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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 126:4 Restore our captives, O LORD, like streams in the Negev.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/psalms/126-4.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/11/19_Psa_126_004.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Psalm 126:4 - The LORD Has Done Great Things" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Restore our captives, O LORD, like streams in the Negev." /><script type="application/javascript" 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cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad4.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/126-3.htm" title="Psalm 126:3">◄</a> Psalm 126:4 <a href="/psalms/126-5.htm" title="Psalm 126:5">►</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/126.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/126.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />Restore our fortunes, LORD, like streams in the Negev.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/psalms/126.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Restore our fortunes, LORD, as streams renew the desert.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/psalms/126.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like streams in the Negeb!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/psalms/126.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Restore our captives, O LORD, like streams in the Negev.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/psalms/126.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/psalms/126.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Bring back our captivity, O LORD, As the streams in the South.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/psalms/126.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Restore our fortunes, LORD, As the streams in the South.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/psalms/126.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Restore our captivity, O LORD, As the streams in the South.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/psalms/126.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Restore our captivity, O LORD, As the streams in the South.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/psalms/126.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Restore our captivity, O Yahweh, As the streams in the Negev.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/psalms/126.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Restore our captivity, O LORD, As the stream-beds in the South (the Negev) [are restored by torrents of rain].<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/psalms/126.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Restore our fortunes, LORD, like watercourses in the Negev.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/psalms/126.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Restore our fortunes, LORD, like watercourses in the Negev. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/psalms/126.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Turn again our captivity, O Jehovah, As the streams in the South.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/psalms/126.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Our LORD, we ask you to bless our people again, and let us be like streams in the Southern Desert. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/psalms/126.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the South.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/psalms/126.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Restore our fortunes, O LORD, as you restore streams [to dry riverbeds] in the Negev.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/psalms/126.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />LORD, make us prosperous again, just as the rain brings water back to dry riverbeds. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/psalms/126.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Restore our exiles, LORD, like the streams of the Negev. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/psalms/126.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Restore our captives, O LORD, like streams in the Negev.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/psalms/126.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />O LORD, restore our well-being, just as the streams in the arid south are replenished. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/psalms/126.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Restore our fortunes again, LORD, like the streams in the Negev.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/psalms/126.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/psalms/126.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Restore our fortunes again, Yahweh, like the streams in the Negev. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/psalms/126.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />Turn again, O YHWH, [to] our captivity, "" As streams in the south.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/psalms/126.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> Turn again, O Jehovah, to our captivity, As streams in the south.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/psalms/126.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />Jehovah turned back our captivity, as torrents in the south.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/psalms/126.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Turn again our captivity, O Lord, as a stream in the south. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/psalms/126.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br /><V 125:4>Convert our captivity, O Lord, like a torrent in the south.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/psalms/126.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Restore our captives, LORD, like the dry stream beds of the Negeb. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/psalms/126.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like the watercourses in the Negeb.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/psalms/126.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Turn again our captivity, O LORD, like the streams in the south.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/psalms/126.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />Return our captivity, LORD JEHOVAH, like the streams in the South.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/psalms/126.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Turn our captivity, O LORD, As the streams in the dry land.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/psalms/126.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />Turn, O Lord, our captivity, as the steams in the south.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/psalms/126-4.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=16306" 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/126.htm">The LORD Has Done Great Things</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">3</span>The LORD has done great things for us; we are filled with joy. <span class="reftext">4</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/7725.htm" title="7725: šū·ḇāh (V-Qal-Imp-ms:: 3fs) -- A primitive root; to turn back transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively; generally to retreat; often adverbial, again.">Restore</a> <a href="/hebrew/7622.htm" title="7622: šə·ḇū·ṯē·nū (N-fsc:: 1cp) -- Captivity, captives. Or shbiyth; from shabah; exile, concretely, prisoners; figuratively, a former state of prosperity.">our captives,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3068.htm" title="3068: Yah·weh (N-proper-ms) -- The proper name of the God of Israel. From hayah; self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.">O LORD,</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/650.htm" title="650: ka·’ă·p̄î·qîm (Prep-k:: N-mp) -- A channel. From 'acaph; properly, containing, i.e. A tube; also a bed or valley of a stream; also a strong thing or a hero.">like streams</a> <a href="/hebrew/5045.htm" title="5045: ban·ne·ḡeḇ (Prep-b, Art:: N-proper-fs) -- From an unused root meaning to be parched; the south; specifically, the Negeb or southern district of Judah, occasionally, Egypt.">in the Negev.</a> </span><span class="reftext">5</span>Those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy.…<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/35-6.htm">Isaiah 35:6-7</a></span><br />Then the lame will leap like a deer and the mute tongue will shout for joy. For waters will gush forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert. / The parched ground will become a pool, the thirsty land springs of water. In the haunt where jackals once lay, there will be grass and reeds and papyrus.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/43-19.htm">Isaiah 43:19-20</a></span><br />Behold, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness and streams in the desert. / The beasts of the field will honor Me, the jackals and the ostriches, because I provide water in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, to give drink to My chosen people.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/joel/3-18.htm">Joel 3:18</a></span><br />And in that day the mountains will drip with sweet wine, and the hills will flow with milk. All the streams of Judah will run with water, and a spring will flow from the house of the LORD to water the Valley of Acacias.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/47-1.htm">Ezekiel 47:1-12</a></span><br />Then the man brought me back to the entrance of the temple, and I saw water flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was coming down from under the south side of the temple, south of the altar. / Next he brought me out through the north gate and led me around the outside to the outer gate facing east, and there I saw the water trickling out from the south side. / As the man went eastward with a measuring line in his hand, he measured off a thousand cubits and led me through ankle-deep water. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/amos/9-13.htm">Amos 9:13-15</a></span><br />“Behold, the days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when the plowman will overtake the reaper and the treader of grapes, the sower of seed. The mountains will drip with sweet wine, with which all the hills will flow. / I will restore My people Israel from captivity; they will rebuild and inhabit the ruined cities. They will plant vineyards and drink their wine; they will make gardens and eat their fruit. / I will firmly plant them in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land that I have given them,” says the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/31-9.htm">Jeremiah 31:9</a></span><br />They will come with weeping, and by their supplication I will lead them; I will make them walk beside streams of waters, on a level path where they will not stumble. For I am Israel’s Father, and Ephraim is My firstborn.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/6-3.htm">Hosea 6:3</a></span><br />So let us know—let us press on to know the LORD. As surely as the sun rises, He will appear; He will come to us like the rain, like the spring showers that water the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/41-18.htm">Isaiah 41:18</a></span><br />I will open rivers on the barren heights, and fountains in the middle of the valleys. I will turn the desert into a pool of water, and the dry land into flowing springs.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/44-3.htm">Isaiah 44:3-4</a></span><br />For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and currents on the dry ground. I will pour out My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring. / They will sprout among the grass like willows by flowing streams.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/55-10.htm">Isaiah 55:10-13</a></span><br />For just as rain and snow fall from heaven and do not return without watering the earth, making it bud and sprout, and providing seed to sow and food to eat, / so My word that proceeds from My mouth will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish what I please, and it will prosper where I send it. / You will indeed go out with joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/7-37.htm">John 7:37-39</a></span><br />On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood up and called out in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. / Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said: ‘Streams of living water will flow from within him.’” / He was speaking about the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were later to receive. For the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet been glorified.