Psalms 122:6-7
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! “May they be secure who love you! Peace be within your walls and security within your towers!”
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The verse shifts from a command to pray for Jerusalem to a hopeful wish for those who love her. The original Hebrew word translated as "prosper" carries a deeper sense of security and tranquility, suggesting that loving God’s people brings a profound inner peace, not just outward success.
This psalm is a song of ascent, likely sung by pilgrims traveling to Jerusalem for worship. The mood is joyful anticipation as they approach the holy city. After expressing delight in reaching Jerusalem, the focus shifts to a fervent prayer for its well-being, recognizing that its peace and prosperity are intertwined with the security and happiness of all who love God and His people.
When we pray for 'peace,' what are we really asking for? It's more than just the absence of conflict.
The Hebrew word for 'peace,' shalom, is incredibly rich. It doesn't just mean 'no war.' It encompasses well-being, wholeness, security, prosperity, and completeness.
When the Psalmist calls us to pray for the shalom of Jerusalem, he's asking for its total flourishing – its safety, its unity, its health, and its divine blessing.
This understanding shifts prayer from a simple wish for quiet to a comprehensive desire for a community to thrive in every way God intends.
There's a promise attached to praying for Jerusalem: 'May they be secure who love you!' What's the connection?
The second part of the verse, 'May they be secure who love you!' isn't just a side note; it's the promised outcome for those who embrace the prayer for Jerusalem's well-being.
Loving Jerusalem – the place where God's presence dwelt and His people gathered – was intrinsically linked to loving God Himself. This love wasn't passive; it was expressed through prayer and a desire for its flourishing.
And here's the incredible part: those who cultivate this love, who genuinely desire the well-being of God's people and His dwelling place, find their own security. It's a divine principle: investing in God's purposes secures your own future with Him.
Understand the original words
sha’al · Hebrew Verb
To make a solemn request or petition to God; a fundamental expression of dependence on the Creator for divine intervention and blessing.
shalom · Hebrew Noun
A state of wholeness, harmony, welfare, and prosperity; it transcends mere absence of conflict, representing the flourishing of God's people under His presence and governance.
Yerushalayim · Hebrew Noun
A city of profound theological significance, serving as the place where God chose to place His name and where the temple resided; it represents the dwelling place of God and the heart of Israel’s worship.
shalah · Hebrew Noun
A state of being safe from harm or danger; frequently used in the Psalms to describe the confidence and protection found in trusting the Lord.
Psalm 122, likely written during or after the Babylonian exile, reflects a deep longing for Jerusalem's peace and security, a longing amplified by the city's destruction and the subsequent return and rebuilding.
c. 1000 BC
David Captures Jerusalem
King David conquers the Jebusite city of Jerusalem and establishes it as the capital of the united Israelite kingdom.
c. 960 BC
Solomon Builds the First Temple
David's son, Solomon, builds the magnificent First Temple in Jerusalem, solidifying its status as the religious and political heart of Israel.
931 BC
Kingdom Divides After Solomon's Death
Following Solomon's reign, the united kingdom splits into the northern Kingdom of Israel and the southern Kingdom of Judah, with Jerusalem remaining the capital of Judah.
586 BC— this verse
Babylonian Exile Begins
Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonian army conquer Jerusalem, destroy the First Temple, and exile many Judeans, including Jehoiachin and Ezekiel.
This passage echoes the sentiment of praying for Jerusalem's well-being, urging rejoicing for her and a prayer for her peace, directly mirroring the psalmist's plea for peace and prosperity.
Romans 8:28This verse speaks to the overarching truth that God works all things for good for those who love Him, a concept that aligns with the promise that those who love Jerusalem (God's dwelling place) will prosper.
Galatians 6:10Paul's instruction to 'do good to all, especially to those of the household of faith' resonates with the psalmist's call to pray for Jerusalem, emphasizing a specific concern for the community of God's people.
John 14:27Jesus' parting words, 'Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you,' highlight the divine source of true peace, connecting the outward peace of a city with the inner peace God offers to those who follow Him.
ellicottPsalms 122:6: "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee."
(6, 7) It is impossible in English to reproduce the effect of the original in these references to the usual greetings of the East, since at the same time they contain alliterations and a play on the name of Jerusalem. There is first the challenge to the body of pilgrims to give the customary salutation, and then it is taken up in a threefold wish, varied each time. Then follows the reason of this unanimous and h…
barnesPsalms 122:6: "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee."
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem - The prosperity, the welfare of Jerusalem - for peace is everywhere the image of prosperity and happiness. Compare Psalm 51:18 . This is the language which those who were going up to the city - to the house of the Lord - addressed to each other, expressing the joyful feelings of their hearts at their own near approach to the city. It breathes the desire that all would pray for th…
The verse shifts from a command to pray for Jerusalem to a hopeful wish for those who love her. The original Hebrew word translated as "prosper" carries a deeper sense of security and tranquility, suggesting that loving God’s people brings a profound inner peace, not just outward success.
This psalm is a song of ascent, likely sung by pilgrims traveling to Jerusalem for worship. The mood is joyful anticipation as they approach the holy city. After expressing delight in reaching Jerusalem, the focus shifts to a fervent prayer for its well-being, recognizing that its peace and prosperity are intertwined with the security and happiness of all who love God and His people.
This psalm is a song of ascent, likely sung by pilgrims traveling to Jerusalem for worship. The mood is joyful anticipation as they approach the holy city. After expressing delight in reaching Jerusalem, the focus shifts to a fervent prayer for its well-being, recognizing that its peace and prosperity are intertwined with the security and happiness of all who love God and His people.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Psalms 122:6-7 is available in the Sola app.
ahab · Hebrew Verb
An outward-looking attitude of devotion and commitment to the welfare of God's city, reflecting a heart that is aligned with God’s covenant purposes.
cheylah · Hebrew Noun
Physical fortifications protecting a city; metaphorically, they represent the boundaries and defenses established by God for the preservation and protection of His people.
armon · Hebrew Noun
High, defensive structures used for observation and protection; they represent the vigilant oversight and fortified security that God provides.
539 BC
Cyrus the Great Conquers Babylon
The Persian king Cyrus the Great overthrows the Babylonian Empire, allowing exiled peoples, including the Judeans, to return to their homelands.
c. 516 BC
Second Temple Completed
Under Zerubbabel, the returning exiles complete the construction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, marking a significant step in the restoration of Jewish life.
"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! “May they be secure who love you! Peace be within your walls and security within your towers!”" — The verse shifts from a command to pray for Jerusalem to a hopeful wish for those who love her. The original Hebrew word translated as "prosper" carries a deeper sense of security and tranquility, su…
