Psalm 127 3

Psalm 127:3 kjv

Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

Psalm 127:3 nkjv

Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward.

Psalm 127:3 niv

Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him.

Psalm 127:3 esv

Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward.

Psalm 127:3 nlt

Children are a gift from the LORD;
they are a reward from him.

Psalm 127 verses

Psalm 127 3 Meaning

Psalm 127:3 proclaims that children are not merely an outcome of natural procreation or human desire, but are a direct, precious gift and a lasting inheritance from the Lord God. Furthermore, the ability to bear children, symbolized as "the fruit of the womb," is presented as a divine recompense or blessing, underscoring that the establishment and continuation of a family line depend entirely on God's gracious provision rather than solely on human strength or planning. This verse shifts the focus from human ambition and effort, which dominate the preceding verses, to divine sovereignty as the ultimate source of true blessing and lasting legacy within the household.

Psalm 127 3 Context

Psalm 127 is a "Song of Ascents," typically sung by pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem for the great annual feasts. It forms a pair with Psalm 128, both emphasizing the source of true blessing. The immediate context of verse 3 is the profound contrast drawn in verses 1 and 2: "Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is in vain that you rise early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep." These opening verses establish the futility of human effort, striving, and anxiety without divine enablement and blessing. Against this backdrop, verse 3 then pivots to affirm that the most fundamental and lasting human enterprise – the establishment and continuation of a household or lineage – is also completely dependent on the Lord. In ancient Israel, a large family, especially one with many sons, was seen as a sign of divine favor, security, and continuation of the family name. The inability to have children, particularly male heirs, was often considered a curse or a source of deep sorrow and even shame. This verse subtly offers a polemic against the prevalent ancient Near Eastern reliance on fertility deities or the belief that prosperity and offspring were purely the result of human strength or ritual; instead, it definitively attributes this vital aspect of life to Yahweh alone, the God of Israel, who grants this blessing to His faithful.

Psalm 127 3 Word analysis

• Behold (Hebrew: הִנֵּה, hinnêh): This is an emphatic interjection, meaning "look!" or "indeed." It draws immediate attention to the significant truth that follows, signaling a crucial revelation or insight that warrants special consideration.
• children (Hebrew: בָּנִים, bānim): Refers to offspring, sons, or descendants. In the ancient Hebrew context, the emphasis was often on sons, as they carried on the family name and inheritance. The use of the plural emphasizes multiplicity and future generations.
• a heritage (Hebrew: נַחֲלָה, naḥălâ): This word typically refers to an "inheritance" or "possession," especially land received by divine apportionment (e.g., the Promised Land distributed to the tribes of Israel). Here, its application to children elevates their status from mere family members to a lasting, valuable endowment. It implies that children are not just personal property but a divine trust, an enduring gift from God that lasts through generations and brings lasting benefits. It's not something earned, but something bequeathed.
• from the Lord (Hebrew: מֵיְהוָה, me-YHWH): Crucially identifies Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel, as the exclusive and ultimate source of children. This phrase directly counters any notion that offspring are a result of chance, human strength, fertility rites, or pagan deities. It underscores divine sovereignty over human procreation and family establishment.
• the fruit of the womb (Hebrew: פְּרִי הַבֶּטֶן, pěrî ha-beṭen): A common biblical idiom for offspring or descendants, literally "fruit of the belly." This phrase highlights the natural process of birth, yet places it squarely within God's creative and enabling power. It acknowledges the biological reality but attributes the flourishing of that reality to God's hand.
• a reward (Hebrew: שָׂכָר, śākār): This word means "wage," "payment," or "recompense." Here, it's not a wage for human labor or striving, as if children are earned by specific actions. Instead, it implies a desirable and precious outcome, a generous recompense given by God's favor. It suggests that children are a blessing given by God, especially to those who trust in Him, as a testimony to His benevolence and faithfulness, contrasting with the "vain toil" mentioned earlier in the Psalm. It signifies a dividend of a relationship with God.
• "Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord": This phrase combines the attention-grabbing interjection with the core theological statement. It asserts that human procreation, the very perpetuation of families, is fundamentally within God's divine gift economy, much like the land inherited by Israel. It reframes the conventional view of family-building from human achievement to divine bestowal.
• "the fruit of the womb a reward": This parallel statement reinforces the divine source and beneficent nature of children. By calling the "fruit of the womb" a "reward," the Psalmist emphasizes that progeny are not burdensome but are a highly desirable and beneficial return on trust in God's providence. This divine recompense often relates to faithfulness, obedience, or trusting reliance upon God, aligning with the Psalm's theme of finding rest and true prosperity in Him alone.

Psalm 127 3 Bonus section

The concept of śākār (reward) in this verse differs significantly from ordinary wages earned for work. While śākār often denotes recompense for labor, here it functions as a divine gratuity or blessing given not necessarily as compensation for human merit, but as a result of God's character and His covenant relationship. It implies a generous payment, an unearned favour, especially in the context of divine blessings for those who fear Him and rely on Him (as depicted in the entire Psalm). The structure of Psalm 127 is sapiential, drawing parallels between the futility of building and guarding without God, and the vanity of building a family legacy without His involvement, thereby presenting children as the truest form of generational success only when bestowed by Him. In a culture where having numerous sons ensured societal status, economic stability (more hands for labor, old-age support), and protection (the 'arrows' of future verses), identifying children as specifically "from the Lord" elevated them beyond practical benefits to a spiritual indicator of divine favor.

Psalm 127 3 Commentary

Psalm 127:3 stands as a profound theological statement, asserting God's sovereignty over the most intimate and fundamental aspects of human life: the formation of a family and the continuation of generations. In a world preoccupied with human achievement and control, this verse pivots by declaring children not as a consequence of mere biology or careful planning, but as a direct divine endowment. The terms "heritage" (naḥălâ) and "reward" (śākār) are key, signifying that children are an enduring, precious possession given by God, a mark of His favor and blessing upon a trusting household, in stark contrast to the futile striving and anxiety highlighted in the preceding verses. This challenges self-reliance, directing all honor and dependence to Yahweh as the ultimate source of fruitfulness and legacy. The verse thereby encourages a perspective where raising children becomes an act of stewardship over a divine gift, prompting parents to view their role with gratitude and responsibility to the Giver.Examples: A couple struggling with infertility may find solace that children are from the Lord, not a deficit on their part; a family celebrating a new birth can acknowledge the baby as a true blessing from God; parents can view their daily task of raising children as cultivating a precious inheritance given by God.