Psalm 126:4 kjv
Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south.
Psalm 126:4 nkjv
Bring back our captivity, O LORD, As the streams in the South.
Psalm 126:4 niv
Restore our fortunes, LORD, like streams in the Negev.
Psalm 126:4 esv
Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like streams in the Negeb!
Psalm 126:4 nlt
Restore our fortunes, LORD,
as streams renew the desert.
Psalm 126 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jer 30:3 | For behold, days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel and Judah... | God's promise to restore fortunes (literal captivity). |
| Ezr 1:1 | ...the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus... to make a proclamation... for a house at Jerusalem. | Beginning of post-exilic return, but not complete. |
| Neh 1:9 | ...if you return to me... I will gather them... to the place... my name dwells. | Promise of return from scattering. |
| Zep 3:20 | At that time I will bring you in, at the time when I gather you together; for I will make you a name... | Prophecy of final gathering and restoration. |
| Joel 3:1 | ...at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem... | Future full restoration of Judah. |
| Isa 35:6-7 | ...waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert... | Divine provision of water in arid lands. |
| Isa 41:17-18 | ...I will open rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys... | God providing water in desolate places. |
| Isa 43:19-20 | Behold, I am doing a new thing... I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert... | God's transformative new work in barrenness. |
| Eze 47:1, 9, 12 | ...water was issuing from below the threshold... Everything will live where the river goes. | Life-giving river flowing from the temple, symbolizing abundant life. |
| Joe 3:18 | ...all the streambeds of Judah shall flow with water, and a fountain shall come... | Future outpouring of blessing and water. |
| Jn 7:38 | Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.' | Spiritual "streams," outpouring of the Holy Spirit. |
| Rev 22:1 | Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne... | Eternal life and abundant provision from God. |
| Ps 126:5 | Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! | Imminent joy after previous suffering. |
| Hos 6:3 | He will come to us like the showers, like the spring rains that water the earth. | God's refreshing visit like rain. |
| Lam 3:22-23 | The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end... | God's unchanging faithfulness to bring restoration. |
| Num 23:19 | God is not a man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind... | God's unswerving faithfulness to His promises. |
| Ps 51:10, 12 | Create in me a clean heart... restore to me the joy of your salvation... | Personal prayer for spiritual restoration. |
| Acts 3:19 | Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come... | Times of refreshing and restoration through repentance. |
| Isa 29:17 | ...shall not Lebanon soon be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be regarded as a forest? | Transformative power from barrenness to abundance. |
| Gen 21:19 | Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the skin with water... | God's provision in the desert for Hagar. |
| Eze 37:1-14 | The valley of dry bones given new life through God's Spirit. | Ultimate restoration, bringing life from death. |
Psalm 126 verses
Psalm 126 4 Meaning
Psalm 126:4 is an earnest prayer for divine restoration and revitalization. It entreats the LORD to bring about a profound reversal of circumstances, specifically likening this desired outpouring of blessing to the sudden, life-transforming gush of water that fills the dry riverbeds (wadis) of the arid Negeb desert after heavy rains. This verse reflects a deep longing for a complete, abundant, and miraculous transformation, turning barrenness into fruitfulness and scarcity into overwhelming plenty. It's a petition for the full manifestation of God's favor after a partial return from difficult times.
Psalm 126 4 Context
Psalm 126 is one of the fifteen "Songs of Ascents" (Psalms 120-134), traditionally sung by pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem for festivals. This particular psalm expresses the profound joy and awe of the exiles who had experienced the initial return from Babylonian captivity (vv. 1-3). However, it also acknowledges that this restoration was incomplete, and much still needed to be done, leading to the earnest prayer for a fuller, more pervasive restoration in verse 4. The psalm, therefore, balances remembrance of God's past deliverance with fervent anticipation and prayer for future divine intervention, recognizing that while some fortunes had been "turned" (returned from exile), the full prosperity and flourishing had not yet been realized. It captures the hope of a people who have seen God begin a good work and are now longing for its powerful completion.
