Psalm 126:2 kjv
Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them.
Psalm 126:2 nkjv
Then our mouth was filled with laughter, And our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them."
Psalm 126:2 niv
Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them."
Psalm 126:2 esv
Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them."
Psalm 126:2 nlt
We were filled with laughter,
and we sang for joy.
And the other nations said,
"What amazing things the LORD has done for them."
Psalm 126 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 21:6 | Sarah said, "God has made me laugh..." | Joy as a divine gift |
| Deut 10:21 | He is your praise and He is your God, who has done... these great things for you. | God’s past great acts for Israel |
| 1 Sam 12:24 | only fear the Lord and serve Him... for consider how great things He has done for you. | Remembrance of God's great works |
| Job 8:21 | He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy. | Restoration bringing laughter and joy |
| Ps 30:5 | ...Weeping may last for the night, but joy comes with the morning. | Transition from sorrow to joy |
| Ps 67:2 | That Your way may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations. | God’s salvation for the nations to see |
| Ps 71:19 | Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the high heavens, You who have done great things. | God's powerful deeds reaching all |
| Ps 106:21 | They forgot God their Savior, who had done great things in Egypt. | God's great deliverance in history |
| Isa 12:6 | Shout aloud and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel. | Joy and praise for God's presence |
| Isa 35:10 | and the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing... | Joyful return of the redeemed |
| Isa 45:6 | that people may know, from the rising of the sun to its setting, that there is none besides me. | God revealing His uniqueness to all nations |
| Isa 61:9 | Their offspring will be known among the nations... All who see them will acknowledge that they are a people whom the Lord has blessed. | Gentiles acknowledging God's blessing |
| Jer 31:13 | Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old, together; for I will turn their mourning into joy. | Mourning turned to joy |
| Ezek 36:23 | I will sanctify My great name... and the nations will know that I am the Lord. | God’s name sanctified through Gentile witness |
| Zech 8:23 | ...in those days ten men from the nations of every tongue shall take hold of the skirt of a Jew... | Nations seeking God through His people |
| Luke 1:49 | For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. | God performing mighty acts |
| Luke 6:21 | Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. | Weeping replaced by laughter |
| Acts 2:11 | we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God. | Witness of God's great works at Pentecost |
| Acts 5:39 | if this teaching or work is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them. | God's undeniable work |
| Rev 15:3 | Great and amazing are Your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! | Adoration of God for His mighty works |
Psalm 126 verses
Psalm 126 2 Meaning
The verse articulates the overwhelming joy and exhilaration experienced by the people of God upon their restoration from captivity, a joy so profound and undeniable that it caused even the surrounding nations, the heathen, to observe and declare that the Lord had indeed performed mighty acts on behalf of His people. It signifies divine vindication and the visible manifestation of God's redemptive power witnessed by both His chosen people and the wider world.
Psalm 126 2 Context
Psalm 126 is a "Song of Ascents," sung by Jewish pilgrims journeying to Jerusalem for festivals. This particular psalm expresses the joy and gratitude of the returned exiles from Babylon, portraying their restoration as an event so unexpected and profound that it felt like a dream (Ps 126:1). The immediate context of verse 2 is the culmination of that initial, overwhelming surprise, detailing the visible and vocal expressions of that joy. Historically, the return from Babylonian captivity (starting c. 538 BC under Cyrus' decree) was an astonishing act of divine providence after seventy years of exile. The observation by "the heathen" (the surrounding Gentile nations) confirms God's glory reaching beyond Israel, serving as an indirect polemic against their pagan deities, demonstrating that only YHWH, the God of Israel, could orchestrate such a monumental deliverance.
Psalm 126 2 Word analysis
- Then (אָז - 'az): This adverb marks a strong temporal transition, indicating a clear, subsequent event. It ties directly back to the preceding verse, implying that after realizing their return from exile was real and not a dream, then the reaction described in verse 2 occurred. It underscores the immediacy and intensity of their response.
- was our mouth (פִינוּ - pinu): "Mouth" here signifies the organ of speech, praise, and expression. The plural "our" emphasizes the corporate, communal nature of this shared experience and outburst of joy. It points to a collective outpouring of celebration.
- filled (מָלֵא - male'): Meaning "to be full, to be filled, to be complete." It conveys a sense of abundance and overflow, not merely a little laughter or singing, but an overwhelming, saturating amount, reflecting the depth of their emotion. It signifies complete absorption and delight.
- with laughter (שְׂחוֹק - s'choq): This word refers to mirth, joyous and uncontrollable laughter. In other biblical contexts (e.g., Gen 21:6, Sarah naming Isaac), it is linked to a sense of joyful disbelief or astonishment that something previously impossible has come to pass. Here, it denotes profound elation and wonder at their unexpected restoration.
- and our tongue (לְשׁוֹנֵנוּ - leshonenu): Similar to "our mouth," "tongue" refers to the instrument of speech and song. It reinforces the outward expression of inner jubilation.
- with singing (רִנָּה - rinnah): This term signifies a joyful shout, a ringing cry, or an exultant song, often associated with triumph and celebration. It suggests a musical, perhaps loud and boisterous, expression of gratitude and praise to God for His great works.
- Then said they among the heathen (אָמְרוּ בַגּוֹיִם - 'amru baggoyim): This phrase highlights the crucial external witness. "Heathen" (goyim) refers to the nations or Gentiles surrounding Israel. The fact that they observed and acknowledged God's work for Israel signifies a powerful, undeniable testimony of God's reality and power, validating the divine nature of the deliverance even to those outside the covenant community. It implies God's glory extending to the ends of the earth.
- The LORD (יְהוָה - YHWH): The sacred covenant name of God, indicating His personal, active, and relational involvement in the deliverance of His people. It signifies His unchanging faithfulness and sovereignty over all things.
- hath done great things (הִגְדִּיל יְהוָה לַעֲשׂוֹת - higdil YHWH la'asot): Literally "magnified YHWH to do," or "YHWH has greatly done/made great." This powerful idiom speaks of God's magnificent, awe-inspiring, and utterly overwhelming deeds. It points to acts of divine intervention that are far beyond human capability or expectation, unmistakably marking them as God's doing. This is not just a human achievement but a miracle wrought by the Almighty.
Psalm 126 2 Bonus section
The word s'choq (laughter) used here can also carry an element of surprised disbelief turning into joy, reminiscent of Sarah's laughter when told she would have a child in her old age (Gen 18:12, 21:6). This connection emphasizes the miraculous and seemingly impossible nature of the exiles' return. Furthermore, the external recognition from the goyim demonstrates God's consistent plan to make His glory known universally. This psalm, being a "Song of Ascents," would have been sung collectively by pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem, thereby not only celebrating past deliverance but also anticipating future redemptive acts and fostering communal hope. The "great things" done by the Lord for them, echoes throughout the Bible, symbolizing God's faithfulness across generations, and serves as a bedrock for hope in future restorations, even the ultimate return to the heavenly Zion.
Psalm 126 2 Commentary
Psalm 126:2 vividly portrays the sheer exuberance that engulfed the returned exiles. The double expression of joy, "mouth filled with laughter" and "tongue with singing," indicates an all-encompassing, overflowing delight that was spontaneous and irrepressible. This profound joy stemmed from the realization that their captivity was truly over, a turnaround so miraculous it initially seemed too good to be true, like a dream. What makes this verse particularly profound is the acknowledgement of God's work by the surrounding Gentile nations. Their declaration, "The LORD hath done great things for them," serves as an external validation of God's sovereign power and faithfulness. This isn't just an internal Jewish confession, but a global proclamation that God alone is responsible for such a remarkable restoration. This outward recognition fulfilled prophetic visions that God's works for Israel would testify to His glory among all peoples.