Psalm 129:7 - Printer Friendly

ESV: with which the reaper does not fill his hand nor the binder of sheaves his arms,

NIV: a reaper cannot fill his hands with it, nor one who gathers fill his arms.

NASB: With which the harvester does not fill his hand, Or the binder of sheaves his arms;

CSB: and can’t even fill the hands of the reaper or the arms of the one who binds sheaves.

NLT: ignored by the harvester, despised by the binder.

KJV: Wherewith the mower filleth not his hand; nor he that bindeth sheaves his bosom.

NKJV: With which the reaper does not fill his hand, Nor he who binds sheaves, his arms.

"Imprecation" means wishing harm on someone. Several psalms call on the Lord to bring some hurt to an enemy, so they are labeled "imprecatory" psalms. Psalm 129 shows the typical language of those songs (Psalm 17:13; 35:4–6). Only a few (Psalm 58:6–9; 137:8–9) are truly aggressive. Here, the psalmist asks for those who hate Israel and her people (Psalm 129:5) to wither away like grass growing by accident on a roof (Psalm 129:6). Such plants would not be part of a harvest nor serve a useful purpose.

Believers are compared to sowers and reapers. They sow the gospel seed in tears but joyfully gather an abundant harvest (Psalm 126:5–6). John the Baptist warned hypocritical Pharisees and Sadducees about future judgment. He said Messiah "will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire" (Matthew 3:12). Random grasses and weeds would be part of that discarded chaff.

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.

Accessed 7/5/2025 12:57:13 PM