Psalms 123:3Have mercy on us, Yahweh, have mercy on us, for we have endured much contempt.
The setting
Jerusalem temple steps, ~500 BC. Jewish pilgrims who've returned from Babylonian exile, still facing mockery from surrounding nations...
The emotion here: worn down by relentless social pressure
The original word
racham (רַחַם) — mercy, but literally 'womb-love' — the protective instinct of a mother
Why it matters
The word 'contempt' appears twice, showing this wasn't occasional teasing but sustained social persecution
Read with care
What most readers miss in Psalms 123:3
The repetition 'Have mercy... have mercy' shows breathless desperation, not calm request
Common misconceptionMany think this is about general suffering, but 'contempt' specifically means being looked down upon and dismissed by others — it's social rejection.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Psalms 123:3
Bible Genome reading
Psalms 123:3 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Psalms 123:3 comes from the book of Psalms, written during the United Kingdom period. These words are attributed to unknown. The dominant emotion in this verse is seeking, with a comfort power of 80% and a tone that is lamenting. It belongs to the psalm genre of biblical literature. Key themes include mercy, suffering, persecution. Notable phrases: Have mercy on us; endured much contempt. This verse is a prayer.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same seeking
“Pray without ceasing.”
— 1 Thessalonians 5:17
“But let justice roll on like rivers, and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
— Amos 5:24
“Be it far from you to do things like that, to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be like the wicked. May that …”
— Genesis 18:25
“Call to me, and I will answer you, and will show you great things, and difficult, which you don't know.”
— Jeremiah 33:3
“Forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evi…”
— Luke 11:4
Your reflection
What does Psalms 123:3 mean to you, today?
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