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Psalm 127

Psa. 127:1 KJV (With Strong’s)

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<<A Song
shiyr (Hebrew #7892)
from 7891; a song; abstractly, singing
KJV usage: musical(-ick), X sing(-er, -ing), song.
Pronounce: sheer
Origin: or feminine shiyrah {shee-raw'}
of degrees
ma`alah (Hebrew #4609)
elevation, i.e. the act (literally, a journey to a higher place, figuratively, a thought arising), or (concretely) the condition (literally, a step or grade-mark, figuratively, a superiority of station); specifically a climactic progression (in certain Psalms)
KJV usage: things that come up, (high) degree, deal, go up, stair, step, story.
Pronounce: mah-al-aw'
Origin: feminine of 4608
ζfor Solomon
Shlomoh (Hebrew #8010)
peaceful; Shelomah, David's successor
KJV usage: Solomon.
Pronounce: shel-o-mo'
Origin: from 7965
.>> Exceptf the Lord
Yhovah (Hebrew #3068)
(the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God
KJV usage: Jehovah, the Lord. Compare 3050, 3069.
Pronounce: yeh-ho-vaw'
Origin: from 1961
build
banah (Hebrew #1129)
to build (literally and figuratively)
KJV usage: (begin to) build(-er), obtain children, make, repair, set (up), X surely.
Pronounce: baw-naw'
Origin: a primitive root
the house
bayith (Hebrew #1004)
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
KJV usage: court, daughter, door, + dungeon, family, + forth of, X great as would contain, hangings, home(born), (winter)house(-hold), inside(-ward), palace, place, + prison, + steward, + tablet, temple, web, + within(-out).
Pronounce: bah'-yith
Origin: probably from 1129 abbreviated
, they labor
`amal (Hebrew #5998)
to toil, i.e. work severely and with irksomeness
KJV usage: (take) labour (in).
Pronounce: aw-mal'
Origin: a primitive root
in vain
shav' (Hebrew #7723)
from the same as 7722 in the sense of desolating; evil (as destructive), literally (ruin) or morally (especially guile); figuratively idolatry (as false, subjective), uselessness (as deceptive, objective; also adverbially, in vain)
KJV usage: false(-ly), lie, lying, vain, vanity.
Pronounce: shawv
Origin: or shav {shav}
θthat build
banah (Hebrew #1129)
to build (literally and figuratively)
KJV usage: (begin to) build(-er), obtain children, make, repair, set (up), X surely.
Pronounce: baw-naw'
Origin: a primitive root
it: except the Lord
Yhovah (Hebrew #3068)
(the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God
KJV usage: Jehovah, the Lord. Compare 3050, 3069.
Pronounce: yeh-ho-vaw'
Origin: from 1961
keep
shamar (Hebrew #8104)
properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.
KJV usage: beward, be circumspect, take heed (to self), keep(-er, self), mark, look narrowly, observe, preserve, regard, reserve, save (self), sure, (that lay) wait (for), watch(-man).
Pronounce: shaw-mar'
Origin: a primitive root
the city
`iyr (Hebrew #5892)
or ayar (Judges 10:4) {aw-yar'}; from 5782 a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
KJV usage: Ai (from margin), city, court (from margin), town.
Pronounce: eer
Origin: or (in the plural) par {awr}
, the watchman
shamar (Hebrew #8104)
properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.
KJV usage: beward, be circumspect, take heed (to self), keep(-er, self), mark, look narrowly, observe, preserve, regard, reserve, save (self), sure, (that lay) wait (for), watch(-man).
Pronounce: shaw-mar'
Origin: a primitive root
waketh
shaqad (Hebrew #8245)
to be alert, i.e. sleepless; hence to be on the lookout (whether for good or ill)
KJV usage: hasten, remain, wake, watch (for).
Pronounce: shaw-kad'
Origin: a primitive root
but in vain
shav' (Hebrew #7723)
from the same as 7722 in the sense of desolating; evil (as destructive), literally (ruin) or morally (especially guile); figuratively idolatry (as false, subjective), uselessness (as deceptive, objective; also adverbially, in vain)
KJV usage: false(-ly), lie, lying, vain, vanity.
Pronounce: shawv
Origin: or shav {shav}
.
ζ
or, of,
Psa. 72•  (Psa. 72)
, title.
f
1 Cor. 3:6‑7• 6I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.
 7So that neither he that planteth is anything, nor he that watereth, but God that giveth the increase. (1 Cor. 3:6‑7)
θ
that are builders of it in it.

