Psalms 124:3

1 If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, now may Israel say;

2 If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us:

Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us:

4 Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul:

5 Then the proud waters had gone over our soul.

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
when their anger flared against us, then they would have swallowed us alive,
KJV
Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us:
WEB
then they would have swallowed us up alive, when their wrath was kindled against us,
ASV
Then they had swallowed us up alive, When their wrath was kindled against us;
DARBY
Then they had swallowed us up alive, when their anger was kindled against us;
BLB
then they would have swallowed us alive, in the burning of their anger against us;
ÅB
da hadde de slukt oss levende, da deres vrede var tent opp imot oss,
OTB
Da ville de ha slukt oss helt,
Da deres vrede brant heftig mot oss;
B1930
da hadde de slukt oss levende, da deres vrede var optendt imot oss,

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Psalms 57:3

    He 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.

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  • Matthew 2:16

    Then 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.

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  • Esther 3:12–13

    Then were the king’s scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded unto the king’s lieutenants, and to the governors that were over every province, and to the rulers of every people of every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king’s ring.

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  • Numbers 16:30–34

    But if the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD.

    Read in context
  • Acts 9:2

    And 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.

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  • Psalms 35:25

    Let them not say in their hearts, Ah, so would we have it: let them not say, We have swallowed him up.

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  • Psalms 27:2

    When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.

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  • Daniel 3:19

    Then 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.

    Read in context