Psalm 127, Gifts in One's Sleep

A song of ascents. Of Solomon.

This is the eighth of fifteen psalms identified as "songs of ascents." It is likely that these songs were sung as people traveled to Jerusalem and then went up to the second temple. This song, however, is attributed to Solomon, who built the first temple.

Psalm 127:1-2, Who is the builder?

Unless the LORD builds the house,

 its builders labor in vain. 

Unless the LORD watches over the city, 

the watchmen stand guard in vain.

 In vain you rise early and stay up late,

 toiling for food to eat--

 for he grants sleep to those he loves.

The psalm offer two choices. Although we may have plans, it is ultimately YHWH who builds houses (and temples) and guards cities. The second verse suggests that anxious striving and sleepless nights should be replaced by trust in YHWH and restful nights. If YHWH is not supportive of the plan, then there is no hope for success.

As Kidner points out, one might be reminded of Jesus calmly sleeping during a storm: Mark 4:35-41.

Alter sees, in the "toiling for food" in verse 2, an echo of the curse of the ground in Genesis 3:17.

Psalm 127:3-5, A quiver

Sons are a heritage from the LORD, 

children a reward from him.

 Like arrows in the hands of a warrior

 are sons born in one's youth.

 Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.

 They will not be put to shame 

when they contend with their enemies in the gate.

The psalm changes from anxiety about success (in building a house or watching a city) to a question of legacy and family.  In the culture of the ANE, a man's family was the true test of blessing and here, a man who has many sons is especially blessed by God. (The Hebrew word banim, translated "sons" in verse 3, could also be translated "children", "but the martial imagery of the rest of the poem argues for the masculine sense of the term", says Alter.)

The city gate, in the times of the ANE, was where important business -- or even warfare -- occurred.

Although the psalm is attributed to Solomon, that ancient king did not persist in following the advice of this psalm. He built up an impressive army and (at least late in life) relied on material possessions and power instead of YHWH. And despite a thousand wives and concubines, scripture only records one son, Rehoboam.

Some Hebrew Vocabulary

The word bayith is a masculine noun, meaning house, home.

בּיִת

It appears in the first verse of this psalm.

First published November 10, 2025; updated November 10, 2025