Psalm 122:2 kjv
Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem.
Psalm 122:2 nkjv
Our feet have been standing Within your gates, O Jerusalem!
Psalm 122:2 niv
Our feet are standing in your gates, Jerusalem.
Psalm 122:2 esv
Our feet have been standing within your gates, O Jerusalem!
Psalm 122:2 nlt
And now here we are,
standing inside your gates, O Jerusalem.
Psalm 122 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 122:1 | "I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD.” | Prior verse, joy leading to Jerusalem. |
| Isa 2:2-3 | "Many peoples will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD…” | Future pilgrimage to God's house. |
| Mic 4:1-2 | "Peoples will stream to it... and say, 'Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD'" | Prophetic vision of nations seeking God. |
| Zech 8:3 | "I will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth" | God's return to dwell in Jerusalem. |
| Ps 87:2 | "The LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob." | God's affection for Jerusalem's gates. |
| Ps 84:5-7 | "Blessed are those whose strength is in you... They go from strength to strength till each appears before God in Zion." | Strength for pilgrimage, ultimate arrival. |
| Ps 26:8 | "LORD, I love the house where you live, the place where your glory dwells." | Affinity for God's dwelling. |
| Ps 42:2 | "My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?" | Longing for God's presence, satisfied by arrival. |
| Deut 12:5 | "But you are to seek the place the LORD your God will choose... to put his Name there." | Centrality of God's chosen place for worship. |
| Deut 16:16 | "Three times a year all your men must appear before the LORD your God at the place he will choose..." | Mandated pilgrimage to Jerusalem. |
| Isa 60:11 | "Your gates will always stand open... so that people may bring you the wealth of the nations." | Openness and welcoming nature of Jerusalem's gates. |
| Rev 21:24-25 | "The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. On no day will its gates ever be shut." | Gates of the New Jerusalem open. |
| Heb 12:22 | "But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem..." | Believers' spiritual arrival at heavenly Jerusalem. |
| Ps 147:13 | "He strengthens the bars of your gates; he blesses your people within you." | Security and blessing within Jerusalem. |
| Ps 48:1-2 | "Great is the LORD, and most worthy of praise, in the city of our God, his holy mountain." | Praise for God's city, Jerusalem. |
| Jer 31:12-13 | "They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion..." | Joy upon reaching Zion. |
| 1 Pet 2:5 | "You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house..." | Believers as part of God's spiritual dwelling. |
| Eph 2:19-22 | "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners... but fellow citizens with God’s people... built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets." | Believers integrated into God's spiritual household/city. |
| Ps 73:2 | "But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold." | Contrast of nearly slipping vs. firmly standing. |
| Ps 40:2 | "He lifted me out of the slimy pit... He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand." | God establishing one's feet firmly. |
| Zech 14:16 | "Then the survivors... will go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD Almighty." | Future pilgrimage, continuation of the tradition. |
Psalm 122 verses
Psalm 122 2 Meaning
This verse declares the joyous, certain, and accomplished arrival of pilgrims at the very gates of Jerusalem. It expresses the profound sense of belonging and spiritual fulfillment experienced upon reaching the longed-for holy city, symbolizing the successful completion of a significant journey and the immediate presence within God's chosen dwelling place.
Psalm 122 2 Context
Psalm 122 is one of the "Songs of Ascents" (Psalms 120-134), traditionally sung by Jewish pilgrims "going up" to Jerusalem for the three annual pilgrim festivals: Passover, the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost), and the Feast of Tabernacles. Verse 2 immediately follows the jubilant expression of intention and invitation in verse 1 ("I rejoiced when they said to me, 'Let us go to the house of the LORD!'"), confirming that the longing has now become a reality. Historically, Jerusalem was not just the capital of the kingdom and the seat of Davidic rule, but primarily the chosen site for the Temple, the dwelling place of the Ark of the Covenant, and thus the center of Israel's worship and national life. The "gates" were crucial entry points, symbols of civic life, justice (where elders met and judgments were rendered), commerce, and defense, providing the first point of interaction with the holy city itself before proceeding to the Temple.
