Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 144:12
That our sons [may be] as plants grown up in their youth; [that] our daughters [may be] as corner stones, polished [after] the similitude of a palace:
12. That our sons may be like plants well grown in their youth] Cp. Psa 128:3. Plant denotes a freshly planted sapling sending up its young shoots, LXX , cp. Job 14:9. Vergil uses a similar comparison ( Aen. ix. 674), “Abietibus iuvenes patriis et montibus aequos.”
The word for well-grown, which may be used either of children (Isa 1:2, nourished) or of trees (Isa 44:14), is to be connected with plants; in their youth belongs to sons.
our daughters like corner pillars sculptured in the fashion of a palace] The exact meaning is uncertain. If this rendering is right, it is natural to think of the Caryatides, the graceful female figures so commonly employed as columns in Greek architecture. ‘Tall and stately’ would be the ideas suggested by the comparison. But, as Delitzsch points out, the architecture of Syria and Palestine has never employed Caryatides either in ancient or modern times. On the other hand the corners of the large rooms in the houses of wealthy Orientals are commonly ornamented with carved work richly coloured and gilded. He would render like richly coloured corners, and supposes that the comparison refers to the bright dresses and rich ornaments worn by the women. Cp. 2Sa 1:24. This explanation is however less natural.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
12 15. A description of the prosperity of Israel under the protection and blessing of Jehovah. Cp. generally Deu 28:2 ff; Deu 30:9.
The absolute dependence of the earlier verses upon existing Psalms makes it probable that these verses also are borrowed, though the poem from which they were taken is not preserved; and the absence of a clear grammatical connexion with the preceding verses makes this probability almost a certainty.
What the compiler intended the connexion to be (for considering the general character of the Psalm we need not doubt that he appended them himself) is much disputed.
(1) The LXX (followed of course by the Vulg.) changes the pronouns to the third person, and makes Psa 144:12-14 describe the temporal prosperity of the enemies of Israel referred to in Psa 144:11. “Whose mouth hath spoken vanity whose sons are as young plants &c.” Psa 144:15 then describes the contrast between this temporal happiness and the true spiritual happiness which Israel possesses. ‘Men call the people happy who have these things; (but truly) happy is the people whose God is the Lord.’ This however can only be regarded as a conjectural alteration, and not as the true reading.
(2) It is possible to render, We whose sons, or (R.V.) When our sons &c., and to take Psa 144:15 as the apodosis, but such a lengthy protasis as the whole of Psa 144:12-14 is awkward.
(3) The A.V., which follows Aq., Symm. and Jer., may give the right meaning. The goal to which the Psalmist looks forward as the end of deliverance from enemies is the happiness and prosperity of the nation. No doubt the construction is harsh, but it may be explained by the supposition that the Psalmist borrowed the description in Psa 144:12-14, and tacked it loosely on to the rest of his poem by the particle of relation or conjunction asher, without altering the construction of the passage to suit it.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth – That our sons – not called forth to the hardships of the tent and the field, the perils and the exposures of war – may grow up under the culture of home, of the family, in quiet scenes, as plants carefully cultivated and flourishing. Compare Psa 128:3. The Hebrew here is, grown large in their youth; not grown up, which has a paradoxical appearance. The meaning is, that they may be stout, strong, vigorous, well-formed, even in early life; that they may not be stunted in their growth, but be of full and manly proportions.
That our daughters may be as cornerstones – The word used here – zavyoth – occurs only in the plural form, and means properly corners – from a verb meaning to hide away, to conceal. The word is used respecting the corners of an altar, Zec 9:15; and seems here to refer to the corner columns of a palace or temple: perhaps, as Gesenius (Lexicon) supposes, in allusion to the columns representing female figures so common in Egyptian architecture.
Polished – Margin, cut. The idea is not that of polishing or smoothing, but of cutting or sculpturing. It is the stone carefully cut as an ornament.
After the similitude of a palace – A more literal translation would be, The likeness or model of a temple; or, for the building of a temple. That is, that they may be such as may be properly compared with the ornamental columns of a temple or palace. The comparison is a very beautiful one, having the idea of grace, symmetry, fair proportions: that on which the skill of the sculptor is most abundantly lavished.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 12. That our sons may be as plants] God had promised to his people, being faithful, THREE descriptions of BLESSINGS, De 28:4.