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/22-1.htm">Revelation 22:1-2</a></span><br />Then the angel showed me a river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb / down the middle of the main street of the city. On either side of the river stood a tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit and yielding a fresh crop for each month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/4-13.htm">John 4:13-14</a></span><br />Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again. / But whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a fount of water springing up to eternal life.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/5-6.htm">Matthew 5:6</a></span><br />Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/3-19.htm">Acts 3:19-20</a></span><br />Repent, then, and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped away, / that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus, the Christ, who has been appointed for you.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south.</p><p class="hdg">turn again</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/126-1.htm">Psalm 126:1</a></b></br> A Song of degrees. When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/85-4.htm">Psalm 85:4</a></b></br> Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/hosea/1-11.htm">Hosea 1:11</a></b></br> Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land: for great <i>shall be</i> the day of Jezreel.</p><p class="hdg">as the streams</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/joshua/3-16.htm">Joshua 3:16</a></b></br> That the waters which came down from above stood <i>and</i> rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that <i>is</i> beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, <i>even</i> the salt sea, failed, <i>and</i> were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/41-18.htm">Isaiah 41:18</a></b></br> I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/psalms/126-1.htm">Captivity</a> <a href="/psalms/107-11.htm">Changed</a> <a href="/psalms/109-10.htm">Dry</a> <a href="/psalms/126-1.htm">Fate</a> <a href="/psalms/126-1.htm">Fortunes</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/28-18.htm">Negeb</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/28-18.htm">Negev</a> <a href="/psalms/85-4.htm">Restore</a> <a href="/psalms/107-3.htm">South</a> <a href="/psalms/124-4.htm">Streams</a> <a href="/psalms/125-5.htm">Turn</a> <a href="/judges/5-16.htm">Watercourses</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/isaiah/1-27.htm">Captivity</a> <a href="/psalms/135-14.htm">Changed</a> <a href="/psalms/129-6.htm">Dry</a> <a href="/proverbs/1-19.htm">Fate</a> <a href="/jeremiah/29-14.htm">Fortunes</a> <a href="/isaiah/21-1.htm">Negeb</a> <a href="/isaiah/21-1.htm">Negev</a> <a href="/proverbs/6-31.htm">Restore</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/1-6.htm">South</a> <a href="/proverbs/5-16.htm">Streams</a> <a href="/psalms/129-5.htm">Turn</a> <a href="/proverbs/21-1.htm">Watercourses</a><div class="vheading2">Psalm 126</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/126-1.htm">The church celebrating her incredible return out of captivity</a></span><br><span class="reftext">4. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/126-4.htm">Prays for and prophesies the good success thereof</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/126.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/126.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>Restore our captives, O LORD</b><br>This phrase is a plea for divine intervention and restoration. The context suggests a longing for the return of those who have been exiled or taken captive. Historically, this reflects the period after the Babylonian exile when the Israelites yearned for the return of their people to Jerusalem. Theologically, it signifies a deeper spiritual restoration, a theme prevalent throughout the Bible, where God is seen as the restorer of His people. This plea can be connected to the broader biblical narrative of redemption and deliverance, as seen in passages like <a href="/isaiah/49-8.htm">Isaiah 49:8-9</a>, where God promises to restore and gather His people.<p><b>like streams in the Negev</b><br>The Negev is a desert region in southern Israel, known for its arid conditions. However, during the rainy season, sudden and temporary streams, known as wadis, can form, bringing life and renewal to the barren landscape. This imagery is powerful, symbolizing sudden and abundant restoration. The comparison to streams in the Negev suggests a miraculous and transformative change, akin to the unexpected and life-giving waters in a desert. This metaphor can be linked to the spiritual renewal and revival that God brings, as seen in passages like <a href="/isaiah/35-6.htm">Isaiah 35:6-7</a>, where the desert is transformed into a place of springs and streams. The imagery also points to the work of Christ, who offers living water, as mentioned in <a href="/john/4-14.htm">John 4:14</a>, symbolizing eternal life and spiritual refreshment.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_israelites.htm">The Israelites</a></b><br>The people of God who experienced captivity and longed for restoration.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_negev.htm">The Negev</a></b><br>A desert region in southern Israel known for its arid conditions, which occasionally experiences sudden and life-giving streams.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/c/captivity.htm">Captivity</a></b><br>Refers to the period of exile, particularly the Babylonian captivity, when the Israelites were taken from their homeland.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/r/restoration.htm">Restoration</a></b><br>The act of God bringing His people back to their land and blessing them once again.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/s/streams.htm">Streams</a></b><br>Symbolic of life, refreshment, and divine intervention in a barren situation.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_power_of_prayer_for_restoration.htm">The Power of Prayer for Restoration</a></b><br>Just as the psalmist prays for restoration, believers are encouraged to seek God earnestly for renewal and revival in their lives and communities.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/h/hope_in_god's_timing.htm">Hope in God's Timing</a></b><br>The imagery of streams in the Negev reminds us that God's timing is perfect. Even in dry seasons, we can trust that He will bring refreshment and restoration.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_faithfulness_in_difficult_times.htm">God's Faithfulness in Difficult Times</a></b><br>Reflect on God's past faithfulness during times of captivity or hardship, and trust that He will continue to be faithful in the present and future.