Psalm 127:5
New International Version
Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court.

New Living Translation
How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them! He will not be put to shame when he confronts his accusers at the city gates.

English Standard Version
Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

Berean Standard Bible
Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. He will not be put to shame when he confronts the enemies at the gate.

King James Bible
Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

New King James Version
Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; They shall not be ashamed, But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.

New American Standard Bible
Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; They will not be ashamed When they speak with their enemies in the gate.

NASB 1995
How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; They will not be ashamed When they speak with their enemies in the gate.

NASB 1977
How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; They shall not be ashamed, When they speak with their enemies in the gate.

Legacy Standard Bible
How blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them; They will not be ashamed When they speak with enemies in the gate.

Amplified Bible
How blessed [happy and fortunate] is the man whose quiver is filled with them; They will not be ashamed When they speak with their enemies [in gatherings] at the [city] gate.

Christian Standard Bible
Happy is the man who has filled his quiver with them. They will never be put to shame when they speak with their enemies at the city gate.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Happy is the man who has filled his quiver with them. Such men will never be put to shame when they speak with their enemies at the city gate.

American Standard Version
Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: They shall not be put to shame, When they speak with their enemies in the gate.

Contemporary English Version
The more you have, the better off you will be, because they will protect you when your enemies attack you in court.

English Revised Version
Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, when they speak with their enemies in the gate.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Blessed is the man who has filled his quiver with them. He will not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the city gate.

Good News Translation
Happy is the man who has many such arrows. He will never be defeated when he meets his enemies in the place of judgment.

International Standard Version
How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them! He will not be ashamed as they confront their enemies at the city gate.

Majority Standard Bible
Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. He will not be put to shame when he confronts the enemies at the gate.

NET Bible
How blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! They will not be put to shame when they confront enemies at the city gate.

New Heart English Bible
Blessed is the man who has his quiver full of them. They won't be disappointed when they speak with their enemies in the gate.

Webster's Bible Translation
Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

World English Bible
Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them. They won’t be disappointed when they speak with their enemies in the gate.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
O the blessedness of the man "" Who has filled his quiver with them, "" They are not ashamed, "" For they speak with enemies in the gate!

Young's Literal Translation
O the happiness of the man Who hath filled his quiver with them, They are not ashamed, For they speak with enemies in the gate!

Smith's Literal Translation
Happy the man who filled his quiver from them: they shall not be ashamed when they shall speak with their enemies in the gate.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Blessed is the man that hath filled the desire with them; he shall not be confounded when he shall speak to his enemies in the gate.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Blessed is the man who has filled his desire from these things. He will not be confounded when he speaks to his enemies at the gate.

New American Bible
Blessed is the man who has filled his quiver with them. He will never be shamed for he will destroy his foes at the gate.

New Revised Standard Version
Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them. He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Blessed is the man who has his quiver full of them; he shall not be ashamed, but shall speak with enemies in the gate.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Blessed is the man who will fill his quiver with them, and they will not be ashamed when speaking with the enemy in the gate.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them; They shall not be put to shame, When they speak with their enemies in the gate.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Blessed is the man who shall satisfy his desire with them: they shall not be ashamed when they shall speak to their enemies in the gates.
Audio Bible



Context
Children are a Heritage From the LORD
4Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are children born in one’s youth. 5Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. He will not be put to shame when he confronts the enemies at the gate.

Cross References
Proverbs 17:6
Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of a son is his father.

Genesis 33:5
When Esau looked up and saw the women and children, he asked, “Who are these with you?” Jacob answered, “These are the children God has graciously given your servant.”

Genesis 30:1-2
When Rachel saw that she was not bearing any children for Jacob, she envied her sister. “Give me children, or I will die!” she said to Jacob. / Jacob became angry with Rachel and said, “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld children from you?”

1 Samuel 1:20
So in the course of time, Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked for him from the LORD.”

Deuteronomy 28:4
The fruit of your womb will be blessed, as well as the produce of your land and the offspring of your livestock—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks.

Isaiah 54:13
Then all your sons will be taught by the LORD, and great will be their prosperity.

Job 5:25
You will know that your offspring will be many, your descendants like the grass of the earth.

Genesis 48:9
Joseph said to his father, “They are the sons God has given me in this place.” So Jacob said, “Please bring them to me, that I may bless them.”

1 Samuel 2:21
So the LORD attended to Hannah, and she conceived and gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the LORD.

Genesis 49:25
by the God of your father who helps you, and by the Almighty who blesses you, with blessings of the heavens above, with blessings of the depths below, with blessings of the breasts and womb.

Matthew 19:14
But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

Luke 18:16
But Jesus called the children to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

Mark 10:14
But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and told them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

Matthew 18:3
“Truly I tell you,” He said, “unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Ephesians 6:1-4
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. / “Honor your father and mother” (which is the first commandment with a promise), / “that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life on the earth.” ...