1. The fruit of the body – sons and daughters.
2. The fruits of the ground – grass and corn in sufficient plenty.
3. Fruit of the cattle – “the increase of kine, and flocks of sheep.”
These are the blessings to which the psalmist refers here, as those in which he might at present exult and triumph: blessings actually enjoyed by his people at large; proofs of his mild and paternal government, and of the especial blessing of the Almighty. The people who were in such a state, and revolted, had no excuse: they were doubly guilty, as ungrateful both to God and man.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
This mercy I beg, not only for my own sake, but for the sake of thy people, that thine and our enemies being subdued, and peace established in the land, thy people may enjoy those blessings which thou hast promised to them; and particularly,
that our sons, which are the strength, and safety, and hopes of a nation, may be like plants, flourishing and thriving, and growing in height and strength, as plants do in their youth, and they only; for when they grow old, they wither and decay.
Our daughters; upon whom the hope of posterity depends.
As corner-stones, polished after the similitude of palace; strong and beautiful, and adorned with all the ornaments belonging to their sex.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
That our sons [may be] as plants grown up in their youth,…. The Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Ethiopic, Syriac, and Arabic versions, read, “whose sons [are as] plants”, c. as if this and what follows were a description of the families, estates, substance, and outward happiness of wicked men, the enemies of David, the strange children he desired to be delivered from, agreeably to Job 21:7 and if the word “saying”, or “who say”, be supplied, as by some o, and connected with “that our sons are”, c. they may express the vain boastings of these men, and explain what is meant by the vanity their mouth spake as well as furnish out another reason for the repetition of the above requests, namely, for the sake of introducing those vain boasts to which the happiness of good men is opposed, who have an interest in God as their God, Ps 144:15; but we with other versions take them to be a petition of the psalmist; that as he would deliver him personally out of the hands of his enemies, so he would bless his subjects with all prosperity and happiness in their families and estates; like a good prince concerned for the real welfare of his people, and wishes that their sons might be as plants, young, tender, well nursed, and taken care of, that were healthful, thriving, flourishing, and promising much fruit; so they might he of healthful constitutions, well educated in all useful knowledge, natural and religious, and grow both in wisdom and stature, and appear to be of promising parts for usefulness in the church and state; and especially that they might be the plants of the Lord, pleasant ones to him, and profitable to others; be planted in Christ, and in his house, and grow in grace and in the knowledge of him, and grow up to him their bead in all things. The Targum is,
“that our sons may be as plants of the dactyles (or palm trees, Ps 92:12), nourished up in the doctrine of the law from their youth;”
see Ps 128:3;
[that] our daughters [may be] as corner stones, polished [after] the similitude of a palace; or “temple”; tall, beautiful, and in good proportion; children have their name in Hebrew from a word which signifies to “build” p, because by them families are built up, Ru 4:11; and by marriage divers families are connected together, so that they are as corner stones to them; thus Plautus q speaks of children as a building, and parents as the fabricators of them; laying the foundation of them, raising them up and polishing them, and sparing no cost to make them useful to the commonwealth: or “as corner pillars” r, which support the house and continue in it; so they guide the house, take care of the affairs of it, and be keepers at home, 1Ti 5:14; and like such as are in temples or in kings’ palaces, finely graved and beautifully polished, be adorned with grace and good works, particularly with modesty, meekness, and humility, 1Th 2:9; and grow up into an holy temple in the Lord, being parts of the spiritual building, and being laid on the foundation, of which Jesus Christ is the corner stone. The Targum is,
“our daughters splendid and fit for the priests that minister in the midst of the temple.”
