Psalms 129:7

KJV

Wherewith the mower filleth not his hand; nor he that bindeth sheaves his bosom.

KJV (with Strong's)

Wherewith the mower {H7114} filleth {H4390} not his hand {H3709}; nor he that bindeth sheaves {H6014} his bosom {H2683}.

Complete Jewish Bible

and never fills the reaper's hands or the arms of the one who binds sheaves,

Berean Standard Bible

unable to fill the hands of the reaper, or the arms of the binder of sheaves.

American Standard Version

Wherewith the reaper filleth not his hand, Nor he that bindeth sheaves, his bosom:

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 129:7, embedded within a psalm of lament and trust, powerfully employs an agricultural metaphor to declare the utter futility and barrenness of those who oppress God's people. It vividly portrays the unproductive nature of wickedness, asserting that the efforts of the unrighteous will yield no lasting success or beneficial harvest, thereby offering profound assurance of divine vindication and ultimate deliverance for the afflicted.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 129 is one of the "Songs of Ascent" (Psalms 120-134), psalms traditionally sung by pilgrims on their way up to Jerusalem for the annual feasts. These psalms often reflect themes of journey, struggle, hope, and dependence on God. Specifically, Psalm 129 is a communal lament, recounting Israel's long history of affliction "from my youth" ([Psalms 129:1](/psalms/129-1 "Psalm 129:1 - Israel's Enduring Affliction")), yet celebrating that their oppressors "have not prevailed against me" ([Psalms 129:2](/psalms/129-2 "Psalm 129:2 - God's Deliverance")). Verses 3-4 describe the severity of the oppression using the imagery of plowing furrows on Israel's back, but immediately follow with God's righteousness in cutting the cords of the wicked. Verse 6 introduces the metaphor of "grass upon the housetops," which quickly withers due to lack of deep roots and moisture, serving as a prelude to the more detailed agricultural imagery of futility in verse 7. This verse completes the picture of the enemies' ultimate failure, contrasting their barrenness with the potential for true, blessed productivity that comes from righteousness and God's favor.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The imagery in Psalms 129:7 is deeply rooted in the agricultural society of ancient Israel. Farming was central to life, and the harvest was a critical time, symbolizing prosperity, blessing, and the culmination of hard work. The "mower" (or reaper) and "binder of sheaves" were common figures in the fields, their roles essential for gathering the sustenance of the community. Rooftops in Israel were often flat and made of packed earth, and while grass might sprout there after rains, it was shallow-rooted and quickly withered under the sun, making it useless for harvest. This common observation of unproductive rooftop grass would have immediately resonated with the audience, making the metaphor of futility profoundly clear. The psalm reflects Israel's historical experience of being a small nation often surrounded and oppressed by larger, more powerful empires (e.g., Assyria, Babylon, Egypt), yet miraculously surviving and enduring. The psalm's message of the oppressors' ultimate barrenness would have been a source of immense comfort and reassurance for a people who had faced centuries of external threats.

* **Key Themes:** The central theme of Psalms 129:7, and indeed the entire psalm, is the **futility of opposition against God's people**. Despite persistent affliction and the apparent strength of their enemies, the psalmist declares that the efforts and schemes of those who oppose God and His chosen are ultimately fruitless and come to nothing. This provides a powerful message of **divine vindication and protection**, assuring believers that God is actively involved in preventing the wicked from achieving a lasting "harvest" of victory over His people. The imagery also highlights the **contrast between true productivity and barren wickedness**. While God's people, though afflicted, are destined for fruitfulness in Him, the wicked's endeavors are depicted as utterly empty and without substance, echoing the contrast between the righteous and the wicked found in [Psalms 1:3-4](/psalms/1-3 "Psalm 1:3-4 - The Righteous and the Wicked"). The psalm thus serves as a testament to God's enduring faithfulness and His ultimate triumph over all forms of evil.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Mower (Hebrew, _qōṣēr'_):** This term refers to the reaper, the one who cuts down the grain with a sickle during harvest. In the context of Psalms 129:7, the "mower" represents anyone attempting to gain something from the "grass upon the housetops" – a metaphor for the wicked or their futile efforts. The fact that the mower "filleth not his hand" underscores the absolute lack of yield, emphasizing the complete barrenness of the oppressors' endeavors.
* **Bindeth sheaves (Hebrew, _mĕ‘ammēr'_):** This refers to the person who gathers the cut stalks of grain into bundles or sheaves. This was the second step in the harvesting process, following the cutting. The "sheaf" (Hebrew, _‘ōmer'_) was a standard unit of collected grain. The inability of this person to fill their "bosom" (the fold of the garment used to carry things) further reinforces the idea of absolute emptiness and worthlessness. There is nothing substantial to gather, no fruit to collect from the wicked's actions or intentions.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Wherewith the mower filleth not his hand":** This clause vividly portrays the immediate outcome of attempting to harvest the "grass upon the housetops" (the wicked's efforts). The "mower" or reaper, whose very purpose is to gather a yield, finds absolutely nothing to fill his hand. This signifies the complete lack of substance, value, or lasting success in the endeavors of those who oppose God and His people. Their work is utterly unproductive, yielding no tangible benefit or victory.
* **"nor he that bindeth sheaves his bosom":** This second clause reinforces and amplifies the first. The one who follows the reaper, gathering the cut grain into bundles (sheaves) and carrying them in the fold of his garment ("bosom"), also finds nothing. This imagery emphasizes the total absence of any harvest, from the initial cutting to the final gathering. It underscores the ultimate futility and barrenness of the wicked's actions, ensuring that their efforts, no matter how strenuous or prolonged, will never result in a lasting triumph or a beneficial outcome.

