Psalms 128:6

KJV

Yea, thou shalt see thy children's children, [and] peace upon Israel.

KJV (with Strong's)

Yea, thou shalt see {H7200} thy children's {H1121} children {H1121}, and peace {H7965} upon Israel {H3478}.

Complete Jewish Bible

and may you live to see your children's children! Shalom on Isra'el.

Berean Standard Bible

that you may see your children’s children. Peace be upon Israel!

American Standard Version

Yea, see thou thy children’s children. Peace be upon Israel.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 128:6 serves as the climactic benediction of a psalm celebrating the abundant blessings bestowed upon those who fear the Lord and walk in His ways. It broadens the vision of individual and familial prosperity, culminating in the profound joy of witnessing one's descendants across generations, while simultaneously extending the scope to encompass the comprehensive well-being and national flourishing of Israel. This verse masterfully intertwines the deeply personal legacy of a righteous life with the collective peace and prosperity of the community, painting a holistic and inspiring picture of divine favor.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalms 128 is a "Song of Ascents" (Psalms 120-134), a collection likely sung by pilgrims journeying to Jerusalem for annual feasts. These psalms typically reflect themes of trust, pilgrimage, and the blessings of dwelling in God's presence. Psalm 128 specifically focuses on the blessings that accrue to the individual and their household when they live in reverent obedience to the Lord. It opens with a declaration of blessedness upon "everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in his ways" ([Psalms 128:1](/psalms/128-1 "Psalms 128:1 - Blessed is the one who fears the Lord")). The preceding verses (128:2-5) elaborate on these blessings: enjoying the fruit of one's labor, a fruitful wife within the home, and children like olive shoots around the table, all emanating from Zion. Verse 6 functions as the ultimate benediction, extending these blessings not only generationally but also nationally, affirming the enduring nature of God's favor on the obedient, thereby concluding the psalm with a grand and hopeful vision.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Israel, the continuation of one's lineage and the presence of numerous descendants were considered paramount blessings, signifying God's covenant faithfulness and a life well-lived. This cultural value echoed the foundational promises made to the patriarchs, particularly Abraham, regarding his vast offspring and the establishment of a great nation ([Genesis 12:2](/genesis/12-2 "Genesis 12:2 - Abrahamic Covenant Promise")). Longevity and the joy of seeing one's "children's children" were tangible signs of divine favor and a fulfilled life. Furthermore, the concept of "peace upon Israel" (Hebrew: _shalom_) was far more expansive than merely the absence of conflict. It encompassed comprehensive well-being, prosperity, security, justice, and harmony for the entire nation. This was a constant aspiration in a volatile region, and it was deeply understood that national peace and flourishing were intrinsically linked to the spiritual health and obedience of the people, reflecting a covenantal relationship with God.
* **Key Themes:** The overarching theme of Psalm 128 is the **blessing of fearing the Lord**, presented as the foundational principle for all subsequent promises. This reverence leads to a life of obedience and, in turn, holistic flourishing. The psalm also powerfully highlights **generational blessing**, emphasizing the continuity of divine favor through succeeding generations, a core aspect of Israelite identity and covenant theology. The vision of seeing one's descendants thrive beautifully captures this. Finally, the psalm culminates in the theme of **national peace and prosperity**, illustrating that individual righteousness and the health of family units contribute profoundly to the collective well-being of the community and the nation as a whole. This reflects the interconnectedness of individual and corporate life in the biblical worldview, where the health of the family unit contributes to the health of the nation, as also seen in the call to pray for the peace of Jerusalem in [Psalms 122:6](/psalms/122-6 "Psalms 122:6 - Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **See (Hebrew, _râʼâh'_):** From H7200, this primitive root signifies "to see," encompassing both literal and figurative perception. It implies not just visual observation but also experiencing, discerning, and enjoying. In this context, "thou shalt see" conveys the blessed experience of living long enough to witness the flourishing of one's descendants, implying joy, satisfaction, and the fulfillment of a life lived under God's favor.
* **Children's children (Hebrew, _bên bên'_):** Derived from H1121 (_bên_), meaning "son" or "child," the repetition of this word (literally "sons of sons" or "children of children") emphatically denotes grandchildren and subsequent generations. In ancient Israelite culture, the continuation of one's lineage was of paramount importance for the perpetuation of the family name, inheritance, and the covenant promises. To witness one's "children's children" was the ultimate sign of a long, blessed, and fruitful life, a tangible manifestation of divine favor and a source of profound joy and legacy.
* **Peace (Hebrew, _shâlôwm'_):** From H7965, this word is far richer and more expansive than the English "peace." While it includes the absence of conflict, _shalom_ primarily denotes wholeness, completeness, well-being, prosperity, security, health, harmony, and flourishing in all aspects of life—spiritual, physical, material, and relational. When applied to "Israel," it signifies a comprehensive state of national flourishing, marked by divine favor, internal harmony, and external security. It represents the ideal state of existence as intended by God for His covenant people.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Yea, thou shalt see thy children's children":** This opening clause pronounces a deeply personal and familial blessing. It promises the individual longevity and the profound joy of witnessing the continuation and flourishing of their lineage through grandchildren and beyond. For an Israelite, this was a highly valued blessing, signifying a life well-lived under God's favor, with the assurance that one's name and legacy would endure through successive generations. It speaks to the fulfillment of the desire for a lasting heritage and the joy of a growing family.
* **"[and] peace upon Israel":** This second clause expands the scope of the blessing from the individual and family to the entire nation. It implies that the well-being and righteousness of individuals and families contribute significantly to the overall _shalom_ of the community and nation. This is both a prayer and a promise for comprehensive national flourishing, encompassing security, prosperity, justice, and spiritual health. It directly links personal piety and the health of individual households to the collective good, suggesting that a nation composed of God-fearing families will experience divine favor and true, holistic peace.

