → of the LORDיָ֭הּyāh — The Lord, Yahweh abbreviatedH3050 — Full Word Study →, as a testimonyעֵד֣וּת‘ê·ḏūṯ — Testimony, witness, or decreeH5715 — Full Word Study → for Israelלְיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לlə·yiś·rā·’êl — God prevailsH3478 — Full Word Study →, to give thanksלְ֝הֹד֗וֹתlə·hō·ḏō·wṯ — To give thanks, praise, or acknowledgeH3034 — Full Word Study → to the nameלְשֵׁ֣םlə·šêm — Name; reputation; renownH8034 — Full Word Study → of the LORDיְהוָֽה׃Yah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →. 5Forכִּ֤יkî — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → thereשָׁ֨מָּה׀šām·māh — There, in that placeH8033 — Full Word Study → the thronesכִסְא֣וֹתḵis·’ō·wṯ — Throne; seat of authority and rulershipH3678 — Full Word Study → of judgmentלְמִשְׁפָּ֑טlə·miš·pāṭ — Justice, judgment, or legal decisionH4941 — Full Word Study → standיָשְׁב֣וּyā·šə·ḇū — to dwell, inhabit, settle, remainH3427 — Full Word Study →, the thronesכִּ֝סְא֗וֹתkis·’ō·wṯ — Throne; seat of authority and rulershipH3678 — Full Word Study → of the houseלְבֵ֣יתlə·ḇêṯ — A house; dwelling place; household; familyH1004 — Full Word Study → of Davidדָּוִֽיד׃dā·wîḏ — BelovedH1732 — Full Word Study →. 6Prayשַׁ֭אֲלוּša·ʾă·lû — to ask, request, inquire, or demandH7592 — Full Word Study → for the peaceשְׁל֣וֹםšə·lō·wm — Peace, wholeness, well-being, prosperityH7965 — Full Word Study → of Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִָ֑םyə·rū·šā·lim — City of peaceH3389 — Full Word Study →: “May those who love youאֹהֲבָֽיִךְ׃’ō·hă·ḇā·yiḵ — To love; affection, attachment, or preferenceH157 — Full Word Study → prosperיִ֝שְׁלָ֗יוּyiš·lā·yū — to rest, be at ease, prosper in safetyH7951 — Full Word Study →. 7May there beיְהִֽי־yə·hî- — to be, become, exist, happenH1961 — Full Word Study → peaceשָׁל֥וֹםšā·lō·wm — Peace, wholeness, well-being, prosperityH7965 — Full Word Study → within your wallsבְּחֵילֵ֑ךְbə·ḥê·lêḵ — strength, army, military force, fortificationH2426 — Full Word Study →, and prosperity inside your fortressesבְּאַרְמְנוֹתָֽיִךְ׃bə·’ar·mə·nō·w·ṯā·yiḵ — Royal palace or fortified citadelH759 — Full Word Study →.” 8For the sakeלְ֭מַעַןlə·ma·‘an — because of, for the sake of, in order thatH4616 — Full Word Study → of my brothersאַחַ֣י’a·ḥay — Male sibling; brother; kinsmanH251 — Full Word Study → and friendsוְרֵעָ֑יwə·rê·‘āy — neighbor, friend, companion, associateH7453 — Full Word Study →, I will sayאֲדַבְּרָה־’ă·ḏab·bə·rāh- — to speak, say, or declareH1696 — Full Word Study →, “Peaceשָׁל֣וֹםšā·lō·wm — Peace, wholeness, well-being, prosperityH7965 — Full Word Study → be within you.” 9For the sakeלְ֭מַעַןlə·ma·‘an — because of, for the sake of, in order thatH4616 — Full Word Study → of the houseבֵּית־bêṯ- — A house; dwelling place; household; familyH1004 — Full Word Study → of the LORDיְהוָ֣הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study → our Godאֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ’ĕ·lō·hê·nū — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study →, I will seekאֲבַקְשָׁ֖ה’ă·ḇaq·šāh — To seek, search for, or request earnestlyH1245 — Full Word Study → your prosperityט֣וֹבṭō·wḇ — good, beneficial, pleasing, wellH2896 — Full Word Study →.
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Chapter Commentary — Psalms 122
Chapter Overview

Chapter Overview

Psalm 122 is a Song of Ascents—one of a collection of psalms pilgrims would sing while traveling to Jerusalem for worship. The psalmist expresses joy at the invitation to join others in going up to the Lord's house, celebrates Jerusalem as a unified city of God's people, and calls believers to pray for the city's peace and prosperity. This psalm beautifully captures the heart of corporate worship and intercession, reminding us that our joy in gathering with God's people should overflow into fervent prayer for their spiritual well-being.

Verses 1–2: Joy in the Call to Worship

The psalmist opens with genuine gladness: "I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD." This is not reluctant obedience but heartfelt enthusiasm. The invitation itself—the simple words asking him to join others in pilgrimage—sparks immediate joy. Verse 2 continues this theme: "Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem." The move from individual joy to corporate identity ("our feet") shows that worship is both personal and communal. The psalmist anticipates actually arriving at the temple gates, emphasizing that true worship involves our whole being—even our feet have a role in drawing near to God.

Application: How often do we approach corporate worship with this kind of enthusiasm? The psalmist teaches us to value the invitation to gather with God's people as a gift worthy of joy.

Verses 3–5: The Unity and Purpose of God's City

Verses 3–4 describe Jerusalem's physical and spiritual significance: "Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together: Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the LORD." The "compact" building suggests a unified, purposeful community—not scattered or divided, but gathered together with one focus. All twelve tribes converge on this one city for one reason: to testify of God's faithfulness and give Him thanks. This was the religious heart of Israel's national life.

Verse 5 notes the thrones of judgment: "For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David." Jerusalem housed not only the temple but also the seat of righteous government. God's rule was meant to be evident both in worship and in justice. The psalmist celebrates that God's kingdom is organized, purposeful, and centered on His glory.

Application: The church today is God's new Jerusalem. Do we recognize our local congregations as unified testimonies to God's faithfulness, where both worship and righteous living display His kingdom?

Verses 6–9: Intercession for Peace

The heart of the psalm shifts to passionate intercession. "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee." The psalmist calls believers to intercede for the city's shalom—its wholeness, safety, and spiritual well-being. Notice the promise: those who genuinely love Jerusalem will experience prosperity. This is not material greed but the blessing that comes from aligning our prayers with God's purposes.

Verses 7–9 deepen this prayer: "Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces. For my brethren and companions' sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee. Because of the house of the LORD our God I will seek thy good." The psalmist's motivation for intercession is love for God's people and devotion to God's house. He prays for peace in Jerusalem's walls and prosperity in its palaces—spiritual and practical blessings—ultimately because these blessings serve God's glory.

Application: Intercession flows from love. The psalmist teaches us to pray for others' prosperity not selfishly but from a heart devoted to God's kingdom.

Application for Today

Psalm 122 invites us to rediscover joy in corporate worship and to become intercessors for God's people. Whether your local church or the global church, let the psalmist's enthusiasm kindle your own. More importantly, let it move you to prayer—not anxious worry, but faithful, loving intercession for those God has placed in your life and community.

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