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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Psalm 129:6 May they be like grass on the rooftops, which withers before it can grow,</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/psalms/129-6.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/12/19_Psa_129_006.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Psalm 129:6 - The Cords of the Wicked" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="May they be like grass on the rooftops, which withers before it can grow," /><script type="application/javascript" 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cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad6.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/psalms/129-5.htm" title="Psalm 129:5">◄</a> Psalm 129:6 <a href="/psalms/129-7.htm" title="Psalm 129:7">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/psalms/129.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/psalms/129.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />May they be like grass on the roof, which withers before it can grow;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/psalms/129.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />May they be as useless as grass on a rooftop, turning yellow when only half grown,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/psalms/129.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Let them be like the grass on the housetops, which withers before it grows up,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/psalms/129.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />May they be like grass on the rooftops, which withers before it can grow,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/psalms/129.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Let them be as the grass <i>upon</i> the housetops, which withereth afore it groweth up:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/psalms/129.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Let them be as the grass <i>on</i> the housetops, Which withers before it grows up,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/psalms/129.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />May they be like grass upon the housetops, Which withers before it grows up;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/psalms/129.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Let them be like grass upon the housetops, Which withers before it grows up;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/psalms/129.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Let them be like grass upon the housetops, Which withers before it grows up;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/psalms/129.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Let them be like grass upon the rooftops, Which dries up before it grows up;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/psalms/129.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Let them be like the grass on the housetops, Which withers before it grows up,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/psalms/129.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Let them be like grass on the rooftops, which withers before it grows up<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/psalms/129.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Let them be like grass on the rooftops, which withers before it grows up <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/psalms/129.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Let them be as the grass upon the housetops, Which withereth before it groweth up;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/psalms/129.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />May they be like grass on the flat roof of a house, grass that dries up as soon as it sprouts. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/psalms/129.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Let them be as the grass upon the housetops, which withereth afore it groweth up:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/psalms/129.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Make them be like grass on a roof, like grass that dries up before it produces a stalk.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/psalms/129.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />May they all be like grass growing on the housetops, which dries up before it can grow; <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/psalms/129.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />May they become like a tuft of grass on a roof top, that withers before it takes root—<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/psalms/129.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />May they be like grass on the rooftops, which withers before it can grow,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/psalms/129.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />May they be like the grass on the rooftops which withers before one can even pull it up, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/psalms/129.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Let them be as the grass on the housetops, which withers before it grows up;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/psalms/129.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Let them be as the grass upon the house-tops, which withereth before it groweth up:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/psalms/129.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Let them be as the grass on the housetops, which withers before it grows up, <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/psalms/129.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />They are as grass of the roofs, "" That withers before it was drawn out,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/psalms/129.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> They are as grass of the roofs, That before it was drawn out withereth,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/psalms/129.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />They shall be as the grass of the roofs drying up before it was drawn out:<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/psalms/129.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Let them be as grass on the tops of houses: which withered before it be plucked up: <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/psalms/129.