The Meaning of Psalms 122:4 Explained

Psalms 122:4

KJV: Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the LORD.

YLT: For thither have tribes gone up, Tribes of Jah, companies of Israel, To give thanks to the name of Jehovah.

Darby: Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of Jah, a testimony to Israel, to give thanks unto the name of Jehovah.

ASV: Whither the tribes go up, even the tribes of Jehovah, For an ordinance for Israel, To give thanks unto the name of Jehovah.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Whither  the tribes  go up,  the tribes  of the LORD,  unto the testimony  of Israel,  to give thanks  unto the name  of the LORD. 

What does Psalms 122:4 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalm 122:1-9 - Joy In God's House
As in the other psalms of the series there is here alternation between soloist and choir. In Psalms 122:1 the soloist rejoices in the proposal made to go on a pilgrimage. The chorus announces that the journey is already accomplished, Psalms 122:2-5. The Church of Christ is compacted, built together, by His tears, and blood, and risen power. In Psalms 122:6, the soloist bids the company salute Jerusalem, r.v. margin, and the chorus replies. In Psalms 122:7-9 the soloist announces three reasons why they should pray for Jerusalem's peace: They who love her prosper; those who reside within her precincts are our brethren and companions; hers is the house of God builded for His habitation.
Psalms 123:1-4
The life of the pilgrim is full of sharp contrasts. Yesterday he was rejoicing in Jerusalem and sharing her peace; today he is grieved with the contempt of her foes. Hence this tiny psalm, which has been compared to "a sigh, an upward look, a sigh." The oriental servant is an adept at reading the meaning of his master's slightest gesture, Psalms 123:2. Let us live, as our Savior did, with our eye fixed on the least indication of God's will. See Acts 16:1-10. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalm 122

1  David professes his joy for the church
6  And prays for the peace thereof

What do the individual words in Psalms 122:4 mean?

where go up the tribes the tribes of YAH to the Testimony of Israel to give thanks to the name of Yahweh
שֶׁשָּׁ֨ם עָל֪וּ שְׁבָטִ֡ים שִׁבְטֵי־ יָ֭הּ עֵד֣וּת לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל לְ֝הֹד֗וֹת לְשֵׁ֣ם יְהוָֽה

שֶׁשָּׁ֨ם  where 
Parse: Pronoun, relative, Adverb
Root: שָׁם  
Sense: there, thither.
עָל֪וּ  go  up 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: סָלַק 
Sense: to go up, ascend, climb.
שְׁבָטִ֡ים  the  tribes 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: שֵׁבֶט  
Sense: rod, staff, branch, offshoot, club, sceptre, tribe.
שִׁבְטֵי־  the  tribes 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: שֵׁבֶט  
Sense: rod, staff, branch, offshoot, club, sceptre, tribe.
יָ֭הּ  of  YAH 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יָהּ  
Sense: Jah (Jehovah in the shortened form).
עֵד֣וּת  to  the  Testimony 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: עֵדוּת  
Sense: testimony.
לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל  of  Israel 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
לְ֝הֹד֗וֹת  to  give  thanks 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct
Root: יָדָה 
Sense: to throw, shoot, cast.
לְשֵׁ֣ם  to  the  name 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: שֵׁם  
Sense: name.
יְהוָֽה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.