Psalms 127–5
Psalm 127:1-5
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Psa.127.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- שיר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- המעלות: NOUN,f,pl,def
- לשלמה: PREP+NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אם: CONJ
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- לא: PART_NEG
- יבנה: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- בית: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שוא: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עמלו: VERB,qal,perf,3,pl
- בוניו: NOUN,m,pl,abs+3ms
- בו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- אם: CONJ
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- לא: PART_NEG
- ישמר: VERB,qal,imprf,3,m,sg
- עיר: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- שוא: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שקד: VERB,qal,ptcp,NA,m,sg
- שומר: PART,qal,ptcp,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Matthew 7:24-27 (structural): Jesus' parable of the wise and foolish builders uses building imagery to show that success depends on a right foundation (obedience to the Lord), echoing the idea that human building apart from God's will is futile.
- 1 Corinthians 3:10-11 (structural): Paul speaks of ministry work as building and insists no one can lay a foundation other than that which God has laid (Christ), resonating with Psalm 127's claim that the Lord must build the house.
- Proverbs 21:31 (thematic): Proverbs contrasts human preparation (readying the horse for battle) with the ultimate outcome belonging to the Lord, paralleling Psalm 127's theme that human effort without God's blessing is in vain.
- Proverbs 3:5-6 (thematic): Calls for trusting and acknowledging the LORD so he directs one's paths; thematically aligned with Psalm 127's emphasis on dependence on God's guidance and provision rather than solely on human effort.
Alternative generated candidates
- A song of ascents. Of Solomon. Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain; unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman keeps watch in vain.
- A song of ascents. For Solomon. Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain; unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman keeps vigil in vain.
Psa.127.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- שוא: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לכם: PREP,2,m,pl
- משכימי: PART,qal,part,m,pl,abs
- קום: VERB,qal,impv,2,m,sg
- מאחרי: PREP
- שבת: VERB,qal,inf
- אכלי: NOUN,m,pl,cs
- לחם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- העצבים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- כן: ADV
- יתן: VERB,qal,imperf,3,m,sg
- לידידו: PREP+NOUN+PRON,3,m,sg
- שנא: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
Parallels
- Psalm 127:1 (structural): Immediate context: verse 1 frames human labor (building, guarding) as futile apart from the Lord, setting up verse 2's claim that anxious toil cannot substitute for God's provision and rest.
- Psalm 4:8 (verbal): Both verses link God’s protection with peaceful sleep: 'I will both lie down and sleep' (Ps 4:8) echoes Ps 127:2's promise that God gives sleep to his beloved.
- Psalm 3:5 (verbal): David attributes his ability to 'lie down and sleep' to the LORD sustaining him—paralleling Ps 127:2's theme that God provides rest to the faithful.
- Proverbs 3:24 (thematic): Promises of undisturbed sleep for the trusting righteous ('When you lie down, you will not be afraid... your sleep will be sweet') resonate with Ps 127:2’s assurance of God-given rest rather than anxious toil.
- Matthew 6:25-34 (thematic): Jesus' teaching against anxious toil for food and clothes and his call to trust God's provision parallels Ps 127:2's critique of anxious labor and its emphasis on trusting God for daily needs and rest.
Alternative generated candidates
- It is in vain for you to rise early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of anxious toil; for to his beloved he gives sleep.
- It is in vain for you—those who rise early and those who stay up late, who eat the bread of anxious toil; for to his beloved he gives sleep.
Psa.127.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- הנה: PART
- נחלת: NOUN,f,sg,const
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- בנים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- שכר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- פרי: NOUN,m,sg,cs
- הבטן: NOUN,f,sg,def
Parallels
- Psalm 127:4-5 (structural): Immediate continuation of the same psalm; develops the metaphor begun in v.3 by comparing children to arrows and the blessing of a man with many children.
- Psalm 128:3 (thematic): Portrays children as the fruit of a fruitful household—children as blessings and ‘plants’ around the home, echoing Ps 127’s theme of offspring as divine gift.
- Deuteronomy 7:13 (verbal): Uses the phrase ‘fruit of your womb’ and promises children and offspring as a blessing from the LORD—verbal and theological parallel about children as Yahweh’s gift.
- Psalm 113:9 (thematic): States that the LORD gives the barren a home and makes her a joyful mother—emphasizes children as a gracious gift from God, echoing Ps 127’s portrayal of offspring as the LORD’s heritage.
- Proverbs 17:6 (thematic): Speaks of children and grandchildren as a crown and glory—reflects the wisdom tradition’s view of offspring as honor and reward, thematically resonant with Ps 127:3.
Alternative generated candidates
- Behold, children are a heritage of the LORD; the fruit of the womb is a reward.
- Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward.
Psa.127.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- כחצים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ביד: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- גבור: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- כן: ADV
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- הנעורים: NOUN,m,pl,def
Parallels
- Psalm 127:3 (verbal): Immediate context: verse 3 declares children to be a heritage from the LORD, preparing the same thought that children are like arrows in a warrior's hand (v.4).
- Psalm 127:5 (structural): Direct continuation of the metaphor: verse 5 completes the image—one who has a quiver full of such 'arrows' (children) is blessed and secure before enemies.
- Psalm 128:3 (thematic): Similar blessing-theme about children as a sign of God's favor: 'Your wife will be like a fruitful vine... your children like olive shoots around your table.'
- Psalm 144:12-15 (thematic): Parallel prosperity imagery for offspring—sons as plants and daughters as pillars—culminating in the blessing of a flourishing family, echoing the positive valuation of children in Ps 127:4.
- Genesis 15:5 (thematic): Abrahamic promise uses a figurative image for numerous descendants ('as the stars of heaven'), comparable to Ps 127's metaphor portraying children as valuable, multiplied assets for a household.
Alternative generated candidates
- Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the sons of youth.
- Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the sons born in one's youth.
Psa.127.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- אשרי: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- הגבר: ADJ,m,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- מלא: ADJ,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- אשפתו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+3ms
- מהם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
- לא: PART_NEG
- יבשו: VERB,qal,imprf,3,m,pl
- כי: CONJ
- ידברו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- אויבים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- בשער: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Psalm 127:3 (verbal): Immediate context: declares children are a heritage from the LORD, framing verse 5’s blessing of a 'full quiver'.
- Psalm 127:4 (verbal): Direct verbal/image parallel: children compared to arrows in a warrior’s hand—explains the quiver metaphor of v.5.
- Proverbs 17:6 (thematic): Shared theme of descendants as a positive legacy: 'Children’s children are a crown to the aged.'
- Psalm 128:3-4 (thematic): Similar family-blessing language (children as fruitful shoots) and the social/public blessing of the godly man in the gate.
- Psalm 144:12-15 (thematic): Describes sons and daughters as signs of blessing and prosperity for a household and a people, echoing the social honor in v.5 (standing before enemies in the gate).
Alternative generated candidates
- Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; he shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies at the gate.
- Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; he will not be put to shame when he contends with his enemies at the gate.
A song of ascents. Of Solomon. Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain; unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman keeps vigil in vain.
It is vain for you—those who rise early and stay up late, who eat the bread of anxious toil; for to his beloved he gives sleep.
Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth.
Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; they shall not be put to shame when they speak with their enemies at the gate.