Psalm 129:3 - Printer Friendly

ESV: The plowers plowed upon my back; they made long their furrows."

NIV: Plowmen have plowed my back and made their furrows long.

NASB: The plowers plowed upon my back; They lengthened their furrows.'

CSB: Plowmen plowed over my back; they made their furrows long.

NLT: My back is covered with cuts, as if a farmer had plowed long furrows.

KJV: The plowers plowed upon my back: they made long their furrows.

NKJV: The plowers plowed on my back; They made their furrows long.”

This psalm notes Israel's long history of suffering at the hands of enemies (Psalm 129:1–2). The symbolism in this verse can be taken in at least two ways. Modern readers will probably imagine someone being viciously whipped or beaten; this would leave noticeable scars.

However, the Hebrew phrasing used here seems to emphasize the ongoing nature of these persecutions. Plows make a continuous cut through a field, before turning around to make the next one. Making the furrows long would mean only short breaks between extended times of destruction. In the same way, Israel has experienced near-constant harassment from their foes (Exodus 1:8–14; 17:8; Judges 2:16–19; Isaiah 36:1; 2 Chronicles 36:17–21).

Jesus experienced the more literal version of this suffering prior to His crucifixion. This was predicted by Old Testament prophets (Isaiah 50:6; 53:4–5). Peter reflected on these wounds and what they represented for believers (1 Peter 2:24). The apostle Paul also experienced physical beating as a consequence of his ministry (2 Corinthians 11:23–25).

Psalm 129:1–4 looks back on persecution and hardship. Both the psalmist and the nation of Israel have a history of being victimized (Exodus 1:8–14; Judges 2:16–19; 2 Chronicles 36:17–21). This is compared to the way fields are plowed with long, ongoing channels torn into the soil. Yet the Lord did not allow this to last forever; those bindings were cut so Israel could live on (Ezra 2:1).

The psalmist reflects on the nation of Israel, which has always been persecuted and attacked (Exodus 1:8–14; Judges 2:16–19; 2 Chronicles 36:17–21). Despite this, God preserved the people (Jeremiah 29:12–14; Ezra 2:1). This psalm includes a prayer that those who despise Israel—identified with Mount Zion (2 Samuel 5:7; 1 Kings 8:1)—would be defeated (Genesis 12:1–3). The psalmist sees no reason to offer them God's blessing, even in a casual greeting.

This is one of the songs "of ascents" and is also identified as an imprecatory psalm (Psalms 5; 10; 17; 35; 58; 59; 69; 70; 79; 83; 109; 137; 140). It looks back on Israel's history of suffering and prays for defeat and humiliation for their enemies. Many of these songs "of ascents" (Psalms 120—134) were composed after the people returned from exile in Babylon (2 Chronicles 36:17–21; Ezra 2:1). The nation had also been afflicted by others (Judges 2:16–19; 2 Chronicles 28:18; Ezekiel 25:12), since their earliest days (Exodus 1:8–14; 17:8). Yet God preserved the people through hard times (Jeremiah 29:12–14).

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.

Accessed 4/16/2025 3:22:59 PM