Psalm 128 5

Psalm 128:5 kjv

The LORD shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.

Psalm 128:5 nkjv

The LORD bless you out of Zion, And may you see the good of Jerusalem All the days of your life.

Psalm 128:5 niv

May the LORD bless you from Zion; may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life.

Psalm 128:5 esv

The LORD bless you from Zion! May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life!

Psalm 128:5 nlt

May the LORD continually bless you from Zion.
May you see Jerusalem prosper as long as you live.

Psalm 128 verses

Psalm 128 5 Meaning

Psalm 128:5 is a direct blessing and prayer for the person who fears the Lord, as described in the preceding verses. It declares that divine favor and all good things will flow to them directly from Zion, the holy city where God's presence dwells. Furthermore, it expresses the hope and assurance that such an individual will witness the enduring well-being, prosperity, and peace of Jerusalem throughout their entire life. This verse culminates the promise of the covenant blessing, extending it beyond the individual and their family to encompass the welfare of God's chosen city.

Psalm 128 5 Context

Psalm 128 is one of the "Songs of Ascents" (Psalms 120-134), traditionally sung by pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem for the three annual festivals. This particular psalm celebrates the blessings promised to those who "fear the LORD and walk in his ways." The chapter begins by setting forth the blessed state of the individual—joyful labor, a fruitful wife, and children like olive shoots. It then transitions from the individual and his household (vv. 1-4) to a prayer and declaration of blessings emanating from God's presence in Zion and extending to the national well-being of Jerusalem (vv. 5-6). Thus, verse 5 serves as the transition point, expanding the scope of God's blessing from the personal sphere to the communal, civic, and spiritual prosperity linked to the capital city. The historical context reflects a desire for the stability and well-being of the restored community in Jerusalem after exile, yearning for the fulfillment of covenant promises tied to God's presence.

Psalm 128 5 Word analysis

• The LORD (יְהוָה, YHWH): This is the Tetragrammaton, God's personal, covenant name. It signifies His eternal, self-existent nature and His unwavering faithfulness to His covenant people. The blessing in this verse comes directly from the covenant-keeping God, not from generic deities or human efforts.
• bless (יְבָרֶכְךָ, yəvarekəḵā): From the Hebrew root barak. It signifies the bestowal of divine favor, often encompassing prosperity, fruitfulness, well-being, peace, and spiritual good. It implies God's active intervention to confer good upon the recipient. The verbal form here indicates a continuous, ongoing action of blessing.
• you (־ךָ, ka): Refers to the individual pilgrim, the "man who fears the LORD" described in the opening verses of the Psalm, ensuring the personal nature of this blessing.
• from Zion (מִצִּיּוֹן, mitstsayyōn): Zion refers to Jerusalem, specifically Mount Zion, where the Temple and the Ark of the Covenant were located, signifying God's dwelling place. This phrase establishes the source and spiritual epicenter of the blessing. It implicitly challenges the notion that blessings come from pagan altars or other cultic sites; rather, genuine and holistic blessing flows from the true God present in His chosen dwelling.
• May you see (וּרְאֵה, ū rəʾēh): This is a jussive form of the verb "to see," functioning as an imperative expressing a wish or prayer. It conveys the earnest desire and expectation that the individual will indeed witness and experience the forthcoming blessing.
• the prosperity (בְּטוּב, bəṭūḇ): From the Hebrew root ṭob. While often translated as "goodness" or "well-being," ṭūḇ here encapsulates wholeness, flourishing, health, abundance, and success—not just material wealth but comprehensive societal well-being.
• of Jerusalem (יְרוּשָׁלָ‍ִם, yərûšālāyim): The capital city, both earthly and symbolically spiritual, central to Israel's national and religious identity. The prosperity sought here is for the entire community and the city's future, reinforcing the link between individual godliness and corporate flourishing.
• all the days of your life (כֹּל יְמֵי חַיֶּיךָ, kol yəme ḥayyêḵā): This phrase emphasizes the enduring and lifelong nature of the blessing. It is not fleeting but continuous, signifying long life accompanied by sustained joy and security, both personal and communal.

Words-group analysis:

• "The LORD bless you from Zion": This phrase links the personal blessing directly to God's divine presence and authority in His holy city. It's not a generic wish but a covenant blessing, emphasizing the sanctity of the source. This is a powerful statement about the nature of true blessings emanating from the God of Israel's chosen dwelling place.
• "May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem": This goes beyond individual gain, demonstrating a righteous desire for the collective well-being of God's people and His city. It signifies a holistic vision of blessing, where individual piety contributes to and participates in national flourishing. This echoes a common theme in prophetic literature, where the nation's well-being is tied to its faithfulness.
• "all the days of your life": This confirms the permanence and comprehensiveness of the blessings promised to those who walk in God's ways, underscoring both longevity and sustained quality of life, both personally and communally, by witnessing the continued flourishing of the sacred city.

Psalm 128 5 Bonus section

The blessing pronounced in Psalm 128:5 bridges the personal and the communal, reflecting the Old Testament understanding that individual obedience has societal implications. It moves from the private sphere of home and family (vv. 3-4) to the public sphere of Jerusalem's welfare (vv. 5-6). This is characteristic of biblical blessing, which often expands in concentric circles from the individual to the family, tribe, nation, and ultimately, to the world. The imagery of "seeing" Jerusalem's prosperity suggests an active participation and appreciation, not just a detached observation. It is a shared blessing, emphasizing solidarity with the larger community of faith. This concept prefigures the New Testament idea of believers being part of a spiritual temple and a heavenly Jerusalem (Heb 12:22-24), where blessings are sourced from God's presence and contribute to the flourishing of His kingdom.

Psalm 128 5 Commentary

Psalm 128:5 serves as a climax in the promised blessings for the fearer of the Lord. It proclaims that divine favor, not limited to one's household but encompassing every facet of life, emanates directly from the spiritual epicenter of Zion. This signifies that true prosperity, peace, and well-being flow from God's holy presence. For the obedient, the individual's spiritual health directly correlates with, and allows them to partake in, the comprehensive flourishing of Jerusalem. It encourages believers to pray not only for their personal good but also for the peace and prosperity of God's greater kingdom work, recognizing that individual blessing finds its deepest meaning within the communal well-being and the progress of God's purposes on earth. It connects spiritual devotion directly to tangible blessings for a full and rich life, allowing one to witness and partake in the goodness of God's city for their entire duration on earth. For example, a devout believer witnessing their church grow and impact the community or a family seeing their children thrive within a strong faith community exemplifies the principle of individual godliness contributing to and participating in collective spiritual "prosperity."