Psalm 113 9

Psalm 113:9 kjv

He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD.

Psalm 113:9 nkjv

He grants the barren woman a home, Like a joyful mother of children. Praise the LORD!

Psalm 113:9 niv

He settles the childless woman in her home as a happy mother of children. Praise the LORD.

Psalm 113:9 esv

He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children. Praise the LORD!

Psalm 113:9 nlt

He gives the childless woman a family,
making her a happy mother.
Praise the LORD!

Psalm 113 verses

Psalm 113 9 Meaning

Psalm 113:9 reveals the Lord's compassionate and transformative power, specifically in overturning the natural human condition of barrenness. It declares that God "settles" or "establishes" the woman who previously had no children, enabling her to reside in her home as a joyful mother of many children. This act signifies divine intervention, bringing hope, blessing, and immense joy to those considered unblessed in ancient society. The verse culminates in a call to praise, affirming that such a profound reversal of fortune is a direct demonstration of God's power and benevolence.

Psalm 113 9 Context

Psalm 113 is the first of the "Egyptian Hallel" Psalms (113-118), traditionally sung during Passover, Sukkot, and Shavuot. This psalm opens with a fervent call to universal praise for the Lord's name (vv. 1-4). It then transitions to highlighting God's incomparable greatness, both His transcendent majesty—being high above all nations and heavens (vv. 4-5)—and His immanent condescension. While God is utterly supreme and dwells on high, He "stoops down" (v. 6) to regard and attend to humanity, especially the humble and the needy. Verse 9 is the culminating example of this divine condescension, demonstrating how God elevates the poor, the needy, and specifically, how He reverses the natural state of barrenness into joyful motherhood, bringing honor and delight where there was previously emptiness. This acts as a powerful witness to His compassionate sovereignty over all aspects of human life.

Psalm 113 9 Word analysis

• He settles / He makes to dwell (מֹושִׁיבִית - moshiywviyt):

  • This is a Hiphil participle, causative. It signifies God's active, intentional intervention, not a passive observation or a natural process. God Himself causes her to dwell, to be established. The verb conveys establishing, dwelling, setting down, or causing someone to be a resident. It denotes bringing stability and permanence to her state.

• the childless woman / the barren woman (הַבַּיִת - habbayit):

  • Literally "of the house" or "the dweller of the house." In this context, it is an idiom, often understood as a desolate woman confined to her home, marked by the lack of children. Without children, especially in ancient societies, a woman lacked full status and joy within her own household. The common Hebrew word for "barren" is 'aqarah (עֲקָרָה), but the use of habbayit here poetically and powerfully paints the picture of a woman whose home is incomplete and empty because of her barrenness. The Septuagint accurately translates it as "στεῖραν" (steiran), meaning "barren."

• as a joyful mother of children (אֵם הַבָּנִים שְׂמֵחָה - 'em habbaniyim smeikhah):

  • אֵם ('em): Mother.
  • הַבָּנִים (habbaniyim): Literally "the sons," but typically refers to children generally in Hebrew usage, particularly in contexts of fruitfulness.
  • שְׂמֵחָה (smeikhah): Joyful, happy. This highlights not merely the biological act of childbirth but the deep, emotional, and social fulfillment that accompanies it. Motherhood, especially of multiple children, was a profound blessing and source of joy in ancient Israel.

• Praise the Lord! (הַלְלוּ יָהּ - Hallelu Yah):

  • This concluding phrase is the signature "Hallelujah." It serves as an exclamation of praise to God, specifically YHWH, reinforcing that this extraordinary act of transforming barrenness into joyful motherhood is a direct testament to His omnipotent and compassionate character, thus demanding the utmost adoration.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "He settles the childless woman... as a joyful mother of children": This entire phrase encapsulates the core message of reversal and divine intervention. It highlights a radical change of status and condition, from one of emptiness and perceived stigma to one of fullness, honor, and deep gladness. It's a miracle that only God can perform, showcasing His power over the very source of life and His deep concern for human yearning. This transformation embodies the essence of God "raising the needy from the ash heap" (Ps 113:7), extending that principle to personal, familial blessings.
  • "The childless woman... a joyful mother of children": The stark contrast emphasizes the magnitude of God's act. Her state of "barrenness" or "emptiness of the house" is completely overturned to a state of being "full of children" and radiating joy. This literary parallelism amplifies the impact of God's redemptive work.

Psalm 113 9 Bonus section

• Polemics against contemporary beliefs: In the ancient Near East, fertility was often attributed to various local deities or natural forces. This Psalm implicitly makes a polemic against such beliefs by unequivocally attributing the power to grant children and overcome barrenness to YHWH alone, asserting His exclusive sovereignty over life and blessing.
• Messianic and Christological Echoes: Many of the prominent matriarchs in the lineage of Jesus (Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, Hannah, Elizabeth) were initially barren women whose wombs were supernaturally opened by God. This establishes a pattern of God intervening to bring forth His purposes, often through what seems impossible from a human perspective. This ultimately foreshadows the miraculous birth of Jesus to the Virgin Mary, and further, the spiritual fruitfulness that comes from Christ (the "barren" Gentiles becoming numerous in faith through the church, as referenced by Isa 54:1 and Gal 4:27).
• Beyond physical motherhood: While rooted in literal childbirth, the verse holds broader spiritual significance. It symbolizes God's ability to take any "barren" aspect of a person's life—be it a lack of purpose, hope, joy, or spiritual fruit—and fill it with divine presence, establishing a life rich in blessings and spiritual offspring, ultimately leading to profound joy.

Psalm 113 9 Commentary

Psalm 113:9 is a powerful theological statement affirming God's unique ability to transcend human limitations and sorrow. It reveals His profound compassion for the marginalized and His capacity to bring about impossible transformations. In a society where barrenness often brought shame and distress, God's intervention not only brings forth life but also establishes the woman within her home with honor and abounding joy. This act is not just a physical miracle but a holistic restoration, impacting identity, family, and social standing. The "joyful mother of children" serves as a vivid emblem of God's abundant blessing. The concluding "Praise the Lord!" underscores that such a display of benevolent power demands continuous and fervent adoration. This verse reminds us that God delights in taking that which is seemingly barren—whether physically, spiritually, or situationally—and transforming it into something gloriously fruitful, for His praise.