Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version They will say, “As one plows and breaks up the earth, so our bones have been scattered at the mouth of the grave.” New Living Translation Like rocks brought up by a plow, the bones of the wicked will lie scattered without burial. English Standard Version As when one plows and breaks up the earth, so shall our bones be scattered at the mouth of Sheol. Berean Standard Bible As when one plows and breaks up the soil, so our bones have been scattered at the mouth of Sheol. King James Bible Our bones are scattered at the grave's mouth, as when one cutteth and cleaveth wood upon the earth. New King James Version Our bones are scattered at the mouth of the grave, As when one plows and breaks up the earth. New American Standard Bible As when one plows and breaks open the earth, Our bones have been scattered at the mouth of Sheol. NASB 1995 As when one plows and breaks open the earth, Our bones have been scattered at the mouth of Sheol. NASB 1977 As when one plows and breaks open the earth, Our bones have been scattered at the mouth of Sheol. Legacy Standard Bible As when one plows and splits open the earth, Our bones have been scattered at the mouth of Sheol. Amplified Bible As when the one plows and breaks open the ground [and the soil scatters behind him], Our bones have been scattered at the mouth of Sheol [by the injustices of the wicked]. Christian Standard Bible As when one plows and breaks up the soil, turning up rocks, so our bones have been scattered at the mouth of Sheol. Holman Christian Standard Bible As when one plows and breaks up the soil, turning up rocks, so our bones have been scattered at the mouth of Sheol. American Standard Version As when one ploweth and cleaveth the earth, Our bones are scattered at the mouth of Sheol. Contemporary English Version and their bones lie scattered like crushed rocks on top of a grave. English Revised Version As when one ploweth and cleaveth the earth, our bones are scattered at the grave's mouth. GOD'S WORD® Translation As someone plows and breaks up the ground, so our bones will be planted at the mouth of the grave. Good News Translation Like wood that is split and chopped into bits, so their bones are scattered at the edge of the grave. International Standard Version Just as one plows and breaks up the earth, our bones are scattered near the entrance to the place of the dead. Majority Standard Bible As when one plows and breaks up the soil, so our bones have been scattered at the mouth of Sheol. NET Bible As when one plows and breaks up the soil, so our bones are scattered at the mouth of Sheol. New Heart English Bible "As when one plows and breaks up the earth, our bones are scattered at the mouth of Sheol." Webster's Bible Translation Our bones are scattered at the grave's mouth, as when one cutteth and cleaveth wood upon the earth. World English Bible “As when one plows and breaks up the earth, our bones are scattered at the mouth of Sheol.” Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAs one tilling and ripping up in the land, "" Have our bones been scattered at the command of Saul. Young's Literal Translation As one tilling and ripping up in the land, Have our bones been scattered at the command of Saul. Smith's Literal Translation As he cutting up and cleaving asunder in the earth, our bones were scattered at the mouth of hades. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims Bibleas when the thickness of the earth is broken up upon the ground: Our bones are scattered by the side of hell. Catholic Public Domain Version New American Bible Like the plowing and breaking up of the earth, our bones are strewn at the mouth of Sheol. New Revised Standard Version Like a rock that one breaks apart and shatters on the land, so shall their bones be strewn at the mouth of Sheol. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleLike the ploughshare that scatters the earth, let their bones be scattered at the mouth of the grave. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Like a plowshare tears open the Earth, their bones are scattered over the mouth of Sheol. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917As when one cleaveth and breaketh up the earth, Our bones are scattered at the grave's mouth. Brenton Septuagint Translation As a lump of earth is crushed upon the ground, our bones have been scattered by the mouth of the grave. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Come Quickly to Me…6When their rulers are thrown down from the cliffs, the people will listen to my words, for they are pleasant. 7As when one plows and breaks up the soil, so our bones have been scattered at the mouth of Sheol. 8But my eyes are fixed on You, O GOD the Lord. In You I seek refuge; do not leave my soul defenseless.… Cross References Ezekiel 37:1-14 The hand of the LORD was upon me, and He brought me out by His Spirit and set me down in the middle of the valley, and it was full of bones. / He led me all around among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, and indeed, they were very dry. / Then He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones come to life?” “O Lord GOD,” I replied, “only You know.” ... Isaiah 26:19 Your dead will live; their bodies will rise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in the dust! For your dew is like the dew of the morning, and the earth will bring forth her dead. Job 19:25-27 But I know that my Redeemer lives, and in the end He will stand upon the earth. / Even after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God. / I will see Him for myself; my eyes will behold Him, and not as a stranger. How my heart yearns within me! Daniel 12:2 And many who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life, but others to shame and everlasting contempt. Hosea 13:14 I will ransom them from the power of Sheol; I will redeem them from Death. Where, O Death, are your plagues? Where, O Sheol, is your sting? Compassion is hidden from My eyes. 1 Corinthians 15:42-44 So will it be with the resurrection of the dead: What is sown is perishable; it is raised imperishable. / It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. / It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. Romans 8:11 And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you. John 5:28-29 Do not be amazed at this, for the hour is coming when all who are in their graves will hear His voice / and come out—those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment. Revelation 20:12-13 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne. And books were opened, and one of them was the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their deeds, as recorded in the books. / The sea gave up its dead, and Death and Hades gave up their dead, and each one was judged according to his deeds. Matthew 27:52-53 The tombs broke open, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised. / After Jesus’ resurrection, when they had come out of the tombs, they entered the holy city and appeared to many people. 