Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 147:13
For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates; he hath blessed thy children within thee.
13. he hath strengthened ] The same word is used in Neh 3:4 ff. of repairing or fortifying the wall and gates. All through Nehemiah’s narrative appears the conviction that “this work was wrought of our God.”
the bars of thy gates ] There may be a particular reference to Neh 3:3; Neh 3:6; Neh 3:13-15.
thy children ] Zion is regarded as the mother of its inhabitants.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates – He has made thee safe and secure – as if he had given additional strength to the fastenings of the gates of the city. Cities were surrounded by walls. They were entered through gates. Those gates were fastened by bars passed across them, to which the gates were secured. The language here might be applicable to any period, but it is probable that there is particular reference to Jerusalem as made strong in rebuilding it after the return from Babylon.
He hath blessed thy children within thee – The inhabitants, by giving them safety and peace.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Psa 147:13-20
He hath strengthened the bars of thy gates.
Piety exulting in Divine goodness
I. In the general prosperity of society. He recognizes the good hand of God–
1. In the rebuilding of the city (verse 13).
2. In the restoration of peace and prosperity (verse 14).
II. In the beneficent mutations of the weather (Psa 147:16-18). Men are in the habit of complaining of the weather as too hot or too cold, too wet or too dry, too stormy or too calm, but in these very changes there is mercy. They are required in order to make the earth fertile and fruitful, and to stimulate humanity to a thousand industries. Whilst men of science ascribe meteorological changes to what they call laws, and the multitudes are ever grumbling with the weather, true philosophy ascribes all not only to the agency of God, but to the benevolence of that agency.
III. In the moral revelations to mankind (verse 19).
1. Gods word not only acts on material nature, originates, fashions, sustains and controls it, but on human souls. In the one case it conveys His resistless energy, in the other His moral reason and influence.
2. He reveals His moral laws to men–
(1) By the retribution of history,
(2) By the intuitions of conscience,
(3) By His written Word, and
(4) By His blessed Son. To some His moral revelations are fuller than to others. (David Thomas, D. D.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 13. He hath strengthened the bars of thy gates] He has enabled thee to complete the walls of Jerusalem. From the former part of the Psalm it appears the walls were then in progress; from this part, they appear to be completed, and provisions to be brought into the city, to support its inhabitants. The gates were set up and well secured by bars, so that the grain, &c., was in safety.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Thy strength consists not in thy walls, and gates, and bars, but in his protection.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
13. strengthened . . . gatesor,means of defense against invaders,
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates,…. Of Jerusalem, of Zion the church of God. Gates are for the letting in of persons into the city of our God; which are Christ, faith in him, and a profession of it; see Isa 26:1, “bars” are for the security of those that, are in it, and to keep out the enemy: and these, “strengthened”, denote the utmost safety of the true members of Christ and his church; who have nothing to fear from their spiritual enemies, sin, law, Satan, the world, death, and hell: God is on their side; Christ is the munition of rocks unto them the Holy Spirit is in them, who is greater than he that is in the world; and angels are guards about them; all which is matter of praise, and a sufficient reason for it;
he hath blessed thy children within thee; multiplied them and made them fruitful, increased the number of them; even the spiritual children of the church, brought forth to Christ by her; born in her, through the ministry of the Gospel; and brought up by her, with the ordinances of it. These in the first times of the Gospel were very numerous, and will be so again in the latter day, like the drops of the morning dew; and are and will be blessed with all spiritual blessings, with pardoning, justifying, adopting, and sanctifying grace, and with eternal life; for which the Lord’s name is to be praised.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(13) For he hath strengthened.An allusion to the new fortifications of the restored city is probable, though the expression is plainly figurative of security and peace.
With the second clause comp. Isa. 60:17-18.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 147:13 For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates; he hath blessed thy children within thee.
Ver. 13. For he hath strengthened the bars, &c. ] So that the gates of hell shall not prevail against them. God hath promised to break in pieces those gates of brass, and cut in sunder those bars of iron (as Samson did the gates of Gaza), Isa 45:2 , to perfect, stablish, strengthen, and settle his saints, 1Pe 5:10 , to he a wall of fire round about them, &c.
He hath blessed thy children within thee
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
children = sons.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
he hath: Psa 48:11-14, Psa 51:18, Psa 125:2, Neh 3:1-16, Neh 6:1, Neh 7:1, Neh 12:30, Lam 2:8, Lam 2:9, Lam 4:12, Dan 9:25
blessed: Psa 115:14, Psa 115:15, Psa 128:3-6, Psa 144:12, Isa 44:3-5, Jer 30:19, Jer 30:20, Zec 8:3-5, Luk 19:42-44
Reciprocal: Psa 69:35 – God Jer 51:30 – her bars Nah 3:13 – thy bars
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Psa 147:13-14. For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates Thy strength consists not in thy walls, and gates, and bars, but in his protection. They had walls and gates, and kept their gates barred in time of danger; but that would not have been an effectual security to them, if God had not strengthened the bars of their gates, and fortified their fortifications. Let us remember, the most probable means we can devise for our defence and preservation will not answer the end, unless God give his blessing with them; we must, therefore, in the careful and diligent use of these means, depend upon him for that blessing, and attribute the undisturbed repose of our land more to the wall of fire than the wall of water round about us, Zec 2:5. He maketh peace in thy borders In all thy land, even to its utmost borders, which are most liable to the incursion of enemies. He puts an end to the wars that existed, and prevents those that were threatened and feared. And he preserves the country in tranquillity, healing all differences between contending parties, and preventing intestine broils and animosities. And filleth thee with the finest wheat With wheat, the most valuable grain, the finest of that, and a fulness thereof. Canaan abounded with the best wheat, Deu 32:14; and exported it to the countries abroad, Eze 27:17. It was not enriched with precious stones or spices, but with what was far more valuable, with bread which strengthens mans heart. That, with abundance of milk and honey, vines and fig-trees, rendered it the glory of all lands.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
147:13 For he hath {i} strengthened the bars of thy gates; he hath blessed thy children within thee.
(i) He not only furnishes his Church with all that is necessary but preserves also the same, and makes it strong against all outward force.