Psalms 127:3–5
Children are an inheritance and a reward from YHWH
Study it word by word3Look, an inheritance from YHWH are children, a reward is the fruit of the womb.
4Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of youth.
5Happy is the man who has filled his quiver with them; they will not be put to shame when they speak with enemies in the gate.
In its context
1A song of the ascents. Of Solomon. If YHWH does not build a house, in vain its builders toil on it; if YHWH does not keep a city, in vain the keeper stays awake.
2It is in vain for you to rise early to get up, to be late to sit down, to eat the bread of anxious toils; so he gives to his beloved sleep.
…
Its words in the original
- נַחֲלַתnachalat· inheritance
Inheritance: the share each son receives; the land that falls to a family or tribe.
- יְהוָהyehva· YHWH
The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.
- בָּנִיםbanim· son
Son. In the plural it can include sons and daughters, and also grandsons and descendants. "Son of..." also says what group someone belongs to ("sons of Israel" = Israelites).
- שָׂכָרsachar· wages
Pay for work; wages, reward.
- פְּרִיperi· fruit
Fruit: what a tree or a plant bears. Figuratively, the result of something, or children ("fruit of the womb").
- בָּטֶןbaten· womb, belly
Belly; the mother's womb; the inner part of a person.
- חִצִּיםchitsim· arrow
Arrow.
- יַדyad· hand, power
Hand. Figuratively, power or control ("into the hand of" = into the power of); also side, part, or share. Also a projecting piece, such as a tenon.
- גִּבּוֹרgibor· mighty one, mighty man
Strong, valiant; a mighty man, an outstanding warrior.
- נְּעוּרִיםneurim· youth
Youth: the time of being young.
- אַשְׁרֵיashre· happy, blessed
Happy, blessed: an exclamation for the good that someone has.
- גֶּבֶרgever· man
Man, a grown man in his strength.
- מִלֵּאmile· fill, be full
Fill or be full; also fulfill or complete (a time, a word given).
- אַשְׁפָּתashpat· quiver
A quiver: the case in which arrows are carried.
- יֵבֹשׁוּyevoshu· be ashamed; delay
Be ashamed, feel shame; be disappointed. In another form, be long in coming, delay.
- יְדַבְּרוּyedabru· speak
Speak, talk, say; also promise or command.
- אוֹיְבִיםoyvim· enemy
Enemy, foe: one who hates and opposes another.
- שָּׁעַרshaar· gate
Gate of a city. It was also the open place where the elders met, business was done and disputes were judged.