Psalm 126 4 Word analysis
- Restore: (שובה shuvah - an imperative verb form of שוב shuv, "to return, turn back, restore"). This is a prayer, a direct petition to God. It indicates a request for Him to intervene and bring back what was lost or lacking, to reverse an adverse condition. It is a forceful, active request for divine agency.
- our fortunes: (שבותנו shvutenu or שביתנו shevitenu - "our captivity," but more broadly, "our circumstances" or "our well-being/prosperity"). This Hebrew phrase has a rich dual meaning. It literally means "our captivity" (referring to the exiles' return from Babylon), but idiomatically signifies a general reversal of fortunes, a return to prosperity or a better state of being after a period of hardship, suffering, or decline. It signifies comprehensive well-being, both national and personal.
- O LORD: (יהוה YHWH - The Tetragrammaton, the covenant name of God). This sacred name emphasizes God's self-existent, eternal, and personal nature. Calling upon YHWH underscores the psalmists' reliance on God's covenant faithfulness and His omnipotent power to accomplish what seems impossible for humans. It highlights His identity as the One who acts on behalf of His people.
- like streams: (כאפיקים ka'apikim - כ ka "like" or "as"; אפיקים apikim "stream beds," "wadis," "channels"). The imagery of "streams" here specifically refers to the normally dry riverbeds (wadis) that, after rare but heavy downpours, quickly become gushing, powerful torrents. The word conveys not just small streams but significant, volume-rich waterways, emphasizing the suddenness and overwhelming abundance of the desired restoration.
- in the Negeb: (בנגב baNegev - ב ba "in"; נגב Negev "the south," specifically the arid southern desert region of Judah). The Negeb is notorious for its parched, desert landscape where water is scarce. Its dry wadis illustrate extreme barrenness. For these desert beds to suddenly become gushing streams is a potent symbol of a miraculous, life-giving transformation occurring in the most unlikely and desolate of places. This highlights the magnitude of the requested restoration.
Words-group analysis:
- "Restore our fortunes, O LORD": This phrase is a powerful communal prayer for divine intervention. It's a recognition that only God, the covenant-keeping LORD, can truly reverse their plight and bring about holistic well-being for His people, moving them from sorrow and desolation to joy and prosperity. It is a prayer for a return to flourishing, encompassing material, spiritual, and national well-being.
- "like streams in the Negeb": This striking simile provides the crucial context for how the restoration is desired. It’s not a slow, gradual trickling but a sudden, dramatic, overwhelming, and life-altering deluge. It portrays God's power to bring about abundance and life where there was barrenness and death, unexpectedly and mightily, transforming the seemingly impossible into a vibrant reality.
Psalm 126 4 Bonus section
The bold imagery in Psalm 126:4 challenges believers to cultivate a faith that asks for the extraordinary. It shifts focus from incremental progress to transformative acts of God. This prayer, offered communally, suggests that the church or any gathering of believers can, with unity, seek comprehensive spiritual or communal revival. The "streams in the Negeb" is also a foreshadowing of the Holy Spirit, the "living water" that Jesus promised (Jn 7:38), bringing life and fruitfulness to previously arid souls. It implies that God delights in manifesting His power in seemingly impossible situations, bringing about life and renewal even where desolation seems to reign.
Psalm 126 4 Commentary
Psalm 126:4 is a profound and poignant prayer that captures the enduring hope of God's people. Having tasted the initial, yet incomplete, joy of returning from exile (vv. 1-3), the community longs for a comprehensive, sweeping restoration that feels as miraculous and life-altering as a sudden flood in a parched desert. The image of "streams in the Negeb" perfectly articulates this desire for an overwhelming outpouring of divine blessing. It suggests a transformation that is not incremental but powerful, dramatic, and capable of turning the most desolate of circumstances into flourishing vitality. This verse acknowledges human dependence on God for such an astonishing intervention, reinforcing that true, abundant life comes only from His hand, often in ways that defy natural expectations. It serves as a model for us to pray for breakthrough and supernatural provision even when facing spiritual, personal, or communal barrenness, trusting God to bring abundant life where only dryness exists.