Psalms 129:3

KJV

The plowers plowed upon my back: they made long their furrows.

KJV (with Strong's)

The plowers {H2790} plowed {H2790} upon my back {H1354}: they made long {H748} their furrows {H4618}{H4618}.

Complete Jewish Bible

The plowmen plowed on my back; wounding me with long furrows.

Berean Standard Bible

The plowmen plowed over my back; they made their furrows long.

American Standard Version

The plowers plowed upon my back; They made long their furrows.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 129:3 powerfully employs agricultural imagery to depict the profound and prolonged suffering endured by the psalmist, representing the nation of Israel. The vivid metaphor of "plowers plowed upon my back" and "they made long their furrows" conveys a brutal, dehumanizing, and deeply scarring affliction, illustrating the relentless persecution and hardship that God's people have historically faced, leaving lasting marks of pain and trauma.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 129 is one of the "Songs of Ascents" (Psalms 120-134), a collection likely sung by pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem for festivals. These psalms often share themes of hardship, longing for God, and ultimate deliverance. Specifically, Psalm 129 is a communal lament that transitions into a prayer of confidence. Verses 1-2 establish the historical reality of Israel's long-standing oppression, stating, "Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth, may Israel now say: Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth: yet they have not prevailed against me." This sets the stage for the graphic imagery of verse 3, which intensifies the description of this affliction before the psalm shifts to a declaration of God's righteousness and the eventual defeat of the oppressors in [Psalms 129:4-8](/psalms/129-4 "Psalms 129:4-8 - God's Deliverance").

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The imagery of plowing on one's back draws upon both agricultural practices and the brutal reality of ancient scourging. Plowing was a common, laborious activity in ancient Israel, essential for preparing the land for planting. The deep cuts made by a plow into the earth are mirrored in the "furrows" on the back, symbolizing severe wounds. Historically, Israel endured numerous periods of oppression, from the enslavement in Egypt (e.g., [Exodus 1:11](/exodus/1-11 "Exodus 1:11 - Israel's Bondage in Egypt")) to the Babylonian Exile (e.g., [Jeremiah 52](/jeremiah/52 "Jeremiah 52 - The Fall of Jerusalem and Exile")) and subsequent foreign dominations. The "plowers" represent the various nations and adversaries who inflicted pain and suffering upon God's people throughout their history, leaving indelible marks on their collective memory and experience. The metaphor also evokes the practice of flaying or severe flogging, where whips or instruments with sharp objects could tear the skin, leaving deep, parallel lacerations resembling furrows.

* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several key themes within the psalm and broader biblical narrative. The primary theme is **Intense Suffering**, depicted through the shocking and visceral imagery of a human back being tilled like a field. This highlights the brutal and dehumanizing nature of the affliction. Closely related is **Prolonged Persecution**, emphasized by "they made long their furrows," suggesting that the suffering was not fleeting but extensive, enduring, and deeply etched into the national experience, much like the deep grooves left by a plow. While the verse itself focuses on pain, it also implicitly sets up the theme of **Resilience and Divine Justice** that follows in the rest of the psalm. Despite the severity of the suffering described in [Psalms 129:3](/psalms/129-3 "Psalms 129:3 - The Plowing of the Back"), the psalmist's ultimate confidence in God's righteousness and the eventual defeat of the wicked (as seen in [Psalms 129:4](/psalms/129-4 "Psalms 129:4 - The Lord is Righteous")) underscores Israel's enduring survival and God's faithfulness to His covenant people, even through immense hardship.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Plowed (Hebrew, _charash'_):** The Hebrew verb חָרַשׁ (_charash_) primarily means "to plow," "to engrave," or "to cut into." Its use here, applied to a human back, creates a jarring and powerful metaphor. It signifies not merely superficial injury but deep, penetrating wounds, akin to the earth being deeply cut and turned over by a plow. This suggests a thorough, intentional, and painful process of inflicting harm, leaving permanent marks.
* **Furrows (Hebrew, _telem'_):** The Hebrew noun תֶּלֶם (_telem_) refers specifically to the deep grooves or ridges left in the ground by a plow. When applied to the human back, "furrows" symbolize the lacerations, scars, and lasting marks of severe scourging or torture. The phrase "made long their furrows" emphasizes the extensive nature of these wounds, implying a prolonged and comprehensive assault that covered the entire back, leaving deep, parallel gashes.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"The plowers plowed upon my back:"** This clause introduces the central, shocking metaphor. "The plowers" represent the oppressors or enemies of Israel, who are depicted as agricultural workers engaged in their task. However, instead of tilling the soil, they are brutally tilling the psalmist's (representing Israel's) back. This image conveys extreme violence, dehumanization, and a complete disregard for the victim's personhood, treating them as mere ground to be worked. It speaks to the physical and emotional agony inflicted by relentless persecution.
* **"they made long their furrows."** This second clause elaborates on the first, intensifying the imagery of suffering. The "long furrows" signify not only the depth of the wounds but also their extensive nature and duration. It implies that the affliction was not a brief, isolated incident but a prolonged, systematic, and comprehensive assault that left deep, lasting scars. This phrase underscores the historical reality of Israel's enduring hardship and the deep, persistent trauma inflicted by their adversaries over generations.

#### Literary Devices
Psalms 129:3 is rich in **Metaphor** and **Vivid Imagery**. The central **Metaphor** is the comparison of the psalmist's back to a field being plowed, and the oppressors to "plowers." This agricultural metaphor is incredibly potent, transforming a common, productive act into one of brutal violence and suffering. The "furrows" become a **Symbol** of deep, lasting wounds and scars, both physical and emotional, inflicted by relentless persecution. The verse also employs **Hyperbole** to emphasize the extremity of the suffering, as literally plowing a human back is an exaggeration that underscores the torturous nature of the affliction. The use of such graphic imagery serves to evoke strong empathy and convey the profound depth of the pain experienced by the psalmist, representing the nation of Israel.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse profoundly articulates the reality of suffering within the experience of God's people, portraying it as a deep, systematic, and scarring ordeal. Theologically, it affirms that God's chosen ones are not exempt from intense persecution and hardship in this world. It highlights the historical pattern of adversaries attempting to destroy or subdue Israel, echoing the ongoing spiritual warfare against the people of God. Yet, even in this raw depiction of pain, the broader context of the psalm points to a foundational truth: while the wicked may inflict grievous wounds, their ultimate power is limited by the righteous character of God, who ultimately delivers His people and brings their oppressors to naught. This verse thus serves as a powerful lament that validates the experience of deep trauma while setting the stage for divine intervention and justice.

* [Exodus 1:11](/exodus/1-11 "Exodus 1:11 - Israel's Bondage in Egypt")
* [Isaiah 53:5](/isaiah/53-5 "Isaiah 53:5 - The Suffering Servant")
* [Romans 8:35](/romans/8-35 "Romans 8:35 - Nothing Can Separate Us from God's Love")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 129:3 offers a stark and unvarnished look at the reality of suffering, particularly for those who stand in covenant with God. It acknowledges that pain can be deeply invasive, leaving lasting marks, and that persecution can be systematic and prolonged. For believers today, this verse provides a crucial framework for understanding and empathizing with those who endure severe hardship for their faith, reminding us that the path of righteousness often involves opposition. It validates the experience of deep trauma, whether from physical abuse, emotional wounds, or systemic injustice, assuring us that our pain is seen and acknowledged within the biblical narrative. Furthermore, by placing this intense suffering within a psalm that ultimately proclaims God's righteousness and deliverance, it encourages us to hold onto hope, knowing that even the deepest furrows of pain are not the final word in God's story for His people. It calls us to persevere, trusting that the Lord, who is righteous, will ultimately cut asunder the cords of the wicked and bring about justice.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the imagery of "plowing upon my back" help you understand the depth of suffering experienced by God's people, both historically and in the present day?**
* **In what ways might you or others you know have experienced "long furrows" of pain or trauma, and how does this verse validate those experiences?**
* **How does the broader message of Psalm 129 (moving from lament to confidence in God's justice) inform your perspective on enduring hardship?**

