Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse highlights that children are not just a biological outcome, but a "heritage" and "reward" bestowed by God, emphasizing they are a gift to be received with gratitude, not earned by human effort. The phrasing suggests that, like an inheritance or a reward, they are a valuable endowment from the Lord, meant to be cherished as a profound blessing from Him.
Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This psalm is about trusting God for provision and success in life, not in our own efforts. It begins by emphasizing that building a house, guarding a city, or working tirelessly is useless without God's blessing. Then, it shifts to highlight the immense value of family, portraying children not as a burden, but as a divine gift and reward from the Lord, essential for a truly blessed and secure household.
Ever wondered why the Bible talks so much about having kids? This verse reveals a profound truth about where they truly come from.
The verse calls children an "heritage from the LORD." This isn't just a nice saying; it echoes the ancient concept of an inheritance passed down.
A Gift, Not Earned
Just like land or possessions were passed down in families, God bestows children as a unique, precious gift. They aren't the product of mere chance or natural processes alone, but a deliberate bestowal from God's hand. This highlights that parenting is not just a human endeavor but a divine partnership.
Beyond Our Control
We can't engineer or guarantee children. The ability to conceive and bear children is ultimately in God's hands. He can bless barren couples and, conversely, bless those who seem to have everything else with a fruitful womb.
The Bible calls children a 'reward.' What kind of reward is it, and who is it for?
The phrase 'the fruit of the womb is a reward' points to a significant truth about God's interaction with His people.
A Reward of Grace, Not Merit
This reward is not earned through good works or perfect living. It's a 'reward of grace' – a blessing given freely by God, often to those who are faithful to Him. Think of Jacob, who acknowledged his children as gifts from God (Genesis 35:5).
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God's Provision for the Faithful
While God's common providence extends blessings to many, He often bestows the blessing of children as a special favor to those who fear Him. It's a tangible sign of His covenant faithfulness and His commitment to bless those who seek Him.
Beyond being a gift, children play a vital role in the life of a family, both practically and spiritually.
This psalm emphasizes the practical and enduring value of children within the family structure.
Arrows in a Warrior's Quiver
The later verses of Psalm 127 (though not in our specific text) compare children to 'arrows in the hand of a warrior.' This imagery suggests that children provide defense, strength, and influence for their parents, especially in challenging times like legal disputes or societal conflict. They extend a parent's reach and legacy.
Divine Provision Follows Procreation
The wisdom here is that God, who blesses with children ('sends mouths'), also provides for them ('sends meat'). This should encourage parents to trust in God's ongoing provision for their families, rather than relying solely on their own labor and anxiety.
Understand the original words
nachalah · Hebrew Noun
A physical or spiritual possession passed down as an inheritance; signifies something received by divine grace rather than human acquisition.
peri · Hebrew Noun
The biological offspring or produce resulting from conception; frequently symbolic of God's blessing of fertility and life.
sakar · Hebrew Noun
A benefit, compensation, or payment, often viewed in the context of divine favor for faithfulness or obedience.
This passage directly connects to the idea of children as a gift and reward from God, echoing the sentiment that a fruitful womb is a blessing.
Deuteronomy 7:13This verse also speaks of God blessing His people with fruitfulness of the womb, reinforcing the concept of children as a divine reward.
Psalm 128:3This psalm immediately follows Psalm 127 and continues the theme, describing a wife as 'a fruitful vine' and children as 'olive shoots' around a table, portraying them as blessings of a godly household.
Luke 1:14The anticipation and joy surrounding the birth of John the Baptist, whom the angel describes as a cause for rejoicing, highlights how children can be a divine reward and blessing.
Proverbs 17:6This proverb directly states that 'children's children are the crown of the aged,' echoing the value and reward found in offspring, similar to how Psalm 127 views them.
cambridgePsalms 127:3: "Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward."
3 . Lo, sons axe an inheritance from Jehovah; The fruit of the womb is a reward. As He bestowed upon Israel the possession of Canaan ( Exodus 15:17 ; Deuteronomy 4:21 ), not as an hereditary right, but of His own free-will, in accordance with His promise, so of His free gift and grace does He bestow the blessing of numerous children. The P.B.V. well expresses the sense, “Lo, children and the fruit…
pulpitPsalms 127:3: "Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward."
Verse 3. - Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord. The teaching is enforced by an example. The prosperity, alike of states and of individuals, depends on nothing so much as on an abundant progeny of children. But children are manifestly the free gift of God. And the fruit of the womb is his reward. One of the ways in which he rewards his faithful ones (see Deuteronomy 28:10:11).
This verse highlights that children are not just a biological outcome, but a "heritage" and "reward" bestowed by God, emphasizing they are a gift to be received with gratitude, not earned by human effort. The phrasing suggests that, like an inheritance or a reward, they are a valuable endowment from the Lord, meant to be cherished as a profound blessing from Him.
This psalm is about trusting God for provision and success in life, not in our own efforts. It begins by emphasizing that building a house, guarding a city, or working tirelessly is useless without God's blessing. Then, it shifts to highlight the immense value of family, portraying children not as a burden, but as a divine gift and reward from the Lord, essential for a truly blessed and secure household.
This psalm is about trusting God for provision and success in life, not in our own efforts. It begins by emphasizing that building a house, guarding a city, or working tirelessly is useless without God's blessing. Then, it shifts to highlight the immense value of family, portraying children not as a burden, but as a divine gift and reward from the Lord, essential for a truly blessed and secure household.
"Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward." — This verse highlights that children are not just a biological outcome, but a "heritage" and "reward" bestowed by God, emphasizing they are a gift to be received with gratitude, not earned by human ef…
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Last reviewed October 2026