#### Literary Devices
Psalms 129:7 is rich in **Metaphor** and **Imagery**, extending the agricultural metaphor introduced in the preceding verse. The "grass upon the housetops" is a metaphor for the wicked and their transient, unproductive efforts. This verse then employs the **Synecdoche** of "hand" and "bosom" to represent the entire capacity for gathering and carrying a harvest, powerfully conveying the idea of absolute emptiness. The **Parallelism** between the "mower" not filling his hand and the "binder of sheaves" not filling his bosom creates a strong rhetorical effect, emphasizing the complete and utter lack of yield. This **Understatement** of "not filling" actually highlights the total absence of anything to harvest, making the futility even more profound. The use of these devices creates a vivid and memorable picture of divine justice and the ultimate barrenness of opposition to God.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 129:7 stands as a powerful testament to God's sovereignty and the ultimate futility of all opposition to His divine will and His chosen people. It assures believers that while affliction and persecution may be real and painful, the efforts of the wicked are inherently unproductive and will not yield a lasting victory. This provides immense comfort, reminding us that God is actively at work, ensuring that the "harvest" of evil is always empty. It underscores the principle that true prosperity and lasting fruitfulness come only from alignment with God's purposes, while schemes born of wickedness are destined for barrenness.

* [Psalms 1:4](/psalms/1-4 "Psalm 1:4 - The Destiny of the Wicked")
* [Isaiah 54:17](/isaiah/54-17 "Isaiah 54:17 - No Weapon Formed Against You Shall Prosper")
* [Galatians 6:7-8](/galatians/6-7 "Galatians 6:7-8 - Sowing and Reaping")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 129:7 offers a profound message of hope and resilience for believers navigating a world often marked by injustice, opposition, and apparent triumph of evil. It calls us to shift our perspective from the immediate pain of affliction to the ultimate reality of God's sovereign control. When we witness wickedness seemingly prospering, or when we ourselves are targets of malice, this verse reminds us that such "success" is superficial and fleeting, like grass on a rooftop that cannot be harvested. Our task is not to despair or retaliate in kind, but to persevere in faith, trusting that God's justice will ultimately ensure the barrenness of all unrighteous endeavors. This truth empowers us to stand firm, knowing that the struggles we face are temporary and that the enemies' power is limited, ultimately yielding no lasting fruit. It encourages us to focus on sowing seeds of righteousness, which, unlike the wicked's efforts, will yield a true and eternal harvest.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the imagery of an unproductive harvest challenge your perspective on apparent "success" in the world today?**
* **In what areas of your life do you need to trust God's promise that the efforts of those who oppose righteousness will ultimately be futile?**
* **How can this verse encourage you to persevere in doing good, even when facing opposition or when the fruit of your labor seems distant?**

### FAQ
**What is the main message of Psalms 129:7?**

Answer: The main message of Psalms 129:7 is the absolute futility and barrenness of the efforts and schemes of those who oppose God and His people. Using an agricultural metaphor, it asserts that their endeavors will yield no lasting success, benefit, or "harvest," thereby ensuring their ultimate failure and God's vindication of His faithful. It's a message of comfort and assurance for the afflicted.

**How does this verse relate to the broader context of the "Songs of Ascent"?**

Answer: As part of the "Songs of Ascent" (Psalms 120-134), Psalms 129:7 fits into a collection of psalms often sung by pilgrims traveling to Jerusalem. These psalms frequently address themes of journey, struggle, and reliance on God for protection and deliverance. This particular verse reinforces the pilgrim's hope that despite the historical and ongoing afflictions Israel faced on their journey, God would ultimately render their enemies' efforts useless, ensuring their safe arrival and the triumph of God's purposes. It provides a hopeful outlook for those on a spiritual journey, reminding them that God is their ultimate protector, as seen in [Psalms 121:7-8](/psalms/121-7 "Psalm 121:7-8 - God's Preservation").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 129:7, with its vivid depiction of the futility of opposition, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The "grass upon the housetops" represents all forms of evil, sin, and the powers that oppose God's kingdom. While these forces seemed to triumph at the cross, crucifying the Lord of Glory, their "harvest" was ultimately empty. The crucifixion, intended by the wicked to be Jesus's ultimate defeat, became the very means of their undoing. The "mower" (death) and "binder of sheaves" (the grave) found nothing to hold, for Christ burst forth from the tomb, rendering their power null and void ([Acts 2:24](/acts/2-24 "Acts 2:24 - God Raised Him Up")). His resurrection is the definitive declaration that the works of darkness, though seemingly powerful, are barren and futile in the face of God's redemptive plan. Through Christ, believers are united with His victory; we are no longer subject to the barren harvest of sin and death, but are promised an abundant and eternal harvest in Him ([John 10:10](/john/10-10 "John 10:10 - Abundant Life")). The ultimate triumph over all opposition is secured in the crucified and risen Christ, who has disarmed the powers and authorities ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Triumph Over Powers")) and reigns supreme, ensuring that no weapon formed against His church shall ultimately prosper ([Matthew 16:18](/matthew/16-18 "Matthew 16:18 - The Gates of Hell Shall Not Prevail")).

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

Galatians 6:8

For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Isaiah 17:10

Because thou hast forgotten the God of thy salvation, and hast not been mindful of the rock of thy strength, therefore shalt thou plant pleasant plants, and shalt set it with strange slips:

Isaiah 17:11

In the day shalt thou make thy plant to grow, and in the morning shalt thou make thy seed to flourish: [but] the harvest [shall be] a heap in the day of grief and of desperate sorrow.

Psalms 126:6

He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves [with him].

Hosea 8:7

For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up.