Psalm 127:5 - Printer Friendly

What does Psalm 127:5 mean?

ESV: Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

NIV: Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court.

NASB: Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; They will not be ashamed When they speak with their enemies in the gate.

CSB: Happy is the man who has filled his quiver with them. They will never be put to shame when they speak with their enemies at the city gate.

NLT: How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them! He will not be put to shame when he confronts his accusers at the city gates.

KJV: Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

NKJV: Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; They shall not be ashamed, But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.

Verse Commentary:

This continues the thought begun in the prior verse (Psalm 127:4). The father—or, by extension, any parent—of many children is blessed or happy. Children are always a blessing from God. They are not a punishment, or a problem, or a burden. At the same time, neither are children a product, meant to be mass-produced simply for the sake of making more.

Earlier, children were compared to the arrows of a warrior. The children a person has in their youth one day become their defense and support in old age. The point is not that God demands or commands that people have a "quiverfull" of offspring. That is, we are not obligated to have as many children as possible. More children, especially in an era where family was a person's only form of security in his or her later years, would have meant more blessing.

Another advantage to children is the support of family in disputes with others. The gates of a city were where business and judgment would be conducted (Deuteronomy 21:19–21; Ruth 4; Amos 5:12; Proverbs 1:21; 31:23). A person dealing with personal conflicts can expect help from family. When he faces his accusers, he will not be left abandoned or shamed. His children will support him in the dispute. They will serve as his character witnesses. In a more practical sense, in the ancient world, the more sons an Old Testament community had, the less likely an enemy would be to attack the city by entering its gate.

Although Psalm 127 honors the family with biological children, it must be pointed out that parents of adopted children are equally blessed by the Lord. So are those who pour into the lives of children who are not theirs, at all. Whether our children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, friend's children, or other children with whom we come into contact, we all have opportunity to promote the truth of the value of a child's life and help them grow in the Lord. We do this by our words, through our actions, and in our prayers. Jesus said, "Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believes in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea" (Matthew 18:5–6). Having a ministry to children is both a great privilege and an awesome responsibility. That looks different for those who have children of their own, who adopt, or who simply interact with the children of others. But it's a solemn duty, all the same.

Psalm 127:3–5 continues the theme of reliance on the Lord. However, it changes the emphasis from building and daily work to home and family. It is not only important to rely on the Lord in a career or in chores; it is especially critical as we live with our families and rear our children. Children are blessings from God.

Chapter Summary:

This psalm insists any work, whether it is constructive or defensive, is pointless when it's not aligned with God. Anything not grounded in godly truth is bound to fail, eventually. Long days spent striving to get what the Lord has not willed are just stress leading to sleepless nights. Keeping the theme of building for the future, children are not a burden but a blessing. The Lord rewards parents with children who help them achieve victory over life's challenges. The father of many children is blessed. Children help provide protection against every enemy that threatens the family's security.

Chapter Context:

Solomon wrote this "song of ascent." Like the others (Psalms 120–126, 128¬–134), it was sung by the people of Israel as they traveled to Jerusalem to observe an annual festival. The psalm points out the futility of making plans and trying to carry them out without relying on the Lord. Connected to this is the idea of children and the blessing they bring.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.

Accessed 5/7/2024 4:57:10 PM