Psalm 122 3

Psalm 122:3 kjv

Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together:

Psalm 122:3 nkjv

Jerusalem is built As a city that is compact together,

Psalm 122:3 niv

Jerusalem is built like a city that is closely compacted together.

Psalm 122:3 esv

Jerusalem ? built as a city that is bound firmly together,

Psalm 122:3 nlt

Jerusalem is a well-built city;
its seamless walls cannot be breached.

Psalm 122 verses

Psalm 122 3 Meaning

Psalm 122:3 describes Jerusalem as a well-built city, structurally strong and unified. The verse highlights its physical integrity, conveying a sense of compactness and coherence. This description is significant, representing not only its defensive strength but also the spiritual and social unity it symbolized for the people of Israel as a gathering place for worship and a center of governance. It implies a place of stability and security where God's people gather as one.

Psalm 122 3 Context

Psalm 122 is one of the "Songs of Ascents" (Psalms 120-134), sung by pilgrims on their way up to Jerusalem for the three annual festivals (Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles). These pilgrims, often traveling from various parts of Israel, would gather and anticipate their arrival at the capital city. The preceding verse (122:2) speaks of the pilgrims' feet standing within Jerusalem's gates. Verse 3 immediately describes the city itself, providing the rationale for their joy and hope. The historical context includes a time when Jerusalem, after being a strong capital under King David and Solomon, experienced periods of destruction and rebuilding. To the ancient pilgrim, a compactly built city implied security, protection from invaders, and social order—qualities vital for a holy city that was the center of national life and worship. This description implicitly contrasts with any fragmented or vulnerable settlements.

Psalm 122 3 Word Analysis

• Jerusalem (יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם, Yerushalayim):
  • Derived from roots meaning "to found" or "to possess" and "peace," thus often interpreted as "Foundation of Peace" or "City of Peace."
  • Significance: More than a geographical location; it's the chosen capital, the administrative and religious heart of Israel, where God’s presence was uniquely manifested in the Temple. It symbolizes God’s dwelling place and His relationship with His people.
• is built (הַבְּנוּיָה, habbenuyah):
  • From the verb בָּנָה (banah), meaning "to build, to establish, to raise up." The Hebrew is a Pual participle, indicating something is being built or has been built firmly and permanently.
  • Significance: Implies divine agency and enduring construction. It speaks to the solidity and permanence of the city, not just as a random collection of dwellings but a deliberately constructed and enduring entity. This isn't merely a physical act but a divinely ordained establishment.
• as a city (כְּעִיר, k'ir):
  • כְּ (ke) is a comparative particle, "as" or "like." עִיר (ir) means "city" or "town."
  • Significance: Emphasizes that Jerusalem functions fully as a proper city. It has the structure and purpose of a vital urban center, distinguishing it from an open village or dispersed settlement.
• that is compact together (שֶׁחֻבְּרָה־לָּהּ יַחְדָּו, sheḥubrâh-lâh yaḥdâv):
  • שֶׁחֻבְּרָה (sheḥubrâh): From חָבַר (ḥavar), meaning "to join, bind, unite, associate." This is a Pual participle, signifying that it has been "joined together" or "united." It denotes strong bonds, coherence, and integrated construction.
  • לָּהּ (lâh): "to it" or "for itself." Emphasizes the internal binding and self-cohesion of the city. It's intrinsically bound within itself.
  • יַחְדָּו (yaḥdâv): Adverb meaning "together," "unitedly," or "as one." This powerfully reinforces the concept of unity and dense coherence.
  • Words-group significance: This phrase paints a vivid picture of Jerusalem’s structure: its buildings were closely spaced, its walls fortified, and its components were interlocked. This had both a literal physical meaning (dense housing within walls, difficult to infiltrate) and a symbolic one, reflecting the desired social and spiritual unity of the people who dwelled and assembled there. It conveys a sense of stability, security, and communal cohesion—an ordered and protected habitation for the Lord’s people.

Psalm 122 3 Bonus Section

• Architectural Implications: The physical "compactness" could refer to buildings clustered tightly within fortified walls for defense, as was common for ancient cities built on hills. This arrangement offered mutual support against siege and limited the area requiring defense, optimizing the protective value of its walls.
• Sociological Ideal: Beyond brick and mortar, the description pointed to a desirable social structure. The hope was that the inhabitants themselves—diverse tribes and families—would live "compactly together" in unity, embodying communal peace and shared purpose under God.
• Eschatological Fulfillment: This verse also points forward to the Heavenly Jerusalem described in Revelation, a city of perfect unity, divine construction, and ultimate security, where God perfectly dwells with His people in complete coherence. This future city will be the epitome of "compact together," embodying eternal peace and perfect divine order.

Psalm 122 3 Commentary

Psalm 122:3 paints a picture of Jerusalem's ideal state: physically robust and structurally coherent. The phrase "compact together" transcends mere physical arrangement, symbolizing the social and spiritual unity of God's people. A city that is compact is one that offers security from external threats and fosters internal cohesion. For the ancient pilgrim, seeing Jerusalem "compact together" affirmed its stability and the divine purpose for which it stood. It served as a spiritual bulwark, a physical manifestation of divine order amidst a chaotic world. This speaks to the unified gathering of the tribes for worship and justice, highlighting the corporate aspect of faith. For believers today, this can symbolize the Church as the New Jerusalem—a community built firmly in Christ, joined together by the Holy Spirit, demonstrating unity, mutual support, and spiritual strength against adversaries. Just as Jerusalem stood firm, so too should the body of Christ, bound together in love and truth.