Psalms 115:14
The LORD shall increase you more and more, you and your children.
Original Language Analysis
יֹסֵ֣ף
shall increase
H3254
יֹסֵ֣ף
shall increase
Strong's:
H3254
Word #:
1 of 6
to add or augment (often adverbial, to continue to do a thing)
יְהוָ֣ה
The LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֣ה
The LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
2 of 6
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
עֲלֵיכֶ֑ם
H5921
עֲלֵיכֶ֑ם
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
3 of 6
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
עֲ֝לֵיכֶ֗ם
H5921
עֲ֝לֵיכֶ֗ם
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
4 of 6
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
Cross References
Deuteronomy 1:11(The LORD God of your fathers make you a thousand times so many more as ye are, and bless you, as he hath promised you!)Acts 2:39For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.Acts 3:25Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.Jeremiah 33:22As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured: so will I multiply the seed of David my servant, and the Levites that minister unto me.Genesis 17:7And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.Genesis 13:16And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.2 Samuel 24:3And Joab said unto the king, Now the LORD thy God add unto the people, how many soever they be, an hundredfold, and that the eyes of my lord the king may see it: but why doth my lord the king delight in this thing?Revelation 7:4And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.Revelation 7:9After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;Jeremiah 30:19And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of them that make merry: and I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small.
Historical Context
Ancient Near Eastern blessings typically included progeny and prosperity. Large families ensured economic security, military strength, and social standing. Barrenness was calamity; numerous descendants were divine favor. Israel's near-extinction during the exile made repopulation urgent. The returnees numbered only tens of thousands compared to pre-exilic populations. Nehemiah's census (Nehemiah 7) showed modest numbers. This blessing assured that God would rebuild the nation numerically and spiritually. Christians apply this generationally—raising children in the faith—and evangelistically—making disciples of all nations.
Questions for Reflection
- How should this promise of generational blessing inform Christian parenting and discipleship priorities?
- In what ways might God 'increase you more and more' beyond numerical or material growth?
- How can believers balance confidence in God's covenant promises to children with the reality that each person must personally trust Christ?
Analysis & Commentary
The LORD shall increase you more and more, you and your children. This blessing looks to generational continuity and growth. The Hebrew yasaf (יָסַף, to add, increase) emphasizes progressive multiplication. God's blessing isn't static maintenance but dynamic expansion. The phrase more and more (al-atem ve'al-beneikhem, עֲלֵיכֶם וְעַל־בְּנֵיכֶם, literally 'upon you and upon your children') extends blessing beyond the present generation.
This echoes the Abrahamic covenant's promise of descendants numerous as stars (Genesis 15:5) and the blessing upon obedience in Deuteronomy 28:4, 11. Covenant blessings were inherently generational—faithful parents could expect God's favor on their children. Yet this isn't automatic transmission; each generation must personally trust the LORD (as urged in vv. 9-11).
For post-exilic Israel, numerically decimated and demographically threatened, this promise offered hope. For the New Testament church, the principle continues: God builds His kingdom across generations, with believers' children included in covenant promises (Acts 2:39) and commanded to be raised in the Lord's instruction (Ephesians 6:4). Spiritual increase—growth in faith, knowledge, and holiness—also fulfills this promise.