Psalm 122:7 kjv
Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces.
Psalm 122:7 nkjv
Peace be within your walls, Prosperity within your palaces."
Psalm 122:7 niv
May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels."
Psalm 122:7 esv
Peace be within your walls and security within your towers!"
Psalm 122:7 nlt
O Jerusalem, may there be peace within your walls
and prosperity in your palaces.
Psalm 122 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Psa 122:6 | Pray for the peace of Jerusalem... | Immediate context for prayer for Jerusalem |
| Num 6:26 | The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. | Priestly blessing for comprehensive peace |
| Psa 29:11 | The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace. | God's blessing of strength and tranquility |
| Psa 72:3 | The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness. | Righteousness as a source of peace and bounty |
| Psa 87:1-3 | His foundation is in the holy mountains...Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. | Jerusalem's divine origin and spiritual glory |
| Psa 125:2 | As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about his people... | God's encompassing protection for His people |
| Isa 2:2-4 | ...and all nations shall flow unto it...he shall judge among the nations...they shall beat their swords into plowshares... | Prophecy of Jerusalem as a future center of global peace |
| Isa 9:6-7 | ...Prince of Peace...of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end... | Messianic prophecy of the reign of ultimate peace |
| Isa 26:1-3 | ...We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks...Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee... | God as ultimate defense, bestowing perfect peace |
| Isa 32:18 | My people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places; | Divine promise of secure and serene dwelling |
| Jer 33:6 | Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth. | God's restorative peace and abundant truth |
| Hag 2:9 | The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace... | God's promise of peace in the Temple |
| Zec 8:3 | Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth... | God's redemptive presence bringing truth to Zion |
| Zec 8:12 | For the seed shall be prosperous; the vine shall give her fruit, and the ground shall give her increase... | Prophetic promise of future material abundance |
| Gal 5:22-23 | But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace... | Inner spiritual peace for believers |
| Php 4:7 | And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds... | God's supernatural peace guarding hearts and minds |
| Col 3:15 | And let the peace of God rule in your hearts... | God's peace as a governing principle within believers |
| Heb 12:22-24 | But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem... | New Covenant believer's access to a spiritual, heavenly Jerusalem |
| Rev 21:10-27 | ...holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious... | Vision of the New Jerusalem, permeated by God's glory |
| Rev 22:3-5 | And there shall be no more curse... and his servants shall serve him: and they shall see his face... | Ultimate peace and direct communion with God |
| John 14:27 | Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you... | Christ's legacy and gift of His unique peace |
| Eph 2:14 | For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; | Christ as peace, uniting previously divided peoples |
| 1 Cor 14:33 | For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. | God's nature of order and peace for His assemblies |
Psalm 122 verses
Psalm 122 7 Meaning
This verse is a heartfelt prayer and declaration for the holistic well-being of Jerusalem, often symbolic of God's dwelling place and His people. "Peace" (Shalom) encompasses more than just an absence of conflict; it signifies complete wholeness, health, safety, and divine flourishing. "Walls" represent the city's defenses and boundaries, while "palaces" refer to its prominent and royal structures, often indicating its inner strength, governance, and spiritual core. The prayer seeks not just outward security but inward prosperity, harmony, and spiritual strength for the city and all who dwell within its gates.
Psalm 122 7 Context
Psalm 122 is part of the "Songs of Ascents" (Psalms 120-134), a collection of psalms traditionally sung by Jewish pilgrims journeying to Jerusalem for the annual festivals. This particular psalm expresses the pilgrim's great joy upon finally arriving at Jerusalem, which is recognized as both the governmental and spiritual capital—the place where the "tribes go up" to worship and where "thrones of judgment" are established. The deep love and concern for the holy city prompt the psalmist's instruction in verse 6: "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem." Verse 7 directly follows this, offering a specific blessing that extends the comprehensive well-being (shalom) to Jerusalem's physical structures, its inhabitants, and its governing bodies, thereby encompassing the welfare of the entire nation and the spiritual life of its people. This reflects a fervent hope for divine peace to saturate every facet of the city's existence.
