Psalms 126:2-3
Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.” The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse highlights that the overwhelming joy of their restoration was so profound that it was evident even to the surrounding nations, prompting them to recognize and declare, "The LORD has done great things for them." This external witness underscores the miraculous nature of their deliverance, making it undeniable even to those outside of Israel's faith.
This psalm is a song of remembrance for a time of great deliverance, likely the return of the exiles from Babylon. After describing the initial disbelief and overwhelming joy of their return in verse 1, verse 2 vividly captures the ecstatic celebration that followed. The surrounding nations, who had perhaps seen Israel in distress, now witnessed and acknowledged God's powerful intervention on their behalf.
Imagine a joy so deep, so unexpected, that it bursts out as uncontrollable laughter. This isn't just happiness; it's a divine overflow.
The psalm describes a dramatic shift from sorrow to overwhelming joy. Notice the physical expressions: 'our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy.' This isn't a quiet, internal feeling; it's an outward, visible, and audible celebration. The imagery suggests a return from a state of despair, like those who were captive and mourning. Their joy is so profound it transforms their outward appearance and sound, moving from silence or weeping to vibrant expressions of delight.
When God does great things, it’s not just for His people. It’s a spectacle for the world to see and acknowledge.
The psalm highlights that Israel's miraculous deliverance was not a private affair. It captured the attention of surrounding nations. The phrase 'then they said among the nations' means that even outsiders recognized the divine intervention at play. This points to a powerful apologetic aspect of God's work. When God acts mightily on behalf of His people, it serves as a testimony to His power and faithfulness to the wider world, prompting even non-believers to acknowledge, 'The LORD has done great things for them.'
Understand the original words
goy · Hebrew Noun
The collective group of non-Israelite peoples. In the Old Testament, the nations are often depicted as witnesses to God's dealings with Israel, meant to recognize His sovereignty and power.
This psalm reflects the sheer, unbelievable joy of the exiles upon returning to Jerusalem after decades of captivity in Babylon, a return made possible by the surprising decree of a foreign king. The joy was so profound that even surrounding nations recognized it as a divine intervention.
722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern kingdom of Israel, exiling many of its people and scattering them among other nations. This event marked a significant loss of national identity and sovereignty for many Israelites.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Southern Kingdom
The Babylonian Empire, under Nebuchadnezzar II, destroys Jerusalem and the Temple, exiling the remaining Judeans to Babylon. This was a devastating blow, seen by many as the end of God's favor.
c. 539 BC
Cyrus the Great Conquers Babylon
The Persian Empire, led by Cyrus the Great, overthrows the Babylonian Empire. This shift in power brought a new political landscape to the region.
538 BC— this verse
Cyrus' Decree for the Return of Exiles
Cyrus issues a decree allowing the Jewish exiles in Babylon to return to their homeland and rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem. This decree was unprecedented and opened the door for restoration.
This passage echoes the joy and singing described in Psalms 126:2, specifically linking it to redemption and the return from exile, highlighting the theme of God's great works leading to gladness.
Jeremiah 30:19Similar to the overflowing laughter and song in Psalms 126:2, this verse promises that 'thanksgiving and the sound of mirth' will again be heard among the redeemed people of God, pointing to a future restoration filled with joy.
Job 8:21This verse offers a parallel to the outward expression of joy in Psalms 126:2, noting that with God's blessing, a person's mouth will be 'filled with cheerfulness' and their tongue with exultation.
Luke 1:58This New Testament account shows a community filled with awe and thankfulness, where neighbors rejoiced with Mary after her miraculous news, mirroring the communal astonishment and praise seen when 'the LORD has done great things' for His people.
Acts 3:9-10This passage describes a crowd astonished by a miraculous healing, recognizing it as God's work and filling the temple with praise. It parallels the reaction in Psalms 126:2 where onlookers recognized God's mighty acts in Israel's deliverance.
cambridgePsalms 126:2: "Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them."
2 . Then was our mouth filled with laughter ] Cp. Job 8:21 . singing ] Or, shouts of joy , a word characteristic of the second Isaiah ( Isaiah 44:23 ; Isaiah 48:20 ; Isaiah 49:13 ; Isaiah 51:11 ; Isaiah 54:1 ; Isaiah 55:12 ). The Psalms of the Return (93–100) were the expression of this joy. then said they among the nations] Even heath…
clarkePsalms 126:2: "Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them."
Then upas our mouth filled with laughter - The same effect as was produced on the poor liberated Grecians mentioned above. Then said they among the heathen - The liberty now granted was brought about in so extraordinary a way, that the very heathens saw that the hand of the great Jehovah must have been in it.
The verse highlights that the overwhelming joy of their restoration was so profound that it was evident even to the surrounding nations, prompting them to recognize and declare, "The LORD has done great things for them." This external witness underscores the miraculous nature of their deliverance, making it undeniable even to those outside of Israel's faith.
This psalm is a song of remembrance for a time of great deliverance, likely the return of the exiles from Babylon. After describing the initial disbelief and overwhelming joy of their return in verse 1, verse 2 vividly captures the ecstatic celebration that followed. The surrounding nations, who had perhaps seen Israel in distress, now witnessed and acknowledged God's powerful intervention on their behalf.
This psalm is a song of remembrance for a time of great deliverance, likely the return of the exiles from Babylon. After describing the initial disbelief and overwhelming joy of their return in verse 1, verse 2 vividly captures the ecstatic celebration that followed. The surrounding nations, who had perhaps seen Israel in distress, now witnessed and acknowledged God's powerful intervention on their behalf.
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c. 537 BC
First Wave of Exiles Returns to Jerusalem
Led by figures like Zerubbabel, a significant group of Judeans journeys back to Jerusalem from Babylon. They arrive to find their land and capital in ruins, but filled with a hope for rebuilding.
"Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.” The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad." — The verse highlights that the overwhelming joy of their restoration was so profound that it was evident even to the surrounding nations, prompting them to recognize and declare, "The LORD has done gr…
