The Meaning of Psalms 122:1 Explained

Psalms 122:1

KJV: {A Song of degrees of David.} I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.

YLT: A Song of the Ascents, by David. I have rejoiced in those saying to me, 'To the house of Jehovah we go.'

Darby: {A Song of degrees. Of David.} I rejoiced when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of Jehovah.

ASV: I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go unto the house of Jehovah.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

{{A Song  of degrees  of David.  }} I was glad  when they said  unto me, Let us go  into the house  of the LORD. 

What does Psalms 122:1 Mean?

Study Notes

A Song of degrees of David
Literally, "of ascents." Perhaps chanted by the people as they went up to Jerusalem to the feasts. Psalms 122:1 ; Psalms 122:2 .

Context Summary

Psalms 122:1-9 - Joy In God's House
As in the other psalms of the series there is here alternation between soloist and choir. In Psalms 122:1 the soloist rejoices in the proposal made to go on a pilgrimage. The chorus announces that the journey is already accomplished, Psalms 122:2-5. The Church of Christ is compacted, built together, by His tears, and blood, and risen power. In Psalms 122:6, the soloist bids the company salute Jerusalem, r.v. margin, and the chorus replies. In Psalms 122:7-9 the soloist announces three reasons why they should pray for Jerusalem's peace: They who love her prosper; those who reside within her precincts are our brethren and companions; hers is the house of God builded for His habitation.
Psalms 123:1-4
The life of the pilgrim is full of sharp contrasts. Yesterday he was rejoicing in Jerusalem and sharing her peace; today he is grieved with the contempt of her foes. Hence this tiny psalm, which has been compared to "a sigh, an upward look, a sigh." The oriental servant is an adept at reading the meaning of his master's slightest gesture, Psalms 123:2. Let us live, as our Savior did, with our eye fixed on the least indication of God's will. See Acts 16:1-10. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 122

1  David professes his joy for the church
6  And prays for the peace thereof

What do the individual words in Psalms 122:1 mean?

A Song of Ascents of David I was glad when they said to me into the house of Yahweh let us go
שִׁ֥יר הַֽמַּעֲל֗וֹת לְדָ֫וִ֥ד שָׂ֭מַחְתִּי בְּאֹמְרִ֣ים לִ֑י בֵּ֖ית יְהוָ֣ה נֵלֵֽךְ

שִׁ֥יר  A  Song 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: שִׁיר 
Sense: song.
הַֽמַּעֲל֗וֹת  of  Ascents 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine plural
Root: מַעֲלָה 
Sense: what comes up, thoughts.
לְדָ֫וִ֥ד  of  David 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּוִד  
Sense: youngest son of Jesse and second king of Israel.
שָׂ֭מַחְתִּי  I  was  glad 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: שָׂמַח  
Sense: to rejoice, be glad.
בְּאֹמְרִ֣ים  when  they  said 
Parse: Preposition-b, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
לִ֑י  to  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
בֵּ֖ית  into  the  house 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
יְהוָ֣ה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
נֵלֵֽךְ  let  us  go 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect Cohortative if contextual, first person common plural
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.