### FAQ
**Who are "the plowers" in this verse?**

Answer: "The plowers" represent the various historical adversaries and oppressors of Israel. While not named specifically, they symbolize any nation, group, or force that inflicted severe and prolonged suffering upon God's chosen people. This could include the Egyptians who enslaved them ([Exodus 1:11](/exodus/1-11 "Exodus 1:11 - Israel's Bondage in Egypt")), the Assyrians and Babylonians who conquered and exiled them ([2 Kings 17](/2_kings/17 "2 Kings 17 - The Fall of Israel") and [2 Kings 25](/2_kings/25 "2 Kings 25 - The Fall of Judah")), or any other foreign powers and wicked individuals who persecuted them throughout their history. The imagery emphasizes their brutal and dehumanizing actions, treating Israel as an object to be exploited and wounded.

**What does "they made long their furrows" signify?**

Answer: The phrase "they made long their furrows" intensifies the depiction of suffering by emphasizing its extensive nature and duration. In agricultural terms, long furrows imply a large area of land being tilled thoroughly. Applied to the human back, it signifies that the wounds inflicted were not superficial or isolated, but deep, numerous, and covered a wide area. Metaphorically, it speaks to the prolonged and relentless nature of the persecution Israel endured over generations, leaving deep, lasting scars on the nation's collective body and soul. It underscores the profound and enduring trauma caused by their oppressors, suggesting that the suffering was not fleeting but deeply etched into their experience, much like the indelible marks left by a plow in the earth.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 129:3, with its vivid portrayal of brutal suffering, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The "plowers" who inflicted deep and long "furrows" upon the psalmist's back foreshadow the intense physical and spiritual agony endured by the Messiah. Isaiah's prophecy of the Suffering Servant describes one "smitten of God, and afflicted," whose "back" would be "given to the smiters" ([Isaiah 50:6](/isaiah/50-6 "Isaiah 50:6 - The Servant's Obedience"); [Isaiah 53:5](/isaiah/53-5 "Isaiah 53:5 - The Suffering Servant")). This prophecy was literally fulfilled in the scourging of Jesus before His crucifixion, where Roman soldiers brutally flogged Him, leaving His back a raw, bloody mess of "furrows" ([Matthew 27:26](/matthew/27-26 "Matthew 27:26 - Jesus Scourged"); [John 19:1](/john/19-1 "John 19:1 - Pilate Delivers Jesus to be Crucified")). Yet, unlike the psalmist who laments the injustice, Christ's suffering was redemptive. His "furrows" became the means of our healing, for "by his stripes we are healed" ([Isaiah 53:5](/isaiah/53-5 "Isaiah 53:5 - By His Wounds We Are Healed"); [1 Peter 2:24](/1_peter/2-24 "1 Peter 2:24 - Christ Bore Our Sins")). Thus, the deep pain of Israel, expressed in this psalm, points forward to the Lamb of God who bore the ultimate "plowing" of sin and suffering upon His own back, not for His own transgressions, but to cut asunder the cords of spiritual bondage and bring about eternal deliverance for all who believe ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"); [Colossians 2:14](/colossians/2-14 "Colossians 2:14 - Christ's Triumph Over Sin")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Isaiah 51:23

But I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee; which have said to thy soul, Bow down, that we may go over: and thou hast laid thy body as the ground, and as the street, to them that went over.

Psalms 141:7

Our bones are scattered at the grave's mouth, as when one cutteth and cleaveth [wood] upon the earth.