Psalms 129:6

Let them be as the grass [upon] the housetops, which withereth afore it groweth up:

Let them be as the grass {H2682} upon the housetops {H1406}, which withereth {H3001} afore {H6927} it groweth up {H8025}:

Let them be like grass on the roof, which dries out before it grows up

May they be like grass on the rooftops, which withers before it can grow,

Let them be as the grass upon the housetops, Which withereth before it groweth up;

Psalms 129:6 (KJV) uses a vivid, ancient agricultural metaphor to describe the ultimate fate of those who persecute or oppose God's people. It is a declaration of confidence in divine justice, proclaiming the swift and inevitable downfall of the wicked.

Context

Psalm 129 is one of the "Songs of Ascents" (Psalms 120-134), sung by pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem for the great festivals. It is a communal lament and prayer, reflecting on the "many a time" Israel has been afflicted from its youth (Psalm 129:1). Despite persistent oppression and persecution, the psalm expresses unwavering confidence in the Lord's righteousness and His ultimate intervention to cut off the cords of the wicked (Psalm 129:3-4). Verse 6, along with verse 5, is a prophetic declaration or imprecation, wishing for the swift demise and futility of these oppressors.

Key Themes

  • Futility of Oppression: The verse powerfully conveys that the efforts and apparent prosperity of those who afflict God's people are ultimately without substance or lasting power.
  • Divine Justice: It implicitly declares God's righteous judgment against the wicked, ensuring their plans do not prosper and they will not endure.
  • Perishable Nature of Evil: Like the grass on the housetops, evil and its proponents lack deep roots and cannot sustain themselves; they are destined to wither quickly and completely.

Linguistic and Imagery Insights

The core of this verse lies in the powerful imagery of "the grass [upon] the housetops." In ancient Israel, houses often had flat roofs made of packed earth. While seeds might occasionally land on these roofs and sprout after rain, the shallow soil and lack of consistent moisture meant they could not develop deep roots. Consequently, they would quickly "withereth afore it groweth up," dying off before ever maturing or producing anything substantial.

This metaphor emphasizes the shallow, unsustainable, and ultimately doomed nature of the wicked's apparent success or power. Their prosperity is fleeting, their influence ephemeral, and their existence fragile. It's a vivid picture of something that superficially appears to grow but has no lasting vitality, serving as a powerful illustration of the fleeting and ultimately doomed nature of those who oppose God's purposes.

Practical Application

Psalm 129:6 offers significant comfort and hope to believers facing opposition, persecution, or injustice. It reminds us:

  • God's Ultimate Vindication: Though the wicked may seem to flourish for a time, their success is superficial and temporary. God's justice will prevail, and their power will inevitably wither.
  • Encouragement to Persevere: This verse encourages perseverance in faith, knowing that the Lord watches over His people and will bring about His purposes, even when circumstances seem bleak.
  • Trust in Divine Timing: It reinforces the idea that God's judgment is sure, even if it doesn't align with human timelines. The end of the wicked is certain and swift in His eyes.

It is a timeless reminder that while evil may sprout, it cannot take root and will ultimately fade away, while those who trust in the Lord will endure.

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 37:2

    For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.

  • Psalms 92:7

    ¶ When the wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish; [it is] that they shall be destroyed for ever:

  • 2 Kings 19:26

    Therefore their inhabitants were of small power, they were dismayed and confounded; they were [as] the grass of the field, and [as] the green herb, [as] the grass on the housetops, and [as corn] blasted before it be grown up.

  • Isaiah 37:27

    Therefore their inhabitants [were] of small power, they were dismayed and confounded: they were [as] the grass of the field, and [as] the green herb, [as] the grass on the housetops, and [as corn] blasted before it be grown up.

  • Jeremiah 17:5

    ¶ Thus saith the LORD; Cursed [be] the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.

  • Jeremiah 17:6

    For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, [in] a salt land and not inhabited.

  • Matthew 13:6

    And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.

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