may our granaries be full, providing all kinds of produce; may our sheep bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our fields;
English Standard Version (ESV)
This isn't just a prayer for abundance; it's a picture of flourishing life where "granaries" overflowing and "fields" teeming with life are signs of God's deep blessing. The wording suggests not just having supplies, but that every corner of life is full, and that even the sheep are multiplying so prodigiously they fill the "outplaces" or pastures with their numbers.
may our granaries be full, providing all kinds of produce; may our sheep bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our fields;
English Standard Version (ESV)
This psalm concludes by shifting from warfare and deliverance to a prayer for abundant blessing and security. David, speaking for the people, asks for prosperity in their harvests and prolific flocks, emphasizing a life free from invasion or disaster, leading to a final declaration of happiness for God's people. The focus is on God's provision for a peaceful, flourishing nation.
Is this verse a simple shopping list for a good life, or is there something deeper at play? David isn't just asking for stuff; he's describing the result of God's faithfulness.
When we read this verse, it's easy to think David is just listing desires: 'I want this, I want that.' But the original wording and context suggest a slightly different focus.
A Picture of Prosperity
Scholars point out that the Hebrew here can be understood not just as a future hope, but as a present reality being described or prayed for as a continuation of God's blessing. Think of it less like a wish list and more like a celebration of God's provision, even as David prays for its endurance.
'In Our Fields,' Not 'In Our Streets'
Interestingly, the word translated 'streets' (like 'highways' or 'public places') is often understood by scholars to mean 'fields' or 'pastures' in this context. Sheep don't typically give birth in town squares! This paints a picture of agricultural abundance, where the livestock are thriving in their natural, open spaces, signifying health and productivity.
What's the ultimate purpose behind this abundance? It's not just about having a lot; it's about what that abundance signifies and enables.
While David celebrates tangible blessings like full granaries and multiplying flocks, the greater significance lies in what this prosperity represents and allows.
A Sign of Divine Favor
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This kind of abundant harvest and livestock increase wasn't just good fortune; it was understood as a sign of God's blessing and favor upon his people. When God's people prospered, it reflected well on God himself. It demonstrated His power and His commitment to His covenant.
Fueling Gratitude and Generosity
Having 'all manner of produce' and 'thousands and ten thousands' wasn't meant for hoarding. This abundance provided the means for thankful worship, generous hospitality, and care for the less fortunate. It meant the community could thrive, share, and live without constant fear of scarcity, allowing them to focus on deeper matters of faith and relationship with God.
This prayer for abundant harvests and livestock reflects a deep longing for the stable, prosperous conditions experienced during the united monarchy, a stark contrast to the anxieties of exile and the challenges of rebuilding.
c. 1000 BC— this verse
United Monarchy Flourishes
During the reigns of David and Solomon, Israel experienced a period of relative peace and prosperity, marked by expansion and significant building projects. This era saw the consolidation of wealth and agricultural output.
c. 931 BC
Division of the Kingdom
Following Solomon's death, the kingdom split into Israel (north) and Judah (south). This led to frequent conflicts and periods of instability, impacting agricultural security and national wealth.
722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The Northern Kingdom of Israel was conquered by the Assyrians, leading to the exile of its population. This event served as a stark warning to Judah about the consequences of disobedience and national vulnerability.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
The Babylonians conquered Judah, destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple, and deported much of the population into exile. This marked a devastating period of loss and hardship for the Judean people.
539 BC
Cyrus the Great's Decree
The Persian Empire conquered Babylon, and King Cyrus issued a decree allowing exiled peoples, including the Judeans, to return to their homelands and rebuild their temples.
c. 516 BC
Second Temple Completed
The returning exiles, with Persian support, completed the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem. This marked a significant moment of religious and national restoration, though under foreign rule.
This passage describes the blessings of obedience, including the fruitfulness of flocks and granaries, directly paralleling the desires expressed in Psalms 144.
Leviticus 26:10Here, God promises that the old store will be cleared away to make room for the new, emphasizing continued abundance and provision, which is a theological underpinning of the Psalmist's prayer for full granaries.
Proverbs 3:9-10This proverb teaches that honoring God with our wealth brings material blessings, including overflowing storehouses, reinforcing the idea that such prosperity is linked to divine favor.
Jeremiah 33:12This prophetic promise speaks of future restoration and abundance, where fields will yield crops and flocks will multiply, echoing the specific blessings of agricultural and pastoral prosperity sought in Psalms 144.
ellicottPsalms 144:13: "That our garners may be full, affording all manner of store: that our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets:"
(13) All manner of store.— See margin, all kinds of corn. Thousands and ten thousands.—Literally, thousands multiplied. Streets.—Rather, outplaces, i.e., pastures, fields, as in Job 5:10 (where see margin).
pulpitPsalms 144:13: "That our garners may be full, affording all manner of store: that our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets:"
Verse 13. - That our garners may be full, affording all manner of store; or, "while our garners are full," etc. That our sheep may bring forth; rather, and our sheep bring forth. Thousands and tea thousands in our streets; rather, in our fields. Khutsoth (חוּצות) is rendered "fields" by our translators in Job 5:10 and Proverbs 8:26.
This isn't just a prayer for abundance; it's a picture of flourishing life where "granaries" overflowing and "fields" teeming with life are signs of God's deep blessing. The wording suggests not just having supplies, but that every corner of life is full, and that even the sheep are multiplying so prodigiously they fill the "outplaces" or pastures with their numbers.
This psalm concludes by shifting from warfare and deliverance to a prayer for abundant blessing and security. David, speaking for the people, asks for prosperity in their harvests and prolific flocks, emphasizing a life free from invasion or disaster, leading to a final declaration of happiness for God's people. The focus is on God's provision for a peaceful, flourishing nation.
This psalm concludes by shifting from warfare and deliverance to a prayer for abundant blessing and security. David, speaking for the people, asks for prosperity in their harvests and prolific flocks, emphasizing a life free from invasion or disaster, leading to a final declaration of happiness for God's people. The focus is on God's provision for a peaceful, flourishing nation.
"may our granaries be full, providing all kinds of produce; may our sheep bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our fields;" — This isn't just a prayer for abundance; it's a picture of flourishing life where "granaries" overflowing and "fields" teeming with life are signs of God's deep blessing. The wording suggests not just…
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Last reviewed October 2026