What Does Psalm 125:3 Mean in the King James?
For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The verse links the limit on the wicked’s rod to the protection of the righteous’ hands from being sent toward crookedness.
THE MEANING
The rod of the wicked does not settle over the portion of those aligned with God, because sustained pressure can reach their hands and turn them toward crookedness. The verse speaks now of protection that preserves both what is theirs and the direction of their actions.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that righteousness makes oppressive pressure harmless: the verse names a limit because pressure can reach the hands and bend their actions.
THE ROOT
יִשְׁלְחוּ
yishleḥû
GROWS FROM
שלח
To send forth, dispatch, or release.
“Put forth” can sound like a simple gesture, but the Hebrew verb is from shalach: to send or release. The verse pictures the hands as being sent toward crookedness, making the danger a change in where their action is directed.
ALSO GROWS
shalach: To send, send forth, or release.
שָׁלַח
This is the root verb behind “put forth”; the hands are sent toward iniquity.
Shiloach: Sent; the name of the pool translated “Siloam.”
שִׁלֹּחַ
The same root can describe what is sent forth; here it illuminates the direction the righteous’ hands might take.
עַוְלָתָה
ʿavlātāh
GROWS FROM
עול
Injustice or crookedness.
The word translated “iniquity” points to injustice and crooked dealing. Joined to shalach, it gives the warning a concrete shape: hands can be directed into acts that distort what is right.
ALSO GROWS
ʿāvel: Injustice or wrong.
עָוֶל
It shares the root of the word translated “iniquity,” keeping the focus on crooked action.
ʿavval: An unjust person.
עַוָּל
The related word names one who acts unjustly, showing the root’s connection between crooked action and the person who does it.
THE PATTERN
The text limits oppressive power because sustained pressure can threaten both a person’s portion and the direction of their actions.
The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor.There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.THE THREAD
Then the LORD said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh, and tell him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me.Psalm 125 uses שׁלח (shalach) for the righteous’ hands being sent toward crookedness; Exodus uses the same root in the command to release the people from Pharaoh’s grip. The shared verb links release from domination with protection over where hands are sent.
Read the SDV Bible.
Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.
The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.
Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us