Psalm 120:5
WEB
Woe is me, that I live in Meshech, that I dwell among the tents of Kedar!
BSB
Woe to me that I dwell in Meshech, that I live among the tents of Kedar!
KJV
Woe is me, that I sojourn in Mesech, that I dwell in the tents of Kedar!
Matthew Henry
Hebrew interlinear
H190
inj — woe
Derivation: feminine of 188
KJV: woe.
H3588
conj — relative conjunction
Derivation: a primitive particle (the full form of the prepositional prefix) indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent or consequent;
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
KJV: and, (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), but, certainly, doubtless, else, even, except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, (al-) though, till, truly, until, when, whether, while, whom, yea, yet.
conj — that
כִּי conj. that, for, when
1. that
2.
a. Of time, when, of the past
b. elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם
c. when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though
3. Because, since
relative conjunction
כִּי אם־
1. each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause:
a. that if
b. for if
2. (About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause—
a. limiting the prec. clause, except
b. the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but
c. after an oath, surely
forasmuch as
כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as
H1481
v — turn, sojourn, shrink, fear, strange, gather, afraid
Derivation: a primitive root;
properly, to turn aside from the road (for a lodging or any other purpose), i.e. sojourn (as a guest); also to shrink, fear (as in a strange place); also to gather for hostility (as afraid)
KJV: abide, assemble, be afraid, dwell, fear, gather (together), inhabitant, remain, sojourn, stand in awe, (be) stranger, × surely.
vb — dread
[גּוּר] vb. dread
Qal
1. be afraid of
2. stand in awe of
vb — stir up strife
[גּוּר] vb. stir up strife, quarrel
Qal.
1. stir up strife
2. quarrel
Hithpol. they excite themselves, but unlikely
vb — sojourn
גּוּר vb. sojourn
Qal
1. sojourn
2. abide
Hithpol. seek hospitality with
H4902
n-pr-m — Meshek
Derivation: the same in form as 4901, but probably of foreign derivation;
Meshek, a son of Japheth, and the people descended from him
KJV: Mesech, Meshech.
n.pr.gent — Mesech
מֶ֫שֶׁךְ n.pr.gent. the Moschi;—‘son’ of Japeth
H7931
v — reside, permanently stay
Derivation: a primitive root (apparently akin (by transmission) to 7901 through the idea of lodging; compare 5531, 7925);
to reside or permanently stay (literally or figuratively)
KJV: abide, continue, (cause to, make to) dwell(-er), have habitation, inhabit, lay, place, (cause to) remain, rest, set (up).
vb — settle down
שָׁכַן, שָׁכֵ֑ן 129 vb. settle down, abide, dwell
Qal
1. settle down to abide
2. abide, dwell
Pi.
1. make settle down, establish
2. make to dwell
Hiph.
1.
a. lay
b. cause birds to settle
2. cause to dwell
H5973
prep — with, equally with
Derivation: from 6004;
adverb or preposition, with (i.e. in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then usually unrepresented in English)
KJV: accompanying, against, and, as (× long as), before, beside, by (reason of), for all, from (among, between), in, like, more than, of, (un-) to, with(-al).
from with
מֵעִם 72 from with or beside
prep — with
עִם prep. with
1. of fellowship and companionship
a. of aid
b. Of actions done jointly with another
c. If the common action be of the nature of a contest or combat, with in the sense of against
d. Of dealing with a person, or of the relation in which one stands with, or towards, another
e. Of a common lot together with the wicked
f. Of equality or resemblance generally aid
g. Of time, as long as
2. Of a locality, close to, beside
3. Of persons, עִם is spec.
a. in the house or family or service of
b. In possession of
c. In the custody or care of
d. Beside = except
e. With = friendly with
4. Idiom. of a thought or purpose present with one
5. Metaph. together with = in spite of, notwithstanding
H168
n-m — tent
Derivation: from 166;
a tent (as clearly conspicuous from a distance)
KJV: covering, (dwelling) (place), home, tabernacle, tent.
n.m — Ohel
אֹ֫הֶל 343 n.m. tent
1. tent of nomad
2. dwelling, habitation
3. the sacred tent used in worship of God
H6938
n-pr — Kedar
Derivation: from 6937; dusky (of the skin or the tent);
Kedar, a son of Ishmael; also (collectively) Bedouin (as his descendants or representatives)
KJV: Kedar.
n.pr.gent — Kedar
קֵדָר n.pr.gent. (swarthy? black-tented?)
