Psalm 129 8

Psalm 129:8 kjv

Neither do they which go by say, The blessing of the LORD be upon you: we bless you in the name of the LORD.

Psalm 129:8 nkjv

Neither let those who pass by them say, "The blessing of the LORD be upon you; We bless you in the name of the LORD!"

Psalm 129:8 niv

May those who pass by not say to them, "The blessing of the LORD be on you; we bless you in the name of the LORD."

Psalm 129:8 esv

nor do those who pass by say, "The blessing of the LORD be upon you! We bless you in the name of the LORD!"

Psalm 129:8 nlt

And may those who pass by
refuse to give them this blessing:
"The LORD bless you;
we bless you in the LORD's name."

Psalm 129 verses

Psalm 129 8 Meaning

Psalm 129:8 signifies the complete absence of blessing and favor for those who persecute Israel, portraying a scene where even customary greetings of peace and prosperity are withheld. It emphasizes a divine judgment where the oppressors are so bereft of God's blessing that no one, not even a passerby, invokes the Lord's blessing upon them, nor acknowledges their work as fruitful. This is a powerful declaration of their desolation and a stark contrast to the divine favor upon God's people.

Psalm 129 8 Context

Psalm 129 is a lament of Zion, specifically depicting the prolonged suffering of Israel at the hands of its enemies ("Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth" v.1). It affirms Israel's resilience and enduring identity despite oppression, emphasizing that though plowmen have plowed upon its back (v.3), the Lord is righteous and cuts the cords of the wicked (v.4). The psalm moves from historical lament to a confident declaration of divine justice and an imprecation against those who hate Zion (v.5). The immediate verses leading to verse 8 (v.6-7) describe the wicked as transient, like grass on rooftops that withers before it grows, unworthy of the typical blessings of harvest, reinforcing the idea of their swift and unfruitful end. Verse 8 delivers the ultimate consequence: their abandonment, devoid of even human acknowledgement or the most basic expressions of God's favor.

Psalm 129 8 Word analysis

• Neither do those who pass by:

  • This phrase emphasizes the absence of a common custom. In ancient Israel, passers-by, particularly in agricultural settings, would offer greetings of blessing and prosperity to workers (e.g., Ruth 2:4).
  • The Hebrew, וְלֹא אָמְרוּ הָעֹבְרִים (vəlo aməru ha‘ovrím), literally means "and not say the passers-by." This highlights the sheer silence and lack of good wishes, symbolizing complete ostracization and divine disfavor.
  • This lack of verbal blessing indicates that the state of the wicked is so utterly cursed that not even a conventional politeness, steeped in religious significance, is extended to them.

• 'The blessing of the LORD be upon you':

  • בִּרְכַּת יְהוָה עֲלֵיכֶם (birkat Adonai aleykem). This is a standard and potent Hebrew blessing.
  • Birkat (blessing) comes from a root meaning to "kneel" or "to bless." It implies divine favor, prosperity, and spiritual well-being.
  • The absence of this invocation signifies that the wicked are utterly outside the sphere of divine favor and human good will connected to the God of Israel. It suggests their labor, prosperity, and very existence are unhallowed and therefore fruitless.

• 'we bless you in the name of the LORD!':

  • בֵּרַכְנוּ אֶתְכֶם בְּשֵׁם יְהוָה (berakhnu etḵem bešēm Adonai). This reiterates and strengthens the previous phrase.
  • Bešēm Adonai (in the name of the LORD) adds significant theological weight. It means to bless with the full authority and power of God's covenant name. It's a solemn invocation of divine presence and approval.
  • The specific lack of this declaration further isolates the wicked, implying that no one, recognizing their state, would dare associate the holy name of the LORD with their deeds or their outcome, as their fate is one of desolation and not prosperity from God.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "Neither do those who pass by say": This group highlights the utter abandonment of the wicked. It's not merely that God curses them, but that their state is so evident and devoid of hope that even ordinary people refrain from traditional blessings, recognizing their separation from divine favor. This stands in sharp contrast to the customary hospitality and blessing exchanges in the Near East.
  • "'The blessing of the LORD be upon you; we bless you in the name of the LORD!'": This collective phrase represents the sum total of desirable divine and human blessing. Its complete absence for the oppressors signifies a complete and profound rejection. It means they reap no benefit from their efforts, receive no divine favor, and are excluded from the community that recognizes God's hand in prosperity. Their life and endeavors are declared spiritually barren.

Psalm 129 8 Bonus section

This verse can be understood as a reversed form of blessing. Instead of invoking blessing upon individuals or their harvest, the psalm implies that the "passers-by" recognize that the condition of Zion's oppressors is such that no true blessing from the LORD could possibly be bestowed upon them. This absence of blessing serves as a form of divine imprecation, where God’s justice is manifested not just in active curse but in complete disengagement and non-blessing, marking their perpetual state of barrenness and divine alienation. It implicitly serves as an encouragement to the faithful, reminding them that while they suffer, their adversaries face ultimate, certain, and spiritual deprivation.

Psalm 129 8 Commentary

Psalm 129:8 is a stark declaration of the ultimate spiritual and practical desolation awaiting those who afflict God's people. It moves beyond a mere lack of prosperity to convey an absolute divine disfavor so palpable that even general society acknowledges it. This isn't just a withheld material blessing; it is the withholding of even the conventional acknowledgment of God's presence and blessing upon someone's life and labor. The phrase underscores that the enemies of Zion are not just subject to divine judgment, but their very existence becomes barren and devoid of the sanctifying grace and good will associated with the Name of the LORD. They sow but do not reap effectively; they work but receive no divine commendation or human endorsement connected to God's favor.