1 Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will be the first to rise. Philippians 3:21 who, by the power that enables Him to subject all things to Himself, will transform our lowly bodies to be like His glorious body. 2 Corinthians 5:1-4 For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is dismantled, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. / For in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, / because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. ... John 11:25-26 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies. / And everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” Acts 24:15 and I have the same hope in God that they themselves cherish, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. Treasury of Scripture Our bones are scattered at the grave's mouth, as when one cuts and splits wood on the earth. bones Psalm 44:22 Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter. 1 Samuel 22:18,19 And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod… Romans 8:36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Jump to Previous Bones Breaketh Breaks Broken Cleaves Cleaveth Command Cutteth Earth Grave Mouth Open Ploweth Plows Ripping Rock Saul Scattered Shatters Sheol Strewn Tilling Underworld WoodJump to Next Bones Breaketh Breaks Broken Cleaves Cleaveth Command Cutteth Earth Grave Mouth Open Ploweth Plows Ripping Rock Saul Scattered Shatters Sheol Strewn Tilling Underworld WoodPsalm 141 1. David prays that his suit may be acceptable3. His conscience sincere 7. And his life free from snares As when one plows and breaks up the soil This phrase evokes the imagery of agricultural practices familiar to the ancient Near Eastern context. Plowing and breaking up the soil were essential for preparing the ground for planting, symbolizing disruption and transformation. In biblical literature, plowing often represents judgment or preparation for new growth (Jeremiah 4:3, Hosea 10:12). The act of breaking the soil can also symbolize the breaking of human pride or the hard-heartedness of people, making them receptive to God's word (Isaiah 28:24-29). so our bones have been scattered at the mouth of Sheol Persons / Places / Events 1. DavidTraditionally attributed as the author of Psalm 141, David is expressing a deep sense of vulnerability and seeking God's protection and guidance. 2. Sheol In Hebrew thought, Sheol is the realm of the dead, often depicted as a place of darkness and separation from the living. 3. Imagery of Plowing The act of plowing and breaking up soil is used metaphorically to describe destruction or scattering, emphasizing the depth of despair or defeat. Teaching Points Understanding DespairRecognize that even the faithful experience moments of deep despair and vulnerability. David's imagery of bones scattered at Sheol's mouth reflects a profound sense of hopelessness that believers may encounter. God's Sovereignty Over Death Despite the imagery of death and Sheol, believers can trust in God's sovereignty and power to redeem and restore, as seen in the resurrection hope throughout Scripture. Prayer as a Refuge David's psalm is a prayer, reminding us that in times of distress, turning to God in prayer is a vital refuge and source of strength. The Reality of Spiritual Warfare The scattering of bones can symbolize spiritual attacks or trials. Believers are called to remain vigilant and seek God's protection. Hope in Restoration Just as plowed soil can lead to new growth, God can bring renewal and restoration from our brokenness and despair.(7) Our bones.--The literal rendering of this verse is As when one cutteth and cleaveth in the earth our bones are scattered at the mouth of Sheol. The reading "our bones" necessarily makes this an abrupt transition from the fate of the unjust judges in the last verse to that of the afflicted people, but in a correction by a second hand in the Codex Alex. of the LXX. we find the much easier and more satisfactory "their bones"--a reading confirmed by the Syriac, Ethiopic, and Arabic versions; as also by the fact that the word here rendered "cleave" is that employed in 2Chronicles 25:12 (see reference above, Psalm 141:6) of the Edomites thrown from the cliff. But the abrupt transition is not unlikely in Hebrew poetry, and the more difficult reading is according to rule to be preserved. The figure is mistaken in the Authorised Version. The reference is not to the ground strewn with the logs left by a woodcutter, but to the clods of earth left by the plough. Keeping the present text, and making the figure refer to the righteous, we should naturally compare Psalm 129:3, where ploughing is used as an image of affliction and torture, as "harrewing" is with us. The verse might be paraphrased: "We have been so harrowed and torn that we are brought to the brink of the grave," the image being, however, heightened by the recollection of some actual massacre. Verse 7. - Our bones are scattered at the grave's mouth. The calamity is not confined to the "judges." The bones of the people generally lie scattered at hews mouth - unburied, i.e., but ready to go down to Hades. As when one cutteth and cleaveth wood upon the earth; rather, as when one cleaves and breaks up the earth. "The bones of God's servants were strewn as thickly ever the ground as stones over a newly ploughed piece of soil, so that the Holy Land looked as if it had become an antechamber of Hades" (Kay).Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew As whenכְּמ֤וֹ (kə·mōw) Preposition Strong's 3644: Like, as, when one plows פֹלֵ֣חַ (p̄ō·lê·aḥ) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 6398: To slice, break open, pierce and breaks up וּבֹקֵ֣עַ (ū·ḇō·qê·a‘) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 1234: To cleave, to rend, break, rip, open the soil, בָּאָ֑רֶץ (bā·’ā·reṣ) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 776: Earth, land so our bones עֲ֝צָמֵ֗ינוּ (‘ă·ṣā·mê·nū) Noun - feminine plural construct | first person common plural Strong's 6106: A bone, the body, the substance, selfsame have been scattered נִפְזְר֥וּ (nip̄·zə·rū) Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 6340: To scatter at the mouth לְפִ֣י (lə·p̄î) Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 6310: The mouth, edge, portion, side, according to of Sheol. שְׁאֽוֹל׃ (šə·’ō·wl) Noun - common singular Strong's 7585: Underworld (place to which people descend at death) Links Psalm 141:7 NIVPsalm 141:7 NLT Psalm 141:7 ESV Psalm 141:7 NASB Psalm 141:7 KJV Psalm 141:7 BibleApps.com Psalm 141:7 Biblia Paralela Psalm 141:7 Chinese Bible Psalm 141:7 French Bible Psalm 141:7 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Psalm 141:7 As when one plows and breaks up (Psalm Ps Psa.) |
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