The Syriac version,
“their daughters as spouses adorned like temples.”
o So Schmidt. p “aedificavit, unde” & “filii et filiae”. q Mostellaria, Act. 1. Sc. 2. r “sicut angulares lapides, aut columnae”, Michaelis.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
With reference to the relation of this passage to the preceding, vid., the introduction. (it is uncertain whether this is a word belonging originally to this piece or one added by the person who appended it as a sort of clasp or rivet) signifies here quoniam, as in Jdg 9:17; Jer 16:13, and frequently. lxx ( ); so that the temporal prosperity of the enemies is pictured here, and in Psa 144:15 the spiritual possession of Israel is contrasted with it. The union becomes satisfactorily close in connection with this reading, but the reference of the description, so designedly set forth, to the enemies is improbable. In Psa 144:12-14 we hear a language that is altogether peculiar, without any assignable earlier model. Instead of we read elsewhere; “in their youth” belongs to “our sons.” , our garners or treasuries, from a singular or (apparently from a verb , but contracted out of ), is a hapaxlegomenon; the older language has the words , , instead of it. In like manner , genus (vid., Ewald, Lehrbuch, S. 380), is a later word (found besides only in 2Ch 16:14, where signifies et varia quidem , Syriac zenonoje , or directly spices from species ); the older language has miyn for this word. Instead of , kine, which signifies “princes” in the older language, the older language says in Psa 8:8. The plena scriptio , in which the Waw is even inaccurate, corresponds to the later period; and to this corresponds = in Psa 144:15, cf. on the other hand Psa 33:12. Also , laden = bearing, like the Latin forda from ferre (cf. in Job 21:10), is not found elsewhere. is (contrary to Gen 30:39) treated as a feminine collective, and (cf. in Job 21:10) as a nomen epicaenum . Contrary to the usage of the word, Maurer, Kster, Von Lengerke, and Frst render it: our princes are set up (after Ezr 6:3); also, after the mention of animals of the fold upon the meadows out-of-doors, one does not expect the mention of princes, but of horned cattle that are to be found in the stalls.
elsewhere signifies a corner, and here, according to the prevailing view, the corner-pillars; so that the elegant slender daughters are likened to tastefully sculptured Caryatides – not to sculptured projections (Luther). For (1) does not signify a projection, but a corner, an angle, Arabic Arab. zawyt , zawia (in the terminology of the stone-mason the square-stone = , in the terminology of the carpenter the square), from Arab. zwa , abdere (cf. e.g., the proverb: f’l zawaja chabaja , in the corners are treasures). (2) The upstanding pillar is better adapted to the comparison than the overhanging projection. But that other prevailing interpretation is also doubtful. The architecture of Syria and Palestine – the ancient, so far as it can be known to us from its remains, and the new – exhibits nothing in connection with which one would be led to think of “corner-pillars.” Nor is there any trace of that signification to be found in the Semitic . On the other hand, the corners of large rooms in the houses of persons of position are ornamented with carved work even in the present day, and since this ornamentation is variegated, it may be asked whether does here signify “sculptured,” and not rather “striped in colours, variegated,” which we prefer, since (cogn. ) signifies nothing more than to hew firewood;
(Note: In every instance where (cogn. ) occurs, frequently side by side with (to draw water), it signifies to hew wood for kindling; wherefore in Arabic, in which the verb has been lost, Arab. hatab signifies firewood (in distinction from Arab. chsb , wood for building, timber), and not merely this, but fuel in the widest sense, e.g., in villages where wood is scarce, cow-dung (vid., Job, at Job 20:6-11, note), and the hemp-stalk, or stalk of the maize, in the desert the Arab. brt , i.e., camel-dung (which blazes up with a blue flame), and the perennial steppe-plant or its root. In relation to Arab. hatab , ahtb signifies lopped, pruned, robbed of its branches (of a tree), and Arab. hrb hatb a pruning war, which devastates a country, just as the wood-gathering women of a settlement (styled Arab. ‘l – hatbat or ‘l – hwatt ) with their small hatchet (Arab. mihtab ) lay a district covered with tall plants bare in a few days. In the villages of the Merg’ the little girls who collect the dry cow-dung upon the pastures are called Arab. bnat hatbat , . – Wetzstein.)
and on the other side, the signification of the Arabic chatiba , to be striped, many-coloured (IV to become green-striped, of the coloquintida), is also secured to the verb side by side with that signification by Pro 7:16. It is therefore to be rendered: our daughters are as corners adorned in varied colours after the architecture of palaces.
