Psalms 124:3
Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us:
Original Language Analysis
חַיִּ֣ים
quick
H2416
חַיִּ֣ים
quick
Strong's:
H2416
Word #:
2 of 6
alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or livin
בְּלָע֑וּנוּ
they had swallowed us up
H1104
בְּלָע֑וּנוּ
they had swallowed us up
Strong's:
H1104
Word #:
3 of 6
to make away with (specifically by swallowing); generally, to destroy
בַּחֲר֖וֹת
was kindled
H2734
בַּחֲר֖וֹת
was kindled
Strong's:
H2734
Word #:
4 of 6
to glow or grow warm; figuratively (usually) to blaze up, of anger, zeal, jealousy
Cross References
Acts 9:2And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.Psalms 57:3He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.Psalms 35:25Let them not say in their hearts, Ah, so would we have it: let them not say, We have swallowed him up.Matthew 2:16Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.Daniel 3:19Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.
Historical Context
Israel faced several near-annihilation moments: Egyptian slavery, Amalekite attacks (Exodus 17), Assyrian invasion, Babylonian conquest, Persian Haman's plot (Esther), and others. The imagery of being 'swallowed alive' recalls Korah's judgment (Numbers 16:30-33) and anticipates Jonah's experience. The language reflects ancient Near Eastern combat where victors often attempted complete extermination of enemies.
Questions for Reflection
- What does the imagery of being 'swallowed alive' communicate about the nature of the threat?
- How does recognizing enemy 'wrath' help us understand that opposition is often personal, not merely political?
- In what ways do believers today face threats of being 'swallowed up' by hostile forces?
- How does vividly imagining what would have happened without God deepen gratitude for deliverance?
- What New Testament passages describe spiritual threats in similar terms of consumption or destruction?
Analysis & Commentary
The imagined catastrophe is described: 'Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us.' The word 'then' draws the inevitable conclusion - without God, destruction would have followed. The imagery 'swallowed us up quick' (alive) suggests sudden, complete consumption, like a monster devouring prey whole. The Hebrew 'chay' (quick/alive) emphasizes they would have been consumed while still living - not merely defeated but obliterated. The phrase 'when their wrath was kindled' pictures rage as fire, burning hot against Israel. Enemies weren't merely strategic opponents but consumed with fury. This verse escalates the threat from attack (v. 2) to annihilation - total, immediate destruction. The vivid imagery makes divine deliverance more remarkable by emphasizing how close Israel came to complete destruction.