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

1From my earliest youth my enemies have persecuted me. Let all Israel repeat this: 2From my earliest youth my enemies have persecuted me, but they have never defeated me. My back is covered with cuts, as if a farmer had plowed long furrows. 4But the Lord is good; he has cut me free from the ropes of the ungodly. 5May all who hate Jerusalem be turned back in shameful defeat.

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 141:7Like rocks brought up by a plow, the bones of the wicked will lie scattered without burial.
• Isaiah 51:23Instead, I will hand that cup to your tormentors, those who said, ‘We will trample you into the dust and walk on your backs.’”

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