(Note: Corners with variegated carved work are found even in the present day in Damascus in every reception-room (the so-called Arab. qat ) or respectable houses cf. Lane, Manners and Customs of the Modern Egyptians, Introduction). An architectural ornament composed with much good taste and laborious art out of wood carvings, and glittering with gold and brilliant colours, covers the upper part of the corners, of which a kaa may have as many as sixteen, since three wings frequently abut upon the bet el – bahara , i.e., the square with its marble basin. This decoration, which has a most pleasing effect to the eye, is a great advantage to saloons from two to three storeys high, and is evidently designed to get rid of the darker corners above on the ceiling, comes down from the ceiling in the corners of the room for the length of six to nine feet, gradually becoming narrower as it descends. It is the broadest above, so that it there also covers the ends of the horizontal corners formed by the walls and the ceiling. If this crowning of the corners, the technical designation of which, if I remember rightly, is Arab. ‘l – qrnyt , korna , might be said to go back into Biblical antiquity, the Psalmist would have used it as a simile to mark the beauty, gorgeous dress, and rich adornment of women. Perhaps, too, because they are not only modest and chaste (cf. Arabic mesturat , a veiled woman, in opposition to memshushat , one shone on by the sun), but also, like the children of respectable families, hidden from the eyes of strangers; for the Arabic proverb quoted above says, “treasures are hidden in the corners,” and the superscription of a letter addressed to a lady of position runs: “May it kiss the hand of the protected lady and of the hidden jewel.” – Wetzstein.)
The words , to bring forth by thousands, and (denominative from ), which surpasses it, multiplied by tens of thousands, are freely formed. Concerning , meadows, vid., on Job 18:17. , in a martial sense a defeat, clades, e.g., in Jdg 21:15, is here any violent misfortune whatever, as murrain, which causes a breach, and any head of cattle which goes off by a single misfortune. The lamentation in the streets is intended as in Jer 14:2. is also found in Son 5:9; nor does the poet, however, hesitate to blend this with the tetragrammaton into one word. The Jod is not dageshed (cf. Psa 123:2), because it is to be read , cf. = in Gen 18:14. Luther takes Psa 144:15 and Psa 144:15 as contrasts: Blessed is the people that is in such a case, But blessed is the people whose God is the Lord. There is, however, no antithesis intended, but only an exceeding of the first declaration by the second. For to be allowed to call the God from whom every blessing comes his God, is still infinitely more than the richest abundance of material blessing. The pinnacle of Israel’s good fortune consists in being, by the election of grace, the people of the Lord (Psa 33:12).
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
12. Because our sons, etc. These three concluding verses some consider as being a wish or a prayer. (271) Others think that David congratulates himself, and all the people, that through the divine blessing every species of mercy was showered down prosperously upon them. I have no doubt that David commemorates, by way of thanksgiving, the liberality which God had shown to his people. But it consists very well with this, to suppose that he prays at the same time for the continuance or preservation of those divine benefits which must well-nigh be cut off altogether by wicked men and domestic foes, unless God should interpose, in the troubles and confusions which prevailed. The end he has in view therefore is, that God would not suffer the signal blessings with which he had loaded his people to fail and depart. He begins by making mention of the children, comparing the male portion of them, by way of commendation of their excellency, to plants which have grown up in their youth; for trees rarely come to any height if they do not grow large early, and when yet tender. He speaks of the girls as being like corners skillfully and ingeniously cut out, to make the building beautiful; as if he would say that they adorned the house by their comeliness and elegance. It is not surprising that he should reckon a noble and well trained offspring to be the very first of God’s earthly blessings, a point of which I have spoken elsewhere more at large. As David speaks in the name of the whole people, and of his own condition as mixed up with that of the community, we may infer from this that he was not exclusively occupied with his own private interests.
(271) “Grant that our sons may be as plants,” etc. Such is the view taken by the Translators of the English Bible.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(12) That our sons.This rendering of the relative, which so strangely begins this fragment, would be possible after Gen. 11:7; Gen. 13:16, &c, if a finite verb instead of participles followed; or it might mean because, as in Gen. 30:18, &c, but for the same anomalous construction; or it might, as by the LXX., be rendered whose, if any antecedent for it could be discovered. But all these devices are plainly impossible, and there is nothing for it but to treat the passage which it introduces as a fragment of another poem quite unconnected with the previous part of the psalm. Render, we whose.
As plants.The Hebrew word seems always to denote a young, vigorous tree lately planted. (See especially Job. 14:9, aptly translated by the LXX. . (For the comparison, comp. Isa. 5:7; Psa. 1:3, Note, Psa. 128:3.)
