Psalm 129:6 kjv
Let them be as the grass upon the housetops, which withereth afore it groweth up:
Psalm 129:6 nkjv
Let them be as the grass on the housetops, Which withers before it grows up,
Psalm 129:6 niv
May they be like grass on the roof, which withers before it can grow;
Psalm 129:6 esv
Let them be like the grass on the housetops, which withers before it grows up,
Psalm 129:6 nlt
May they be as useless as grass on a rooftop,
turning yellow when only half grown,
Psalm 129 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 37:2 | For they will soon wither like the grass and fade away like the green herb. | Wickedness is temporary and short-lived. |
| Ps 92:7 | Though the wicked spring up like grass... they are doomed to destruction. | The prosperity of the wicked is brief and leads to ruin. |
| Isa 40:7-8 | The grass withers, the flower fades... but the word of our God endures forever. | Human frailty contrasted with God's eternal Word. |
| James 1:10-11 | The rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away... he will fade away in his pursuits. | Fleeting nature of worldly prosperity. |
| 1 Pet 1:24 | For "all flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers..." | Universal human transience, contrasting with the eternal word of God. |
| Ps 35:5 | Let them be like chaff before the wind, with the angel of the Lord driving them away. | God's judgment sweeping away enemies. |
| Job 8:12-13 | While yet in flower and not cut down, it dries up sooner than any other plant. So are the paths of all who forget God. | Illustrates the short-lived prosperity of the godless. |
| Ps 73:17-20 | Until I went into the sanctuary of God... Surely you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to destruction. They are utterly swept away by terrors! | Understanding the sudden ruin of the wicked in God's presence. |
| Isa 5:24 | Therefore, as the tongue of fire devours stubble and as dry grass sinks in the flame, so their root will be as rottenness and their blossom go up like dust. | Divine judgment consumes the wicked wholly, from root to bloom. |
| Hos 9:16 | Ephraim is stricken; their root is dried up; they shall bear no fruit. | Judgment resulting in barrenness and destruction due to unfaithfulness. |
| John 15:6 | If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers... and they are thrown into the fire and burned. | Spiritual fruitlessness leading to destruction. |
| Matt 13:6 | When the sun was up, they were scorched, and since they had no root, they withered away. | Parable of the sower: shallow faith withers under tribulation. |
| Jer 17:6 | He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come... for he shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness. | Those who trust in man are cursed, resembling parched, fruitless plants. |
| Ps 1:3-4 | He is like a tree planted by streams of water... The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. | Contrast between the blessed (rooted) and the wicked (unrooted/chaff). |
| Ps 83:13 | O my God, make them like whirling dust, like chaff before the wind. | Prayer for enemies to be swiftly dispersed. |
| Matt 3:12 | His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn. | Judgment separates the true from the false; the latter consumed. |
| Lk 8:6 | And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. | Shallow foundation leading to spiritual death. |
| Ezek 17:9-10 | Will it prosper? Will it not pull up its roots and cut off its fruit, so that all its fresh sprouting leaves wither? | Describes destruction of an unfruitful kingdom (vine). |
| Mal 4:1 | For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble... and consume them. | Final judgment where the wicked are utterly consumed. |
| 2 Thes 1:8-9 | ...inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction. | The ultimate end for those opposing God and His truth. |
| Jude 1:12-13 | These are hidden reefs at your love feasts... trees without fruit, twice dead, uprooted... for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever. | Description of false teachers who are barren and face ultimate destruction. |
| Ps 58:6-9 | O God, break the teeth in their mouths... Let them be like the snail that melts away as it goes, like the stillborn child that never sees the sun. | Strong imprecation for the utter perishing of the wicked. |
Psalm 129 verses
Psalm 129 6 Meaning
Psalm 129:6 is an imprecation or prayer within a psalm of lament, expressing the desired fate of those who hate Zion (the enemies of God's people). It vividly describes their ultimate futility and swift downfall. Their endeavors and very existence are likened to grass that grows shallowly on ancient Middle Eastern housetops. This growth is transient, lacking deep roots, and consequently, it withers and dies prematurely, even before it can mature or produce anything of value. This metaphor underscores the utter lack of lasting impact, strength, or success for those who oppose God's people.
