The Meaning of Psalms 126:2 Explained

Psalms 126:2

KJV: 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.

YLT: Then filled with laughter is our mouth, And our tongue with singing, Then do they say among nations, 'Jehovah did great things with these.'

Darby: Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with rejoicing: then said they among the nations, Jehovah hath done great things for them.

ASV: Then was our mouth filled with laughter, And our tongue with singing: Then said they among the nations, Jehovah hath done great things for them.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Psalms 126:2 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 126:1-6 - "the Lord Hath Done Great Things For Us"
The circumstances under which this psalm was written are evident upon its face. The exiles, lately back from Babylon, are rejoicing in the gladness of their return. But their joy was not complete so long as the larger portion of their nation were still in bondage. The metaphor of streams in the South is derived from the rapidity with which dry water-courses become flushed with torrent streams. The returned exiles longed to see the vacant solitudes of their land suddenly filled with returning crowds. They asked that their tears might be the seeds of mighty harvests. Let not the Christian worker count as lost the seeds he sows or the tears in which he steeps them. That doubtless is God's guarantee.
Psalms 127:1-5
This psalm was probably suggested by Ezra's efforts to rebuild the Temple. We cannot succeed apart from God, but must be His fellow-workers. See Proverbs 10:22. The bread of trouble is that which is hardly obtained, where labor is severe, and the results slow. Beware of needless anxiety. As builders, Psalms 127:1, look to God for plan, materials, and co-operation. As watchers, Psalms 127:1, commit all keeping to God's watch and ward. As toilers, Psalms 127:2, have a little more quiet rest and ease of mind. As parents, Psalms 127:3-5, do not shrink from parental responsibilities; when you are old, your children will answer for you. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 126

1  The church celebrating her incredible return out of captivity
4  Prays for and prophesies the good success thereof

What do the individual words in Psalms 126:2 mean?

Then was filled with laughter our mouth and our tongue with singing they said among the nations great things Yahweh has done with these
אָ֤ז יִמָּלֵ֪א שְׂח֡וֹק פִּינוּ֮ וּלְשׁוֹנֵ֪נוּ רִ֫נָּ֥ה יֹאמְר֣וּ בַגּוֹיִ֑ם הִגְדִּ֥יל יְ֝הוָ֗ה לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת עִם־ אֵֽלֶּה

יִמָּלֵ֪א  was  filled 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מָלֵא 
Sense: to fill, be full.
שְׂח֡וֹק  with  laughter 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: שְׂחֹוק  
Sense: laughter, laughing stock, mocking, derision.
פִּינוּ֮  our  mouth 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common plural
Root: פֶּה  
Sense: mouth.
וּלְשׁוֹנֵ֪נוּ  and  our  tongue 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, common singular construct, first person common plural
Root: לָשֹׁון  
Sense: tongue.
רִ֫נָּ֥ה  with  singing 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: רִנָּה  
Sense: ringing cry.
יֹאמְר֣וּ  they  said 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
בַגּוֹיִ֑ם  among  the  nations 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: גֹּוי 
Sense: nation, people.
הִגְדִּ֥יל  great  things 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: גָּדַל  
Sense: to grow, become great or important, promote, make powerful, praise, magnify, do great things.
יְ֝הוָ֗ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת  has  done 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
אֵֽלֶּה  these 
Parse: Pronoun, common plural
Root: אֵהֶל 
Sense: these.