Psalm 122 7 Word analysis
- Peace (Heb. Shalom - שָׁלוֹם): More than an absence of conflict, Shalom is a holistic biblical concept meaning completeness, soundness, well-being, health, safety, prosperity, and harmony. It represents a state of optimal flourishing ordained and sustained by God. Its presence in Jerusalem signifies divine order and blessing.
- be within: The verb implies presence and pervasive establishment. It's a prayer that peace would not just hover over but deeply inhabit and saturate every part. The preceding preposition indicates internalizing the desired state.
- thy walls (Heb. ḥeylekā - חֵילֵךְ): From ḥayil, meaning rampart, fortress, or bulwark. These are the defensive fortifications. Metaphorically, they represent security, protection, and the boundaries of the community. "Walls" signify the city's physical defense and the collective security of its inhabitants.
- and prosperity (Heb. shalwāh - שַׁלְוָה): Closely related to shalom, this word denotes ease, quietness, security, and well-being free from disturbance. It refers to undisturbed tranquility, material abundance, and a general flourishing derived from stability.
- within thy palaces (Heb. bĕ-armĕnôtaik - בְּאַרְמְנוֹתַיִךְ): From armôn, referring to fortified heights, citadels, or palaces, often associated with royal or significant structures, including possibly the Temple area. This signifies the inner core of the city: its governance, leadership, and spiritual authority.
- Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces: This paired expression articulates a comprehensive desire for Jerusalem's total well-being. "Walls" denote external protection and the safety of the populace, while "palaces" signify internal stability, good governance, and spiritual health at the city's core. The parallel structure ensures that the prayer covers both outward security and inward flourishing, from the common citizen protected by the walls to those in leadership residing in the palaces. It embodies a complete and balanced divine blessing for the holy city.
Psalm 122 7 Bonus section
The "Songs of Ascents" not only represent physical pilgrimage but also a spiritual ascent towards God and His dwelling place. Psalm 122:7 functions as a covenantal blessing, reminding pilgrims that their well-being is intrinsically linked to the peace of Zion. The concept of shalom as God's divine order and ultimate desire for creation forms the backdrop of this verse. When we pray for "peace," we align with God's ultimate plan for redemption and reconciliation, where perfect harmony will reign. This includes not only spiritual peace but also the ordered and flourishing state of God's presence on earth, as ultimately embodied in Christ, the Prince of Peace, and realized in the Heavenly Jerusalem. Thus, praying for the peace of Jerusalem is an act of spiritual anticipation and participation in God's redemptive work.
Psalm 122 7 Commentary
Psalm 122:7 profoundly articulates a prayer for the full flourishing of Jerusalem, symbolizing the well-being of God's chosen people. The invocation of "peace" (shalom) alongside "prosperity" (shalwah) emphasizes a desire for more than just the cessation of conflict; it calls for a holistic, God-given state of completeness, harmony, and security that permeates every aspect of the city's existence. The "walls" speak to physical safety and the preservation of communal identity, safeguarding all who reside within. The "palaces" point to the core of the city’s life: its governing institutions, places of justice, and spiritual heart. For peace and prosperity to reside in these inner sanctums means that the city's leadership, spiritual direction, and daily life are blessed by divine order. Ultimately, this prayer for Jerusalem points towards the eschatological reality of God’s ultimate city, the New Jerusalem, where perfect and unending peace, prosperity, and communion with God will be fully realized.
- Practical examples:
- Praying for "peace within thy walls" for a family could mean asking for unity and protection from external stressors.
- Praying for "prosperity within thy palaces" could translate to praying for wisdom and sound decisions for the parents (as the 'palaces' of the home), ensuring internal flourishing.
- For a church community, "walls" are the fellowship and unity among members, while "palaces" are the leadership, ministries, and spiritual core that guides its mission.