Psalm 129 6 Context
Psalm 129 is one of the "Songs of Ascent" (Psalms 120-134), traditionally sung by pilgrims making their way to Jerusalem for festivals. This collection expresses the hopes, struggles, and trust of the Israelite people in their journey towards God and their promised land. Psalm 129 specifically serves as a powerful testament to Israel's enduring suffering at the hands of its enemies and their divine preservation.The psalmist begins by recounting the repeated and prolonged affliction Israel has faced since its youth (v. 1-2). They describe the enemies' harsh oppression using the imagery of plowing Israel's back and making long furrows (v. 3). However, the psalm quickly shifts to affirm God's righteous nature as one who "cut the cords of the wicked" (v. 4), signifying His deliverance.Verse 5 then transitions to a direct plea or pronouncement regarding the oppressors: "May all who hate Zion be put to shame and turned back!" Verse 6, the subject of this analysis, extends this plea with vivid agricultural imagery, predicting and desiring the complete and utter failure of these enemies. It is followed by verse 7, which completes the picture of their uselessness, lacking any harvest blessing. This psalm is therefore a prayer of confident hope in God's vindication of His people against those who seek their harm.
Psalm 129 6 Word analysis
- Let them be as: The Hebrew particle יִהְיוּ (yihyú) is an imperative, "Let them be," expressing a wish or prayer for the outcome. It's a statement of faith that this fate will befall them.
- the grass: Hebrew חֲצִיר (ḥatṣīr), meaning "grass," "herb," or "green herbage." It refers to any annual plant or growth that quickly sprouts but has shallow roots. It often symbolizes ephemerality in biblical literature (e.g., Ps 103:15, Isa 40:7).
- on the housetops: Hebrew גַּגּוֹת (gaggôth), plural of גַּג (gag), "roof, housetop." Ancient Israelite houses had flat roofs, often made of packed earth or clay. While vegetation might sprout on them after rain, these areas were generally shallow, sun-exposed, and devoid of the deep soil needed to sustain healthy plant life. This specifies the location of the grass, amplifying its inherent weakness and quick demise due to lack of nurturing ground.
- which withers: Hebrew וְיִבַּשׁ (wĕyibbaš), from יָבֵשׁ (yabesh), "to be dry, withered, shriveled." It implies a complete loss of moisture and vitality. The perfect aspect indicates a completed action, emphasizing the certainty and quickness of its drying.
- before it grows up: Hebrew שַׁלֶף לֹא־אָסָם (shalaf lōʼ-ʼāsam).
- שַׁלֶף (shalef): This unique word, or phrase fragment, is challenging. Some translate it as "plucked up," "blasted," "stalk." Many understand it idiomatically, meaning "before one can harvest it" or "before it draws a blade/stalk/ear." The sense is that it perishes before it reaches any maturity or can yield grain/fruit.
- לֹא (loʼ): "not," "before."
- אָסָם (ʼāsam): "to gather," "to lay up," specifically "to collect into a storehouse."This phrase paints a picture of vegetation that is so short-lived and unproductive that it doesn't even produce a stalk or ripen enough to be gathered into a barn. Its purpose is unfulfilled.
- Combined phrase "before it grows up" / "before it puts forth ears": The phrase conveys the extreme prematurity of the withering. The "grass" never develops into anything useful or complete; it's doomed from the start. This reinforces the utter futility of the enemies' plans and their existence against God's people. Their actions are utterly unfruitful and will not be gathered into any 'storehouse' of lasting accomplishment.
Psalm 129 6 Bonus section
- The stark contrast in this psalm and in related scriptures is between that which is rooted and thrives by divine blessing (e.g., a tree by water, Ps 1) and that which is shallow and withers (grass on a rooftop). This highlights the necessity of divine favor and proper foundation for true flourishing, spiritual or otherwise.
- The "grass on the housetops" served no practical purpose for building or agriculture, unlike the valuable crops growing in fields. It was an anomaly, a weed that indicated neglected maintenance. Thus, the enemies are portrayed as useless and insignificant in the grand scheme of God's redemptive plan.
- The speed implied by "before it grows up" signifies God's swift justice. Their supposed power or growth is illusory and fleeting, cut short by divine intervention.
- This verse reassures God's people that despite persistent oppression, their enemies will not ultimately triumph or establish a lasting dominion. Their work and very presence are destined for insignificance and eradication.
Psalm 129 6 Commentary
Psalm 129:6 utilizes common agricultural and domestic imagery from ancient Israel to convey a profound spiritual truth about God's justice. The "grass on the housetops" is a brilliant metaphor for anything that appears to have sprouted, but lacks the depth and nourishment to endure. This imagery emphasizes the inherent fragility and non-sustainability of the wicked and their opposition to God and His people. Unlike a deeply rooted tree (cf. Ps 1), this 'grass' has no stability, no deep source of life. Its existence is utterly superficial and temporary, a mere flourish that quickly disappears under the harsh sun of divine judgment, without ever coming to fruition or bearing any 'harvest' of success or stability. The imprecation is not just a wish but a confident declaration of faith that God's justice ensures the ultimate, rapid, and unfruitful demise of those who persistently oppose Zion, making their efforts pointless.