Psalm 120 5

Psalm 120:5 kjv

Woe is me, that I sojourn in Mesech, that I dwell in the tents of Kedar!

Psalm 120:5 nkjv

Woe is me, that I dwell in Meshech, That I dwell among the tents of Kedar!

Psalm 120:5 niv

Woe to me that I dwell in Meshek, that I live among the tents of Kedar!

Psalm 120:5 esv

Woe to me, that I sojourn in Meshech, that I dwell among the tents of Kedar!

Psalm 120:5 nlt

How I suffer in far-off Meshech.
It pains me to live in distant Kedar.

Psalm 120 verses

Psalm 120 5 Meaning

Psalm 120:5 expresses a deep lament and spiritual distress. The psalmist, likely a faithful individual, cries out in sorrow over his prolonged dwelling amidst peoples or environments characterized by hostility, deceit, and a lack of peace. He feels an acute sense of being an alien or sojourner in a place utterly opposed to the ways of God and the pursuit of truth, which is burdensome and painful to his soul.

Psalm 120 5 Context

Psalm 120 is the first of the fifteen "Songs of Ascents" (Psalms 120-134), traditionally believed to be sung by pilgrims on their way "up" to Jerusalem for the three annual festivals, or by Levites ascending the temple steps. This initial psalm sets a tone of struggle and lament endured by the worshiper before finding full peace and communion in Zion. The psalmist expresses profound weariness from a prolonged residence among those characterized by "lying lips" and "deceitful tongues" (Psa 120:2). Verse 5, therefore, magnifies this sense of alienation, portraying the psalmist's spiritual discomfort as akin to being exiled among barbarous, pagan, or overtly hostile tribes, far from the peace and righteousness associated with Jerusalem and the Lord.

Psalm 120 5 Word analysis

• Woe is me (אוֹי לִי - ʾōy lî):

  • Woe (אוֹי - ʾōy): This is a powerful Hebrew interjection expressing intense grief, pain, anguish, or lament. It's a cry of distress or profound regret, much stronger than simple sadness. It denotes a lamentable situation or dire predicament.
  • is me (לִי - lî): The preposition "to" or "for" attached to the first-person singular suffix, making it "to me" or "for me." It intensifies the personal nature of the distress, highlighting that the burden falls directly upon the speaker.
  • Significance: This opening sets a somber, sorrowful tone, immediately conveying the psalmist's deep affliction, as if enduring a curse or terrible fate.

• that I sojourn (גַּרְתִּי - gārtî):

  • Sojourn (גּוּר - gûr): The verb means "to sojourn," "to dwell as a stranger," "to abide temporarily," or "to reside without being a native." It carries the connotation of a provisional residence, a non-permanent stay in a foreign land. It highlights the psalmist's feeling of not belonging.
  • Significance: The use of "sojourn" rather than "dwell" (which is used for Kedar) implies a feeling of being an outsider, an alien, and perhaps unwillingly kept in this undesirable location. It reflects a transient state, yet one that has lasted too long. It hints at the deeper spiritual reality of the righteous being "strangers and pilgrims" on earth (Heb 11:13).

• in Meshech (מֶשֶׁךְ - Mešech):

  • Meshech: A tribe listed as a son of Japheth in Gen 10:2. They are often mentioned alongside Tubal and associated with the far North, sometimes linked to uncivilized or fierce peoples (e.g., Eze 38:2-3, 39:1). Historically, they might be connected to Mushki, an ancient Anatolian people.
  • Significance: In the biblical context, Meshech often represents remote, ungodly, perhaps barbarous and pagan lands, far from the civilizing influence and peace of Israel. Dwelling in Meshech signifies being in a culturally alien and hostile environment, metaphorically removed from truth and righteousness.

• that I dwell (שָׁכַנְתִּי - šāḵantî):

  • Dwell (שָׁכַן - šāḵan): This verb means "to dwell," "to settle," "to inhabit." It implies a more settled or permanent residence compared to gûr ("sojourn").
  • Significance: The shift from "sojourn" with Meshech to "dwell" with Kedar emphasizes the painful duration and depth of his forced presence among these hostile elements. He may have felt like a sojourner initially, but now it feels like an established, oppressive reality.

• among the tents of Kedar (אָהֳלֵי קֵדָר - ʾāholê qēdār):

  • Tents (אָהֳלֵי - ʾāholê): Implies a nomadic, unsettled existence, and traditionally, Bedouin or Arab tribes lived in tents.
  • Kedar (קֵדָר - Qēdār): An Arabian tribe descended from Ishmael (Gen 25:13), known for their nomadic tent-dwelling lifestyle in the Arabian Desert. They were known for sheep-herding and warriors. Though they could be trading partners (Isa 60:7; Eze 27:21), they were also seen as proud and prone to conflict (Jer 49:28-29; Isa 21:16-17).
  • Significance: Kedar represents not only physical distance from Jerusalem but also a distinct way of life – nomadic, outside the settled covenant land, and often associated with idolatry or hostility toward Israel (Psa 83:6). "Tents of Kedar" vividly portrays a desolate, uncivilized, and spiritually dark environment, far from the structured, consecrated life of Jerusalem.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "Woe is me": Establishes immediate, deep, personal anguish and sorrow, acting as the primary lament.
  • "that I sojourn in Meshech": Highlights a feeling of being a temporary, unwilling alien in a foreign, wild, or untamed land, metaphorically distant from truth and order. This part emphasizes discomfort with the character of the people.
  • "that I dwell among the tents of Kedar!": Emphasizes the painful reality of prolonged co-existence with people associated with nomadic, non-Israelite, and often hostile lifestyles. This points to the oppressive environment and duration of his stay.
  • Combined effect: The repetition of a place of residence emphasizes the persistent burden. Both Meshech and Kedar symbolize a morally or spiritually uncongenial and even antagonistic environment, distinct from the psalmist’s longing for peace and truth (Psa 120:7). It signifies profound spiritual isolation and hardship endured while longing for genuine community.

Psalm 120 5 Bonus section

The choice of Meshech and Kedar could also signify a deep symbolic reversal or anti-paradise for the psalmist. While God promised Abraham that his descendants would dwell securely, this psalmist is effectively lamenting an anti-fulfillment of that promise, finding himself in the wilderness (Kedar) or among pagan barbarians (Meshech), not in the promised land. The contrast highlights the suffering that results from the absence of God's desired order and peace. The Lament Psalms (and Songs of Ascents like this one) were essential for articulating hardship and seeking divine solace, acting as a form of "protest prayer" that verbalizes suffering honestly before God.

Psalm 120 5 Commentary

Psalm 120:5 articulates the painful experience of a righteous soul living amidst unrighteousness. The geographical references to "Meshech" and "Kedar" are largely symbolic, not necessarily pinpointing literal exile. Instead, they evoke places or peoples that are distant from the light of God, culturally crude, morally opposed to divine law, and characterized by conflict and deceit. The psalmist's cry of "Woe is me" is not just personal misery, but a spiritual lament over the burden of living daily in an environment where truth is absent, peace is scorned, and hostility is prevalent. It expresses a profound yearning for Zion, the place of God's presence, truth, and genuine peace. This verse resonates with the Christian experience of feeling like a stranger and pilgrim in a world often hostile to Gospel values, yearning for their true spiritual home.

• Examples: A believer facing constant pressure from work colleagues who promote unethical practices. A Christian surrounded by cynical and argumentative neighbors. A follower of Christ living in a culture that rejects core biblical truths and actively promotes falsehoods.