Hebrew Text · Translation · Interlinear · Discourse Structure

The Book of Psalms, Chapter 128תהלים 128

Each verse opens with the running Hebrew, an English translation, and a discourse note (its connective, relation, and role in the argument). Below follows the word-by-word breakdown in six tiers: gloss, case/state or parsing, syntax, semantic force, and a lexical note.

Case Nominative Genitive Dative Accusative Vocative Verb (no case) Indeclinable

Discourse notes head each verse: relation · connective · clause-flow. Indentation marks prominence — flush-left = main line of argument; indented = supporting / subordinate material.

Theme

Psalms 128 (6 verses in the MT) opens: [A Song of degrees.] Blessed every one that feareth YHWH; that walketh in his ways. The middle of the chapter continues: Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth YHWH. It closes: Yea, you shall see your children's children, peace upon Israel.

Translation & textual notes

The Hebrew base text here follows the Masoretic Text in the Leningrad tradition as represented by the Westminster Leningrad Codex / MorphHB diplomatic stream imported from OSHB; distinctively copyrighted apparatus from BHS or BHQ is not reproduced. Psalms 128 comprises 6 verses in MT order. Movement I (vv. 1-4) — [A Song of degrees. [A Song of degrees.] Blessed every one that feareth YHWH; that walketh in his ways. For you shall eat the labour of your hands: happy you , and well with you. Your wife as a fruitful vine by the sides of your house: your children like olive plants round about your table. Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth YHWH. Movement II (vv. 5-6) — YHWH shall bless you out of Zion: and you shall see the good of Jerusale. YHWH shall bless you out of Zion: and you shall see the good of Jerusalem all the days of your life. Yea, you shall see your children's children, peace upon Israel. Where English printed Bibles divide verses differently, this annotation follows MT versification throughout.

1

שִׁ֗יר הַֽמַּ֫עֲל֥וֹת אַ֭שְׁרֵי כָּל יְרֵ֣א יְהוָ֑ה הַ֝הֹלֵ֗ךְ בִּדְרָכָֽיו

[A Song of degrees.] Blessed every one that feareth YHWH; that walketh in his ways.

Participle — attendant circumstance or substantival actorasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Participle — attendant circumstance or substantival actor. Lead predicate is 'the one who goes'. Opens the chapter.
Word-by-word analysis· 8 words
שִׁ֗ירa songN c · שִׁירָה (H7892)Construct chain (genitival)שִׁירָה (H7892) 'a song'.
הַֽמַּ֫עֲל֥וֹתby stepsart + N com f pl abs · מַעֲלָה (H4609)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)מַעֲלָה (H4609) 'by steps'.
אַ֭שְׁרֵיhappy are youN c · אֶשֶׁר (H835)Construct chain (genitival)אֶשֶׁר (H835) 'happy are you'.
כָּלallN c · כֹּל (H3605)Construct chain (genitival)כֹּל (H3605) 'all'.
יְרֵ֣אhe fearedAdj · יָרֵא (H3373)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יָרֵא (H3373) 'he feared'.
יְהוָ֑הYHWHN · יְהוָה (H3068)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יְהוָה (H3068) 'YHWH'.
הַ֝הֹלֵ֗ךְthe one who goesart + Qal ptc ms · הָלַךְ (H1980)Participle→ Participle: attendant circumstance or substantival actorהָלַךְ (H1980) 'the one who goes'.
בִּדְרָכָֽיוin his waysprep + N com c pl constr + sfx 3ms · דֶּרֶךְ (H1870)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)דֶּרֶךְ (H1870) 'in his ways'.
2

יְגִ֣יעַ כַּ֭פֶּיךָ כִּ֣י תֹאכֵ֑ל אַ֝שְׁרֶ֗יךָ וְט֣וֹב לָֽךְ

For you shall eat the labour of your hands: happy you , and well with you.