#### Literary Devices
Psalms 128:6 effectively employs **Parallelism**, a hallmark of Hebrew poetry. Specifically, it uses **Synthetic Parallelism**, where the second line ("peace upon Israel") expands upon or completes the thought introduced in the first line ("thou shalt see thy children's children"). This progression moves from a personal, familial blessing to a broader, national one, highlighting the interconnectedness of individual righteousness and communal well-being. The verse also functions as a powerful **Benediction**, serving as a formal pronouncement of blessing that concludes the psalm with a hopeful and affirmative tone, reinforcing the promises of God's favor. The phrase "children's children" serves as a **Metonymy** for a long, blessed, and fruitful life, emphasizing the enduring legacy of the righteous. Furthermore, the term "peace" (_shalom_) acts as a rich **Symbolism** for the comprehensive well-being and flourishing that results from a life lived in the fear of the Lord, encompassing all dimensions of existence.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 128:6 beautifully encapsulates God's desire for the holistic flourishing of His people, both individually and corporately. It underscores the profound truth that obedience to God, characterized by "fearing the LORD," is the pathway to genuine, multifaceted blessing, extending not only to one's personal life and immediate family but also to future generations and the broader community. This verse connects the promise of a lasting legacy with the aspiration for national well-being, demonstrating that true peace (_shalom_) is a comprehensive gift from God, encompassing all dimensions of life. It reflects a covenantal worldview where God's blessings are both personal and communal, flowing from a right relationship with Him and contributing to the flourishing of His people as a whole.

* [Proverbs 17:6](/proverbs/17-6 "Proverbs 17:6 - Grandchildren are the Crown of the Aged")
* [Numbers 6:26](/numbers/6-26 "Numbers 6:26 - The Priestly Blessing of Peace")
* [Isaiah 9:6-7](/isaiah/9-6-7 "Isaiah 9:6-7 - The Prince of Peace and His Everlasting Kingdom")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 128:6 offers a profound vision for a life lived in harmony with God's will, yielding blessings that extend far beyond one's own lifespan. For believers today, it serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of living a life that honors God, not merely for personal gain, but with a conscious awareness of the spiritual legacy we are building for future generations. It challenges us to consider how our faithfulness, our pursuit of righteousness, and our commitment to God's ways can contribute to the flourishing of our families, our local communities, and even our nations. This verse encourages us to cultivate a deep reverence for the Lord, trusting that His desire is to bless us comprehensively, and to actively pray and work for the _shalom_ of the places we inhabit, understanding that collective peace and well-being are intrinsically intertwined with individual and corporate obedience to God. It calls us to live with an eternal perspective, recognizing that our actions today have generational impact.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does my daily walk with God contribute to a lasting spiritual legacy for my family and future generations?**
* **In what practical ways can I actively pursue and pray for the _shalom_—the comprehensive well-being and flourishing—of my community and nation?**
* **What does it truly mean for me to "fear the LORD" in my contemporary context, and how might that manifest in experiencing His holistic blessings and contributing to the peace of others?**

