Psalm 147 13

Psalm 147:13 kjv

For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates; he hath blessed thy children within thee.

Psalm 147:13 nkjv

For He has strengthened the bars of your gates; He has blessed your children within you.

Psalm 147:13 niv

He strengthens the bars of your gates and blesses your people within you.

Psalm 147:13 esv

For he strengthens the bars of your gates; he blesses your children within you.

Psalm 147:13 nlt

For he has strengthened the bars of your gates
and blessed your children within your walls.

Psalm 147 verses

Psalm 147 13 Meaning

Psalm 147:13 profoundly declares the Lord's complete and sovereign care for His people, particularly represented by Zion (Jerusalem). The verse assures both external security and internal prosperity as direct gifts from God. By stating He has "strengthened the bars of your gates," it conveys divine protection from external adversaries and physical threats, ensuring the city's defenses are impregnable. Simultaneously, the declaration that He has "blessed your children within you" signifies the granting of internal well-being, growth, and generational continuity. This dual affirmation portrays God's comprehensive oversight, securing His people from without and thriving them from within, showcasing His active involvement in every aspect of their flourishing.

Psalm 147 13 Context

Psalm 147 is a majestic hymn of praise, exhorting Jerusalem (Zion) and its inhabitants to praise the Lord. It skillfully weaves together themes of God's universal power demonstrated in nature—such as numbering the stars and sending rain—with His particular, intimate care for Israel. The Psalm begins by declaring God's greatness, wisdom, and strength (vv. 4-5) before highlighting His compassion for the humble and afflicted (v. 6). From verse 7, the focus shifts to a direct call to worship for specific acts of divine benevolence towards Israel. Verses 12-14 specifically instruct Jerusalem and Zion to praise the Lord, with verse 13 providing the precise reasons: divine provision of security and blessing within the city's population.

Historically, Psalm 147 is often associated with the post-exilic period, reflecting the gratitude and hope of the Jewish community returned from Babylonian captivity. After decades of devastation, Jerusalem's walls lay in ruins, its gates burned, and its population dispersed. The efforts to rebuild the city walls and gates (as vividly recounted in the book of Nehemiah) were paramount for physical security, national identity, and effective worship. Thus, "strengthening the bars of your gates" would resonate deeply as a divine miracle of restoration. Similarly, the "blessing of your children within you" addresses the desperate need for population growth and generational continuity, crucial for the nation's survival and fulfillment of God's covenant promises to Abraham concerning his numerous descendants. The psalm thus praises God not only as the cosmic Creator but also as the faithful Builder and Sustainer of His covenant people.

Psalm 147 13 Word analysis

• For (כִּי - ki): This conjunction acts as a causal "because" or "indeed," directly linking the command to praise in verse 12 with the reasons provided in verse 13. It establishes that Zion's praise is warranted and founded upon God's specific, active benevolence.
• He has strengthened (חִזַּק - chizzak): A Piel perfect verb, signifying a forceful, deliberate, and complete action of making strong, firm, secure, or mighty. The Piel stem emphasizes intensity. This is not merely maintenance but an act of empowering or restoring from weakness, often implying an external or internal force enabling stability. It asserts divine agency.
• The bars (בְּרִיחֵי - berichey): Plural of beriah, referring to the strong wooden or metal bolts and crossbars used to secure ancient city gates. These were essential components of a city's defenses, designed to keep out enemies. Symbolically, "the bars" represent the absolute security and impermeability of the city's boundaries.
• Of your gates (שְׁעָרָיִךְ - sha'arayikh): The plural construct of sha'ar (gate). Ancient city gates were more than just entrances; they were strategic military points, places of commerce, public assembly, and judicial proceedings. Their security was synonymous with the city's overall well-being and sovereign control. "Your" explicitly addresses Zion/Jerusalem, reflecting God's specific covenant focus.
• He has blessed (בֵּרַךְ - berach): A Piel perfect verb, meaning to invoke or bestow divine favor, prosperity, and abundance. It implies an active, powerful act of conferring goodness. The perfect tense indicates a completed action with lasting effects, ongoing divine provision.
• Your children (בָּנַיִךְ - banayikh): Literally "your sons," but inclusively refers to the offspring, future generations, and indeed all inhabitants within the city. Children were considered a vital heritage and a sign of divine favor and continuity. Their prosperity indicated a thriving, enduring community.
• Within you (בְּקִרְבֵּךְ - beqirbech): A prepositional phrase meaning "in your midst" or "in your interior." This detail is crucial, emphasizing that the blessing is not just upon the external defenses but extends deeply into the very heart and life of the community. It speaks to internal flourishing and well-being.

• Strengthened the bars of your gates: This phrase encapsulates God's active role in providing external security and defense. It highlights divine protection against invasion, emphasizing that human efforts in building walls and gates are only truly effective when divinely sanctioned and empowered. It paints a picture of impenetrable boundaries safeguarding the community.
• Blessed your children within you: This segment addresses God's provision for internal prosperity, growth, and demographic vitality. It speaks of the Lord's active role in ensuring a thriving population, the generational continuity of His people, and their spiritual and physical well-being from within their secured boundaries. It represents the inner vibrancy and future of the covenant community.
• He has strengthened... He has blessed...: The implicit repetition of God as the subject (indicated by the verbal forms) underscores His singular, comprehensive agency. Both external protection and internal flourishing are attributed solely to Him. This reinforces the theological message that true security and abundance come directly from the Lord's benevolent and omnipotent hand, not from human might or any other deity.

Psalm 147 13 Bonus section

This verse stands out for presenting a tangible manifestation of God's abstract attributes like omnipotence and faithfulness. The rebuilding and security of Jerusalem's physical structures (walls, gates, bars) alongside the increase of its population were undeniable signs to the returned exiles that God was indeed with them, actively restoring and fulfilling His promises. It implicitly critiques reliance on human strength, military prowess, or alliances, asserting that genuine security and national well-being are ultimately God's work. The specific mention of "bars" rather than just "gates" emphasizes meticulous detail in God's protection—His care extends to the finest points of vulnerability. Furthermore, linking the "bars of gates" (external, physical defense) with "children" (internal, demographic blessing) showcases God's care as perfectly balanced and complete, addressing both present dangers and future continuity. This unity of protection and blessing paints a full picture of shalom (peace, wholeness) delivered by the divine hand.

Psalm 147 13 Commentary

Psalm 147:13 offers a profound declaration of God's holistic care for His people, uniquely uniting physical security with demographic prosperity. It identifies the two crucial dimensions of flourishing for an ancient city: external defense and internal vitality. "He has strengthened the bars of your gates" speaks to God's role as the divine Guardian, securing Jerusalem's borders against all threats. This is a reassurance that transcends human military might, rooting true protection in God's power. Concurrently, "He has blessed your children within you" celebrates God as the Giver of life and growth, ensuring the flourishing and continuity of the community from within. This blessing ensures the land is populated, the heritage passed on, and the covenant people multiply. The verse powerfully teaches that God's provision is comprehensive, encompassing both external safety (security from danger) and internal abundance (flourishing of life and generations). It calls for Zion's praise, acknowledging that every aspect of her well-being flows from the benevolent hand of the Lord.

For practical application, this verse reminds believers that true security, both physically and spiritually, stems from God's active hand. Just as He protects cities, He guards the individual and the church. And just as He multiplies and blesses children within the city, He causes spiritual growth, increase in the Body of Christ, and disciples to be multiplied within His church, ensuring continuity. It encourages reliance on God's active provision for both protection and prosperity in all areas of life, trusting His care extends to securing our boundaries and blessing our inner lives and future generations.