Bible Strands
Psalms 120:5
Woe to me that I dwell in Meshech, that I live among the tents of Kedar!
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The psalmist voices distress over his prolonged residence among hostile, nomadic groups while facing imminent violent threats.
The words — גַרְתִּי (gar.ti) and שָׁכַנְתִּי (sha.khan.ti) distinguish between temporary sojourning and settled dwelling, emphasizing the psalmist’s entrenched position. אֽוֹיָה ('o.yah) introduces a sharp pronouncement of distress over this location.
The thread — Meshech appears in Genesis 10:2 as a descendant of Japheth and in Ezekiel 27:13 among foreign merchants, while Kedar is identified in Genesis 25:13 as a son of Ishmael representing nomadic tribes.
Why it lands — The text plainly states that prolonged residence in Meshech and among Kedar’s tents breeds conflict and isolation. It asks the reader to evaluate whether their own dwelling places are fostering peace or entrenching hostility.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Woe is me, that I sojourn in Mesech, that I dwell in the tents of Kedar!
Cross-references
- Genesis 10:2 The sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.
- Genesis 25:13 These are the names of the sons of Ishmael in the order of their birth: Nebaioth the firstborn of Ishmael, then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam,
- Ezekiel 27:13 Javan, Tubal, and Meshech were your merchants. They exchanged slaves and bronze utensils for your merchandise.
- Song of Solomon 1:5 I am dark, yet lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon.
- Isaiah 60:6 Caravans of camels will cover your land, young camels of Midian and Ephah, and all from Sheba will come, bearing gold and frankincense and proclaiming the praises of the LORD.
- Jeremiah 9:2 If only I had a traveler’s lodge in the wilderness, I would abandon my people and depart from them, for they are all adulterers, a crowd of faithless people.
- Ezekiel 27:21 Arabia and all the princes of Kedar were your customers, trading in lambs, rams, and goats.
- Ezekiel 38:2 “Son of man, set your face against Gog of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. Prophesy against him
- Ezekiel 39:1 “As for you, O son of man, prophesy against Gog and declare that this is what the Lord GOD says: Behold, I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal.
- Micah 7:1 Woe is me! For I am like one gathering summer fruit at the gleaning of the vineyard; there is no cluster to eat, no early fig that I crave.