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br /><V 128:6>Let them be like grass on the rooftops, which withers before it can be pulled up:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/psalms/129.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />May they be like grass on the rooftops withered in early growth, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/psalms/129.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Let them be like the grass on the housetops that withers before it grows up,<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/psalms/129.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Let them be as the grass upon the house tops, which pulls out and withers when the wind strikes it,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/psalms/129.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />They shall be like the grass of the rooftop which the wind pulls out and dries up when it blows upon it.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/psalms/129.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Let them be as the grass upon the housetops, Which withereth afore it springeth up;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/psalms/129.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />Let them be as the grass of the house-tops, which withers before it is plucked up.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/psalms/129-6.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nFaD2oDhKPc?start=16454" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/psalms/129.htm">The Cords of the Wicked</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">5</span>May all who hate Zion be turned back in shame. <span class="reftext">6</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/1961.htm" title="1961: yih·yū (V-Qal-Imperf-3mp) -- To fall out, come to pass, become, be. A primitive root; to exist, i.e. Be or become, come to pass.">May they be</a> <a href="/hebrew/2682.htm" title="2682: ka·ḥă·ṣîr (Prep-k:: N-msc) -- Green grass, herbage. Perhaps originally the same as chatsiyr, from the greenness of a courtyard; grass; also a leek.">like grass</a> <a href="/hebrew/1406.htm" title="1406: gag·gō·wṯ (N-mp) -- A roof, a top. Probably by reduplication from ga'ah; a roof; by analogy, the top of an altar.">on the rooftops,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3001.htm" title="3001: yā·ḇêš (V-Qal-Perf-3ms) -- To be dry, dried up, or withered. A primitive root; to be ashamed, confused or disappointed; also to dry up or wither.">which withers</a> <a href="/hebrew/6927.htm" title="6927: šeq·qaḏ·maṯ (Pro-r:: N-fsc) -- Antiquity, former state. From qadam; priority; also used adverbially.">before</a> <a href="/hebrew/8025.htm" title="8025: šā·lap̄ (V-Qal-Perf-3ms) -- To draw out or off. A primitive root; to pull out, up or off.">it can grow,</a> </span><span class="reftext">7</span>unable to fill the hands of the reaper, or the arms of the binder of sheaves.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/37-27.htm">Isaiah 37:27</a></span><br />Therefore their inhabitants, devoid of power, are dismayed and ashamed. They are like plants in the field, tender green shoots, grass on the rooftops, scorched before it is grown.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/19-26.htm">2 Kings 19:26</a></span><br />Therefore their inhabitants, devoid of power, are dismayed and ashamed. They are like plants in the field, tender green shoots, grass on the rooftops, scorched before it is grown.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/8-12.htm">Job 8:12</a></span><br />While the shoots are still uncut, they dry up more quickly than grass.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/40-24.htm">Isaiah 40:24</a></span><br />No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner have their stems taken root in the ground, than He blows on them and they wither, and a whirlwind sweeps them away like stubble.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/13-3.htm">Hosea 13:3</a></span><br />Therefore they will be like the morning mist, like the early dew that vanishes, like chaff blown from a threshing floor, like smoke through an open window.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/13-6.htm">Matthew 13:6</a></span><br />But when the sun rose, the seedlings were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/4-6.htm">Mark 4:6</a></span><br />But when the sun rose, the seedlings were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/james/1-11.htm">James 1:11</a></span><br />For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its flower falls and its beauty is lost. So too, the rich man will fade away in the midst of his pursuits.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_peter/1-24.htm">1 Peter 1:24</a></span><br />For, “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/44-4.htm">Isaiah 44:4</a></span><br />They will sprout among the grass like willows by flowing streams.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/1-30.htm">Isaiah 1:30</a></span><br />For you will become like an oak whose leaves are withered, like a garden without water.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/17-8.htm">Jeremiah 17:8</a></span><br />He is like a tree planted by the waters that sends out its roots toward the stream. It does not fear when the heat comes, and its leaves are always green. It does not worry in a year of drought, nor does it cease to produce fruit.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/17-24.htm">Ezekiel 17:24</a></span><br />Then all the trees of the field will know that I am the LORD. I bring the tall tree down and make the low tree tall. I dry up the green tree and make the withered tree flourish. I, the LORD, have spoken, and I have done it.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/37-2.htm">Psalm 37:2</a></span><br />For they wither quickly like grass and wilt like tender plants.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/92-7.htm">Psalm 92:7</a></span><br />that though the wicked sprout like grass, and all evildoers flourish, they will be forever destroyed.