Psalm 128:6

Yea, thou shalt see thy children's children, and peace upon Israel.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(6) Children’s children.—Dr. Perowne illustrates from Virgil: “adspicies . . . natos natorum et qui nascentur ab illis.” (Comp. Zechariah 8:4-5.)

And peace . . .—The conjunction spoils the passage. The psalm concludes with the prayer, “Peace upon Israel.” (Comp. Psalm 125:5.)

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

128:1-6 The blessings of those who fear God. - Only those who are truly holy, are truly happy. In vain do we pretend to be of those that fear God, if we do not make conscience of keeping stedfastly to his ways. Blessed is every one that fears the Lord; whether he be high or low, rich or poor in the world. If thou fear him and walk in his ways, all shall be well with thee while thou livest, better when thou diest, best of all in eternity. By the blessing of God, the godly shall get an honest livelihood. Here is a double promise; they shall have something to do, for an idle life is a miserable, uncomfortable life, and shall have health and strength, and power of mind to do it. They shall not be forced to live upon the labours of other people. It is as much a mercy as a duty, with quietness to work and eat our own bread. They and theirs shall enjoy what they get. Such as fear the Lord and walk in his ways, are the only happy persons, whatever their station in life may be. They shall have abundant comfort in their family relations. And they shall have all the good things God has promised, and which they pray for. A good man can have little comfort in seeing his children's children, unless he sees peace upon Israel. Every true believer rejoices in the prosperity of the church. Hereafter we shall see greater things, with the everlasting peace and rest that remain for the Israel of God.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Yea, thou shalt see thy children's children - This is a continuation of the idea of blessedness as connected with a numerous posterity - an object of so much interest to the Hebrews (see the notes at Psalm 128:3), and having its foundation in our nature.

And peace upon Israel - See Psalm 125:5. As the crowning blessing; a blessing above that of success in worldly affairs; above that of seeing a numerous and happy posterity. The love of God is the supreme affection in the mind of a pious man; the desire that his cause may prosper and triumph is to him a supreme desire. Man is truly and completely blessed only in religion.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

6. Long life crowns all other temporal favors. As Ps 125:5, this Psalm closes with a prayer for peace, with prosperity for God's people.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

Not only upon Jerusalem, and the parts adjacent, but upon all the tribes and people of Israel.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Yea, thou shall see thy children's children,.... A numerous race of descendants from him, which are the crown and glory of old men, Proverbs 17:6; this is also true of Christ's spiritual children by his church in successive ages, Isaiah 59:21;

and peace upon Israel: all kind of prosperity, temporal and spiritual; peace, and abundance of it; as will be in the latter day, in the spiritual reign of Christ, Psalm 72:8. It may be considered as a wish or prayer, with which the psalm is concluded; let "peace be upon Israel" (a), as in Psalm 125:5; see Galatians 6:16.

(a) "pax sit super Israele", Cocceius; so Gejerus.

Geneva Study Bible

Yea, thou shalt see thy children's children, and peace upon Israel.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

6. May he live to a good old age and see his family perpetuated in his grandchildren. Cp. Proverbs 17:6, and contrast the curse, Psalm 109:13.

and peace upon Israel] Though the construction of the A.V. is possible, it is better to take these words, as in Psalm 125:5, as a separate clause, Peace be upon Israel.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 6. - Yea, thou shalt see thy children's children. This is mentioned as the crowning blessing granted to Job in his second period of happiness (Job 42:16). It is here promised to the faithful generally, And peace upon Israel. This is best taken as a detached clause, like the concluding clause of Psalm 125, and rendered, "Peace be upon Israel."



Psalm 128:6

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

Pointing back to this charming picture of family life, the poet goes on to say: behold, for thus equals behold, thus is the man actually blessed who fears Jahve. כּי confirms the reality of the matter of fact to which the הנּה points. The promissory future in Psalm 128:5 is followed by imperatives which call upon the God-fearing man at once to do that which, in accordance with the promises, stands before him as certain. מציּון as in Psalm 134:3; Psalm 20:3. בּנים לבניך instead of בּני בניך gives a designed indefiniteness to the first member of the combination. Every blessing the individual enjoys comes from the God of salvation, who has taken up His abode in Zion, and is perfected in participation in the prosperity of the holy city and of the whole church, of which it is the centre. A New Testament song would here open up the prospect of the heavenly Jerusalem. But the character of limitation to this present world that is stamped upon the Old Testament does not admit of this. The promise refers only to a present participation in the well-being of Jerusalem (Zechariah 8:15) and to long life prolonged in one's children's children; and in this sense calls down intercessorily peace upon Israel in all its members, and in all places and all ages.