“Neither do they which go by say, The blessing of the Lord be upon you: we bless you in the name of the Lord.”
And those who pass by do not say, The blessing of the Lord be upon you! We bless you in the name of the Lord! The final curse-like wish denies the enemy even basic human courtesy—the standard greeting/blessing offered to passersby. In ancient Near Eastern culture, such blessing-utterances were fundamental expressions of goodwill and divine favor. To be denied this blessing removes one from the circle of community and covenant. The repetition of blessing language emphasizes the totality of their exclusion; they will not be incorporated into any community of faith or ordinary human fellowship. This final verse completes the movement from oppression to vindication, suggesting that enemies' ultimate punishment is social and spiritual isolation, disconnection from blessing and community.
Church Fathers on Psalms 129:8
1. The Psalm which we have sung is short: but as it is written in the Gospel of Zacchæus that he was “little of stature,” Luke 19:2-9 but mighty in works; as it is written of that widow who cast two mites into the treasury, little was the money, but great was her charity; Mark 12:42, 44 thus also this Psalm, if you count the words, is short; if you weigh the sentiments, is great....Let the Spirit of God speak, let It speak to us, let It sing to us; whether we wish or wish not…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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