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_transformative_power_of_god.htm">The Transformative Power of God</a></b><br>Just as streams transform the desert, God's intervention can transform our lives, bringing life and growth where there was once barrenness.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/community_restoration.htm">Community Restoration</a></b><br>The prayer for restoration is communal, reminding us to pray not only for personal renewal but also for the restoration of our communities and nations.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_psalm_126.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Psalm 126</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_use_'negev_streams'_for_restoration.htm">Why does Psalm 126:4 use “streams in the Negev” as a symbol of restoration, given the region’s arid conditions and lack of evidence for such abundant water flow? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/evidence_for_psalm_126's_restoration.htm">Is there any archaeological or textual evidence confirming the miraculous restoration claimed in Psalm 126, beyond interpreted metaphor or tradition?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_reconcile_temple's_ruin_with_psalm_27_4.htm">(Psalm 27:4) How can one reconcile the desire to 'dwell in the house of the LORD' forever with the archaeological record of the ancient temple's destruction?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_to_reconcile_isaiah_51_11_and_psalm_126.htm">When Isaiah 51:11 parallels themes also found in Psalms (e.g., Psalm 126:1-2), how do we reconcile any apparent historical or literary inconsistencies between the two texts?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/psalms/126.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(4) <span class= "bld">Captivity.</span>--Here there is a change. The joy of the great Return was too great not to last on through many vicissitudes. But the poet now thinks of the many exiles still dispersed among the nations, and prays for another manifestation of Divine favour and power.<p><span class= "bld">The streams in the south.</span>--Rather, <span class= "ital">the channels in the south. </span>The allusion is to the sudden filling of the dry torrent-beds of the southern district of Palestine in the rainy season. So the poet prays that <span class= "ital">torrents </span>of the returned may pour into the desolate and deserted country. (Comp. <a href="/isaiah/49-18.htm" title="Lift up your eyes round about, and behold: all these gather themselves together, and come to you. As I live, said the LORD, you shall surely clothe you with them all, as with an ornament, and bind them on you, as a bride does.">Isaiah 49:18</a> for the same feeling, but under a different figure.) The LXX. have "in the south wind," evidently thinking of the melting of a frozen stream, instead of the filling of a dry river-bed.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/psalms/126.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 4.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Turn again our captivity, O Lord</span>. The work is not half done - not half the nation has returned. We, who occupy the land, are but "a remnant" (<a href="/ezra/9-8.htm">Ezra 9:8</a>; <a href="/nehemiah/1-3.htm">Nehemiah 1:3</a>). Bring back, we pray thee, the rest of the captives. <span class="cmt_word">As the streams in the south</span>. As thou bringest back, after the autumn rains, ample streams to the dry water-courses of the Negeb, or south country. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/psalms/126-4.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">Restore</span><br /><span class="heb">שׁוּבָ֣ה</span> <span class="translit">(šū·ḇāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7725.htm">Strong's 7725: </a> </span><span class="str2">To turn back, in, to retreat, again</span><br /><br /><span class="word">our captives,</span><br /><span class="heb">שְׁבִיתֵ֑נוּ</span> <span class="translit">(šə·ḇî·ṯê·nū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7622.htm">Strong's 7622: </a> </span><span class="str2">Exile, prisoners, a former state of prosperity</span><br /><br /><span class="word">O LORD,</span><br /><span class="heb">יְ֭הוָה</span> <span class="translit">(Yah·weh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3068.htm">Strong's 3068: </a> </span><span class="str2">LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel</span><br /><br /><span class="word">like streams</span><br /><span class="heb">כַּאֲפִיקִ֥ים</span> <span class="translit">(ka·’ă·p̄î·qîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-k | Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_650.htm">Strong's 650: </a> </span><span class="str2">Containing, a tube, a bed, valley of a, stream, a strong thing, a hero</span><br /><br /><span class="word">in the Negev.</span><br /><span class="heb">בַּנֶּֽגֶב׃</span> <span class="translit">(ban·ne·ḡeḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b, Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5045.htm">Strong's 5045: </a> </span><span class="str2">South country, the Negeb, south</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/psalms/126-4.htm">Psalm 126:4 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/psalms/126-4.htm">Psalm 126:4 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/psalms/126-4.htm">Psalm 126:4 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/psalms/126-4.htm">Psalm 126:4 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/psalms/126-4.htm">Psalm 126:4 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/psalms/126-4.htm">Psalm 126:4 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/psalms/126-4.htm">Psalm 126:4 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/psalms/126-4.htm">Psalm 126:4 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/psalms/126-4.htm">Psalm 126:4 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/psalms/126-4.htm">Psalm 126:4 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/psalms/126-4.htm">OT Poetry: Psalm 126:4 Restore our fortunes again Yahweh like (Psalm Ps Psa.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/psalms/126-3.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Psalm 126:3"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Psalm 126:3" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/psalms/126-5.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Psalm 126:5"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Psalm 126:5" /></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>