Breakdown of Psalms 122:6-8

"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! “May they be secure who love you! Peace be within your walls and security within your towers!” For my brothers and companions’ sake I will say, “Peace be within you!”" — The phrase "they shall prosper" is actually a wish or a hope, not a guarantee. It’s a prayer that those who love Jerusalem may experience peace and security, highlighting that God's blessing is tie…

Psalms 122:6-8 Meaning Explained

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Psalms 122:6-8

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! “May they be secure who love you! Peace be within your walls and security within your towers!” For my brothers and companions’ sake I will say, “Peace be within you!”

English Standard Version (ESV)

The phrase "they shall prosper" is actually a wish or a hope, not a guarantee. It’s a prayer that those who love Jerusalem may experience peace and security, highlighting that God's blessing is tied to our love for His people and His dwelling place.

What Psalms 122:6-8 means

This psalm describes the joyous ascent of pilgrims to Jerusalem for worship. After celebrating its beauty and God's presence, the psalmist shifts to a fervent prayer for the city's well-being. He urges everyone who loves Jerusalem to pray for its peace and security, promising that those who cherish it will indeed find peace themselves.

More Than Just 'Peace'

When the Bible talks about 'peace,' it often means so much more than just the absence of conflict. What does this deeper meaning hold for us today?

The Hebrew word for 'peace' in this verse, shalom, is incredibly rich. It encompasses not only tranquility and security but also well-being, wholeness, prosperity, and completeness. It's a state of flourishing, where all things are as they should be.

Think of it as a vibrant ecosystem rather than a silent void. It’s about things being in right relationship – with God, with each other, and within oneself. When the Psalmist urges us to 'pray for the peace of Jerusalem,' he’s not just asking for a ceasefire. He’s asking for the flourishing and wholeness of God’s chosen city, the place where His presence dwelled.

This understanding transforms our prayers. We aren't just asking for problems to stop; we're praying for restoration, for well-being, for things to be set right according to God's design.

Loving Jerusalem: A Divine Connection

The verse links praying for Jerusalem’s peace with the prosperity of those who love her. What’s the profound connection between our love for God’s people and our own well-being?

The second part of the verse makes a powerful statement: 'they shall prosper who love you!' The original language here can also be understood as a wish: 'May they have peace/security who love you.' Either way, it connects loving Jerusalem with a divine promise of well-being.

This isn't about blind favoritism. Loving Jerusalem, in this context, means loving the place and people God has chosen, where His name is honored. It’s about aligning our hearts with God’s heart for His people and His purposes.

When we pray for and actively love the church – the New Jerusalem – we are participating in God's work. This participation, this alignment with His will, naturally leads to a sense of security and a deeper peace. It’s not a reward for earning it, but a consequence of loving what God loves.

Understand the original words

Original language

Prayשָׁאַל

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.

peaceשָׁלוֹם

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.

Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלַ‍ִם

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.

secureשָׁלָוָה

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.

Historical context

Written: Likely composed during the united monarchy of Israel, around the 10th century BC.
Author: Traditionally understood as King David, though some scholars suggest other authorship due to its focus on Jerusalem.
Location: Jerusalem, likely written from within or near the city.
Genre: Wisdom poetry, notable for its direct address and vivid imagery of Zion as a place of worship and community.

Historical background

This Psalm was likely written during a period when Jerusalem was the established capital and religious center. The call to pray for its 'peace' reflects a deep longing for security and divine favor, especially after periods of conflict or uncertainty, and highlights how the city's well-being was intrinsically linked to God's presence and the people's faithfulness.

c. 1000 BC
David Captures Jerusalem
King David conquers the Jebusite city of Jerusalem, establishing it as the capital of the united Israelite kingdom.
c. 970 BC
Solomon Builds the First Temple
King Solomon builds the First Temple on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem, solidifying its status as the religious and political center of Israel.
722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The Northern Kingdom of Israel falls to the Assyrian Empire, leading to the exile of its people and increasing the importance of Jerusalem for the remaining Southern Kingdom of Judah.
586 BC
Babylonian Exile Begins
Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonian Empire conquer Jerusalem, destroy the First Temple, and exile a significant portion of the Jewish population.

Key themes

01Prayer for peace
02Love brings security
03Communal well-being

Cross-references

Isaiah 66:10

This passage echoes the sentiment of praying for Jerusalem's peace by calling on all who mourn for her to rejoice with her, highlighting the shared joy in the well-being of God's people and city.

Romans 8:28

This verse reassures believers that God works all things for good for those who love Him, mirroring the promise in Psalms 122:6 that those who love Jerusalem will prosper, connecting divine favor with love for God's chosen place.

Philippians 4:7

The peace of God that surpasses all understanding guards the hearts and minds of those whose thoughts are on Christ directly relates to the prayer for peace in Jerusalem, extending the concept of divine peace to individuals who love God's dwelling place.

Jeremiah 29:7

This verse directly instructs the exiles to seek the peace and prosperity of Babylon, the foreign city where they were captive, paralleling the encouragement to pray for Jerusalem by showing that seeking the welfare of wherever God has placed you is a principle of seeking His peace.

Scholarly commentary

Psalms 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…
ellicott

Psalms 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…
barnes

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What Psalms 122:6-8 means

Original language

Prayשָׁאַל

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.

peaceשָׁלוֹם

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.

Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלַ‍ִם

Yerushalayim · Hebrew Noun

secureשָׁלָוָה

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.

Historical context

Written: Likely composed during the united monarchy of Israel, around the 10th century BC.
Author: Traditionally understood as King David, though some scholars suggest other authorship due to its focus on Jerusalem.
Location: Jerusalem, likely written from within or near the city.
Genre: Wisdom poetry, notable for its direct address and vivid imagery of Zion as a place of worship and community.

Historical background

c. 1000 BC

David Captures Jerusalem

King David conquers the Jebusite city of Jerusalem, establishing it as the capital of the united Israelite kingdom.

c. 970 BC

Solomon Builds the First Temple

King Solomon builds the First Temple on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem, solidifying its status as the religious and political center of Israel.

722 BC

Fall of Samaria

The Northern Kingdom of Israel falls to the Assyrian Empire, leading to the exile of its people and increasing the importance of Jerusalem for the remaining Southern Kingdom of Judah.

586 BC

Babylonian Exile Begins

Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonian Empire conquer Jerusalem, destroy the First Temple, and exile a significant portion of the Jewish population.