Psalms 128:3

Thy wife [shall be] as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.

Thy wife {H802} shall be as a fruitful {H6509} vine {H1612} by the sides {H3411} of thine house {H1004}: thy children {H1121} like olive {H2132} plants {H8363} round about {H5439} thy table {H7979}.

Your wife will be like a fruitful vine in the inner parts of your house. Your children around the table will be like shoots from an olive tree.

Your wife will be like a fruitful vine flourishing within your house, your sons like olive shoots sitting around your table.

Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine, In the innermost parts of thy house; Thy children like olive plants, Round about thy table.

Psalm 128:3 is a beautiful poetic expression of the domestic blessings promised to those who "fear the Lord" and "walk in his ways," as introduced in Psalm 128:1. This verse paints a vivid picture of a flourishing home, where the wife and children are sources of joy, fruitfulness, and stability.

Context

This verse is part of the "Songs of Ascents" (Psalms 120-134), sung by pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem for the annual festivals. These psalms often focus on themes of journey, divine protection, and the blessings associated with obedience to God. Psalm 128, in particular, outlines the tangible, earthly rewards of a righteous life, emphasizing the family unit as a primary sphere of God's favor. It echoes the covenant blessings found throughout the Old Testament, such as those described in Deuteronomy 28:4, where children are listed among the promised benefits of obedience.

Key Themes

  • Domestic Prosperity and Fruitfulness: The verse vividly describes a home blessed by God. The imagery of a "fruitful vine" and "olive plants" speaks to abundance, vitality, and continuous growth within the household.
  • The Valued Wife: "Thy wife [shall be] as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house" portrays the wife as central to the home's vitality and fruitfulness. The vine, a common symbol of prosperity and joy in biblical culture, suggests she brings forth life, blessings, and contributes significantly to the household's flourishing. This echoes the praise for a virtuous wife in Proverbs 31:10.
  • Thriving Children: "thy children like olive plants round about thy table" illustrates children as robust, healthy, and a source of strength and continuity. Olive trees are known for their longevity, resilience, and consistent production, symbolizing a thriving lineage and future hope. This aligns with the understanding that children are a heritage from the Lord.
  • God's Blessing on the Family: The entire psalm frames these domestic blessings as direct results of God's favor upon those who honor Him. It highlights that true prosperity encompasses not just material wealth but also the well-being and flourishing of the family.

Linguistic Insights

The imagery used is deeply rooted in ancient agrarian society. The Hebrew phrase for "fruitful vine" is gefen poriyah (גֶּפֶן פּוֹרִיָּה), emphasizing abundant yield. A vine growing "by the sides of thine house" suggests an integral, protective, and beautiful part of the home structure itself. "Olive plants" (shithlei zayith, שִׁתְלֵי זַיִת) refers to young shoots or saplings. Olive trees were highly valued for their oil, food, and longevity, and young shoots around the base of a mature tree indicated new life and continued vitality for generations.

Practical Application

Psalm 128:3 reminds us of the profound value God places on the family unit. It encourages believers to cultivate a home environment where the wife is honored, children are nurtured, and all relationships are rooted in reverence for God. This verse challenges us to see our families not merely as personal possessions but as gifts and spheres of blessing from the Lord. It underscores that a truly rich life is often found not in material accumulation, but in the spiritual and relational fruitfulness of a God-centered home.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Ezekiel 19:10

    ¶ Thy mother [is] like a vine in thy blood, planted by the waters: she was fruitful and full of branches by reason of many waters.

  • Psalms 52:8

    But I [am] like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.

  • Genesis 49:22

    ¶ Joseph [is] a fruitful bough, [even] a fruitful bough by a well; [whose] branches run over the wall:

  • Romans 11:24

    For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural [branches], be graffed into their own olive tree?

  • Proverbs 5:15

    ¶ Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well.

  • Proverbs 5:18

    Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.

  • Jeremiah 11:16

    The LORD called thy name, A green olive tree, fair, [and] of goodly fruit: with the noise of a great tumult he hath kindled fire upon it, and the branches of it are broken.
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