Psalms 126:4

Psalms 126:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Turn again our captivity, O Lord, as the streams in the south.
• New International Version (NIV)Restore our fortunes, Lord, like streams in the Negev.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like streams in the Negeb!
• New King James Version (NKJV)Bring back our captivity, O Lord, As the streams in the South.

Context of Psalms 126:4

2At that time we laughed loudly and shouted for joy. At that time the nations said, “The Lord has accomplished great things for these people.” 3The Lord did indeed accomplish great things for us. We were happy. O Lord, restore our well-being, just as the streams in the arid south are replenished. 5Those who shed tears as they plant will shout for joy when they reap the harvest. 6The one who weeps as he walks along, carrying his bag of seed, will certainly come in with a shout of joy, carrying his sheaves of grain.

Psalms 126:4 word by word

שׁוּבָ֣ה יְ֭הוָה אֶת־שְׁבִיתֵ֑נוּ כַּאֲפִיקִ֥ים בַּנֶּֽגֶב׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Turn againשׁוּבshûb · to return: rescueH7725
• our captivityשְׁבִיתshebûth shebîyth · captivityH7622
• O Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• as the streamsאָפִיק'âphîyq · channelH650
• in the southנֶ֫גֶבnegeb · NegebH5045

Cross-references for Psalms 126:4

• Psalms 126:1When the Lord restored the well-being of Zion, we thought we were dreaming.
• Psalms 85:4Restore us, O God our deliverer! Do not be displeased with us!
• Hosea 1:11Then the people of Judah and the people of Israel will be gathered together. They will appoint for themselves one leader, and will flourish in the land. Certainly, the day of Jezreel will be great!
• Joshua 3:16the water coming downstream toward them stopped flowing. It piled up far upstream at Adam (the city near Zarethan); there was no water at all flowing to the sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea). The people crossed the river opposite Jericho.
• Isaiah 41:18I will make streams flow down the slopes and produce springs in the middle of the valleys. I will turn the desert into a pool of water and the arid land into springs.

Commentaries on Psalms 126:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4Turn again our captivity - This is either a recital of the prayer they had used before their deliverance; or it is a prayer for those who still remained in the provinces beyond the Euphrates. The Jewish captives did not all return at once; they came back at different times, and under different leaders, Ezra, Nehemiah, Zerubbabel, etc. As the streams in the south - Probably the Nile is meant. It is now pretty well known that the Nile has its origin in the…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4Turn again our captivity, O Lord - literally, “Turn our captivity.” The word “again” is inserted by the translators, and conveys an idea which is not necessarily in the original. It is simply a prayer that God would “turn” their captivity; that is, looking upon the captivity as not wholly ended, or as, in some sense, still continuing, that it might please him wholly to turn it, or to end it. The language would be applicable, if there was a new “captivity”…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 4-6Verses 4-6 The beginnings of mercies encourage us to pray for the completion of them. And while we are in this world there will be matter for prayer, even when we are most furnished with matter for praise. Suffering saints are often in tears; they share the calamities of human life, and commonly have a greater share than others. But they sow in tears; they do the duty of an afflicted state. Weeping must not hinder sowing; we must get good from times of…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4-6The prophets had spoken of the restoration as a time when the wilderness would change into the garden of Eden (Isaiah 51:3; Ezekiel 47). However, the reality was far from paradise. Here, the restoration community prays for complete redemption (see Haggai 2:19). like streams in the Negev: Seasonal rains filled the dry riverbeds (wadis), making the land green again. The prayer seeks a similar change in Israel’s fortunes, fulfilling the imagery of the…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. All did not return at once; hence the prayer for repeated favors. as the streams in the south--or, the torrents in the desert south of Judea, dependent on rain (Jos 15:9), reappearing after dry seasons (compare Job 6:15; Psa 68:9). The point of comparison is joy at the reappearing of what has been so painfully missed.Read the comment

Topics related to Psalms 126:4

• Afflictions and Adversities

In the dictionaries

• Degrees, Song of
• Hallel
• Harvest
• Psalms
• Reap
• Bible, the
• Channel
• Degree
• Degrees, Songs of
• Dial of Ahaz

Commentaries on Psalms 126

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• 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
• EGW Writings