Grown up in their youth.The form here used is peculiar, but in another conjugation the verb is frequently used of bringing up children (see 2Ki. 10:6; Isa. 1:2; Isa. 23:4, &c.). as it is of the rain nourishing young plants (Isa. 44:14). Here the poet must mean grown tall beyond their age, or the figure is somewhat tame. A suggestion to read, reproductive in their youth, i.e., though young themselves, bringing up families, improves the poetry, and suits well the intention of this fragment of song and the general feeling of the Hebrew race. Comp. especially Psa. 127:4, sons of youth (Burgess).
Corner stones.The word only occurs once besides, in Zec. 9:15, where it is used of the corners of the altar. The derivation is from a root meaning to conceal, as is also the word rendered garners, in the next verse. Aquila and Symmachus, angles.
Polished.The Hebrew word means to hew, used, with one exception, of wood for fuel, but is cognate with a word used of stones, and in Isa. 51:1 in the passive participle of a cave hewn in a rock. The exception is Pro. 7:16, where the word is applied to tapestry.
After the similitude of a palacei.e., like a large and stately building. There seems no reason to confine the reference to the Temple, as the LXX. and Vulg. do, though the absence of the article is not insuperably against this (Isa. 44:28).
The explanations usually given of this passage make the resemblance to be either to caryatides carved at the angles of a palace, or to carved or variegated wood pillars in the corners of a spacious room. For the former there seems to be no authority in Scripture or known Hebrew usage. The latter has the support of Dr. J. G. Wetzstein, but seems far-fetched. It is far more according to Hebrew feeling to render the words simply, like hewn angles, the building of a palace; an image suggestive, like that of the wall in Son. 8:9 (see Note), of unassailable chastity and virtue. Perhaps the phrase women of strength or of a strong fortification, in Rth. 3:11, may imply the same figure. Grtz alters to daughters of a palace.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
12. Grown up That is, becoming strong, refers to our sons in an early and vigorous development. So polished refers to daughters. It is better rendered carved. To this day the corners of houses in Damascus may be seen carved in beautiful style, showing the figures here used to mean gracefulness of form and richness of attire.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Psa 144:12, &c. That our sons may be, &c. Our sons are like plants grown tall in their youth; and our daughters like corner-pillars polished for the ornament of a palace. Green; who renders the following verses also in the present; and with him agrees Mr. Mudge, who observes, that these verses are spoken in a kind of exultation, arising from a view of the happiness which they enjoyed; and are connected to the 9th and 10th. The 11th is a parenthesis; for it appears from the last verse, that he is not wishing, but describing a prosperity; describing their sons like young trees, large at the same time that they are young; their daughters exactly and beautifully shaped, like pillars for a palace: their sheep not bringing forth thousands, but multiplied by ten thousands in their out countries (for sheep were kept abroad on the open downs, not under or near a covert); I take chutzoth, here, to signify this; for streets are no places for sheep. Their oxen are not described by number, for that belongs to sheep, but by their firmness and usefulness for tillage: according to the original, mesubbalim, fit to bear; i.e. the yoke. The following words ein perets I take to mean, No house-breaking; ( parits is a robber or house-breaker;) No violent intrusion or forcing a man out of his property; and thus it will agree with what follows; No complaining in our streets; namely, upon account of violence or injustice. Kimchi observes of these verses, that all those three blessings, namely, of the womb, of the earth, and of cattle, which are mentioned in Deu 28:4 are specified here. Green tenders the second clause of the 14th verse, There is no hostile invasion, nor going into captivity. We may just observe, that the Hebrew word rechob, rendered streets in this verse, is different from that so rendered in the former. The old English word street, from the Latin stratum, signifies any place for rest or repose; a bed, a couch, a litter, or place fit for ewes to couch or lamb: and our translators in the 13th verse seem to have used it properly, and agreeable to the Hebrew, in this sense.
REFLECTIONS.1st, All the returns that we can make for mercies received, are blessing and praise ascribed to the gracious giver of all good. Of this the Psalmist sets us the example.
