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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 127:1-5

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... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 127:1

Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it ,.... Whether it be understood literally of an artificial house, as Solomon's own house; or the house of the Lord, or any other: let a man be ever so bent upon building one, or have ever so much skill in drawing the plan of it, or be ever so well provided to go through the expense of it, or have ever so many hands employed in it, yet, if the Lord does not give success, it will all be in vain; the building will fall down, or... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 127:2

It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late ,.... A description of an industrious and laborious person, who takes great pains to get a livelihood, or increase his substance; see Psalm 104:23 ; which, yet, as in the former instances, depends upon the blessing of divine Providence, Proverbs 10:4 . For, after all, it may come to nothing more at last than to eat the bread of sorrows ; that is, to eat bread gotten with much sorrow and labour; such get bread, and that is all, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 127:3

Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord ,.... As all success, safety, and the blessings of life, depend on the providence of God; so this very great blessing is a gift of his; having children, and those good ones, as the Targum interprets it; for of such only can it be understood: so, in a spiritual sense, the children of Christ, the antitypical Solomon, are the gifts of his heavenly Father to him; his portion and inheritance, and a goodly heritage he esteems them; and the fruit of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 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... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 127:5

Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them ,.... That is, his house full of them; called a quiver, referring to arrows before mentioned, this being the case in which they are put up: to have many children was always reckoned a great temporal blessing and happiness; see Job 1:2 . The Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Ethiopic, and Arabic versions, render it, "that fills his desire" has as many as he desires or wishes for: the Targum, "who fills his school of them:' so Jarchi... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 127:1

Except the Lord build the house - To build a house is taken in three different senses in the sacred writings. To build the temple of the Lord, which was called הבית habbeith , the house, by way of eminence. To build any ordinary house, or place of dwelling. To have a numerous offspring. In this sense it is supposed to be spoken concerning the Egyptian midwives; that because they feared the Lord, therefore he built them houses. See the note on Exodus 1:21 . But, however, the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 127:2

It is vain for you to rise up early - There seems to be here an allusion to the daily and nightly watches which Nehemiah instituted. The people are worn out with constant labor and watching; he therefore divided them in such a manner, that they who had worked in the day should rest by night, and that they who worked by night should rest in the day; and thus his beloved, a title of the Jews, the beloved of God, got sleep, due refreshment, and rest. As for Nehemiah and his servants, they never... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 127:3

Lo, children are a heritage of the Lord - That is, To many God gives children in place of temporal good. To many others he gives houses, lands, and thousands of gold and silver, and with them the womb that beareth not; and these are their inheritance. The poor man has from God a number of children, without lands or money; these are his inheritance; and God shows himself their father, feeding and supporting them by a chain of miraculous providences. Where is the poor man who would give up his... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 127:4

As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man - Each child will, in the process of time, be a defense and support to the family, as arrows in the quiver of a skillful and strong archer; the more he has, the more enemies he may slay, and consequently the more redoubted shall he be. Children of the youth - The children of young people are always more strong and vigorous, more healthy, and generally longer lived than those of elderly, or comparatively elderly persons. Youth is the time for... read more

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