The Meaning of Psalms 125:5 Explained

Psalms 125:5

KJV: As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the LORD shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity: but peace shall be upon Israel.

YLT: As to those turning to their crooked ways, Jehovah causeth them to go with workers of iniquity. Peace on Israel!

Darby: But as for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, Jehovah will lead them forth with the workers of iniquity. Peace be upon Israel!

ASV: But as for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, Jehovah will lead them forth with the workers of iniquity. Peace be upon Israel.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

As for such as turn aside  unto their crooked ways,  the LORD  shall lead them forth  with the workers  of iniquity:  [but] peace  [shall be] upon Israel. 

What does Psalms 125:5 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 125:1-5 - The Christian's Fortress
Here are three instances of escaped peril. In Psalms 124:3 is an allusion to Korah and his company; see Numbers 16:32-33. Why are we spared when others have been overwhelmed by swift disasters? In Psalms 124:4 and Psalms 124:5, as the morning breaks, we see the proud waters that have burst their banks and are inundating the low-lying lands. Why did our house escape? In Psalms 124:6 and Psalms 124:7 we have the metaphor of the ensnared bird and as the fluttering fledgling, when freed, leaps into the sunny air, so do we rejoice when God frees us. But why should we escape when so many never break loose?
Psalms 125:1-5
Jerusalem lies on a broad and high mountain range, shut in by two deep valleys. But the surrounding hills are higher, and made her almost impregnable to the methods of ancient warfare. They who trust in God live within ramparts of His loving care for evermore. The scepter of evil may sometimes cast its gaunt shadow over their lives, but it is always arrested in time. Crooked ways are by-paths. The commandments of God are a public thoroughfare. Keep on the highway and no hurt shall assail you. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 125

1  The safety of such as trust in God
4  A prayer for the godly, and against the wicked

What do the individual words in Psalms 125:5 mean?

And as for such as turn aside to their crooked ways shall lead them away Yahweh with the workers of iniquity Peace [be] upon Israel
וְהַמַּטִּ֤ים עַֽקַלְקַלּוֹתָ֗ם יוֹלִיכֵ֣ם יְ֭הוָה אֶת־ פֹּעֲלֵ֣י הָאָ֑וֶן שָׁ֝ל֗וֹם עַל־ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל

וְהַמַּטִּ֤ים  And  as  for  such  as  turn  aside 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine plural
Root: נָטָה 
Sense: to stretch out, extend, spread out, pitch, turn, pervert, incline, bend, bow.
עַֽקַלְקַלּוֹתָ֗ם  to  their  crooked  ways 
Parse: Adjective, feminine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: עֲקַלְקָל  
Sense: winding, devious, crooked.
יוֹלִיכֵ֣ם  shall  lead  them  away 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine singular, third person masculine plural
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
יְ֭הוָה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
פֹּעֲלֵ֣י  the  workers 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct
Root: פָּעַל  
Sense: to do, make.
הָאָ֑וֶן  of  iniquity 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָוֶן 
Sense: trouble, wickedness, sorrow.
שָׁ֝ל֗וֹם  Peace  [be] 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: שָׁלֹום  
Sense: completeness, soundness, welfare, peace.
עַל־  upon 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
יִשְׂרָאֵֽל  Israel 
Parse: 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.