Psalms 121:1

¶ A Song of degrees. I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

A Song {H7892} of degrees {H4609}. I will lift up {H5375} mine eyes {H5869} unto the hills {H2022}, from whence {H370} cometh {H935} my help {H5828}.

A song of ascents: If I raise my eyes to the hills, from where will my help come?

I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?

I will lift up mine eyes unto the mountains: From whence shall my help come?

Psalms 121:1 (KJV) introduces one of the most beloved and comforting psalms, often referred to as a "Song of Ascents" or "Song of Degrees." This verse sets the stage for a profound declaration of trust in God's unfailing help and protection.

Historical and Cultural Context

The phrase "A Song of degrees" (Hebrew: Shir Hama'alot) indicates that this psalm belongs to a collection of fifteen psalms (Psalms 120-134) traditionally sung by pilgrims as they made their way "up" to Jerusalem for the great annual feasts. Jerusalem itself is built on hills, so the journey was literally an ascent. For these travelers, the "hills" could represent both the physical challenges and dangers of the journey (bandits, wild animals) and potentially the pagan high places where false gods were worshipped. The psalmist's gaze towards the hills is a rhetorical question, immediately challenging the common sources of perceived security or danger.

Key Themes and Messages

  • The Source of Help: The core of this verse is the fundamental human question: "From whence cometh my help?" It acknowledges a universal need for assistance in life's challenges. The psalmist explicitly looks "unto the hills," perhaps a natural instinct to scan the horizon for danger or relief, or to consider the false gods worshipped there.
  • Anticipation and Inquiry: The act of "lifting up mine eyes" signifies an active search, a posture of expectation, and perhaps a moment of vulnerability or questioning. It's a recognition that help is needed, and the psalmist is seeking its true origin.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "hills" is harim (הרים). While literally referring to mountains, in this context, the psalmist's question immediately shifts the focus from the physical terrain or potential earthly dangers/idols to the ultimate source of true help. The rhetorical nature of the question in verse 1 beautifully leads into the powerful answer provided in the very next verse, where the psalmist declares the true source of help.

Practical Application

For believers today, Psalms 121:1 serves as a powerful reminder to examine where we habitually look for assistance in times of trouble, uncertainty, or need. Do we look to human institutions, personal strength, or worldly resources? Or do we, like the psalmist, acknowledge our need and then direct our gaze to the one true source of enduring help? This verse encourages us to shift our perspective from perceived earthly sources of aid or danger to the divine, recognizing that genuine and lasting help comes from God alone. It invites a posture of trust and dependence on God, our ever-present help in trouble.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Psalms 120:1

    ¶ A Song of degrees. In my distress I cried unto the LORD, and he heard me.

  • Psalms 123:1

    ¶ A Song of degrees. Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens.

  • Jeremiah 3:23

    Truly in vain [is salvation hoped for] from the hills, [and from] the multitude of mountains: truly in the LORD our God [is] the salvation of Israel.

  • Isaiah 2:3

    And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

  • Psalms 2:6

    Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.

  • Psalms 87:1

    ¶ A Psalm [or] Song for the sons of Korah. His foundation [is] in the holy mountains.

  • Psalms 68:15

    ¶ The hill of God [is as] the hill of Bashan; an high hill [as] the hill of Bashan.

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