Psalm 124:2-5 ESV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 124:1-5

The people of God, being here called upon to praise God for their deliverance, are to take notice, I. Of the malice of men, by which they were reduced to the very brink of ruin. Let Israel say that there was but a step between them and death: the more desperate the disease appears to have been the more does the skill of the Physician appear in the cure. Observe, 1. Whence the threatening danger came: Men rose up against us, creatures of our own kind, and yet bent upon our ruin. Homo homini... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 124:2

If it had not been the Lord who was on our side ,.... This he repeats both for the confirmation of it, and to excite the attention of the Israelites to it; as well as to observe that it was not once only, but again and again, many times the Lord appeared to be on their side. The Targum renders it, "the Word of the Lord;' the essential Word, the Son of God; and so in Psalm 123:1 , in the king's Bible; when men rose up against us ; wicked men; though no hard epithet is given in the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 124:3

Then they had swallowed us up quick ,.... Or "alive"; as the earth swallowed up Korah and his company; or as the fish swallowed up Jonah; or rather as ravenous beasts swallow their prey; to which the allusion is. The people of God are comparable to sheep and lambs, and such like innocent creatures: and the wicked to lions, tigers, wolves, bears, and such like beasts of prey that devour living creatures; when their wrath was kindled against us ; which is cruel and outrageous; there is no... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 124:4

Then the waters had overwhelmed us ,.... People, comparable to waters for their multitude, Strength, force, and impetuosity; which bear down all before them, and against which there is no standing; which, like the waters of the flood, overflow and destroy all they pass over. These are the floods of ungodly men, which are very destructive and terrible; see Revelation 17:15 ; together with all those reproaches, afflictions, and persecutions, which come along with them; which the presence of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 124:5

Then the proud waters had gone over our soul. The wicked, who, through their pride, persecute the poor saints: these proud tyrants and persecutors would prevail over them, to their ruin and destruction; who, for their number, force, and strength, and especially for their pride and haughtiness, are like to the strong, boisterous, and swelling waves of the sea, were they not stopped and bounded by him who has said, Thus far shall ye go, and no farther, Job 38:11 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 124:5

Then the proud waters - The proud Haman had nearly brought the flood of desolation over our lives. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 124:2

Verse 2 2.But for Jehovah who was on our side. It is not without cause that he twice repeats the same sentence. So long as we are in danger our fear is immoderate; but no sooner are we delivered than we lessen the greatness of our calamity, and Satan, deceiving us by this artifice, leads us to obscure the grace of God. Since then, after having been wonderfully preserved by the Lord, we for the most part devise all sorts of imaginary circumstances, in order to efface from our minds the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 124:3

Verse 3 When he says, (Psalms 124:3,) They had swallowed us up alive, (78) he not only expresses barbarous cruelty, but also disproportion of strength. He describes then in the first place how violent was the onset of the enemy, and secondly, how feeble and inadequate the Jews were to withstand them, since these cruel beasts had no need of swords for slaughter, but without a battle or an effort of strength, could easily devour that unwarlike and defenceless flock. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 124:4

Verse 4 4.The waters had then overwhelmed us. He embellishes by an elegant metaphor the preceding sentiment, comparing the dreadful impetuosity of the enemies of the Jews to an inundation, which swallows up whatever it meets with in its overflowing course. And he continues to preserve the character of a man affrighted. He names the waters, next the torrent, thirdly, the proud or impetuous waters. He says, over us, and over our soul, as if, by presenting the thing to the eye, he intended to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 124:1-5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 124:2

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 124:3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 124:4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 124:5

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 124:5

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 124:2

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 124:3

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 124:4

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 124:1-8

Group of Brands