Psalm 129:3

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 129:1-4

The church of God, in its several ages, is here spoken of, or, rather, here speaks, as one single person, now old and gray-headed, but calling to remembrance the former days, and reflecting upon the times of old. And, upon the review, it is found, 1. That the church has been often greatly distressed by its enemies on earth: Israel may now say, ?I am the people that has been oppressed more than any people, that has been as a speckled bird, pecked at by all the birds round about,? Jer. 12:9. It... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 129:3

The ploughers ploughed upon my back ,.... "Sinners", as the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, and Arabic versions, render it; such that plough iniquity, and sow wickedness, Job 4:8 ; which may be understood of their carrying Israel captive, when they put yokes and bonds upon their necks, as upon oxen when they plough, as Arama interprets it; or it may design the destruction of their high places, signified by the back, such as the temple, the royal palace, and houses of their nobles, burnt with... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 129:3

The plowers plowed upon my back - It is possible that this mode of expression may signify that the people, during their captivity, were cruelly used by scourging, etc.; or it may be a sort of proverbial mode of expression for the most cruel usage. There really appears here to be a reference to a yoke, as if they had actually been yoked to the plouph, or to some kind of carriages, and been obliged to draw like beasts of burden. In this way St. Jerome understood the passage; and this has the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 129:3

Verse 3 3.The ploughers have ploughed upon my back. (110) Here the Prophet, by an apparent similitude, embellishes his preceding statement respecting the grievous afflictions of the Church. He compares the people of God to a field through which a plough is drawn. He says that the furrows were made long, so that no corner was exempted from being cut up by the ploughshare. These words vividly express the fact — that the cross has always been planted on the back of the Church, to make long and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 129:1-8

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 129:1-8

Sin a failure. Neither the violence of sin against others nor its effort on its own behalf is successful. I. THE FAILURE OF ITS VIOLENCE . The enemies of Israel are regarded as the enemies of the Lord; their attempts to despoil and destroy Israel were sins against God. They consequently proved to be utter failures. They were mercilessly cruel; they "ploughed upon the back, and made long their furrows;" they strove to enslave with their strong cords ( Psalms 129:4 ), but... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 129:1-8

The Divine life. This psalm is capable of a threefold application. It tells of the Divine life— I. IN ISRAEL . 1. The existence of the chosen people was a lifelong struggle . The sounds of battle and war are never, save but for short intervals, absent from their history. From the oppression they had to endure in Egypt right down to the time when this psalm was composed, they never lacked enemies who "fought against" them, and did them all the harm they could. 2. But... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 129:1-8

Suffering and victory. "Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth," etc. The connection is shown thus— I. THE PSALMIST SAW THE REDEMPTIVE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD AS SUPREME . ( Psalms 129:4 .) God's strength and justice surely prevail against all the devices of evil men. II. GOOD MEN PREVAIL WHEN THEY USE THEIR SUFFERING AS CORRECTIVE DISCIPLINE . Some of the greatest lessons of life are learned from our severest sufferings. "For I... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 129:3

The plowers plowed upon my back . A strong metaphor, which does not elsewhere occur. The idea is perhaps taken from the cruel treatment of captives in those days, who, in certain cases, were "put under saws and harrows of iron" ( 2 Samuel 12:31 ), or, as it is elsewhere expressed, "threshed with threshing instruments of iron" ( Amos 1:3 ). They made long their furrows ; i . e . "lengthened out their tortures." read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 129:3

The figure of the torn land. The expression, "They made long their furrows," can only be understood through the peculiar conditions of Eastern ploughing. The word "furrow" ( maanah ) signifies a strip of arable land which the ploughman takes in hand at one time, at both ends of which, consequently, the ploughing team always comes to a stand, turns round, and begins a new furrow. Since the ordinary ox of Palestine is smaller and weaker than ours, and easily becomes tired under the yoke,... read more

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