1. He blesses God for all the goodness that he had experienced. Blessed be the Lord my strength, by whose power I have been upheld, and by whose providence I have been protected; which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight; and from a shepherd’s crook enabled him to wield Goliah’s sword. My goodness, the author of all grace, and engaged to be mine, to bless me in a covenant of love; and my fortress, where I am safe from the attacks of my enemies: my high tower, above the reach of human or Satanical malice; and my deliverer out of every danger: my shield, to guard me in the day of battle; and he in whom I trust, who neither can nor will ever disappoint my confidence, while I depend upon him: who subdueth my people under me; bringing me, after all my wanderings, to the peaceable possession of Israel’s throne.
2. He expresses his admiration of God’s condescension and kindness. Lord, what is man, so low in his original, and now become so vile by sin, that thou takest knowledge of him? or the sin of man, that thou makest account of him? shewing such poor and wretched creatures such kindness and regard; especially sending his Son to be incarnate to redeem them. Man is like to vanity; an empty nothing, or a vapour. His days are as a shadow that passeth away; so swift, so transitory. O that men were wise, that they pondered these things, that they considered their latter end. If their moment be so short, and eternity depends upon it, how diligently should they redeem each hour!
3. He looks up to God for support against all his remaining enemies; and calls on him to manifest his presence in some tremendous displays of his power, (as when he descended on Sinai’s hoary top,) to scorch them with his lightnings, and shoot forth those arrows of his vengeance, which no human powers can for a moment withstand. By this divine interposition he hopes for deliverance out of the deep waters of trouble, and the hosts of enemies which surrounded him. And their character called for such righteous judgment against them: their mouth speaketh vanity, false and deceitful; and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood; whether lifted up in prayer, or in a solemn oath; the one is hypocritical, the other faithless. Note; (1.) There is a terrible day approaching, when vengeance will overtake the enemies of God. (2.) The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of the deepest waters of affliction; and they who call upon him will find him near to save them. (3.) Falsehood and lies may for a moment prosper, but in the end will issue in everlasting confusion.
2nd, We have,
1. David’s praises for his deliverances in answer to his prayer. I will sing a new song unto thee, O God, and join his music with his voice, to raise the sound: Upon a psaltery, and an instrument of ten strings, will I sing praises unto thee. And abundant reason he had: for it is he that giveth salvation unto kings, whose armies are not their safety, but the power of God giving success to their enterprises; who delivereth David his servant from the hurtful sword of all his secret and open enemies. The Son of David was thus enabled also to triumph, when God raised him from the dead, and exalted him to the throne; sin, Satan, death, and every enemy of his faithful people, being bruised under his feet.
2. The Psalmist prays for the continuance of the same care over himself, (many enemies of the same ill character remained, from whom he desires to be delivered,) and for his subjects, that prosperity, plenty, and peace, might reign among them; their families be increased, their sons and daughters endowed with every corporal and mental accomplishment; their garners full with every kind of store; their flocks multiplied exceedingly: their oxen strong; no irruptions from an enemy; no leading out to captivity; no complaints of faction, famine, sickness, or the sword, ever heard; but all peaceful without and quiet within. Such a state cannot but denote a happy people: not that happiness consists in these outward blessings merely; but, where bestowed, they are marks of God’s favour, which is the supreme felicity. Happy, therefore, are the people who have the Lord for their God. Note; (1.) The blessings of the basket and the store, so far as they come from God in a way of love, are doubly sweet; and they twice enjoy this world’s good things who see and gratefully bless the hand which bestows them. (2.) All that earth can give is but shadow, without God. He alone can truly satisfy the desires of the soul. (3.) They who have God for their Lord, bound to them by grace through faith in a covenant of love and peace, must needs be happy, for all his things are theirs.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
These are the blessed consequences of the reign of Jesus. His birth shall be as the dew-drops of the morning; and the Lord will give his people a name, in his house, better than of sons and daughters, Isa 56:5 . If we translate the blessings spoken of, concerning temporal things, in reference to spiritual, then we shall have a clearer apprehension of the incalculable blessings in Jesus. Our sons, like plants, and our daughters, polished after the similitude of a palace, do not unaptly represent the children of Jesus, who are trees of the Lord’s right-hand planting; and all the refreshing graces of the Holy Spirit are polished, as love, joy, peace, and every blessing of the covenant in Christ. These garners will be indeed opening an inexhaustible treasure of all that a regenerated soul in Christ can live upon. And the product of such grace in the heart will raise up everlasting revenues of praise to Jehovah, and happiness to the church, as thousands and tens of thousands of cattle figuratively set forth. Complaining will he done away, and the voice of sorrow and sin be heard no more in our streets. Oh! happy period of the church of God! Lord, hasten, it in thine own time, to thine own praise, and thy people’s joy.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 144:12 That our sons [may be] as plants grown up in their youth; [that] our daughters [may be] as corner stones, polished [after] the similitude of a palace:
Ver. 12. That our sons may be as plants, &c. ] As young plants, fair and flourishing.