More on:

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House,
Solomon,
Songs of Degrees

Cross References

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Ministry on This Verse

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1-2:  The virtue of God's blessing.
3-5:  Good children are his gift.
(Title.)
A Song.
Psa. 120:1• 1A song of the ascents.{HR}In my trouble I called unto Jehovah,{HR}And he answered me. (Psa. 120:1)
;
Psa. 121:1• 1A song of the ascents.{HR}I lift up mine eyes unto the mountains:{HR}Whence shall my help come? (Psa. 121:1)
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Psa. 122:1• 1A song of the ascents: of David.{HR}I was glad in [those] saying unto me,{HR}To Jehovah's house we will go. (Psa. 122:1)
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Psa. 123:1• 1A song of the ascents.{HR}Unto thee do I lift up mine eyes,{HR}O thou that dwellest in the heavens. (Psa. 123:1)
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Psa. 124:1• 1A song of the ascents: of David.{HR}If [it were] not Jehovah who was for us,{HR}Let now Israel say; (Psa. 124:1)
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Psa. 125:1• 1A song of the ascents.{HR}Those confiding in Jehovah [are] as Mount Zion;{HR}It cannot be moved, it abideth forever. (Psa. 125:1)
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Psa. 126:1• 1A song of the ascents.{HR}When Jehovah turneth the turning of Zion,{HR}We shall be like dreamers. (Psa. 126:1)
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Psa. 126•  (Psa. 126)
:*titles
for Solomon.
or, of Solomon.
Psa. 72:1• 1Of Solomon.{HR}Give the king thy judgments, O God,{HR}And thy righteousness, unto the king's son. (Psa. 72:1)
;
Psa. 72•  (Psa. 72)
:*title
The Lord.
Psa. 33:16‑18• 16The king is not saved by the multitude of a host;{HR}A mighty man is not delivered by much strength.
 17The horse [is] a vain thing for salvation,{HR}And by the greatness of his strength will he not deliver.
 18Behold, the eye of Jehovah [is] towards those who fear him,{HR}To those who hope in his mercy, (Psa. 33:16‑18)
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Prov. 16:9• 9The heart of man deviseth his way,{HR}But Jehovah directeth his steps. (Prov. 16:9)
;
Prov. 21:30‑31• 30[There is] no wisdom nor understanding{HR}Nor counsel against Jehovah.
 31The horse [is] prepared for the day of battle,{HR}But deliverance [is] of Jehovah. (Prov. 21:30‑31)
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Eccl. 9:11• 11I returned and saw under the sun,{HR}That the race is not to the swift,{HR}Nor the battle to the strong,{HR}Neither yet bread to the wise,{HR}Nor yet riches to men of understanding,{HR}Nor yet favour to men of knowledge;{HR}But time and chance happeneth to them all. (Eccl. 9:11)
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1 Cor. 3:7• 7So that neither he that planteth is anything, nor he that watereth, but God that giveth the increase. (1 Cor. 3:7)
build.
1 Chron. 22:10‑11• 10He shall build an house for my name; and he shall be my son, and I will be his father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.
 11{i}Now, my son, Jehovah be with thee, that thou mayest prosper, and build the house of Jehovah thy God, as he has said of thee.{/i} (1 Chron. 22:10‑11)
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1 Chron. 28:10,20• 10{i}Consider now, that Jehovah has chosen thee to build a house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it.{/i}
 20{i}And David said to Solomon his son,{/i} Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for Jehovah God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work, for the service of the house of Jehovah. (1 Chron. 28:10,20)
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1 Chron. 29:19• 19and give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes, {i}and to do all, and to build the palace, for which I have made provision.{/i} (1 Chron. 29:19)
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1 Cor. 3:9‑15• 9For we are God's fellow-workmen; ye are God's tillage, God's building.
 10According to the grace of God that was given to me, as a wise architect I laid the foundation and another buildeth on [it]. But let each see how he buildeth on [it].
 11For other foundation can none lay than what is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
 12Now if anyone build on this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, grass, straw,
 13the work of each shall be made manifest; for the day shall declare [it], because it is to be revealed in fire, and the fire itself shall try the work of each, of what sort it is.
 14If the work of anyone shall abide which he built on [it], he shall receive reward:
 15if the work of anyone shall be burnt up, he shall suffer loss, but himself shall be saved but so as through fire. (1 Cor. 3:9‑15)
they labour.
1 Cor. 15:14• 14and if Christ is not raised, then also empty [is] our preaching, and empty also your faith; (1 Cor. 15:14)
;
Gal. 4:11• 11I am afraid of you, lest somehow I have laboured in vain as to you. (Gal. 4:11)
that build it.
