Psalm 124:4
New International Version
the flood would have engulfed us, the torrent would have swept over us,

New Living Translation
The waters would have engulfed us; a torrent would have overwhelmed us.

English Standard Version
then the flood would have swept us away, the torrent would have gone over us;

Berean Standard Bible
then the floods would have engulfed us, then the torrent would have overwhelmed us,

King James Bible
Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul:

New King James Version
Then the waters would have overwhelmed us, The stream would have gone over our soul;

New American Standard Bible
Then the waters would have flooded over us, The stream would have swept over our souls;

NASB 1995
Then the waters would have engulfed us, The stream would have swept over our soul;

NASB 1977
Then the waters would have engulfed us, The stream would have swept over our soul;

Legacy Standard Bible
Then the waters would have flowed over us, The stream would have swept over our soul;

Amplified Bible
Then the waters would have engulfed us, The torrent would have swept over our soul;

Christian Standard Bible
Then the water would have engulfed us; the torrent would have swept over us;

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then the waters would have engulfed us; the torrent would have swept over us;

American Standard Version
Then the waters had overwhelmed us, The stream had gone over our soul;

Contemporary English Version
We would have been swept away in a violent flood

English Revised Version
Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then the floodwaters would have swept us away. An [overflowing] stream would have washed us away.

Good News Translation
then the flood would have carried us away, the water would have covered us,

International Standard Version
Then the flood waters would have overwhelmed us, the torrent would have flooded over us;

Majority Standard Bible
then the floods would have engulfed us, then the torrent would have overwhelmed us,

NET Bible
The water would have overpowered us; the current would have overwhelmed us.

New Heart English Bible
then the waters would have overwhelmed us, the stream would have gone over our soul;

Webster's Bible Translation
Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul:

World English Bible
then the waters would have overwhelmed us, the stream would have gone over our soul.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Then the waters had overflowed us, "" The stream passed over our soul,

Young's Literal Translation
Then the waters had overflowed us, The stream passed over our soul,

Smith's Literal Translation
Then the waters overflowed us, the torrent passed over our soul:
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
perhaps the waters had swallowed us up.

Catholic Public Domain Version
perhaps the waters would have engulfed us.

New American Bible
Then the waters would have engulfed us, the torrent overwhelmed us;

New Revised Standard Version
then the flood would have swept us away, the torrent would have gone over us;
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then would they have drowned us in the waters, the stream would have gone over us;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
The waters would have overwhelmed us; the stream would have passed over our soul.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Then the waters had overwhelmed us, The stream had gone over our soul;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
verily the water would have drowned us, our soul would have gone under the torrent.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Our Help is in the Name of the LORD
3when their anger flared against us, then they would have swallowed us alive, 4then the floods would have engulfed us, then the torrent would have overwhelmed us, 5then the raging waters would have swept us away.…

Cross References
Isaiah 43:2
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you go through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched; the flames will not set you ablaze.

Matthew 7:25
The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because its foundation was on the rock.

Isaiah 59:19
So shall they fear the name of the LORD where the sun sets, and His glory where it rises. For He will come like a raging flood, driven by the breath of the LORD.

Revelation 12:15-16
Then from his mouth the serpent spewed water like a river to overtake the woman and sweep her away in the torrent. / But the earth helped the woman and opened its mouth to swallow up the river that the dragon had poured from his mouth.

Nahum 1:8
But with an overwhelming flood He will make an end of Nineveh and pursue His enemies into darkness.

Luke 6:48
He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid his foundation on the rock. When the flood came, the torrent crashed against that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.

Job 22:11
it is so dark you cannot see, and a flood of water covers you.

Jeremiah 46:7-8
Who is this, rising like the Nile, like rivers whose waters churn? / Egypt rises like the Nile, and its waters churn like rivers, boasting, ‘I will rise and cover the earth; I will destroy the cities and their people.’

Matthew 7:27
The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its collapse!”

Psalm 69:1-2
For the choirmaster. To the tune of “Lilies.” Of David. Save me, O God, for the waters are up to my neck. / I have sunk into the miry depths, where there is no footing; I have drifted into deep waters, where the flood engulfs me.

Daniel 9:26
Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and will have nothing. Then the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood, and until the end there will be war; desolations have been decreed.

Amos 9:5-6
The Lord GOD of Hosts, He who touches the earth and it melts, and all its dwellers mourn—all the land rises like the Nile, then sinks like the river of Egypt— / He builds His upper rooms in the heavens and founds His vault upon the earth. He summons the waters of the sea and pours them over the face of the earth. The LORD is His name.

Ezekiel 26:19
For this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘When I make you a desolate city like other deserted cities, and when I raise up the deep against you so that the mighty waters cover you,

Jonah 2:3
For You cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the current swirled about me; all Your breakers and waves swept over me.