1. tribe of nomads in Arab. desert
2. ancestor of 1, son of Ishmael
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Verses 5–7
Psalms 120:5–7
The psalmist here complains of the bad neighbourhood into which he was driven; and some apply the two foregoing verses to this: "What shall the deceitful tongue give, what shall it do to those that lie open to it? What shall a man get by living among such malicious deceitful men? Nothing but sharp arrows and coals of juniper," all the mischiefs of a false and spiteful tongue, Psa 57:4. Woe is me, says David, that I am forced to dwell among such, that I sojourn in Mesech and Kedar. Not that David dwelt in the country of Mesech or Kedar; we never find him so far off from his own native country; but he dwelt among rude and barbarous people, like the inhabitants of Mesech and Kedar: as, when we would describe an ill neighbourhood, we say, We dwell among Turks and heathens. This made him cry out, Woe is me! 1. He was forced to live at a distance from the ordinances of God. While he was in banishment, he looked upon himself as a sojourner, never at home but when he was near God's altars; and he cries out, "Woe is me that my sojourning is prolonged, that I cannot get home to my resting-place, but am still kept at a distance!" So some read it. Note, A good man cannot think himself at home while he is banished from God's ordinances and has not them within reach. And it is a great grief to all that love God to be without the means of grace and of communion with God: when they are under a force of that kind they cannot but cry out, as David here, Woe to me! 2. He was forced to live among wicked people, who were, upon many accounts, troublesome to him. He dwell in the tents of Kedar, where the shepherds were probably in an ill name for being litigious, like the herdsmen of Abraham and Lot. It is a very grievous burden to a good man to be cast into, and kept in, the company of those whom he hopes to be for ever separated from (like Lot in Sodom; Pe2 2:8); to dwell long with such is grievous indeed, for they are thorns, vexing, and scratching, and tearing, and they will show the old enmity that is in the seed of the serpent against the seed of the woman. Those that David dwelt with were such as not only hated him, but hated peace, and proclaimed war with it, who might write on their weapons of war not Sic sequimur pacem - Thus we aim at peace, but Sic persequimur - Thus we persecute. Perhaps Saul's court was the Mesech and Kedar in which David dwelt, and Saul was the man he meant that hated peace, whom David studied to oblige and could not, but the more service he did him the more exasperated he was against him. See here, (1.) The character of a very good man in David, who could truly say, though he was a man of war, I am for peace; for living peaceably with all men and unpeaceably with none. I peace (so it is in the original); "I love peace and pursue peace; my disposition is to peace and my delight is in it. I pray for peace and strive for peace, will do any thing, submit to any thing, part with any thing, in reason, for peace. I am for peace, and have made it to appear that I am so." The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable. (2.) The character of the worst of bad men in David's enemies, who would pick quarrels with those that were most peaceably disposed: "When I speak they are for war; and the more forward for war the more they find me inclined to peace." He spoke with all the respect and kindness that could be, proposed methods of accommodation, spoke reason, spoke love; but they would not so much as hear him patiently, but cried out, "To arms! to arms!" so fierce and implacable were they, and so bent to mischief. Such were Christ's enemies: for his love they were his adversaries, and for his good words, and good works, they stoned him. If we meet with such enemies, we must not think it strange, nor love peace the less for our seeking it in vain. Be not overcome of evil, no, not of such evil as this, but, even when thus tried, still try to overcome evil with good.
Cross-references: Ps 57:4 · 2Pet 2:8