That our daughters may be as corner stones, &c.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Psa 144:12-15
12Let our sons in their youth be as grown-up plants,
And our daughters as corner pillars fashioned as for a palace;
13Let our garners be full, furnishing every kind of produce,
And our flocks bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our fields;
14Let our cattle bear
Without mishap and without loss,
Let there be no outcry in our streets!
15How blessed are the people who are so situated;
How blessed are the people whose God is the Lord!
Psa 144:12-14 This strophe is characterized by seven participles (1) used as jussives (2) statements of fact.
1. young sons as grown up plants, Psa 144:12 a – BDB 152, KB 178, Pual
2. young daughters as fashioned (lit. hewn) pillars, Psa 144:12 b – BDB 310, KB 306, Pual
3. garners producing, Psa 144:13 a – BDB 807, KB 920, Hiphil
4. flocks bringing forth thousands, Psa 144:13 b – BDB 48 II, KB 59, Hiphil (found only here)
5. flocks bringing forth ten thousands, Psa 144:13 b – BDB 912, KB 1174, Pual
6. cattle bear (lit. be heavy with young), Psa 144:14 a – BDB 687, KB 741, Pual
7. going out (i.e., bearing ) with no problems, Psa 144:14 b – BDB 422, KB 425, Qal
8. there is an implied participle in Psa 144:14 c – NASB has let, which matches Psa 144:12-14 b, let there be no outcry in our streets
These are all blessings of covenant obedience (cf. Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 27-30). Notice the covenant blessing of Psa 144:15. NASB translates both Psa 144:1; Psa 144:15 as blessed, but they are different Hebrew words.
1. Psa 144:1 – BDB 138
2. Psa 144:15 – BDB 80
The term happy or blessed (BDB 80, cf. Psa 1:1) is recurrent and describes why they are blessed (cf. Psa 32:1-2; Psa 34:8; Psa 40:4; Psa 84:5; Psa 84:12; Psa 94:12; Psa 127:5; Pro 3:13; Pro 8:34; Pro 28:14). It is also used of corporate blessings (cf. Psa 33:12; Psa 89:15; Psa 144:15).
Psa 144:12 The term plants (BDB 642) occurs only here but it is very close to the normal root for plant.
1. plant (here) –
2. plant – , used often
corner pillars This is also a rare term, found only here and in Zec 9:15.
Psa 144:13 garner This term (BDB 265, KB 565) is also found only here in the OT (cf. NIDOTTE, vol. 2, p. 909). Most translations have barns.
Psa 144:14 There are two ways to view this verse.
1. It goes with Psa 144:13 b and relates to healthy, fruitful livestock (NIDOTTE, vol. 2, p. 498).
2. It goes with Psa 144:14 b,c and relates to a prayer for no breach in the city wall, which would allow an invader entrance.
The UBS Handbook (p. 1161) asserts there is no way from the text or context to know which option is best.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
This is a study guide commentary which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk n the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought provoking, not definitive.
1. How is this Psalm related to Psalms 18?
2. How do Psa 144:3-4 relate to Psa 144:1-2?
3. How does Psa 144:5-7 relate to Holy War?
4. To what or whom does great waters in Psa 144:7 refer?
5. Why does the MT introduction not fit Psa 144:10?
6. Are Psa 144:12-14 prayers or statements?
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
That = Who. Hebrew. ‘asher. Supply the Ellipsis thus: “Who [say] our sons are, &c. “All the words in italic type in verses: Psa 144:12-15 – maybe omitted, or the Present Tense may be supplied throughout. The verb “say” or “saying” is very frequently to be thus understood. See note on Psa 109:5.
may be. Supply “Are” and omit “That”.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Psa 144:12-15
Psa 144:12-15
DAVID’S PRAYER FOR ALL ISRAEL
“When our sons shall be as plants grown up in their youth,
And our daughters as corner-stones hewn after the fashion of a palace;
When our garners are full, affording all manner of store,
And our sheep bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our fields;
When our oxen are well laden;
When there is no breaking in, and no going forth,
And no outcry in our streets:
Happy is the people that is in such a case;
Yea, happy is the people whose God is Jehovah.”
