Psalms 122–9
Psalm 122:1-9
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Psa.122.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- שיר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- המעלות: NOUN,f,pl,def
- לדוד: PREP+NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- שמחתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,c,sg
- באמרים: PREP+VERB,qal,part,_,m,pl
- לי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- בית: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- נלך: VERB,qal,impf,1,pl
Parallels
- Psalm 42:4 (verbal): Both passages recall gladness at going to the house of God and participation in the festival procession—joy in approaching the sanctuary with songs.
- Psalm 84:4 (thematic): Expresses similar pilgrim devotion and delight in God's dwelling—blessing and joy connected with being in the LORD's house.
- Micah 4:2 (verbal): Uses the same invitational language ('Come, let us go up/let us go') to the LORD's mountain/house, reflecting the prophetic-pilgrimage summons that underlies the psalm.
- Deuteronomy 16:16 (structural): Institutes the required pilgrimages to appear before the LORD at the sanctuary—background legal/ritual framework for the songs of ascent and the joy of going to the house of Yahweh.
Alternative generated candidates
- A song of ascents. Of David. I rejoiced when they said to me, 'Let us go to the house of the LORD.'
- A song of ascents. Of David. I rejoiced when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the LORD.’
Psa.122.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- עמדות: VERB,qal,ptc,_,f,pl
- היו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- רגלינו: NOUN,f,pl,construct+PRON,1,pl
- בשעריך: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs-2ms
- ירושלם: NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Psalm 122:1 (structural): Immediate context: verse 1 expresses the pilgrims' joy to go to the LORD's house; verse 2 depicts their feet standing within Jerusalem's gates as part of that pilgrimage scene.
- Psalm 84:2 (thematic): Both psalms express the pilgrim’s longing to be in the presence of God and to stand in the sacred precincts (the courts/house of the LORD) in Zion.
- Isaiah 2:3 (thematic): Isaiah's image of peoples going up to the mountain/house of the LORD and coming to Zion parallels the pilgrim movement and arrival described in Psalm 122:2.
- Zechariah 8:3 (allusion): Zechariah’s promise that God will dwell in Zion and return to Jerusalem echoes the theme of presence and standing within Jerusalem’s gates as a theologically significant posture.
- Psalm 48:12-13 (verbal): Both passages focus attention on moving within and around Zion/Jerusalem (entering gates, walking about the city, noting its bulwarks), linking physical presence in the city with its communal and religious significance.
Alternative generated candidates
- Our feet stood within your gates, O Jerusalem.
- Our feet stood within your gates, Jerusalem.
Psa.122.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ירושלם: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- הבנויה: ADJ,pual,ptc,f,sg,def
- כעיר: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- שחברה: CONJ+VERB,qal,perf,3,pl
- לה: PREP+PRON,3,f,sg
- יחדו: ADV
Parallels
- Revelation 21:2 (structural): The vision of the New Jerusalem as a divinely‑provided, unified city echoes Psalm 122's portrayal of Jerusalem as a built/together city—the culminating eschatological fulfillment of that image.
- Hebrews 12:22 (allusion): The writer's reference to coming 'to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God' alludes to the OT motif of Jerusalem as the communal, God‑centered city described in Ps.122:3.
- Psalm 48:3-4 (thematic): Celebrates Zion/Jerusalem as the exalted, joy‑of-all‑the‑earth city and the seat of the great King, thematically aligned with Ps.122's depiction of Jerusalem as a built, cohesive city.
- Isaiah 26:1 (thematic): Speaks of 'a strong city' and salvation as its walls and bulwarks—using the image of a secure, unified city much like Ps.122:3's 'built as a city that is compact together.'
- Nehemiah 4:6 (verbal): Describes the wall being 'joined together' as the people worked—language and communal building imagery closely parallel Psalm 122:3's notion of a city compact/together.
Alternative generated candidates
- Jerusalem, built as a city that is joined together.
