Psalms 126:4
Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south.
Original Language Analysis
שׁוּבָ֣ה
Turn again
H7725
שׁוּבָ֣ה
Turn again
Strong's:
H7725
Word #:
1 of 6
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);
יְ֭הוָה
O LORD
H3068
יְ֭הוָה
O LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
2 of 6
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
3 of 6
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
שְׁבִותֵ֑נוּ
our captivity
H7622
שְׁבִותֵ֑נוּ
our captivity
Strong's:
H7622
Word #:
4 of 6
exile, concretely, prisoners; figuratively, a former state of prosperity
Cross References
Psalms 85:4Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease.Isaiah 41:18I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.Isaiah 43:19Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.Psalms 126:1When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.Joshua 3:16That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.Hosea 1:11Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land: for great shall be the day of Jezreel.Isaiah 35:6Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.
Historical Context
The post-exilic period, while marking return from Babylon, involved continued hardship - poverty, opposition, Persian dominance, and incomplete restoration compared to Solomon's glory. The community needed ongoing divine intervention, not just one-time deliverance. The Negev's seasonal streams provided perfect imagery for a people familiar with that geographic region and its transformation during rainy season.
Questions for Reflection
- Why would the psalmist pray for restoration after already celebrating restoration?
- How do the 'streams in the south' illustrate the dramatic, transformative nature of divine deliverance?
- What does this verse teach about the ongoing need for God's intervention even after experiencing blessing?
- In what ways is restoration often partial or progressive rather than complete and immediate?
- How does this prayer balance gratitude for past deliverance with petition for continued need?
Analysis & Commentary
The psalm shifts from celebration to petition: 'Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south.' The prayer 'turn again our captivity' seems puzzling after verses 1-3 celebrated restoration. This suggests either
The comparison 'as the streams in the south' (Hebrew 'negev' - the arid region south of Judah) references seasonal watercourses that run dry most of the year but flood suddenly during winter rains. The simile asks God to bring restoration as dramatically and refreshingly as sudden water flow transforms the desert. What seems permanently barren can become abundantly fruitful through divine intervention. The prayer demonstrates that even after experiencing God's great works (v. 3), His people still need ongoing deliverance.