Psalm 122 2 Word analysis
- Our feet (רַגְלֵינוּ - `ragleynu`): The literal instruments of the long and arduous pilgrimage journey. The possessive "our" signifies the collective body of pilgrims. It emphasizes their active and present physical presence. Symbolically, feet also represent one's walk or life path. Having their feet within the gates indicates not just being near, but having arrived at and established themselves in the desired destination.
- are standing (עוֹמְדוֹת - `‘omdôt`): This is a present participle, conveying a state of being or an action currently in progress. It signifies certainty, stability, and completion of the journey. The travelers are not merely approaching or anticipating; they have undeniably arrived and are now firmly planted. It speaks of a secure and settled posture, a resting from their toil, and readiness to participate in the city's life and worship.
- within your gates (בִּשְׁעָרַיִךְ - `bish’areyik`): The preposition "within" (בְּ - `bi`) signifies inside, demonstrating full entry, not merely standing at the threshold. The "gates" (`she'arim`) of an ancient city were vital; they were places of public assembly, judicial decisions, market activities, and strategic defense. Entering the gates of Jerusalem meant gaining full access to the life and essence of the holy city. They represented security, access, and community.
- O Jerusalem! (יְרוּשָׁלַיִם - `Yĕrushalayim`): This direct address to the city is an exclamation of joy, love, and awe. Jerusalem, often referred to as the "City of Peace" or "City of David" (עיר דוד), "Zion," and "the Holy City," represented God's chosen dwelling place on Earth. It was the heart of the Israelite nation, the center of worship, and a source of hope and unity. The exclamation point (implied in Hebrew by context and emotion) conveys profound relief, belonging, and delight.
- "Our feet are standing": This phrase perfectly encapsulates the immediate, concrete reality of the pilgrims' successful arrival. The journey's exertion gives way to a triumphant, stable presence. It signifies the end of longing and the beginning of fulfillment, establishing a sense of permanent, secure placement within the beloved city.
- "within your gates, O Jerusalem!": This complete clause functions as a declaration of joyous possession and immediate participation. The reference to the "gates" implies entering the very public and spiritual life of the city. Addressing Jerusalem directly personalizes the experience, making it an intimate expression of love and awe for the city and, by extension, for the God whose presence resided there. It’s an acknowledgment that they are not just spectators, but now participants in the life of this sacred place.
Psalm 122 2 Bonus section
The immediacy conveyed by "are standing" contrasts with the effort implicit in "our feet." It's not about the struggle to arrive, but the current state of blessed presence. This emphasizes divine enablement—the ability to complete the pilgrimage is given by God, allowing the faithful to stand firmly. This verse subtly speaks to the deep emotional connection between the pilgrim and the city, a bond akin to deep familial love or spiritual intimacy, signifying the unique place Jerusalem held in the hearts of God's people. The security implied by standing within the "gates" hints at God's protective embrace around His chosen dwelling and His people. It foreshadows the eternal dwelling of believers with God in the heavenly city, where no journey is left incomplete, and presence is forever secure.
Psalm 122 2 Commentary
Psalm 122:2 serves as a joyful declaration of arrived reality, marking the transition from longing (expressed in v.1) to fulfillment. After an arduous ascent, the pilgrims stand securely within Jerusalem's gates, no longer anticipating, but participating. This physical arrival signifies a profound spiritual truth: the diligent seeker finds God's promised dwelling and experiences immediate, stable presence. The gates, once points of passage, become places of welcome, community, and belonging. It encapsulates the peace, rest, and security found when one reaches their ultimate spiritual destination, reminding believers that the pilgrimage of faith culminates in joyful fellowship with God. This verse teaches us that perseverance in our spiritual journey leads to the profound joy and settled security of being in God's presence, whether metaphorically in fellowship now or literally in the New Jerusalem hereafter.