Yiqtol — imperfective, modal, or future-orientedasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Yiqtol — imperfective, modal, or future-oriented. Lead predicate is 'you shall eat'.
Word-by-word analysis· 7 words
יְגִ֣יעַtoil ofN c · יְגִיעַ (H3018)Construct chain (genitival)יְגִיעַ (H3018) 'toil of'.
כַּ֭פֶּיךָa pan ofN c · כַּף (H3709)Construct chain (genitival)כַּף (H3709) 'a pan of'.
כִּ֣יforconj וְ · כִּי (H3588)Particle or relational elementכִּי (H3588) 'for'.
תֹאכֵ֑לyou shall eatQal impf 2ms · אָכַל (H398)Predicate verb (yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: imperfective or modalאָכַל (H398) 'you shall eat'.
אַ֝שְׁרֶ֗יךָhappy are youN c · אֶשֶׁר (H835)Construct chain (genitival)אֶשֶׁר (H835) 'happy are you'.
וְט֣וֹבand goodconj וְ + Qal q 3ms · טוֹב (H2896)Particle or relational elementטוֹב (H2896) 'and good'.
לָֽךְto youprep + sfx 2fsParticle or relational elementFunction word: 'to you'.
3

אֶשְׁתְּךָ֤ כְּגֶ֥פֶן פֹּרִיָּה֮ בְּיַרְכְּתֵ֪י בֵ֫יתֶ֥ךָ בָּ֭נֶיךָ כִּשְׁתִלֵ֣י זֵיתִ֑ים סָ֝בִ֗יב לְשֻׁלְחָנֶֽךָ

Your wife as a fruitful vine by the sides of your house: your children like olive plants round about your table.

Participle — attendant circumstance or substantival actorasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Participle — attendant circumstance or substantival actor. Lead predicate is 'be fruitful'.
Word-by-word analysis· 10 words
אֶשְׁתְּךָ֤your wifeN c · אִשָּׁה (H802)Construct chain (genitival)אִשָּׁה (H802) 'your wife'.
כְּגֶ֥פֶןfrom the vine ofprep + N com c sg abs · גֶּפֶן (H1612)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)גֶּפֶן (H1612) 'from the vine of'.
פֹּרִיָּה֮be fruitfulQal ptc fs · פָּרָה (H6509)Participle→ Participle: attendant circumstance or substantival actorפָּרָה (H6509) 'be fruitful'.
בְּיַרְכְּתֵ֪יat the rearprep + N com f du constr · יְרֵכָה (H3411)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יְרֵכָה (H3411) 'at the rear'.
בֵ֫יתֶ֥ךָyour houseN c · בַּיִת (H1004)Construct chain (genitival)בַּיִת (H1004) 'your house'.
בָּ֭נֶיךָyour sonsN c · בֵּן (H1121)Construct chain (genitival)בֵּן (H1121) 'your sons'.
כִּשְׁתִלֵ֣יas / likeprep + N com m pl constr · שְׁתִל (H8363)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)שְׁתִל (H8363) 'as / like'.
זֵיתִ֑יםolive treesN c · זַיִת (H2132)Construct chain (genitival)זַיִת (H2132) 'olive trees'.
סָ֝בִ֗יבall aroundN c · סָבִיב (H5439)Construct chain (genitival)סָבִיב (H5439) 'all around'.
לְשֻׁלְחָנֶֽךָthe tableprep + N com m sg constr + sfx 2ms · שֻׁלְחָן (H7979)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)שֻׁלְחָן (H7979) 'the table'.
4

הִנֵּ֣ה כִי כֵ֭ן יְבֹ֥רַךְ גָּ֗בֶר יְרֵ֣א יְהוָֽה

Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth YHWH.