### FAQ
**Is this verse a guarantee for all believers to see their grandchildren and for their nation to be at peace?**

Answer: While Psalms 128:6 presents a beautiful ideal and a general principle of blessing for those who fear the Lord, it is not an absolute, unconditional guarantee for every individual believer in every circumstance. God's blessings are multifaceted and can manifest in various ways beyond physical longevity or the specific number of descendants. The primary emphasis is on the **principle** that a life lived in obedience to God generally leads to flourishing and favor, often extending generationally. For "peace upon Israel," it speaks to the ideal state of God's covenant people, a state that is contingent on their collective faithfulness. In a broader sense, believers are called to seek and pray for the peace of their communities and nations, recognizing that God's ultimate peace is found in His Kingdom, which is not fully realized on earth yet ([Matthew 6:10](/matthew/6-10 "Matthew 6:10 - Your Kingdom Come")). The verse encourages hope, faithfulness, and a trust in God's goodness, even when individual or national circumstances may not perfectly align with this ideal. It points to a divine pattern of blessing that is ultimately fulfilled in Christ.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 128:6 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The "fear of the LORD," which is the foundation of all blessings in this psalm, is perfectly embodied in Christ, who always did the will of His Father ([John 6:38](/john/6-38 "John 6:38 - Jesus Does the Father's Will") and [John 8:29](/john/8-29 "John 8:29 - Jesus Always Does What Pleases the Father")). The generational blessing of "seeing thy children's children" is fulfilled in Christ as the ultimate "Seed" of Abraham, through whom all the families of the earth are blessed ([Galatians 3:16](/galatians/3-16 "Galatians 3:16 - Christ, the Seed of Abraham")). Through faith in Him, believers become spiritual children of God, part of a vast, eternal lineage that transcends physical descent, forming the church, His body, which will endure forever ([Ephesians 2:19](/ephesians/2-19 "Ephesians 2:19 - Fellow Citizens with Saints") and [1 Peter 2:9](/1_peter/2-9 "1 Peter 2:9 - A Chosen Race, a Royal Priesthood")). Moreover, the aspiration for "peace upon Israel" finds its true realization in Christ, who is our [peace](/ephesians/2-14 "Ephesians 2:14 - Christ Our Peace"), breaking down the dividing wall of hostility between Jew and Gentile, and reconciling both to God in one body through the cross ([Ephesians 2:16](/ephesians/2-16 "Ephesians 2:16 - Reconciled to God through the Cross")). He is the [Prince of Peace](/isaiah/9-6 "Isaiah 9:6 - Prince of Peace") whose kingdom brings ultimate _shalom_—wholeness, reconciliation, and eternal flourishing—to all who believe. This peace is not merely the absence of conflict but the restoration of all things to God's perfect design, a reality that will be fully consummated in the new heavens and new earth where God Himself will dwell with His people, and there will be no more sorrow or pain ([Revelation 21:4](/revelation/21-4 "Revelation 21:4 - No More Death, Mourning, Crying, or Pain")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Job 42:16

After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons' sons, [even] four generations.

Genesis 50:23

And Joseph saw Ephraim's children of the third [generation]: the children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were brought up upon Joseph's knees.

Psalms 125:5

As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the LORD shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity: [but] peace [shall be] upon Israel.

Isaiah 66:12

For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream: then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon [her] sides, and be dandled upon [her] knees.

Proverbs 17:6

¶ Children's children [are] the crown of old men; and the glory of children [are] their fathers.

Galatians 1:16

To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: