The Meaning of Psalms 123:1 Explained

Psalms 123:1

KJV: {A Song of degrees.} Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens.

YLT: A Song of the Ascents. Unto Thee I have lifted up mine eyes, O dweller in the heavens.

Darby: {A Song of degrees.} Unto thee do I lift up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens.

ASV: Unto thee do I lift up mine eyes, O thou that sittest in the heavens.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

{{A Song  of degrees.  }} Unto thee lift I up  mine eyes,  O thou that dwellest  in the heavens. 

What does Psalms 123:1 Mean?

Study Notes

A Song of degrees
.
Literally, "of ascents." Perhaps chanted by the people as they went up to Jerusalem to the feasts. See, e.g. Psalms 112:1 ; Psalms 112:2 .

Chapter Summary: Psalms 123

1  The godly profess their confidence in God
3  And pray to be delivered from contempt

What do the individual words in Psalms 123:1 mean?

A Song of Ascents Unto You I lift up - my eyes You who dwell in the heavens
שִׁ֗יר הַֽמַּ֫עֲל֥וֹת אֵ֭לֶיךָ נָשָׂ֣אתִי אֶת־ עֵינַ֑י הַ֝יֹּשְׁבִ֗י בַּשָּׁמָֽיִם

שִׁ֗יר  A  Song 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: שִׁיר 
Sense: song.
הַֽמַּ֫עֲל֥וֹת  of  Ascents 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine plural
Root: מַעֲלָה 
Sense: what comes up, thoughts.
אֵ֭לֶיךָ  Unto  You 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
נָשָׂ֣אתִי  I  lift  up 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: נָשָׂא  
Sense: to lift, bear up, carry, take.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
עֵינַ֑י  my  eyes 
Parse: Noun, cdc, first person common singular
Root: עֹונָה 
Sense: eye.
הַ֝יֹּשְׁבִ֗י  You  who  dwell 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular construct
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.
בַּשָּׁמָֽיִם  in  the  heavens 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: שָׁמַיִם  
Sense: heaven, heavens, sky.