Psalms 124:6 Meaning and Explanation
“Blessed be the LORD, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The community blesses God for refusing to hand them over to their enemies for destruction.
The Context of Psalms 124:6
The psalmist transitions from hypothetical disaster to actual deliverance, praising God for protecting Israel.
What Does Psalms 124:6 Mean?
The shift from hypothetical peril to present blessing marks the poem's turning point. 'Blessed be the LORD' is a doxology—the formal ascription of praise and honor to God for his specific protective act. The phrase 'not given us as a prey to their teeth' echoes the predator imagery of verse 3 but inverts it: God did not permit the swallowing of Israel, did not permit the consumption. Blessing acknowledges both God's power to determine outcomes and his choice to spare the nation.
By emphasizing 'us' and 'their teeth,' the verse maintains the vivid physicality of threat and deliverance. God could have surrendered Israel to become prey—the power and authority were his. Instead, he withheld Israel from the mouth of the predator. This is not passive rescue but active divine protection, a refusal born of will and relationship.
Frequently Asked Questions About Psalms 124:6
What does Psalms 124:6 mean?
The community blesses God for refusing to hand them over to their enemies for destruction.
What is the context of Psalms 124:6?
The psalmist transitions from hypothetical disaster to actual deliverance, praising God for protecting Israel.