There is undoubtedly in this paragraph a brilliant word-picture of overwhelming domestic tranquillity and prosperity.
(1) Psa 144:12 gives a picture of prosperous and happy families. There is some doubt among scholars as to the exact meaning of the metaphors here; but the idea is clear enough. Strong, vigorous sons, and beautiful efficient daughters adorn the primary unit of any successful society, namely, the family.
(2) Psa 144:13 stresses the full storehouses and the fantastic growth of their flocks of sheep.
(3) Psa 144:14 speaks of “well laden” oxen, hauling in the bumper crops.
“No breaking in … no going forth … no outcry in the streets” (Psa 144:14 b). Only domestic tranquility may be thus described. The marginal reading for “going forth” is “sallying,” a term associated with warfare, indicating that the meaning here is “no going forth to war.”
“Happy is the people that is in such a case” (Psa 144:15). Note the present tense here. This indicates that the marvelous blessings requested in David’s prayer are already being enjoyed in Israel. The prayer is a prayer for the continuation of what is already being enjoyed by God’s people.
Rawlinson pointed out that, “The best recent critics see in this passage a description of Israel’s actual condition in the writer’s day. In line with this, Dr. Kay, and Professor Cheyne render the verbs in the passage as present, `the sons are,’ `the daughters are,’ etc.
Instead of these last four verses being “a fragment,” or “A copyist’s quotation of some lost Davidic psalm,” these verses fit the whole psalm as a glove fits the hand. What could be more natural and reasonable than the fact that David, having seen the end of wars and strife and the astounding blessing of God in the prosperity of his people, should have prayed earnestly to God for the continuation of the happy conditions, giving God all the glory for it?
E.M. Zerr:
Psa 144:12. The plea for riddance of the evil work of strange children was to be beneficial to the youth of Israel.
Psa 144:13. A garner is a place for storing grain. It is desirous that one’s sheep be enabled to reproduce abundantly. All of these benefits would be had it the evil work of the strange children were ridded out of the land.
Psa 144:14. The first clause of this verse continues to wish for temporal prosperity as a result of being rid of the evil men. The rest of the verse refers to the success of the leaders of the land. Breaking in means there would not be any raids by these strange (outside) people. Going out denotes that the leaders would be able to maintain their place of authority in peace and not be compelled to sally forth to drive the invaders away. With such a condition there would be no occasion for complaints in the peaceful streets, for all things would be satisfactory.
Psa 144:15. The general conclusion is that people described above will be a happy people. The specific key to the situation is that God is their Lord. It is very important now that the reader sees the explanation of God and Lord at Psa 86:12.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
as plants: Psa 115:14, Psa 115:15, Psa 127:4, Psa 127:5, Psa 128:3, Isa 44:3-5, Lam 4:2
as corner stones: Job 42:15, Pro 31:10-27, Isa 3:16-24
polished: Heb. cut
the similitude: Son 8:8, Son 8:9, 1Pe 3:3-6
Reciprocal: Gen 5:4 – and he Gen 11:11 – begat sons Deu 7:13 – he will love Deu 28:3 – in the city Job 38:6 – fastened Psa 147:13 – blessed Son 7:4 – ivory Isa 30:23 – thy cattle Lam 4:7 – purer Amo 8:13 – General Zec 8:5 – playing
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
144:12 {k} That our sons [may be] as plants grown up in their youth; [that] our daughters [may be] as corner stones, polished [after] the similitude of a palace:
(k) He desires God to continue his benefits toward his people, counting the procreation of children and their good education among the chiefest of God’s benefits.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
3. Rejoicing for future conditions 144:12-15
Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)
David described three conditions that would exist when God gave him victory. First, the youth of the nation would continue to grow and thrive (Psa 144:12). Second, prosperity would characterize national life (Psa 144:13-14 a). Third, peace would prevail (Psa 144:14 b).