Psalm 129:5 - Printer Friendly

ESV: May all who hate Zion be put to shame and turned backward!

NIV: May all who hate Zion be turned back in shame.

NASB: May all who hate Zion Be put to shame and turned backward;

CSB: Let all who hate Zion be driven back in disgrace.

NLT: May all who hate Jerusalem be turned back in shameful defeat.

KJV: Let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Zion.

NKJV: Let all those who hate Zion Be put to shame and turned back.

This is the beginning of the "imprecatory" section of Psalm 129. Imprecatory psalms call for the Lord to deliver some specific harm to an enemy. Most are similar to the requests in this psalm (Psalms 17:13; 35:4–6). Other imprecations (Psalm 58:6–9; 137:8–9) are much more destructive.

Zion is a symbolic name for the city of Jerusalem (2 Samuel 5:7; 1 Kings 8:1). Both names can also serve as references to the nation of Israel (Psalm 14:7; Zephaniah 3:14; Zechariah 8:14–15). This follows the pattern used even today, where the capital city is often a byword for the entire nation, such as "Washington" for the USA or "Moscow" for Russia. Those who hate Jerusalem probably don't despise the buildings and walls. Rather, this verse speaks of those who hate the Jewish people. The prayer offered is that those who despise the nation of Israel would suffer humiliation and defeat.

A vivid example of this happening very literally came when the Assyrian general Sennacherib attempted a siege of Jerusalem. The Lord delivered a prophecy against Sennacherib through Isaiah (2 Kings 19:28). This prophecy came true when God killed thousands of Assyrian troops overnight (2 Kings 19:35), forcing them to retreat (2 Kings 19:36). The mocking enemies who resisted Israel's rebuilding of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 4:1–4) were also embarrassed when the project was successful (Nehemiah 6:15–16).

Psalm 129:5–8 contains an "imprecatory" prayer, which asks for harm on an enemy. The nation is symbolized as Zion (2 Samuel 5:7; 1 Kings 8:1) which itself represents the capital city of Israel. The psalmist wishes disgrace and defeat on those who hate Israel. He even rejects using common greetings that mention God's blessings when dealing with such persons.

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.