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Let them be as the grass on the housetops, which wither before it grows up:</p><p class="hdg">as the grass</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/37-2.htm">Psalm 37:2</a></b></br> For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/92-7.htm">Psalm 92:7</a></b></br> When the wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish; <i>it is</i> that they shall be destroyed for ever:</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jeremiah/17-5.htm">Jeremiah 17:5,6</a></b></br> Thus saith the LORD; Cursed <i>be</i> the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/2_kings/20-4.htm">Afore</a> <a href="/psalms/119-150.htm">Drawn</a> <a href="/psalms/126-4.htm">Dry</a> <a href="/psalms/127-5.htm">Full</a> <a href="/psalms/106-20.htm">Grass</a> <a href="/psalms/104-14.htm">Grow</a> <a href="/psalms/92-12.htm">Groweth</a> <a href="/psalms/77-3.htm">Grows</a> <a href="/psalms/104-16.htm">Growth</a> <a href="/2_kings/19-26.htm">Housetops</a> <a href="/2_kings/19-26.htm">House-Tops</a> <a href="/psalms/80-12.htm">Plucked</a> <a href="/psalms/102-7.htm">Roof</a> <a href="/job/29-10.htm">Roofs</a> <a href="/psalms/85-11.htm">Springeth</a> <a href="/psalms/90-6.htm">Withereth</a> <a href="/psalms/90-6.htm">Withers</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/isaiah/18-5.htm">Afore</a> <a href="/psalms/141-4.htm">Drawn</a> <a href="/proverbs/17-1.htm">Dry</a> <a href="/psalms/130-7.htm">Full</a> <a href="/psalms/147-8.htm">Grass</a> <a href="/psalms/132-17.htm">Grow</a> <a href="/isaiah/37-30.htm">Groweth</a> <a href="/psalms/142-3.htm">Grows</a> <a href="/proverbs/11-28.htm">Growth</a> <a href="/isaiah/15-3.htm">Housetops</a> <a href="/isaiah/22-1.htm">House-Tops</a> <a href="/proverbs/2-22.htm">Plucked</a> <a href="/psalms/137-6.htm">Roof</a> <a href="/isaiah/15-3.htm">Roofs</a> <a href="/isaiah/37-30.htm">Springeth</a> <a href="/isaiah/33-9.htm">Withereth</a> <a href="/isaiah/1-30.htm">Withers</a><div class="vheading2">Psalm 129</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/129-1.htm">An exhortation to praise God for saving Israel in their great afflictions</a></span><br><span class="reftext">5. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/129-5.htm">The haters of the church are cursed</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/psalms/129.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/psalms/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/psalms/129.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>May they be like grass on the rooftops</b><br>In ancient Israel, houses often had flat roofs made of mud and clay, where grass could easily sprout. However, due to the lack of soil depth and moisture, this grass would not thrive. This imagery symbolizes the fleeting and insubstantial nature of the enemies' success or existence. The psalmist's wish is for the adversaries to be as short-lived and ineffective as grass on a rooftop. This metaphor is consistent with other biblical references to the temporary nature of the wicked, such as in <a href="/psalms/37-2.htm">Psalm 37:2</a>, which compares them to grass that quickly withers.<p><b>which withers before it can grow</b><br>The grass on rooftops, lacking proper nourishment, withers quickly, unable to develop fully. This phrase emphasizes the futility and impermanence of the wicked's endeavors. In a broader biblical context, this can be seen as a reflection of the ultimate judgment and downfall of those who oppose God's people, as seen in <a href="/isaiah/40-7.htm">Isaiah 40:7-8</a>, where human frailty is contrasted with the enduring word of God. The imagery also serves as a reminder of the divine justice that ensures the wicked do not prosper indefinitely, aligning with the theme of divine retribution found throughout the Psalms.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/p/psalmist.htm">Psalmist</a></b><br>The author of <a href="/bsb/psalms/129.htm">Psalm 129</a>, traditionally attributed to King David, who often wrote about the struggles and triumphs of Israel.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/i/israel.htm">Israel</a></b><br>The nation of God's chosen people, often facing oppression and persecution from surrounding nations.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/o/oppressors.htm">Oppressors</a></b><br>The enemies of Israel who have sought to harm and subdue God's people throughout history.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/r/rooftops.htm">Rooftops</a></b><br>In ancient Israel, rooftops were often flat and used for various purposes, including drying crops. Grass growing there would have shallow roots and be unable to thrive.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/g/grass.htm">Grass</a></b><br>Symbolizes the fleeting and fragile nature of the oppressors' success against God's people.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_transience_of_evil.htm">The Transience of Evil</a></b><br>The oppressors of God's people may seem powerful, but like grass on rooftops, their success is temporary and ultimately futile.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty.htm">God's Sovereignty</a></b><br>Despite the appearance of strength in the enemies of God, He remains in control and will ensure their plans do not prosper.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_deep_roots.htm">The Importance of Deep Roots</a></b><br>Just as grass on rooftops withers due to shallow roots, our faith must be deeply rooted in God's word to withstand trials.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/trust_in_god's_justice.htm">Trust in God's Justice</a></b><br>Believers can find comfort in knowing that God will bring justice to those who oppress His people.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/e/endurance_in_persecution.htm">Endurance in Persecution</a></b><br>The faithful are called to endure persecution with the assurance that God will vindicate them.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_psalm_129.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Psalm 129</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_rooftop_grass_metaphor_supported_by_evidence.htm">Psalm 129:5-6 compares the wicked to grass on rooftops that quickly withers--does archaeological or botanical evidence support this metaphor, or is it purely symbolic?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_do_faithful_givers_stay_poor.htm">Proverbs 3:9 commands honoring God with wealth--why do many faithful givers remain poor while the corrupt often thrive?