Psalms 129:3

Psalms 129:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)The plowers plowed upon my back: they made long their furrows.
• New International Version (NIV)Plowmen have plowed my back and made their furrows long.
• English Standard Version (ESV)The plowers plowed upon my back; they made long their furrows."
• New King James Version (NKJV)The plowers plowed on my back; They made their furrows long.”

Context of Psalms 129:3

1Since I was young, my enemies have often attacked me. Israel's people now answer: 2‘They have often attacked me since I was young, but they have not won against me. They hit my back with whips. They made long marks on it, like farmers who are ploughing their fields. 4But the Lord is righteous. He has made me free from those cruel people.’ 5I pray that everyone who hates Zion's people will be ashamed. Then they will have to turn around and go back.

Psalms 129:3 word by word

עַל־גַּ֭בִּי חָרְשׁ֣וּ חֹרְשִׁ֑ים הֶ֝אֱרִ֗יכוּ לְמַעֲנִיתָֽם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• The plowersחָרַשׁchârash · to plow/plotH2790
• upon my backגַּבgab · back/rim/browH1354
• they made longאָרַךְ'ârak · to prolongH748
• their furrowsמַעֲנָהma‛ănâh · furrowH4618

Cross-references for Psalms 129:3

• Psalms 141:7It will be like a farmer who ploughs his field, and breaks the earth into pieces. Just like that, they will break the bones of wicked people. They will throw their bones on the ground at the entrance to Sheol.
• Isaiah 51:23Instead, I will give it to your cruel enemies to punish them. They said to you, “Lie down on the ground, so that we can walk over you.” You made your backs become like the ground. You became like a street for your enemies to walk on.’

Commentaries on Psalms 129:3

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3The plowers plowed upon my back - The comparison here is undoubtedly taken from the “plowing” of land, and the idea is that the sufferings which they had endured were such as would be well represented by a plow passing over a field, tearing up the sod; piercing deep; and producing long rows or furrows. The direct allusion would seem to be to stripes inflicted on the back, as if a plow had been made to pass over it; and the meaning is, that they had been…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3-4The LORD is righteous: He rescued Israel from Egypt, from many enemy attacks, and from the Babylonian exile.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3-43-4. The ploughing is a figure of scourging, which most severe physical infliction aptly represents all kinds.Read the comment
• Rashi on Tanakh · v. 3the plowmen...they lengthened their furrow That is the hill of the plowshare, as (I Sam. 13: 14): “about half a furrow (מענה) [which] a yoke [of oxen plow in] a field.”Read the comment

Topics related to Psalms 129:3

• Enemy
• Plow

In the dictionaries

• Afore
• Astray
• Asunder
• Bosom
• Cord
• Cut
• Degrees, Song of
• Hallel
• Plow
• Psalms

Commentaries on Psalms 129

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• The Treasury of David
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary