Psalm 128:6 kjv
Yea, thou shalt see thy children's children, and peace upon Israel.
Psalm 128:6 nkjv
Yes, may you see your children's children. Peace be upon Israel!
Psalm 128:6 niv
May you live to see your children's children? peace be on Israel.
Psalm 128:6 esv
May you see your children's children! Peace be upon Israel!
Psalm 128:6 nlt
May you live to enjoy your grandchildren.
May Israel have peace!
Psalm 128 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 1:28 | God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth..." | Command for multiplication and blessing |
| Gen 12:2 | "I will make you into a great nation... I will bless you and make your name great, and you will be a blessing." | Abrahamic covenant promise of descendants |
| Gen 50:23 | Joseph saw the third generation of Ephraim's children... | Blessing of long life and seeing offspring |
| Deut 28:4 | "Blessed will be the fruit of your body... your livestock..." | Blessings on offspring for obedience |
| Ruth 4:11-12 | "...May the Lord make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah... through the offspring the Lord gives you by this young woman." | Desire for fruitful lineage and family |
| Ps 127:3-5 | Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from Him... Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. | Children as a divine blessing and strength |
| Job 42:16 | After this, Job lived a hundred and forty years; he saw his children and their children to the fourth generation. | Sign of restoration and ultimate blessing |
| Prov 17:6 | Children's children are a crown to the aged... | Grandchildren as honor and joy |
| Isa 9:6-7 | For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. | Messiah as the source of true Shalom |
| Isa 26:3 | You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. | Divine peace for those who trust |
| Jer 29:7 | "Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper." | Seek communal good and national Shalom |
| Zec 8:12 | "...the vine will yield its fruit, the ground will produce its crops, and the heavens will give their dew. I will give all this to the remnant of this people." | Restoration, peace, and abundance |
| Matt 5:9 | Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. | Connection between peace and divine favor |
| Rom 15:33 | The God of peace be with all of you. Amen. | God as the source of peace |
| Gal 3:7-9 | Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham. The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham... | Spiritual children of Abraham inheriting blessing |
| Eph 2:14 | For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility... | Christ as the ultimate source of Shalom |
| Phil 4:7 | And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. | Supernatural peace |
| Heb 12:14 | Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. | Pursue peace and holiness |
| 2 Th 3:16 | Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you. | Prayer for universal, consistent peace |
| 3 Jn 1:2 | Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. | Holistic well-being including health |
Psalm 128 verses
Psalm 128 6 Meaning
Psalm 128:6 culminates the blessings pronounced upon the one who fears the Lord, extending the individual's prosperity and fruitfulness to the entire community. It pronounces a fervent wish for the fearer of the Lord to experience a long and full life, witnessing their lineage continue to the third generation—their grandchildren. This personal blessing of posterity is then broadened to an encompassing prayer for Shalom, meaning holistic peace, completeness, and well-being, to rest upon the nation of Israel. It links individual righteousness and the resulting blessing with the flourishing and tranquility of the entire covenant community.
Psalm 128 6 Context
Psalm 128 is one of the fifteen "Songs of Ascents" (Psalms 120-134), traditionally sung by pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem for the major annual festivals. These psalms often reflect themes relevant to a journey and dwelling in God's presence, including trust, security, unity, and blessing. Psalm 128 specifically focuses on the blessings poured out upon "everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways" (v. 1). It portrays an idealized picture of the blessed individual: productive labor (v. 2), a fruitful wife and flourishing children around the table (v. 3), and then a blessing that extends from Jerusalem (v. 5). Verse 6 serves as a powerful concluding benediction, shifting from the specific family unit to the entire nation of Israel, encapsulating the idea that individual piety and blessing contribute directly to national peace and prosperity. The cultural context greatly valued large families and descendants as a sign of divine favor, fulfillment of covenant promises, and security for the future, contrasting with childlessness which was often seen as a misfortune.
Psalm 128 6 Word analysis
- Indeed, may you see (וּרְאֵה, u-r'eh): The Hebrew verb here is in the imperative form, conveying a strong wish or a divine declaration. It's not merely "you will see" but "may you truly see" or "see that you may see." This emphasizes the active experiencing and enjoying of the blessing.
- Your children’s children (בָּנִים לְבָנֶיךָ, banim l'vanekha): Literally "sons to your sons." This phrase directly means grandchildren, representing the third generation. In ancient Near Eastern culture, seeing one's grandchildren was a significant indicator of a long, blessed, and fulfilling life. It signified not only personal longevity but also the successful continuation of one's lineage and legacy, a fulfillment of the procreative blessing from creation and a testament to God's faithfulness in sustaining a family line. It contrasts sharply with the potential for extinction of a family name.
- Peace (שָׁלוֹם, shalom): This Hebrew word is much broader and richer than the English "peace." It denotes not merely the absence of conflict but a state of holistic well-being, completeness, wholeness, health, prosperity, safety, soundness, and flourishing in all aspects of life. It implies both internal tranquility and harmonious external relationships. When applied to a nation, it refers to its overall prosperity, security, and spiritual health.
- Be upon Israel (עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל, al Yisrael): This phrase marks a crucial shift from the personal blessing described in verses 1-5 to a collective national blessing. It transforms a domestic scene of personal flourishing into a wider vision of communal well-being. It underscores the biblical principle that individual righteousness and prosperity contribute to the welfare of the entire nation, and vice versa. This transition reinforces the pilgrim's ultimate hope for the security and blessing of their entire covenant community.
Psalm 128 6 Bonus section
The final words of Psalm 128 serve as a powerful communal benediction. In the context of the Songs of Ascents, pilgrims who came to Jerusalem for the festivals often returned to various parts of Israel. This concluding wish, "Peace be upon Israel," transcends the personal family blessing and reflects a deep, shared aspiration for the welfare of the entire covenant community, echoing the Abrahamic covenant's promise of widespread blessing. It reinforces the idea that true prosperity (shalom) is not merely individualistic but has a corporate dimension. This concluding sentiment elevates the individual's spiritual walk to a concern for national well-being, highlighting a key theme throughout the Old Testament: the interrelationship between the obedience of the people and the welfare of the land and nation.
Psalm 128 6 Commentary
Psalm 128:6 acts as a profound crescendo, broadening the scope of divine blessing from the individual fearer of the Lord to the entire nation of Israel. The desire to see "children's children" is more than a wish for a long life; it is a profound testament to God's covenantal faithfulness, assuring the continuation of one's lineage and legacy. This visual imagery speaks of fulfillment, joy, and the flourishing of one's seed, which was highly valued in an agrarian and patriarchal society. The ultimate expression of this personal blessing, however, is its projection onto the nation. The inclusion of "Peace be upon Israel" signifies that individual piety and flourishing are not ends in themselves but contribute to the collective shalom of the community. True blessing is holistic, encompassing not just individual well-being but also the peace, prosperity, and security of the entire nation. It highlights the interconnectedness of individual righteousness with corporate welfare, showing that God’s blessing cascades from the devout individual to the wider body of His people. It is a powerful concluding benediction, affirming that those who walk in God's ways become conduits of His peace to their nation.