When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.
Parallel translations
- WEB A Song of Ascents. When Yahweh brought back those who returned to Zion, we were like those who dream.
- BSB A song of ascents. When the LORD restored the captives of Zion, we were like dreamers.
- 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, O Judah, he hath set an harvest for thee, when I returned the captivity of my people.
- Joel 3:1For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem,
- Jer 31:8–10Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coasts of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travaileth with child together: a great company shall return thither.
- Ps 85:1Lord, thou hast been favourable unto thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob.
- Acts 12:9And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.
- Ps 120:1In my distress I cried unto the LORD, and he heard me.
- Ps 123:1Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens.
- Ps 53:6Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! When God bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.
- Ps 124:1If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, now may Israel say;
- Ps 125:1They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever.
- Job 42:10And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.
- Ps 121:1I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
- Ps 122:1I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.
- Luke 24:41And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?
- Ezra 1:1–11Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,
- Acts 12:14–16And when she knew Peter’s voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate.
- Job 9:16If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.
- Luke 24:11And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.
- Mark 16:11And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.
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.