1.
If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, now may Israel say;
Title. See note on Title of Psalms 120 .
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. See App-4 .
2.
If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us:
men. Hebrew. 'adam. App-14 . (Sing, refers to Sennacherib).
they. The plural, referring to Sennacherib's hosts; likened to a stream and waters in verses: Psalms 124:4 , Psalms 124:5 . See note on Psalms 46:3 .
3.
Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us:
quick = alive.
4.
Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul:
stream = torrent, or flood. Hebrew. nahal. See App-67 .
our soul = us. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 . Note the Figure of speech Epistrophe ( App-6 ) in the repetition at end of Psalms 124:5 .
5.
Then the proud waters had gone over our soul.
6.
Blessed be the LORD, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth.
7.
Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped.
as a bird. The reference is to the words of Sennacherib on his cylinder, where he mentions Hezekiah by name, whom he had got "as a bird in a cage". See App-67 .
8.
Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.
name. See note on Psalms 20:1 .
Who made heaven and earth. See App-67 and note on Psalms 121:2 with Psalms 134:3 .