Psalms 129:3

Psalms 129:3 in other versions

• 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.”
• New Living Translation (NLT)My back is covered with cuts, as if a farmer had plowed long furrows.

Context of Psalms 129:3

1Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth, may Israel now say: 2Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth: yet they have not prevailed against me. The plowers plowed upon my back: they made long their furrows. 4The Lord is righteous: he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked. 5Let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Zion.

Psalms 129:3 word by word

עַל־גַּ֭בִּי חָרְשׁ֣וּ חֹרְשִׁ֑ים הֶ֝אֱרִ֗יכוּ לְמַעֲנִיתָֽם׃Read the interlinear

• 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 141:7Our bones are scattered at the grave’s mouth, as when one cutteth and cleaveth wood upon the earth.
• Isaiah 51:23But I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee; which have said to thy soul, Bow down, that we may go over: and thou hast laid thy body as the ground, and as the street, to them that went over.

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