Attributed commentary excerpt
John Gill's Exposition on Psalms 127:5
A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.
Exposition of the Old and New Testament
John Gill (1697–1771) · 18th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.
Happy [is] the man that hath his quiver full of them, etc.] That is, his house full of them; called a quiver, referring to arrows before mentioned, this being the case in which they are put up: to have many children was always reckoned a great temporal blessing and happiness; (see <180102> Job 1:2 <19C803>Psalm 128:3,4,6). The Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Ethiopic, and Arabic versions, render it, “that fills his desire” has as many as he desires or wishes for: the Targum, “who fills his school of them:” so Jarchi interprets the children, of the disciples of the wise men. It may be applied to young converts, the children of Christ and of the church; which, when numerous, is a blessing to him and her; see (<234920>Isaiah 49:20,21 53:10,11); they shall not be ashamed; the father and his children, as Aben Ezra; parents rather are meant, who are not ashamed when they have many children: with the Romansf1772, those that had wives and children were preferred in honour to senior persons that had none; and they that had most to those that had fewest; and so with the Persians; (see Gill on “<170511>Esther 5:11”); but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate: where courts of judicature were kept; and so the Targum, “in the gate of the house of judgment.” The sense is, that their children should stand and plead the cause of their parents against their adversaries in courts of judicature; or publicly before the eyes of all, as Aben Ezra: and spiritually may design such of Christ’s seed who are set for the defence of the Gospel, are valiant for the truth on earth, and earnestly contend for it; meet the enemy in the gate, publicly oppose him, and behave themselves like men, and are strong.
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