Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 128:4
Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD.
4. Behold, that thus &c.] Lo, surely thus &c. Cp. Psa 127:3.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
4 6. Prayers and hopes for the welfare of the community.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed … – As if he had said, Look upon this picture. See the farmer cultivating his fields; see him gathering in the grain; see him at his own table calmly, quietly, and gratefully enjoying the fruit of his toil. Look upon that picture of a happy family – numerous, cheerful, beloved – giving promise of upholding the name of the family in future years – and see all this as coming from the Lord – and you have an illustration of the blessedness which follows a religious life.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 4. Thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord.] A great price for a small consideration. Fear God, and thou shalt have as much domestic good as may be useful to thee.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord. In the manner before described, and in the instances already given, as well as in the following; this is said to raise attention, and fix a sense of the blessedness of such persons; and who are further addressed, and pronounced happy, in the next verses.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Pointing back to this charming picture of family life, the poet goes on to say: behold, for thus = behold, thus is the man actually blessed who fears Jahve. confirms the reality of the matter of fact to which the points. The promissory future in Psa 128:5 is followed by imperatives which call upon the God-fearing man at once to do that which, in accordance with the promises, stands before him as certain. as in Psa 134:3; Psa 20:3. instead of gives a designed indefiniteness to the first member of the combination. Every blessing the individual enjoys comes from the God of salvation, who has taken up His abode in Zion, and is perfected in participation in the prosperity of the holy city and of the whole church, of which it is the centre. A New Testament song would here open up the prospect of the heavenly Jerusalem. But the character of limitation to this present world that is stamped upon the Old Testament does not admit of this. The promise refers only to a present participation in the well-being of Jerusalem (Zec 8:15) and to long life prolonged in one’s children’s children; and in this sense calls down intercessorily peace upon Israel in all its members, and in all places and all ages.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
4. Lo! surely, thus blessed shall be the man who feareth Jehovah. The preceding doctrine, that even in the outward condition of God’s servants while in this transitory state there is afforded such evidence of the divine favor and goodness as demonstrates that we do not lose our labor in serving him, is here confirmed by the Prophet. Yet as the reward of godliness does not appear eminently conspicuous, he, in the first place, uses the demonstrative particle, Lo! (107) and then adds surely; for so I interpret the particle כי, ki. We must, however, always remember, as I have previously noticed, that the divine blessing is promised to us upon earth in such a way as that it may not engross our thoughts and keep them grovelling in the dust; for it is not meet that our hope of the life to come should be stifled. This is the reason why we do not at all times equally enjoy the benefits of God.
(107) Il use en premier lieu d’un mot qui est commoe pour demonstrer la chose au doigt ou a l’oeil, voyla — Fr. “He, in the first place, uses a word, which is, as it were, to point to the thing with the finger, or show it to the eye, Lo! ”
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(4) Behold, that.Better, Look! for thus, &c. The poet calls attention to the charming picture he has drawn of domestic bliss and then points his moral.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
4. Behold, that thus The asseverating particle is again employed, as in Psa 128:2, to confirm the happiness of the God-fearing man. “Behold,” surely “thus,” etc., a beautiful setting in the picture of a happy, pious nation.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Psa 128:4 Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD.
Ver. 4. Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed, &c. ] “Behold,” and “that thus”; q.d. Know it for a truth, and rest assured of the blessedness of married couples, whatsoever the devil and his agents (speaking basely of marriage) suggest to the contrary, so be it they fear the Lord, for that is it that sweeteneth and sanctifieth all estates of life whatsoever.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6.
man = a strong man (plural) Hebrew. geber. App-14.
blessed. Not the same word as in Psa 128:1. That is happy (Beatitudo); this is blessed (Benedictio).
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Reciprocal: Gen 1:28 – General Gen 9:1 – blessed Gen 11:11 – begat sons Psa 115:13 – He will bless Psa 127:3 – children Zec 8:5 – playing