Psalms 127:3
Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
Original Language Analysis
נַחֲלַ֣ת
are an heritage
H5159
נַחֲלַ֣ת
are an heritage
Strong's:
H5159
Word #:
2 of 7
properly, something inherited, i.e., (abstractly) occupancy, or (concretely) an heirloom; generally an estate, patrimony or portion
יְהוָ֣ה
of the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֣ה
of the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
3 of 7
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
בָּנִ֑ים
Lo children
H1121
בָּנִ֑ים
Lo children
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
4 of 7
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
שָׂ֝כָ֗ר
is his reward
H7939
שָׂ֝כָ֗ר
is his reward
Strong's:
H7939
Word #:
5 of 7
payment of contract; concretely, salary, fare, maintenance; by implication, compensation, benefit
Cross References
Deuteronomy 28:4Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.1 Samuel 1:27For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:Genesis 33:5And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, Who are those with thee? And he said, The children which God hath graciously given thy servant.Isaiah 8:18Behold, I and the children whom the LORD hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion.Genesis 48:4And said unto me, Behold, I will make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, and I will make of thee a multitude of people; and will give this land to thy seed after thee for an everlasting possession.Genesis 1:28And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.Genesis 24:60And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou art our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them.1 Chronicles 28:5And of all my sons, (for the LORD hath given me many sons,) he hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel.
Historical Context
Ancient Israelite economy required large families. But beyond economics, children were covenant blessing (Genesis 15:5). Barrenness provoked deep distress (Hannah, Elizabeth, Rachel).
Questions for Reflection
- How does viewing children as God's heritage transform parenting?
- How does contemporary culture reject children as blessing?
- How can those without biological children steward the "children" God entrusts?
Analysis & Commentary
Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD (הִנֵּה נַחֲלַת יְהוָה בָּנִים, hinneh nachalat YHWH banim). And the fruit of the womb is his reward. Children are nachalah (inheritance)—they belong to God, entrusted to parents. They're sakar (reward)—not burden but blessing. This challenges cultures viewing children as economic liability.