Psalms 127:4
in Psalms 127Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are children born in one’s youth.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
As arrows in the hand of a mighty man, So are the children of youth.
KJV
As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.
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This verse in Psalms 127
Commentary
11 notes on this verseAs arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Children born to men in their early days, by God's blessing become the comfort of their riper years. A man of war is glad of weapons which may fly where he cannot: good sons are their father's arrows speeding to hit the mark which their sires aim at. What wonders a good man can accomplish if he has affectionate children to second his desires, and lend themselves to his designs!
This site's exposition
a heritage from the LORD
on Psalms 127:3-5
Children are called a heritage, the word for an inherited estate. Spurgeon read the arrows as sons who fly where the father cannot go, and Gill the quiver as the case the arrows are kept in. A full quiver meets the enemies at the gate.
This site's exposition
children born in one’s youth
The Hebrew reads sons of youth. The same word for youth returns at Psalm 129:1, where Israel was persecuted from youth. Clarke read it as children of young parents, stronger and longer lived, and Barnes as sons in their prime, like arrows in a warrior's hand.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
"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.. ..
The Medieval Church1 voice
A commentator
BonaventureCollations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 22 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
These apostles are the children of them that have been shaken. The Psalm reads: "As arrows in the hand of the mighty, so the children of them that have been shaken." The apostolical order corresponds to the Father as He is in the Holy Spirit. …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Solomon was called Jedidiah--Beloved of the Lord ( 2 Sam. xii. 25 ); to him the kingdom was promised, and then it was in vain for Absalom to rise up early, to wheedle the people, and for Adonijah to make such a stir, and to say, I will be king. Solomon sits still, and, being beloved of the Lord, to him he gives sleep and the kingdom too.
As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
Posterity is often represented as a blessing from God (Ge 30:2, 18; Children are represented as the defenders (arrows) of their parents in war, and in litigation.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
3 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Children born to men in their early days, by God's blessing become the comfort of their riper years. A man of war is glad of weapons which may fly where he cannot: good sons are their father's arrows speeding to hit the mark which their sires aim at. What wonders a good man can accomplish if he has affectionate children to second his desires, and lend themselves to his designs! To this end we must have our children in hand while they are yet children, or they are never likely to be so when they are grown up; and we must try to point them and straighten them, so as to make arrows of them in their youth, lest they should prove crooked and unserviceable in after life. Let the Lord favour us with loyal, obedient, affectionate offspring, and we shall find in them our best helpers. We shall see them shot forth into life to our comfort and delight, if we take care from the very beginning that they are directed to the right point.
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 marriage; I do not mean infancy or a comparative childhood, in which several fools join in marriage who are scarcely fit to leave the nursery or school. Such couples generally disagree; they cannot bear the boyish and girlish petulancies and caprices of each other; their own growth is hindered, and their offspring, (if any), have never much better than an embryo existence. On the other hand age produces only a dwarfish or rickety offspring, that seldom live to procreate; and when they do, it is only to perpetuate deformity and disease. It would be easy to assign reasons for all this; but the interpretation of Scripture will seldom admit of physiological details. It is enough that God has said, Children of the youth are strong and active, like arrows in the hands of the mighty.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man - They are what a parent may rely on for defense in danger, or for help in securing provision for himself and family - as the warrior or the hunter relies on his arrows. So are children of the youth - Sons in their youth; in their prime and vigor. The comparison of sons with arrows or spears is common in Arabic poetry. See Rosenmuller, Com. in loc. Also Morgenland, in loc.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
Like arrows in the hand of a mighty man with which to battle his enemies.
2 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
Behold, the heritage of the Lord for that man [who banishes sleep from his eyes].
Praiseworthy is the man who has filled his quiver with those arrows. אשפה is the arrowcase, called cuyvre in Old French.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 3 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
6 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| כְּחִצִּ֥ים | kechitzim | like arrows | H2671 → | 53 times |
| בְּיַד־ | beyad- | in [the] hand of | H3027 → | 1618 times |
| גִּבּ֑וֹר | gibor | a warrior | H1368 → | 158 times |
| כֵּ֝֗ן | ken | so | H3651 → | 771 times |
| בְּנֵ֣י | benei | [are] [the] sons of | H1121 → | 4930 times |
| הַנְּעוּרִֽים׃ | haneurim | <the> youth<s> | H5271 → | 47 times |
כְּחִצִּ֥יםlike arrows
kechitzimH2671 →53 times
בְּיַד־in [the] hand of
beyad-H3027 →1618 times
גִּבּ֑וֹרa warrior
giborH1368 →158 times
כֵּ֝֗ןso
kenH3651 →771 times
בְּנֵ֣י[are] [the] sons of
beneiH1121 →4930 times
הַנְּעוּרִֽים׃<the> youth<s>
haneurimH5271 →47 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Proverbs 31:28Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband praises her as well:
it leads to
- 2 Timothy 3:15–17
From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
- 2 Timothy 1:5
I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am convinced is in you as well.
- 1 Kings 2:19
So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him for Adonijah. The king stood up to greet her, bowed to her, and sat down on his throne. Then the king had a throne…
- 2 Timothy 3:15–17
Through
Proverbs 17:6Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of a son is his father.
it leads to
- Psalms 127:3–5
Children are indeed a heritage from the LORD, and the fruit of the womb is His reward.
- Proverbs 16:31
Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is attained along the path of righteousness.
- Proverbs 13:22
A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the sinner’s wealth is passed to the righteous.
- Psalms 128:3–6
Your wife will be like a fruitful vine flourishing within your house, your sons like olive shoots sitting around your table.
- Psalms 127:3–5
Through
Psalms 120:4Sharp arrows will come from the warrior, with burning coals of the broom tree!
it leads to
- James 3:5–8
In the same way, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it boasts of great things. Consider how small a spark sets a great forest ablaze.
- James 3:5–8
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies3
About Psalms
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the Book of Psalms; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Augustine of Hippo, Exposition on Psalm 127; Bonaventure, Collations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 22; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 7; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.