Treasury of Scripture

Happy is the man that has his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

happy

Genesis 50:23
And Joseph saw Ephraim's children of the third generation: the children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were brought up upon Joseph's knees.

Job 1:2
And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters.

Job 42:12-16
So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses…

his quiver full of them.

Job 5:4
His children are far from safety, and they are crushed in the gate, neither is there any to deliver them.

Proverbs 27:11
My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth me.

speak.

Psalm 18:47
It is God that avengeth me, and subdueth the people under me.

or, destroy

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Psalm 127
1. The virtue of God's blessing
3. Good children are his gift














Blessed is the man
The word "blessed" in Hebrew is "אַשְׁרֵי" (ashrei), which conveys a sense of happiness, fortune, and divine favor. In the context of the Psalms, it often refers to a state of well-being that comes from living in accordance with God's will. The "man" here is representative of any person who aligns their life with God's purposes, particularly in the context of family and community.

whose quiver is full of them
The "quiver" is a metaphor for a container that holds arrows, symbolizing children in this passage. In ancient times, a full quiver was a sign of strength and preparedness for battle. Children are seen as a blessing and a source of strength for the family, contributing to the community's stability and future. The imagery suggests that having many children is a sign of God's blessing and provision.

They will not be put to shame
The phrase "not be put to shame" indicates a state of honor and respect. In the Hebrew culture, shame was a significant social and personal concern. This assurance of not being shamed suggests that those who have a "full quiver" will have support and defense in times of need, particularly through their children.

when they contend with enemies
The word "contend" implies a struggle or confrontation. In the historical context, families often faced disputes or threats from outside forces. The presence of children, who grow into adults capable of defending and supporting their family, provides a sense of security and strength against adversaries.

in the gate
The "gate" was the place of judgment and public assembly in ancient cities. It was where legal matters were settled and where leaders and elders gathered. Contending "in the gate" suggests that the family will have advocates and defenders in public and legal matters, ensuring justice and protection. This reflects the importance of family and community in maintaining social order and righteousness.

(5) They.--Not the sons. There is here one of the sudden changes of number in which Hebrew poetry abounds. (See especially Psalm 107:43.) Parents who have large families of sons are evidently intended. From the figure of the warrior and the arrows we should expect here, too, a martial image. They shall not be discomfited, but they shall challenge their enemies in the gates. In illustration may be quoted:

"Therefore men pray to have around their hearth,

Obedient offspring, to requite their foes

With harm, and honour whom their father loves;

But he whose issue is unprofitable,

Begets what else but sorrow to himself,

And store of laughter to his enemies?"

SOPH.: Antig., 641

On the other hand, it is the habit of Hebrew poetry to accumulate metaphors, and the gate is so commonly spoken of as the place of public resort, where legal cases were decided (Isaiah 29:21; Amos 5:12, &c), that it is quite as likely that the allusion here is to the support which a man's just cause would receive when evidently backed up by a long retinue of stalwart sons. This view certainly receives support from Job 5:4, where we have the very opposite picture of a tyrant's sons, not only unable to support their father, but themselves "crushed in the gate;" and the phrase "speak with their enemies" in this same verse may be illustrated from Joshua 20:4; Jeremiah 12:1. . . .

Verse 5. - Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them. Happy the man whose quiver contains many such arrows, and who is thus sure of abundant protection. They shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate; rather, when they shall speak (Hengstenberg, Kay, Cheyne, Revised Version). "The gate" was the place where judgment was given, and where consequently adversaries were apt to meet, as they pushed their respective causes. There might be collisions on such occasions; and, in any case, a man with several lusty sons to take his part would have an advantage.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Blessed
אַשְׁרֵ֤י (’aš·rê)
Interjection
Strong's 835: Happiness, interjection, how happy!

is the man
הַגֶּ֗בֶר (hag·ge·ḇer)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1397: A valiant man, warrior, a person simply

whose
אֲשֶׁ֤ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

quiver
אַשְׁפָּת֗וֹ (’aš·pā·ṯōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 827: A quiver (for arrows)

is full
מִלֵּ֥א (mil·lê)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4390: To fill, be full of

of them.
מֵ֫הֶ֥ם (mê·hem)
Preposition-m | Pronoun - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1992: They

He will not
לֹֽא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

be put to shame
יֵבֹ֑שׁוּ (yê·ḇō·šū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 954: To pale, to be ashamed, to be disappointed, delayed

when
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

he confronts
יְדַבְּר֖וּ (yə·ḏab·bə·rū)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue

the enemies
אוֹיְבִ֣ים (’ō·wy·ḇîm)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 341: Hating, an adversary

at the gate.
בַּשָּֽׁעַר׃ (baš·šā·‘ar)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 8179: An opening, door, gate


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OT Poetry: Psalm 127:5 Happy is the man who has his (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 127:4
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