- Jerusalem is built as a city that is joined together in unity.
Psa.122.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ששם: ADV
- עלו: PREP+3ms_suff
- שבטים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- שבטי: NOUN,m,pl,con
- יה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עדות: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- לישראל: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- להדות: VERB,qal,inf
- לשם: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Deuteronomy 16:16 (structural): Mandate that all Israel appear before the LORD three times a year — echoes the idea of the tribes going up to the place of testimony to worship.
- Deuteronomy 12:5 (thematic): Speaks of the place the LORD will choose for his name to dwell, matching the psalm’s focus on coming up to the LORD’s chosen city to give thanks.
- Psalm 84:7 (thematic): Pilgrims coming to Zion to appear before God — parallels the movement of the tribes to Jerusalem to present testimony and praise.
- Psalm 100:4 (verbal): “Enter his gates with thanksgiving…praise his name” — closely parallels the psalm’s language of giving thanks to the name of the LORD in the city.
- 1 Chronicles 16:8 (thematic): Royal liturgical call to ‘give thanks to the LORD, call upon his name’ — echoes the psalm’s purpose of the tribes coming to give thanks to Yahweh’s name.
Alternative generated candidates
- There the tribes ascended, the tribes of the LORD—an ordinance for Israel—to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
- There the tribes go up—the tribes of the LORD—an assembly for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
Psa.122.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- כי: CONJ
- שמה: ADV
- ישבו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- כסאות: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- למשפט: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כסאות: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- לבית: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,cns
- דויד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- 2 Samuel 7:16 (allusion): God’s covenant to David promising an established dynasty and throne forever — background for ‘thrones of the house of David.’
- Isaiah 9:7 (verbal): Speaks of the ‘throne of David’ established with ‘judgment and justice,’ closely echoing the association of Davidic rule and righteous judgment.
- Psalm 89:3–4 (thematic): Affirms God’s covenant to establish David’s house and throne, thematically parallel to thrones for judgment in Jerusalem.
- 1 Kings 10:18–20 (structural): Description of Solomon’s ornate throne in Jerusalem — the royal seat as the place of judgment and rule (concrete counterpart to ‘thrones…of the house of David’).
- Exodus 18:13–26 (verbal): Moses ‘sat to judge the people’; parallels the imagery of sitting on seats/thrones to administer judgment in the community.
Alternative generated candidates
- For there are seated thrones for judgment, thrones for the house of David.
- For there the thrones for judgment were set, the thrones of the house of David.
Psa.122.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- שאלו: VERB,qal,perf,3,pl
- שלום: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ירושלם: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ישליו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- אהביך: NOUN,m,pl,abs+2f
Parallels
- Jeremiah 29:7 (verbal): Both passages urge seeking/asking for the peace or welfare of the city (Hebrew language and theme of pursuing shalom for Jerusalem or the place of exile).
- Psalm 122:7 (structural): Immediate continuation of the same psalm—'May there be peace within your walls' restates and expands the petition for Jerusalem's peace begun in v.6.
- Psalm 122:9 (structural): Closely related within the same psalm: this verse gives the motive for seeking Jerusalem's welfare—love for the city tied to the house of the LORD and the psalmist's kin.
- Isaiah 62:6–7 (thematic): Calls for watchmen and persistent intercession for Jerusalem until her prosperity and vindication—parallels the call to pray/seek Jerusalem's peace and security.
Alternative generated candidates
- Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: 'May those who love you be at peace.'
- Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: may those who love you prosper.
Psa.122.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- יהי: VERB,qal,juss,3,m,sg
- שלום: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בחילך: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,poss
- שלוה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- בארמנותיך: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,abs,2,f
Parallels
- Ps.122.6 (structural): Immediate context: v.6 calls to ‘pray for the peace of Jerusalem,’ which leads directly into v.7’s wish ‘Peace be within your walls.’