Heb. that are builders of it in it.
except.
Psa. 121:3‑5• 3May he not let thy foot be moved;{HR}May not thy keeper slumber.
 4Behold, Israel's keeper{HR}Shall neither slumber nor sleep.
 5Jehovah [is] thy keeper;{HR}Jehovah [is] thy shade upon thy right hand. (Psa. 121:3‑5)
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Isa. 27:3• 3I Jehovah keep it; I will water it every moment: lest [any] harm it, I will keep it night and day. (Isa. 27:3)
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Zech. 2:4‑5• 4and said unto him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein:
 5for I, saith Jehovah, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her. (Zech. 2:4‑5)
the watchman.
Song of Sol. 3:3• 3The watchmen that go about the city found me:{HR}—Have ye seen him whom my soul loveth?— (Song of Sol. 3:3)
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Song of Sol. 5:7• 7The watchmen that go about the city found me,{HR}They smote me, they wounded me;{HR}The keepers of the walls took away my veil from me. (Song of Sol. 5:7)
;
Isa. 21:5‑12• 5Prepare the table, appoint the watch; eat, drink; arise, ye princes, anoint the shield.
 6For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Go, set a watchman; let him declare what he seeth.
 7And he saw chariots, horsemen by pairs, a chariot with asses, a chariot with camels; and he hearkened diligently with much heed.
 8And he cried [as] a lion, Lord, I stand continually upon the watch-tower in the daytime, and I am set in my ward every night;
 9and, behold, chariots of men come, horsemen by pairs. And he answered and said, Babylon is fallen, is fallen; and all the graven images of her gods he hath broken unto the ground.
 10O my threshing, and the corn of my floor what I have heard of Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, have I declared unto you.
 11The burden of Dumah.
 12The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will inquire, inquire; return, come. (Isa. 21:5‑12)
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Isa. 56:10• 10His watchmen [are] blind, they are all without knowledge; they [are] all dumb dogs, they cannot bark, dreaming, lying down, loving to slumber. (Isa. 56:10)
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Isa. 62:6• 6I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem; they shall never hold their peace all day and all night: ye that put Jehovah in remembrance, take ye no rest, (Isa. 62:6)
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Jer. 51:12,31• 12Set up the standard upon the walls of Babylon, make the watch strong, set up the watchmen, prepare the ambushes: for Jehovah hath both devised and done that which he spake against the inhabitants of Babylon.
 31One post shall run to meet another, and one messenger to meet another, to show the king of Babylon that his city is taken at one end, (Jer. 51:12,31)
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Ezek. 33:2‑9• 2Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman:
 3If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet and warn the people:
 4Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet and taketh not warning, if the sword come and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.
 5He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.
 6But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand.
 7So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.
 8When I say unto the wicked, Ο wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
 9Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. (Ezek. 33:2‑9)
• This psalm tells us that God alone gives the increase. All labor, all toil is vain; except the Lord Himself and His hand be in it to work and bless; as the people said of Jonathan, he hath wrought with God this day. (“Practical Reflections on the Psalms: Psalms 120-131” by J.N. Darby)
• Now they look on to the “house” and “the city,” the goal to which they are journeying, and they own, “Except the LORD build the house, they labor in vain that build it”; and “except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.” (“Psalm 127” by H. Smith)
• Psalms 127 and 128 refer to the time when all the tribes of Israel are dwelling safely in their land under the protection of the Lord (Ezk. 38:11). Their exercise at this time is to rebuild the city of Zion (Isa. 61:4, Jer. 30:18, Jer. 31:38-40, Am. 9:14) that was desolated by the King of the North earlier (Ps. 73:18-20, Ps. 74:1-8, Ps. 75:3, Ps 79:1-3, 7, Ps. 80:12-16), They acknowledge they need the Lord to keep the city, showing that enemies are still existent (vs. 1-2). (“Book 5.” by B. Anstey)

J. N. Darby Translation

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A Song of degrees. Of Solomon. Unless Jehovah build the house, in vain do its builders labour in it; unless Jehovah keep the city, the keeper watcheth in vain:

W. Kelly Translation

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A song of the ascents: of Solomon.{HR}If Jehovah build not a house,{HR}In vain toil its builders in it;{HR}If Jehovah keep not a city,{HR}In vain watcheth a keeper.