Psalms 127:4

As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.

King James Version · Read in your translation · Open the Explore console

Word by word — the Hebrew

Word	Hebrew	Strong’s	Meaning
arrows	כְּחִצִּ֥ים ke.chi.Tzim	H2671	properly · preposition + noun, common masculine plural absolute
hand	בְּיַד be.yad-	H3027	a hand (the open one (indicating power · preposition + noun, common both genders singular construct
man	גִּבּ֑וֹר gi.Bor	H1368	powerful · noun, common masculine singular absolute
children	בְּנֵ֣י be.Nei	H1121	a son (as a builder of the family name) · noun, common masculine plural construct
youth	הַנְּעוּרִֽים ha.ne.'u.Rim	H5271	(only in plural collectively or emphatic form) youth · definite article + noun, common masculine plural absolute

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (James Strong, 1890/1894), public domain; digitized by Open Scriptures (CC BY-SA). KJV word tagging: eBible.org (public domain). Original-language text, parsing and brief lexicon: STEPBible.org data from Tyndale House, Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).

Cross-references

Proverbs 17:6 Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.
Proverbs 31:28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
Jeremiah 50:9 For, lo, I will raise and cause to come up against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the north country: and they shall set themselve…
Psalms 120:4 Sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of juniper.

Cross-references from OpenBible.info (CC BY), in the lineage of the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain).

Commentary

Matthew Henry on Psalms 127:1–end

We are here taught to have a continual regard to the divine Providence in all the concerns of this life. Solomon was cried up for a wise man, and would be apt to lean to his own understanding and forecast, and therefore his father teaches him to look higher, and to take God along with him in his undertakings. He was to be a man of business, and therefore David instructed him how to manage his business under the direction of his religion. Parents, in teaching their children, should suit their exhortations to their condition and occasions. We must have an eye to God, I. In all the affairs and business of the family, even of the royal family, for kings' houses are no longer safe than while God…

Read the whole note in the console

John Gill on Psalms 127:4

As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man,.... Are shot out with great strength; come with much force, and do execution, and do not return in vain; with which men defend themselves, and annoy their enemies; see Jeremiah 50:9; so are children of the youth: not young children, or children in their youth; but such who are born to their parents when they are in their youth; and which are generally healthful and strong, and their parents live to see them grown up; and who are useful to protect them, and defend their persons and properties from enemies when grown old and feeble, and unable to defend themselves: whereas children born to them in old age are generally unhealthy and weak; and besides…

Read the whole note in the console

John Calvin on Psalms 127:3–end

Psalm 127:3-5 3. Lo! children are the heritage of Jehovah: the fruit of the womb is the reward which he bestows. [101] 4. As arrows in, the hand of a strong man so are the children of youth. [102] 5. Blessed is the man who shall have filled his quiver with them; for [103] they shall not be ashamed when they speak with their enemies in the gate. 3. Lo! children are the heritage of Jehovah. Solomon here adduces one instance in which, in a particular manner, he would have us to recognize the truth which he has hitherto asserted generally -- that the life of men is governed by God. Nothing seems more natural than for men to be produced of men. The majority of mankind dream, that after God had…

The Church Fathers

"Like as the arrows in the hand of the mighty one, even so are the children of those that are shot out" [Psalm 127:4]. Whence has sprung this heritage, brethren? Whence has sprung so numerous a heritage? Some have been shot out from the Lord's hand, as arrows, and have gone far, and have filled the whole earth, whence the Saints spring. For this is the heritage whereof it is said, "Desire of Me, and I shall give you the heathen for your inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for your possession." And how does this possession extend and increase unto the world's uttermost parts? Because, "like as the arrows in the hand of the mighty one," etc. Arrows are shot forth from the bow, and the stronger the arm which has sent it forth, the farther flies the arrow. But what is stronger than the darting of the Lord? From His bow He sends forth His Apostles: there could not be a spot left where an arrow shot by so strong an arm would not reach; it has reached unto the uttermost parts of the earth. The reason it went no farther was, that there were no more of the human race beyond. For He has such strength, that even if there were a spot beyond, whither the arrow could fly, He would dart the arrow there. Such are the children of those who are shot forth as they that are shot forth.. ..
— Augustine of Hippo, Exposition on Psalm 127

The Church Fathers: public-domain translations (Ante-Nicene and Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers), verse-indexed by SermonIndex (CC BY 4.0).

Dictionary and topics

Children · Were named: Numerous, considered an especial blessing — Were named: Numerous, considered an especial blessing

Dictionary: Easton's (1897) and Smith's (1863), public domain. Topics: Nave's Topical Bible (1896) and Torrey's Topical Textbook (1897), public domain. Both as parsed by NEUU (CC BY 4.0).

Psalms 127:4

Word by word — the Hebrew

Cross-references

Commentary

Matthew Henry on Psalms 127:1–end

John Gill on Psalms 127:4

John Calvin on Psalms 127:3–end

The Church Fathers

Dictionary and topics

Psalms 127:4

Word by word — the Hebrew

Cross-references

Commentary

Matthew Henry on Psalms 127:1–end

John Gill on Psalms 127:4

John Calvin on Psalms 127:3–end

The Church Fathers

Dictionary and topics

Keil & Delitzsch on Psalms 127:3–end

Tyndale Open Study Notes on Psalms 127:4-5

Spurgeon's Treasury of David on Psalms 127:4