A song of ascents. When the LORD restored the captives of Zion, we were like dreamers.
Parallel translations
- WEB A Song of Ascents. When Yahweh brought back those who returned to Zion, we were like those who dream.
- KJV When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.
- NKJV When the Lord brought back the captivity of Zion, We were like those who dream.
- NASB When the Lord brought back the captives of Zion, We were like those who dream.
- NLT When the Lord brought back his exiles to Jerusalem, it was like a dream!
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
When Yahweh restored Zion's captives, it felt like a dream come true. It celebrates God's power to reverse His people's sorrow beyond their expectations.
Overview
This Song of Ascents recalls the return from exile, likely Babylon, as so wonderful it seemed unreal, like a dream. The restoration was entirely God's doing, not human achievement. Such a reversal foreshadows the greater deliverance Christ brings, redeeming His people from captivity to sin and death.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 19
- Hos 6:11Also for you, O Judah, a harvest is appointed, when I restore My people from captivity.
- Joel 3:1“Yes, in those days and at that time, when I restore Judah and Jerusalem from captivity,
- Jer 31:8–10Behold, I will bring them from the land of the north and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth, including the blind and the lame, expectant mothers and women in labor. They will return as a great assembly!
- Ps 85:1For the choirmaster. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. You showed favor to Your land, O LORD; You restored Jacob from captivity.
- Acts 12:9So Peter followed him out, but he was unaware that what the angel was doing was real. He thought he was only seeing a vision.
- Ps 120:1A song of ascents. In my distress I cried to the LORD, and He answered me.
- Ps 123:1A song of ascents. I lift up my eyes to You, the One enthroned in heaven.
- Ps 53:6Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come from Zion! When God restores His captive people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad!
- Ps 124:1A song of ascents. Of David. If the LORD had not been on our side—let Israel now declare—
- Ps 125:1A song of ascents. Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion. It cannot be moved; it abides forever.
- Job 42:10After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD restored his prosperity and doubled his former possessions.
- Ps 121:1A song of ascents. I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?
- Ps 122:1A song of ascents. Of David. I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD.”
- Luke 24:41While they were still in disbelief because of their joy and amazement, He asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?”
- Ezra 1:1–11In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken through Jeremiah, the LORD stirred the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia to send a proclamation throughout his kingdom and to put it in writing as follows:
- Acts 12:14–16When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed that she forgot to open the gate, but ran inside and announced, “Peter is standing at the gate!”
- Job 9:16If I summoned Him and He answered me, I do not believe He would listen to my voice.
- Luke 24:11But their words seemed like nonsense to them, and they did not believe the women.
- Mark 16:11And when they heard that Jesus was alive and she had seen Him, they did not believe it.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 126:1 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.