The Psalms

Psalms 123

Psalms, Book V · KJV

Each highlighted word includes its Hebrew or Aramaic term, transliteration, definition, and meaning in the verse. Hover to explore; click or tap to lock.

¹Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens.

²Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God, until that he have mercy upon us.

³Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt.

⁴Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, and with the contempt of the proud.

Psalms 123:1–4

Psalms 123:1

lift

Plain meaning

To lift, carry, bear, or take away in the stated expression.

KJV word as shown: lift
Original Hebrew term: נָשָׂא
Transliteration: nāśāʾ

Hebrew definition

Lift, carry, bear, or take away. The object and construction distinguish physical carrying from bearing responsibility or taking away wrongdoing. Forgiveness language requires its full sin-related expression; the broad verb alone does not mean forgiveness in every ordinary lifting action.

Meaning in this verse

In “Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens”, “lift” expresses to lift, carry, bear, or take away in the stated expression. The psalm's prayer, praise, or reflection establishes the contextual use. The complete poetic line supplies the relationship and comparison intended.

Dictionary forms are shown from the Hebrew and Aramaic text behind the KJV. Where English expresses a phrase or grammatical construction rather than one separate word, that is stated plainly. These definitions explain lexical meaning and contextual usage. Hebrew and Aramaic forms and morphology: Eep Talstra Centre for Bible and Computer, BHSA (CC BY-NC 4.0).

The text stays untouched.
Every explanation is kept clearly separate from Scripture.

Psalms 123

Psalms 123 · KJV