If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, now may Israel say;
Parallel translations
- WEB A Song of Ascents. By David. If it had not been Yahweh who was on our side, let Israel now say,
- BSB A song of ascents. Of David. If the LORD had not been on our side—let Israel now declare—
- NKJV “If it had not been the Lord who was on our side,” Let Israel now say—
- NASB “Had it not been the Lord who was on our side,” Let Israel say,
- NLT What if the Lord had not been on our side? Let all Israel repeat:
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Israel is called to confess that if Yahweh had not been on their side, all would have been different. Survival is owed entirely to God's presence with His people.
Overview
This Song of Ascents by David opens a corporate confession, inviting all Israel to say, 'If it had not been Yahweh who was on our side.' The repetition presses the people to acknowledge their utter dependence on God. The phrase 'God on our side' assures believers, for in Christ God is decisively for His people.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 25
- Rom 8:31What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
- Ps 56:9When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.
- Ps 54:4Behold, God is mine helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul.
- Ps 120:1In my distress I cried unto the LORD, and he heard me.
- Heb 13:5–6Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
- Ps 94:17Unless the LORD had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence.
- Ps 118:6–7The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?
- Isa 8:9–10Associate yourselves, O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces; and give ear, all ye of far countries: gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces.
- Ps 121:1I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
- Ps 125:1They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever.
- Ps 27:1The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
- Ps 46:7The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
- Ps 127:1Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
- Ps 128:1Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways.
- Ps 130:1Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD.
- Ps 129:1Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth, may Israel now say:
- Ps 133:1Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
- Ps 126:1When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.
- Exod 15:1Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.
- Ps 46:11The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
- Ps 132:1Lord, remember David, and all his afflictions:
- Ps 134:1Behold, bless ye the LORD, all ye servants of the LORD, which by night stand in the house of the LORD.
- Ps 123:1Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens.
- Ps 131:1Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me.
- Ps 122:1I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.
How Psalms 124:1 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.