Bible Strands
Psalms 122:1
A song of ascents. Of David. I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD.”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — David composes this pilgrimage song while addressing fellow travelers who propose a journey to Jerusalem. The moment captures the group's arrival as they stand ready at the city gates.
The words — The verb שָׂמַחְתִּי (śāmaḥtî) literally translates as “I rejoiced,” and בֵּית יְהוָה (bêṯ YHWH) denotes “the house of Yahweh.” The jussive form נֵלֵךְ (nēlēḵ) renders directly as “let us go,” recording the group's proposed movement.
The thread — The proposal to approach God’s dwelling echoes the prophetic calls in Isaiah 2:3 and Micah 4:2 for nations to ascend to the house of the God of Jacob. It also aligns with the pilgrim’s expressed preference for God’s courts in Psalm 84:10.
Why it lands — The text records a concrete moment of communal readiness rather than abstract devotion. It asks the reader to treat joy as a direct response to shared obedience and physical approach to God’s dwelling.
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
A Song of degrees of David. I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.
Cross-references
- Psalms 84:10 For better is one day in Your courts than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
- Micah 4:2 And many nations will come and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways, so that we may walk in His paths.” For the law will go forth from Zion and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
- Isaiah 2:3 And many peoples will come and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways so that we may walk in His paths.” For the law will go forth from Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
- Psalms 84:1 For the choirmaster. According to Gittith. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. How lovely is Your dwelling place, O LORD of Hosts!
- Psalms 128:1 A song of ascents. Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in His ways!
- Psalms 134:1 A song of ascents. Come, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD who serve by night in the house of the LORD!
- Psalms 120:1 A song of ascents. In my distress I cried to the LORD, and He answered me.
- Psalms 121:1 A song of ascents. I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?
- Zechariah 8:21 and the residents of one city will go to another, saying: ‘Let us go at once to plead before the LORD and to seek the LORD of Hosts. I myself am going.’
- Psalms 123:1 A song of ascents. I lift up my eyes to You, the One enthroned in heaven.