Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt.

PSALMS 123:3KJV
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Psalms 123:3 (KJV)

What does Psalms 123:3 mean?

Psalms 123:3 is a plea for God’s compassion, asking the LORD to show mercy because the people feel overwhelmed by scorn and disrespect from others. The verse expresses a deep sense of weariness from being looked down upon and seeks relief from God.

This verse is spoken by the psalmist on behalf of a group, likely the community of Israel, addressing God directly. The situation is one of distress, where the people have faced repeated contempt or mockery from those around them. The verse highlights both the humility of the speaker and the intensity of the hardship, showing a heartfelt dependence on God’s kindness.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 123:3

  • "mercy" (חָנֵּנוּ, channēnū): This word means to show favor or be gracious. The repetition in the verse ("have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us") emphasizes the urgency and depth of the request.
  • "LORD" (יְהוָה, YHWH): This is the personal name for God in the Hebrew Bible, indicating a direct and covenantal relationship.
  • "exceedingly" (רַב, rav): This word means "greatly" or "very much," stressing just how full or overwhelmed the people feel by contempt.
  • "filled" (שָׂבַע, sava): This word means to be satisfied or filled to the brim, but here it is used negatively, meaning the people have had more than enough of contempt.
  • "contempt" (בוּז, buz): This word refers to scorn, mockery, or being treated as worthless. It shows the emotional and social pain the people are experiencing.

Why Psalms 123:3 matters

  • Psalms 123:3 clarifies that the people’s main burden is not physical hardship but the emotional and social weight of being despised by others.
  • The verse’s repeated plea for mercy highlights how deeply the people feel their need for God’s intervention, not just once but continually.
  • Understanding the original words for "filled" and "contempt" shows that the psalmist is describing a situation where the community feels completely saturated with shame, making their cry for mercy especially urgent and heartfelt.

Where else these words appear

“contempt” Hebrew H937 · used in 11 verses

  • Genesis 38:23 And Judah said, Let her take it to her, lest we be shamed: behold, I sent this kid, and thou hast not found her.
  • Job 31:34 Did I fear a great multitude, or did the contempt of families terrify me, that I kept silence, and went not out of the door?
  • Psalms 119:22 Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I have kept thy testimonies.

“mercy” Hebrew H2603 · used in 72 verses

  • Genesis 33:5 And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, Who are those with thee? And he said, The children which God hath graciously given thy servant.
  • Job 19:16 I called my servant, and he gave me no answer; I intreated him with my mouth.
  • Psalms 102:14 For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof.

“filled” Hebrew H7646 · used in 92 verses

  • Exodus 16:8 And Moses said, This shall be, when the LORD shall give you in the evening flesh to eat, and in the morning bread to the full; for that the LORD heareth your murmurings which ye murmur against him: and what are we? your murmurings are not against us, but against the LORD.
  • Psalms 88:3 For my soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh unto the grave.
  • Ecclesiastes 5:10 He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.