Isaiah 8:7-8
the Lord will surely bring against them the mighty floodwaters of the Euphrates—the king of Assyria and all his pomp. It will overflow its channels and overrun its banks. / It will pour into Judah, swirling and sweeping over it, reaching up to the neck; its spreading streams will cover your entire land, O Immanuel!


Treasury of Scripture

Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul:

the waters

Psalm 18:4
The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.

Psalm 42:7
Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.

Psalm 69:15
Let not the waterflood overflow me, neither let the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me.

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Psalm 124
1. The church blesses God for a miraculous deliverance














then the floods would have engulfed us
This phrase evokes imagery of overwhelming danger and destruction, often used in the Bible to symbolize chaos and judgment. In the ancient Near East, floods were a common threat due to the region's geography, with heavy rains causing rivers to overflow. Biblically, floods can represent God's judgment, as seen in the story of Noah (Genesis 6-9), where the floodwaters were a means of divine cleansing. The psalmist uses this imagery to convey a sense of peril that could have consumed the people if not for divine intervention. This reflects the broader biblical theme of God as a protector against overwhelming forces, as seen in Isaiah 43:2, where God promises to be with His people through waters and rivers.

then the torrent would have overwhelmed us
The term "torrent" suggests a powerful, rushing stream, emphasizing the intensity and suddenness of the threat. In biblical times, torrents could refer to seasonal streams that became dangerous during heavy rains. This imagery is used to describe situations that are beyond human control, requiring divine assistance. The psalmist's use of this metaphor highlights the vulnerability of humans in the face of natural and spiritual adversities. This aligns with other scriptural references where God delivers His people from overwhelming circumstances, such as in Psalm 18:16, where God rescues from "mighty waters." The phrase also points to the New Testament, where Jesus calms the storm (Mark 4:35-41), symbolizing His authority over chaos and His role as the ultimate deliverer.

Persons / Places / Events
1. David
- Traditionally attributed as the author of Psalm 124, David is expressing gratitude for God's deliverance from overwhelming threats.

2. Israel
- The nation of Israel is the primary audience and subject of this Psalm, reflecting on God's protection over them.

3. Floods and Torrents
- Metaphorical imagery used to describe overwhelming dangers or adversities that could have destroyed Israel without God's intervention.
Teaching Points
God's Deliverance in Overwhelming Circumstances
Just as God delivered Israel from overwhelming threats, He is capable of delivering us from the overwhelming situations in our lives. Trust in His power and faithfulness.

The Power of Metaphor in Scripture
The use of floods and torrents as metaphors for danger helps us understand the severity of the threats faced. Reflect on the metaphors in your life that describe your challenges and how God can deliver you from them.

Gratitude for Past Deliverance
Like David, we should cultivate a heart of gratitude for the times God has delivered us from overwhelming situations. Reflect on past deliverances and let them strengthen your faith.

Faith in God's Sovereignty
Recognize that God is sovereign over all circumstances, including those that seem overwhelming. This understanding should lead to a deeper trust and reliance on Him.

Community Reflection and Testimony
Encourage sharing testimonies within your community about how God has delivered individuals from overwhelming situations. This builds faith and encourages others.(4) Waters.--The sudden transition in the imagery from the earthquake to the flood is characteristic of Hebrew poetry. (For the flood, see Psalm 18:4; Psalm 18:16; Psalm 69:14; Psalm 144:7.)

Stream.--The torrent swollen with the winter rain. (Comp. Isaiah 8:7-8.) . . .

Verse 4. - Then the waters had overwhelmed us. A sudden and startling change of metaphor. In the quick transition of Oriental thought, the fire becomes a flood - an irresistible torrent-stream, carrying all before it (comp. Psalm 18:4; Psalm 144:7). The stream had gone over our soul; i.e. "had mounted up over our heads, and stifled our breath of life."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
then
אֲ֭זַי (’ă·zay)
Adverb
Strong's 233: Then, in that case

the floods
הַמַּ֣יִם (ham·ma·yim)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4325: Water, juice, urine, semen

would have engulfed us,
שְׁטָפ֑וּנוּ (šə·ṭā·p̄ū·nū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural | first person common plural
Strong's 7857: To gush, to inundate, cleanse, to gallop, conquer

the torrent
נַ֗֜חְלָה‪‬ (naḥ·lāh)
Noun - masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 5158: A stream, a winter torrent, a, valley, a shaft

would have overwhelmed
עָבַ֥ר (‘ā·ḇar)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5674: To pass over, through, or by, pass on

us,
נַפְשֵֽׁנוּ׃ (nap̄·šê·nū)
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common plural
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion


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OT Poetry: Psalm 124:4 Then the waters would have overwhelmed us (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 124:3
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