Psalm 144 12

Psalm 144:12 kjv

That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace:

Psalm 144:12 nkjv

That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; That our daughters may be as pillars, Sculptured in palace style;

Psalm 144:12 niv

Then our sons in their youth will be like well-nurtured plants, and our daughters will be like pillars carved to adorn a palace.

Psalm 144:12 esv

May our sons in their youth be like plants full grown, our daughters like corner pillars cut for the structure of a palace;

Psalm 144:12 nlt

May our sons flourish in their youth
like well-nurtured plants.
May our daughters be like graceful pillars,
carved to beautify a palace.

Psalm 144 verses

Psalm 144 12 Meaning

Psalm 144:12 expresses a profound prayer or desire for the next generation. It envisions sons growing to maturity like healthy, thriving, fully grown plants, strong and fruitful in their youth. Daughters are likened to beautifully carved corner pillars essential to the stability and grandeur of a royal palace, representing strength, beauty, and foundational support within the community. The verse signifies a comprehensive blessing for flourishing and enduring lineage, essential for the prosperity and stability of the nation.

Psalm 144 12 Context

Psalm 144 is a prayer attributed to David, a military and kingly psalm. It begins with David praising God as his strength and fortress, teaching his hands to war (vv. 1-2), acknowledging human frailty (vv. 3-4), and calling upon God for deliverance from enemies and powerful foes (vv. 5-11). Amidst this plea for victory and protection, verse 12 shifts to a profound petition for the national prosperity that follows God's deliverance. The psalmist expresses a vision of what a truly blessed people, under God's favor, would look like: healthy, numerous, and structurally sound future generations. It is a prayer for the holistic well-being and longevity of the nation, extending beyond mere military success to cultural and generational stability and strength, founded upon divine blessing.

Psalm 144 12 Word analysis

• "May our sons": Implies a fervent wish, a prayerful desire, demonstrating the psalmist's concern for the continuity and health of the community through its male heirs.
  • Hebrew: בָּנִים (banim) - refers to children, particularly male offspring, but often encompassing the next generation broadly.
• "in their youth": Highlights the prime stage of life, not merely infancy but reaching a vigorous, productive age. The desire is for strength and maturity to be evident early on, providing immediate benefit to the nation.
  • Hebrew: בַּעֲלֻמֶיהֶם (ba'alumeihem) - "in their vigor," "in their prime," or "in the days of their youth." It speaks to strength, energy, and potential.
• "be like plants": This simile signifies organic growth, natural vitality, and God-given sustenance.
  • Hebrew: כִּנְטִעִים (kin'ti'im) - "like plantings" or "like saplings." It evokes the imagery of something deliberately planted and cared for, suggesting divine cultivation.
• "full-grown": Emphasizes maturity, strength, fruitfulness, and readiness to contribute. Not stunted or withered, but robust and thriving.
  • Hebrew: מְגֻדָּלִים (m'gudda-lim) - "magnified," "grown large," "made great." It suggests abundant, well-developed growth, reaching full potential.
• "and our daughters": Gives equal prominence and value to the female descendants, acknowledging their distinct but equally vital role.
  • Hebrew: בְנוֹתֵינוּ (b'not-einu) - "our daughters."
• "like corner pillars": This powerful architectural metaphor speaks to strength, stability, and significance. Corner pillars are fundamental to the structure and load-bearing capacity of a building.
  • Hebrew: כְזָוִיֹּת (k'za-vi-yot) - "like corners" or "like angle-pillars." These were often elaborate, decorative, and vital for structural support.
• "cut for the structure of a palace": Highlights beauty, permanence, and royal splendor. The pillars are not just functional but also finely crafted and aesthetically magnificent, suitable for a grand and lasting edifice.
  • Hebrew phrases: מְחֻטָּבוֹת (m'khutta-vot) - "carved," "fashioned," "sculptured." Implies skill, beauty, and deliberate design. הֵיכָל (heykhal) - "palace" or "temple." Refers to a magnificent, grand, and often royal or sacred structure.
• Words-Group Analysis: "May our sons... like plants full-grown": This phrase combines aspiration for vigorous physical development with the idea of natural, God-blessed growth leading to productivity. It's a prayer for male youth to be strong, healthy, and yield good results, like well-nourished crops. This often implied continuation of lineage and agricultural success in ancient societies. "and our daughters... like corner pillars cut for the structure of a palace": This emphasizes both the strength and beauty of the female members of the community. They are not merely ornamental but are foundational to the social and spiritual fabric, providing essential stability, elegance, and support for the societal structure, likened to a grand palace or even a sacred temple, reflecting God's order and beauty.

Psalm 144 12 Bonus section

This verse reflects a balanced view of sons and daughters, acknowledging their distinct but equally vital contributions to the well-being of the family and nation. In an era where male offspring were often highly prioritized for lineage, the inclusion of daughters with such a strong and beautiful metaphor elevates their perceived worth and foundational role. The "palace" imagery can extend beyond a mere royal residence to signify the nation itself as a glorious edifice, or even implicitly, a sacred dwelling for God, with its people forming its integral and beautiful components. The prayer's efficacy rests on the belief that such generational blessing ultimately flows from the Lord, indicating a contrast to cultures that relied on fertility deities or humanistic achievements for prosperity. It is a humble recognition that God is the source of all flourishing.

Psalm 144 12 Commentary

Psalm 144:12 is a heartfelt prayer that articulates a comprehensive vision of national prosperity through God's blessing on its future generations. Following pleas for military deliverance, the psalmist's focus shifts to the fruits of peace and divine favor. The imagery used for sons – "plants full-grown" – speaks to the desire for natural, organic, robust growth and vitality, implying a generation that is healthy, productive, and numerous. This ensures the continuity and strength of the people. For daughters, the simile of "corner pillars cut for a palace" points to their critical role in stability, beauty, and the structural integrity of the community. These are not merely supportive but essential, perhaps adorned pillars, signifying the women's valued position, contributing both strength and adornment to the societal "palace." This verse highlights a holistic well-being where God blesses every aspect of the people's lives, from their fields (implicitly through healthy plants) to their homes and national identity (through foundational youth), demonstrating that true prosperity extends beyond material wealth or military success to a thriving, well-ordered, and God-fearing lineage.