Psalm 128 KJV
King James Version, Holy Bible
1 Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in his ways.
2 For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.
3 Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.
5 The Lord shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.
6 Yea, thou shalt see thy children's children, and peace upon Israel.
Key Takeaways from This Psalm:
Psalm 128:1
Verse: אַשְׁרֵי כָּל-יָרֵא יְהוָה
Transliteration: Ashrei kol-yarei Adonai
English: “Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways.”
Focus Word: יָרֵא (Yare)
- Root: י-ר-א (Yod-Resh-Aleph)
- Meaning: “To fear,” “to revere,” “to respect.”
- Deeper Insight: Yare emphasizes reverential awe, producing obedience and delight in following God’s ways.
| Hebrew Word + Transliteration | Verse + Snippet | Meaning | Scholarly Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| אַשְׁרֵי — ashrei | Verse 1 — “Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD…” | “Blessed,” flourishing. | Ashrei (“blessed”) expresses holistic flourishing rooted in reverence. It signifies spiritual prosperity. The word opens the Psalm with covenant blessing. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Lexicon |
| יָרֵא — yare | Verse 1 — “…who fears the LORD.” | “To fear,” reverence. | Yare (“to fear”) conveys a devotional posture of awe-filled obedience. It is relational, not terror-based. The term grounds the Psalm’s promise of blessing. — Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary |
| הָלַךְ — halakh | Verse 1 — “…who walks in His ways.” | “To walk,” conduct oneself. | Halakh (“to walk”) refers to daily living shaped by divine guidance. It expresses consistent obedience. The verb highlights lifestyle as the outworking of reverence. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Keil & Delitzsch Commentary |
| יִגְעַ — yiga‘ | Verse 2 — “When you eat the labor of your hands…” | “Labor,” toil. | Yiga‘ (“labor”) depicts honest work blessed by God. It connects effort with satisfaction. The word highlights God’s blessing upon human diligence. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Lexicon |
| עֹשֶׁר — osher | Verse 2 — “…happy shall you be…” | “Happiness,” prosperity. | Osher (“happiness/prosperity”) signifies wellbeing rooted in divine favor. It transcends material gain. The term reinforces holistic blessing. — Franz Delitzsch, Commentary |
| גֶּפֶן — gephen | Verse 3 — “Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine…” | “Vine,” symbol of fertility. | Gephen (“vine”) symbolizes fruitfulness, vitality, and domestic blessing. It reflects nurturing influence. The word enriches familial imagery. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Commentary |
| שְׁתִילִים — shetilim | Verse 3 — “…children like olive shoots…” | “Sprouts,” young shoots. | Shetilim (“shoots”) denotes fresh growth with promise of endurance. It symbolizes generational continuity. The term emphasizes legacy and blessing. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Lexicon |
| בֵּית — beit | Verse 3 — “…around your table.” | “House,” household sphere. | Beit (“house”) represents relational unity and community. It embodies shared blessing. The word highlights domestic stability. — Franz Delitzsch, Commentary |
| בְּרָכָה — berakhah | Verse 4 — “Behold, thus shall the man be blessed…” | “Blessing,” divine favor. | Berakhah (“blessing”) expresses supernatural enrichment. It frames fear of the LORD as the source of joy. The term intensifies the Psalm’s promise. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Keil & Delitzsch Commentary |
| טוֹב — tov | Verse 5 — “…may you see the good of Jerusalem…” | “Good,” wellbeing. | Tov (“good/wellbeing”) conveys welfare rooted in communal prosperity. It connects personal blessing to national peace. The word strengthens covenant hope. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Lexicon |
Biblical Scholars On This Chapter:
| Scholar (Institution & Dates) | Work | View on Psalm 128 |
|---|---|---|
| Hugh Binning (University of Glasgow, 1627–1653) | Sermons on the Psalms | Binning underscores that God’s blessing accompanies reverent living, particularly within the family. |
| William Lowth (University of Oxford, 1660–1732) | Commentary on the Psalms | The Psalm portrays happiness and security as fruits of obedience and devotion. |
| Johann Albrecht Bengel (University of Tübingen, 1687–1752) | Gnomon Novi Testamenti | Bengel interprets the Psalm as highlighting the spiritual and material rewards of a God-centered life. |
| Philip Doddridge (Northampton Academy, 1702–1751) | Family Expositor | Doddridge emphasizes that faithfulness brings harmony and prosperity in both home and society. |
| James Durham (St Andrews / Edinburgh, 1622–1658) | Commentary on the Psalms | Durham presents the Psalm as a reminder that God’s blessing secures peace for the devout. |
More on This Psalm: Commentary from Biblical Scholars
| Scholar | Paraphrase of the psalm |
|---|---|
| Matthew Henry (Chester Academy, 1662–1714, Commentary on the Whole Bible) | Henry sees this psalm as celebrating the blessings that come from living in reverence toward God and walking in His ways. |
| John Gill (University of Aberdeen, 1697–1771, Exposition of the Old and New Testaments) | Gill notes that the psalm speaks of peace and prosperity as rewards for faithful obedience to God’s will. |
| Charles Hodge (Princeton University, 1797–1878, Commentary on the Psalms) | Hodge explains that the psalm connects family happiness and national well-being with a heart devoted to God. |
| George Adam Smith (University of Aberdeen, 1856–1942, The Book of Psalms, Commentary) | The psalm, Smith observes, presents a picture of quiet domestic joy rooted in faithfulness and trust in God. |
| F.D. Maurice (King’s College London, 1805–1872, Theological Essays) | Maurice emphasizes that the psalm reflects how genuine faith leads to harmony, fruitful work, and lasting peace. |
Psalms Chapter 128 Devotional: THE FEAR OF THE LORD
Thought for the day: The man that fears the Lord is blessed.
Message:
The totality of this kingdom is the law of sowing and reaping. Every situation and character has its reaped result. This chapter is dedicated as a reward to a man that fears the Lord.
The fear of the Lord is a seed that commands the blessing. The fear of the Lord is a seed that commands power and authority. You cannot fear God and be put to shame because the Lord has promised Zion's blessing to the person that fears the Lord.
Another promise of God I noticed in this chapter is the generational blessing. When a man fears the Lord, the blessing is released over him and his generation.
Psalm 128: 3 “Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.” Everybody in the family is blessed because a man fears the Lord.
Throughout the scripture, we have amazing promises of God over a man that fears the Lord. I need to emphasize this more for you to know that whatever a man is doing is a seed. It is better to sow the best seed; and this best is done in the fear of the Lord.
See some verses: Proverb 9:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Proverb 14:27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
When a man fears the Lord, the Lord takes full charge of his life, he cannot be wasted anyhow because his life depends on God.
Principle of a man that fears the Lord:
· He fears God at all time.
· He loves what God loves.
· He hates what God hates.
· He is not independent of himself, his move depends on the direction of God.
Blessing attached to a man that fears the Lord
· Blessing from Zion
· Generational blessings
· Safety and security
· Wisdom beyond expression
· Divine fruitfulness
My Counsel:
Ø Make sure you fear the Lord in every journey of your life.
Ø Never allow any situation to make you turn away from God.
Declaration
Father, I declare that you are the Lord over me, I submit to your Lordship. Please help me to do your will in Jesus' Name.
