Psalms 122:1

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

A song of ascents, by David. I was glad because they said to me,“We will go to the LORD’s temple.”

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

שִׁ֥יר הַֽמַּעֲל֗וֹת לְדָ֫וִ֥ד שָׂ֭מַחְתִּי בְּאֹמְרִ֣ים לִ֑י בֵּ֖ית יְהוָ֣ה נֵלֵֽךְ׃

Transliteration

Shir ha-ma'alot for David: I samachti in [those] omerim to me, "[to the] bet YHWH we will nelech."

Grammar Details

• *Shir*: construct noun, masculine singular - song of
• *ha-ma'alot*: definite article + noun, feminine plural - the ascents/steps
• *David*: proper noun with prefixed preposition lamed - for/belonging to David
• *samachti*: qal perfect, 1st person singular - I rejoiced/was glad
• *omerim*: qal participle, masculine plural - saying/those who say
• *bet YHWH*: construct noun + divine name - house of YHWH
• *nelech*: qal imperfect, 1st person plural - we will go/let us go

Word Meanings

• *ma'alot*: ascents/steps/pilgrimages/degrees
• *samachti*: rejoiced/was glad/delighted
• *YHWH*: divine name, traditionally not pronounced - LORD

Referenced Verses

• Mic 4:2 : 2 Many nations will come, saying,“Come on! Let’s go up to the LORD’s mountain, to the temple of Jacob’s God, so he can teach us his ways and we can live by his laws.” For instruction will proceed from Zion, the LORD’s message from Jerusalem.
• Isa 2:3 : 3 many peoples will come and say,“Come, let us go up to the LORD’s mountain, to the temple of the God of Jacob, so he can teach us his requirements, and we can follow his standards.” For Zion will be the center for moral instruction; the LORD’s message will issue from Jerusalem.
• Ps 42:4 : 4 I will remember and weep! For I was once walking along with the great throng to the temple of God, shouting and giving thanks along with the crowd as we celebrated the holy festival.
• Ps 120:1 : 1 A song of ascents. In my distress I cried out to the LORD and he answered me.
• Ps 121:1 : 1 A song of ascents. I look up toward the hills. From where does my help come?
• Ps 127:1 : 1 A song of ascents, by Solomon. If the LORD does not build a house, then those who build it work in vain. If the LORD does not guard a city, then the watchman stands guard in vain.
• Ps 128:1 : 1 A song of ascents. How blessed is every one of the LORD’s loyal followers, each one who keeps his commands!
• Ps 129:1 : 1 A song of ascents.“Since my youth they have often attacked me,” let Israel say.
• Ps 130:1 : 1 A song of ascents. From the deep water I cry out to you, O LORD.
• Ps 131:1 : 1 A song of ascents, by David. O LORD, my heart is not proud, nor do I have a haughty look. I do not have great aspirations, or concern myself with things that are beyond me.
• Ps 132:1 : 1 A song of ascents. O LORD, for David’s sake remember all his strenuous effort,
• Ps 133:1 : 1 A song of ascents, by David. Look! How good and how pleasant it is when brothers truly live in unity!
• Ps 134:1 : 1 A song of ascents. Attention! Praise the LORD, all you servants of the LORD, who serve in the LORD’s temple during the night.
• Ps 123:1 : 1 A song of ascents. I look up toward you, the one enthroned in heaven.
• Ps 124:1 : 1 A song of ascents, by David.“If the LORD had not been on our side”– let Israel say this!–
• Ps 125:1 : 1 A song of ascents. Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved and will endure forever.
• Ps 126:1 : 1 A song of ascents. When the LORD restored the well-being of Zion, we thought we were dreaming.
• Ps 55:14 : 14 We would share personal thoughts with each other; in God’s temple we would walk together among the crowd.
• Ps 63:1-3 : 1 A psalm of David, written when he was in the Judean wilderness. O God, you are my God! I long for you! My soul thirsts for you, my flesh yearns for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. 2 Yes, in the sanctuary I have seen you, and witnessed your power and splendor. 3 Because experiencing your loyal love is better than life itself, my lips will praise you.
• Ps 84:1-2 : 1 For the music director; according to the gittith style; written by the Korahites, a psalm. How lovely is the place where you live, O LORD of Heaven’s Armies! 2 I desperately want to be in the courts of the LORD’s temple. My heart and my entire being shout for joy to the living God.
• Ps 84:10 : 10 Certainly spending just one day in your temple courts is better than spending a thousand elsewhere. I would rather stand at the entrance to the temple of my God than live in the tents of the wicked.
• Ps 119:111 : 111 I claim your rules as my permanent possession, for they give me joy.
• Jer 31:6 : 6 Yes, a time is coming when watchmen will call out on the mountains of Ephraim,“Come! Let us go to Zion to worship the LORD our God!”’”
• Jer 50:4-5 : 4 “When that time comes,” says the LORD,“the people of Israel and Judah will return to the land together. They will come back with tears of repentance as they seek the LORD their God. 5 They will ask the way to Zion; they will turn their faces toward it. They will come and bind themselves to the LORD in a lasting covenant that will never be forgotten.
• Zech 8:21-23 : 21 The inhabitants of one will go to another and say,“Let’s go up at once to ask the favor of the LORD, to seek the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. Indeed, I’ll go with you.”’ 22 Many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the LORD of Heaven’s Armies and to ask his favor. 23 The LORD of Heaven’s Armies says,‘In those days ten people from all languages and nations will grasp hold of– indeed, grab– the robe of one Jew and say,“Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”’”