- Ps.122.8 (structural): Close parallel within the same psalm: v.8 repeats the appeal for peace on behalf of friends and kin, echoing the concern for tranquillity expressed in v.7.
- Ps.147:12-13 (thematic): Both texts bless Jerusalem and use gate/wall imagery: Psalm 147 speaks of God strengthening the bars of your gates and blessing those within—similar emphasis on security and well-being inside the city.
- Isa.60:18 (thematic): Isaiah promises an end to violence within the land and images of walls/gates renamed for salvation and praise—parallel concern for peace and safety ‘within your walls.’
- Jer.29:7 (thematic): Jeremiah instructs exiles to seek the peace and prosperity of the city they inhabit, sharing the ethical/theological motif of desiring and praying for a city’s peace.
Alternative generated candidates
- May there be peace within your walls and security within your strongholds.
- May there be peace within your walls, security in your citadels.
Psa.122.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- למען: PREP
- אחי: NOUN,m,pl,suff
- ורעי: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אדברה: VERB,qal,impf,1,_,sg
- נא: PART
- שלום: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בך: PREP+PRON,2,m,sg
Parallels
- Psalm 122:6 (structural): Immediate parallel within the same psalm: calls readers to 'ask for the peace of Jerusalem,' framing the speaker's declaration in v.8.
- Psalm 122:9 (structural): Closely connected continuation: v.9 gives the motive ('for the house of the LORD') for seeking peace and good for the city, complementing v.8's pledge.
- Luke 10:5 (verbal): Jesus instructs disciples to greet a house with 'Peace to this house,' echoing the practice of speaking peace over a place or people.
- John 20:19 (verbal): Jesus' greeting 'Peace be with you' uses the same shalom-language, paralleling the OT idiom of pronouncing peace on others.
- Numbers 6:24-26 (thematic): The priestly blessing invokes the Lord's peace on the people; thematically similar as a liturgical/formulaic bestowal of peace upon others.
Alternative generated candidates
- For the sake of my brothers and companions I will now say, 'Peace be within you.'
- For the sake of my brothers and companions I will say, ‘Peace be within you.’
Psa.122.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- למען: PREP
- בית: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אלהינו: NOUN,m,pl,abs,poss:1,pl
- אבקשה: VERB,qal,impf,1,sg
- טוב: ADJ,m,pl,abs
- לך: PRON,2,m,sg
Parallels
- Psalm 122:6 (verbal): Same psalm: both verses call for action on behalf of Jerusalem—'Pray for the peace of Jerusalem' parallels seeking the city's good.
- Psalm 122:8 (structural): Immediate parallel within the psalm: verse 8 speaks of wishing 'Peace be within thee' for the brethren's sake, mirroring verse 9's pledge to seek Jerusalem's welfare for the house of the LORD.
- Jeremiah 29:7 (thematic): Explicitly commands Israelites in exile to 'seek the peace and prosperity of the city' where they live; shares the theme of pursuing the city's welfare as tied to God's people.
- Isaiah 62:6-7 (thematic): God-appointed watchmen on Jerusalem's walls are charged to give no rest until the city's welfare is secured—echoes the persistent commitment to Jerusalem's good.
- Nehemiah 2:17 (thematic): Nehemiah's rallying call to rebuild Jerusalem's walls and restore the city reflects the practical outworking of seeking Jerusalem's welfare for the sake of God's dwelling among his people.
Alternative generated candidates
- For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your good.
- For the sake of the house of the LORD our God I will seek your good.
A song of ascents. Of David. I rejoiced when they said to me, 'Let us go to the house of the LORD.'
Our feet stood within your gates, O Jerusalem.
Jerusalem is built as a city joined together.
There the tribes go up—the tribes of the LORD—an ordinance for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
For there the thrones of judgment are set, the thrones of the house of David.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; may those who love you prosper.
May there be peace within your walls, and security within your citadels.
For the sake of my brothers and companions I will now say, 'Peace be within you.'
For the sake of the house of the LORD our God I will seek your good.