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/evidence_for_wicked's_brief_joy.htm">Job 20:4-5 implies universal knowledge of the brevity of the wicked's joy; where is the empirical or historical evidence supporting this absolute claim?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_defines_believers_as_royal_priests.htm">What does 'the grass withers and flowers fade' mean?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/psalms/129.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(6) <span class= "bld">Which withereth afore it groweth up.</span>--This clause, with its Aramaic colouring, probably contains a textual error. The context seems certainly to require the meaning "before it is plucked up," and many scholars get this meaning out of the Hebrew verb used elsewhere of "plucking off a shoe" and "drawing a sword." They give, which is no doubt legitimate, an impersonal sense to the active verb, "which withereth before one pulls it up." The LXX. (received text), the Vulg., Theodotion, and the Quinta favour this rendering. On the other hand, the image of grass withering before it comes to maturity is exactly what we should expect here, growing as it does without soil (comp. the "seed on the rock" in the parable of the sower), and suggests a more complete and sudden destruction of the enemies, who perish before the abortive plans of evil can be carried out. The rendering of the Authorised Version is therefore to be retained, and is actually supported by Aquila, Symmachus, the Sexta, and in various readings of the LXX. A thatched cottage in our country might present the picture suggested by the verse, but it was much more familiar where the housetops were flat and plastered with a composition of mortar, tar, ashes, and sand, which, unless carefully rolled, would naturally become covered with weeds. Indeed, in many cases, especially on the poorest sort of houses, the roof would be little better than hard mud. For similar allusions comp. <a href="/2_kings/19-26.htm" title="Therefore their inhabitants were of small power, they were dismayed and confounded; they were as the grass of the field, and as the green herb, as the grass on the house tops, and as corn blasted before it be grown up.">2Kings 19:26</a> and <a href="/isaiah/37-27.htm" title="Therefore their inhabitants were of small power, they were dismayed and confounded: they were as the grass of the field, and as the green herb, as the grass on the housetops, and as corn blasted before it be grown up.">Isaiah 37:27</a>.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/psalms/129.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 6.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Let them be as the grass upon the housetops</span>; literally, <span class="accented">they shall be as the grass of housetops</span>. The fiat roofs of Oriental houses are usually covered in early spring with a crop of bright-green grass. But the scorching rays of the sun soon burn this up, and it becomes dry and withered (see 'The Land and the Book,' p. 682; and comp. <a href="/isaiah/37-27.htm">Isaiah 37:27</a>). <span class="cmt_word">Which withereth afore it groweth up</span>; literally, <span class="accented">before it is unsheathed</span>; <span class="accented">i</span>.<span class="accented">e</span>. before the blossom has left the sheath in which it is formed. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/psalms/129-6.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">May they be</span><br /><span class="heb">יִ֭הְיוּ</span> <span class="translit">(yih·yū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1961.htm">Strong's 1961: </a> </span><span class="str2">To fall out, come to pass, become, be</span><br /><br /><span class="word">like grass</span><br /><span class="heb">כַּחֲצִ֣יר</span> <span class="translit">(ka·ḥă·ṣîr)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2682.htm">Strong's 2682: </a> </span><span class="str2">Green grass, herbage</span><br /><br /><span class="word">on the rooftops,</span><br /><span class="heb">גַּגּ֑וֹת</span> <span class="translit">(gag·gō·wṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1406.htm">Strong's 1406: </a> </span><span class="str2">A roof, the top of an altar</span><br /><br /><span class="word">which withers</span><br /><span class="heb">יָבֵֽשׁ׃</span> <span class="translit">(yā·ḇêš)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3001.htm">Strong's 3001: </a> </span><span class="str2">To be ashamed, confused, disappointed, to dry up, wither</span><br /><br /><span class="word">before</span><br /><span class="heb">שֶׁקַּדְמַ֖ת</span> <span class="translit">(šeq·qaḏ·maṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - relative | Noun - feminine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6927.htm">Strong's 6927: </a> </span><span class="str2">Antiquity, former state</span><br /><br /><span class="word">it can grow,</span><br /><span class="heb">שָׁלַ֣ף</span> <span class="translit">(šā·lap̄)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8025.htm">Strong's 8025: </a> </span><span class="str2">To pull out, up, off</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/psalms/129-6.htm">Psalm 129:6 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/psalms/129-6.htm">Psalm 129:6 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/psalms/129-6.htm">Psalm 129:6 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/psalms/129-6.htm">Psalm 129:6 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/psalms/129-6.htm">Psalm 129:6 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/psalms/129-6.htm">Psalm 129:6 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/psalms/129-6.htm">Psalm 129:6 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/psalms/129-6.htm">Psalm 129:6 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/psalms/129-6.htm">Psalm 129:6 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/psalms/129-6.htm">Psalm 129:6 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/psalms/129-6.htm">OT Poetry: Psalm 129:6 Let them be as the grass (Psalm Ps Psa.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/psalms/129-5.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Psalm 129:5"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Psalm 129:5" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/psalms/129-7.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Psalm 129:7"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Psalm 129:7" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>