Psalm 124 5

Psalm 124:5 kjv

Then the proud waters had gone over our soul.

Psalm 124:5 nkjv

Then the swollen waters Would have gone over our soul."

Psalm 124:5 niv

the raging waters would have swept us away.

Psalm 124:5 esv

then over us would have gone the raging waters.

Psalm 124:5 nlt

Yes, the raging waters of their fury
would have overwhelmed our very lives.

Psalm 124 verses

Psalm 124 5 Meaning

Psalm 124:5 describes the utter destruction and engulfment that Israel would have faced had the Lord not intervened. It uses the powerful imagery of overwhelming, proud waters sweeping away and submerging their very existence, signifying total defeat, loss of life, and the eradication of their people by their hostile enemies. It underscores the profound vulnerability of humanity and the absolute necessity of divine deliverance from forces beyond their control.

Psalm 124 5 Context

Psalm 124 is a Psalm of Ascent, likely sung by pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem for festivals. It serves as a communal thanksgiving for God's dramatic deliverance from overwhelming enemies. The preceding verses (124:1-4) vividly describe the hypothetical scenario if the Lord had not been on their side: "Then they would have swallowed us alive," and "Then the flood would have swept us away, the torrent would have gone over us." Verse 5 continues this powerful "if not for the LORD" sequence, heightening the imagery of utter destruction through a devastating flood. This Psalm would resonate deeply with the historical experience of Israel, who, throughout their history, faced numerous existential threats from larger, stronger nations. The imagery of water, particularly sudden and overwhelming floods, was a common metaphor for invading armies or uncontrollable chaos in the Ancient Near East. The Psalm acts as a declaration of absolute reliance on Yahweh, implicitly a polemic against reliance on human strength or other deities who could not provide such deliverance or control over natural and human forces. The "proud waters" ('mayim zeidonim') specifically stand in contrast to human arrogance or the claims of foreign gods, emphasizing Yahweh's ultimate sovereignty.

Psalm 124 5 Word analysis

• Then (אָז, 'az): This adverb signifies consequence, strongly linking back to the hypothetical condition "If the Lord had not been on our side..." (v. 1-2). It introduces the disastrous outcome that was averted.
• the surging (הַמַּיִם הַזֵּידֹנִים, hammayim hazzeidoniym):
  • the waters (הַמַּיִם, hammayim): The definite article "the" points to specific, familiar danger. "Waters" (מַיִם, mayim) is a common biblical metaphor for overwhelming chaos, great danger, powerful enemies, or judgment. It evokes the chaos waters of creation or devastating floods.
  • surging (הַזֵּידֹנִים, hazzeidoniym): From זֵּידוֹן (zeydon), meaning "arrogant," "proud," "insolent." Here, it describes waters that are swollen, violent, and rising with a destructive pride. This adjective often applies to proud, boastful enemies. Applying it to waters personifies the destructive force, indicating its hostile and relentless nature, as if it purposefully seeks to overwhelm and destroy. This connects the natural phenomenon to the aggressive intent of human enemies.
• would have swept us away (שָׁטָפֻנוּ, shatapunu): From שָׁטַף (shatap), "to overflow, wash away, sweep away, carry off." This verb implies a rapid, forceful action leading to complete annihilation or removal. The perfect tense expresses the certainty of the outcome had God not acted.
• the torrent (נַחַל, nachal): A wadi or seasonal stream that is typically dry but can turn into a violent, raging flood after heavy rains. It emphasizes the sudden, overwhelming, and unstoppable nature of the threat. This imagery conveys unexpected and irresistible force.
• would have gone over (עָבַר, avar): "To pass over, cross over, overflow, overwhelm." It indicates complete submersion or engulfment, leaving no hope of escape.
• our soul (נַפְשֵׁנוּ, nafshēnu): "Our soul" (נֶפֶשׁ, nephesh) refers to the entirety of one's being, their life, spirit, or very self. The implication is not just physical death but the complete loss of identity, hope, and corporate existence.
• the proud waters (הַמַּיִם הַזֵּידֹנִים, hammayim hazzeidoniym): The repetition of this powerful phrase at the end of the verse emphasizes the severity and characteristic of the danger. It functions as an intensifier, underscoring the overwhelming and arrogant nature of the forces (enemies) seeking their destruction. The structure places this destructive force at the beginning and end, framing the verse with the primary threat.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• Then the surging waters would have swept us away: This phrase immediately establishes the dire consequence of God's absence – a sudden, destructive flood capable of total annihilation, embodying hostile forces acting with immense power and insolence.
• the torrent would have gone over our soul: This escalates the threat. Not merely being "swept away," but the flash flood completely overwhelming their very essence and life force. This highlights the profundity of the danger and the complete loss of self and communal identity that would have occurred.
• the proud waters: The final phrase reiterates the specific character of this overwhelming force – proud, arrogant, relentlessly destructive. This repetition emphasizes the insurmountable nature of the danger, highlighting that their enemies or tribulations behaved with such pride and force that only divine power could halt them.

Psalm 124 5 Bonus section

The imagery in Psalm 124 intensifies progressively: from being swallowed alive (v. 3), to the flood sweeping them away (v. 4), to the torrent specifically going over their "soul" (v. 5), indicating an even deeper, existential threat. This literary escalation emphasizes the depth of God's saving act. The use of "proud waters" (zeidonim) aligns with ancient cosmology where Yahweh is the master of the chaotic primeval waters (e.g., as seen in Ps 74:13, Ps 89:9, Isa 51:9-10), signifying His ultimate supremacy even over the most untamed forces, which directly challenges the influence of surrounding polytheistic beliefs regarding deities controlling chaotic waters (e.g., Baal's control of storms and sea). The corporate nature ("us," "our soul") underscores that the deliverance is for the community of faith, affirming their collective identity preserved by divine grace.

Psalm 124 5 Commentary

Psalm 124:5 is a stark expression of how completely lost Israel would have been without divine intervention. It draws upon the terrifying power of an unrestrained flood, common imagery in the ancient world for overwhelming destruction and the chaos it represents. The "surging" or "proud" waters not only speak of immense volume and force but also implicitly attribute an insolent, hostile intent to the forces (whether natural disasters or, more likely, human enemies) that threaten to consume them. To be "swept away" and have "the torrent go over our soul" signifies total engulfment, a wiping out of their corporate and individual existence. It implies that had God not provided protection, their defeat would not have been merely a setback, but absolute annihilation. The verse powerfully reinforces the Psalmist's overarching theme: Israel's survival is not due to their own strength or foresight, but entirely to the Lord's protective presence and mighty deliverance. It evokes gratitude and absolute reliance on God as their only bulwark against otherwise insurmountable odds.