Psalm 120:6 kjv
My soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace.
Psalm 120:6 nkjv
My soul has dwelt too long With one who hates peace.
Psalm 120:6 niv
Too long have I lived among those who hate peace.
Psalm 120:6 esv
Too long have I had my dwelling among those who hate peace.
Psalm 120:6 nlt
I am tired of living
among people who hate peace.
Psalm 120 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Psa 120:1 | In my distress I called to the LORD... | Psalmist's distress and plea to God |
| Psa 120:5 | Woe is me, that I sojourn in Meshech... | Dwelling in hostile territory |
| Psa 57:4 | My soul is among lions... | Living among the violent and wicked |
| Psa 142:6 | ...deliver me from my persecutors... | Seeking deliverance from adversaries |
| Psa 140:1 | Deliver me, O LORD, from evil men... | Prayer against evil, violent people |
| Psa 12:2 | They speak falsehood to one another... | Speaking falsehood/hatred |
| Lam 3:7 | He has walled me about so that I cannot escape... | Feeling trapped in a difficult situation |
| Pro 16:28 | A dishonest man spreads strife... | Haters of peace cause division |
| Pro 28:13 | ...who conceals his transgressions will not prosper... | Dealing with wickedness |
| Isa 48:22 | There is no peace, says the LORD, for the wicked. | Wicked lack peace |
| Isa 57:21 | "There is no peace," says my God, "for the wicked." | Lack of peace for those against God's ways |
| Rom 12:18 | If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably... | Christian call to peace |
| Heb 12:14 | Strive for peace with everyone... | Seeking peace even with opponents |
| Jam 3:18 | ...the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace... | Peace as a fruit of righteousness |
| Matt 5:9 | Blessed are the peacemakers... | Peacemakers are blessed |
| Jn 3:19-20 | Men loved darkness rather than light... | World's preference for evil over truth |
| 1 Jn 5:19 | The whole world lies in the power of the evil one. | Christians dwelling in a fallen world |
| Gal 1:4 | ...to deliver us from this present evil age... | Deliverance from the wickedness of the age |
| Eph 6:12 | For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood... | Spiritual struggle against evil |
| Phil 4:7 | ...the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding... | God's peace as a contrast |
| Col 3:15 | Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts... | Inner peace despite outward turmoil |
Psalm 120 verses
Psalm 120 6 Meaning
Psalm 120:6 expresses the deep anguish of the psalmist who laments his protracted dwelling among individuals characterized by hostility towards peace and divine order. It reflects a soul burdened by persistent conflict and a lack of true harmony in his immediate surroundings, contrasting his desire for peace with their antagonism.
Psalm 120 6 Context
Psalm 120 is the first of the fifteen "Songs of Ascents" (Psa 120-134), traditionally sung by pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem for annual festivals. This psalm specifically expresses a plea from someone enduring constant vexation. The psalmist is suffering slander and deceit from those around him (Psa 120:2-4). Verse 5 clarifies this dwelling as being "in Meshech" and "among the tents of Kedar," geographical references to distant, often hostile, or uncivilized peoples. While these could be literal tribes, they often symbolize dwelling among the ungodly, contentious, or perpetually warring. Thus, verse 6 follows, emphasizing that the burden is not merely geographical isolation, but spiritual anguish caused by living with those whose very nature is opposed to peace, embodying the spiritual hostility encountered on life's journey towards God's dwelling place.
Psalm 120 6 Word analysis
- My soul (נפש, nefesh): This word signifies the entire person, the living being, the core of one's identity and life. It's not just an emotional state, but the complete existence and well-being of the psalmist that is affected. The distress reaches the deepest part of his being.
- has long dwelt (רַב לָּהּ שָׁכְנָה, rav lah shaknah):
- rav (רַב): means "much," "many," "long" (of time). It emphasizes the protracted nature of his sojourn.
- shaknah (שָׁכְנָה): derived from shakhan (שָׁכַן), meaning "to dwell," "to settle," "to abide," "to encamp." This verb implies a forced or undesirable prolonged stay, a residency that has worn down the psalmist. It denotes a stable but burdensome living situation.
- with him who hates peace (אֶת-שׂוֹנֵא שָׁלוֹם, et sone shalom):
- sone (שׂוֹנֵא): refers to an "enemy" or "hater." This is an active, persistent antagonism. It implies an inherent disposition.
- shalom (שָׁלוֹם): The Hebrew concept of peace is profound. It's not merely the absence of conflict but encompasses wholeness, completeness, well-being, harmony, prosperity, health, and flourishing in all relationships—with God, oneself, and others. The term highlights a fundamental opposition to divine order and human flourishing.
- "has long dwelt with him who hates peace": This phrase emphasizes the burden of prolonged exposure to ungodliness. The psalmist's core being (soul) is constantly exposed to antagonism to everything shalom represents. This creates internal spiritual tension, a stark contrast between his righteous desire for peace and the pervasive hostility of his environment.
Psalm 120 6 Bonus section
The reference to Meshech and Kedar in the preceding verse (Psa 120:5) amplifies the metaphor of living among "haters of peace." Meshech (northern tribe in Asia Minor) and Kedar (Bedouin tribe in Arabian desert) were traditionally associated with remote, often hostile, and idolatrous peoples. This geographic and ethnic symbolism suggests the psalmist feels alienated, as if dwelling among barbarians or pagans, far from the sacred peace of God's dwelling. This reinforces the spiritual battle within a physical reality for the pilgrim seeking the Jerusalem of God. It's a universal lament for believers who strive for peace and righteousness but are surrounded by moral depravity and constant strife.
Psalm 120 6 Commentary
Psalm 120:6 encapsulates the profound distress of a righteous individual forced to co-exist with those whose core nature is contrary to God's ways. The "haters of peace" represent not just people who engage in conflict, but those whose disposition is fundamentally opposed to true shalom—wholeness, integrity, and reconciliation with God and man. This spiritual friction is debilitating to the soul of the psalmist, indicating an unbearable moral tension. His prolonged exposure highlights the burden of spiritual warfare in an ungodly world. This lament sets the stage for a longing for the peace found in Zion and ultimately in God's presence, echoing the struggles believers face while living as pilgrims in a fallen world.