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Psalm 122 · a question people ask

Who is speaking in Psalm 122, and to whom?

In the text

The title says "A Song of Ascents. By David." (122:1), and the psalm names no other speaker. It speaks as I: "I was glad" (122:1), "I will now say" (122:8), "I will seek your good" (122:9). It speaks as we too: "Our feet are standing within your gates, Jerusalem!" (122:2), and "the LORD our God" (122:9). Then it speaks to Jerusalem itself: "within your gates" (122:2), "Those who love you" (122:6), "Peace be within you" (122:8), "I will seek your good" (122:9). In Hebrew every you and your in those verses is feminine singular, and the psalm's word for city in 122:3 is feminine too. Between them it turns to others: in Hebrew Pray (122:6) is plural, a call to more than one person. These notes don't say more about the speaker than the title and the psalm do.

The verses

“A Song of Ascents. By David. I was glad when they said to me, “Let’s go to the LORD’s house!” Our feet are standing within your gates, Jerusalem! Jerusalem is built as a city that is compact together,”
Psalm 122:1-3 · World English Bible
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Those who love you will prosper. Peace be within your walls, and prosperity within your palaces. For my brothers’ and companions’ sakes, I will now say, “Peace be within you.” For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your good.”
Psalm 122:6-9 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Psalm 122

Psalm 122: Let's go to the LORD's house

In Hebrew "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem" (122:6) is sha'alu shelom yerushalayim: the verb is ask, and with shalom it is how Joseph "asked them of their welfare" (Genesis 43:27). And the psalm opens with "the LORD’s house" (122:1) and closes with "the house of the LORD our God" (122:9).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions