Blessed be the LORD, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth.

PSALMS 124:6KJV
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Psalms 124:6 (KJV)

What does Psalms 124:6 mean?

Psalms 124:6 expresses gratitude to the LORD for protecting the people from being destroyed or devoured by their enemies, using the image of not being handed over as prey to the teeth of those who would harm them. The verse credits God alone for their survival and escape from danger.

In this psalm, David is speaking on behalf of Israel, reflecting on times when they faced overwhelming threats from hostile nations. The verse uses vivid language to picture Israel as a defenseless animal that could have been torn apart, but was spared because of the LORD’s intervention. This line is part of a larger song of thanksgiving for God’s deliverance.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 124:6

  • Blessed (בָּרוּךְ, barukh): This word means to praise or speak well of, highlighting the psalmist’s deep thankfulness toward God for His actions.
  • Prey (טֶרֶף, tereph): This word refers to something caught and eaten by a predator. The image emphasizes how close Israel came to destruction, and how total that destruction would have been without God’s help.
  • Teeth (שֵׁן, shen): Mentioning "teeth" paints a vivid picture of the danger—Israel was nearly in the jaws of its enemies, about to be crushed, but was rescued just in time.

Why Psalms 124:6 matters

  • Psalms 124:6 clarifies that Israel’s survival was not due to their own strength or cleverness, but solely because the LORD intervened.
  • The verse’s imagery connects to the rest of the psalm, which repeatedly pictures Israel as vulnerable and surrounded, making the deliverance even more striking.
  • This verse helps readers understand the depth of gratitude and relief felt by the people, showing how close they came to disaster and how completely they depended on God’s protection.

Where else these words appear

“prey” Hebrew H2964 · used in 23 verses

  • Genesis 49:9 Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up?
  • Psalms 104:21 The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God.
  • Ezekiel 19:6 And he went up and down among the lions, he became a young lion, and learned to catch the prey, and devoured men.

“teeth” Hebrew H8127 · used in 48 verses

  • Genesis 49:12 His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk.
  • Job 16:9 He teareth me in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me.
  • Song of Solomon 5:14 His hands are as gold rings set with the beryl: his belly is as bright ivory overlaid with sapphires.