Yiqtol — imperfective, modal, or future-orientedhinneh
Presentative hinneh, putting a new scene or surprise on stage. Yiqtol — imperfective, modal, or future-oriented. Lead predicate is 'bless you'.
Word-by-word analysis· 7 words
הִנֵּ֣הbeholdadv. · הִנֵּה (H2009)Particle or relational elementהִנֵּה (H2009) 'behold'.
כִיforconj וְ · כִּי (H3588)Particle or relational elementכִּי (H3588) 'for'.
כֵ֭ןsoart · כֵּן (H3651)Particle or relational elementכֵּן (H3651) 'so'.
יְבֹ֥רַךְbless youPual impf 3ms · בֵּרַךְ (H1288)Predicate verb (yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: imperfective or modalבֵּרַךְ (H1288) 'bless you'.
גָּ֗בֶרa manN c · גֶּבֶר (H1397)Construct chain (genitival)גֶּבֶר (H1397) 'a man'.
יְרֵ֣אhe fearedAdj · יָרֵא (H3373)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יָרֵא (H3373) 'he feared'.
יְהוָֽהYHWHN · יְהוָה (H3068)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יְהוָה (H3068) 'YHWH'.
5

יְבָרֶכְךָ֥ יְהוָ֗ה מִצִּ֫יּ֥וֹן וּ֭רְאֵה בְּט֣וּב יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם כֹּ֝֗ל יְמֵ֣י חַיֶּֽיךָ

YHWH shall bless you out of Zion: and you shall see the good of Jerusalem all the days of your life.

Yiqtol — imperfective, modal, or future-orientedasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Yiqtol — imperfective, modal, or future-oriented. Lead predicate is 'he may bless you'.
Word-by-word analysis· 9 words
יְבָרֶכְךָ֥he may bless youPiel impf 3ms + sfx 2ms · בֵּרַךְ (H1288)Predicate verb (yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: imperfective or modalבֵּרַךְ (H1288) 'he may bless you'.
יְהוָ֗הYHWHN · יְהוָה (H3068)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יְהוָה (H3068) 'YHWH'.
מִצִּ֫יּ֥וֹןZionprep + N proper · צִיּוֹן (H6726)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)צִיּוֹן (H6726) 'Zion'.
וּ֭רְאֵהshall examineconj וְ + Qal impv 2ms · רָאָה (H7200)Predicate verb (imperative)→ Volitional: imperativeרָאָה (H7200) 'shall examine'.
בְּט֣וּבthe good ofprep + N com m sg constr · טוּב (H2898)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)טוּב (H2898) 'the good of'.
יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑םJerusalemN · יְרוּשָׁלִַם (H3389)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יְרוּשָׁלִַם (H3389) 'Jerusalem'.
כֹּ֝֗לallN c · כֹּל (H3605)Construct chain (genitival)כֹּל (H3605) 'all'.
יְמֵ֣יthe days ofN c · יוֹם (H3117)Construct chain (genitival)יוֹם (H3117) 'the days of'.
חַיֶּֽיךָyour lifeN c · חַי (H2416)Construct chain (genitival)חַי (H2416) 'your life'.
6

וּרְאֵֽה בָנִ֥ים לְבָנֶ֑יךָ שָׁ֝ל֗וֹם עַל יִשְׂרָאֵֽל

Yea, you shall see your children's children, peace upon Israel.

Imperative — volitional addresswə
wə-chaining from the preceding clause. Imperative — volitional address. Lead predicate is 'shall examine'. Closes the chapter.
Word-by-word analysis· 6 words
וּרְאֵֽהshall examineconj וְ + Qal impv 2ms · רָאָה (H7200)Predicate verb (imperative)→ Volitional: imperativeרָאָה (H7200) 'shall examine'.
בָנִ֥יםsonsN c · בֵּן (H1121)Construct chain (genitival)בֵּן (H1121) 'sons'.
לְבָנֶ֑יךָto your childrenprep + N com m pl constr + sfx 2ms · בֵּן (H1121)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)בֵּן (H1121) 'to your children'.
שָׁ֝ל֗וֹםpeaceN c · שָׁלוֹם (H7965)Construct chain (genitival)שָׁלוֹם (H7965) 'peace'.
עַלonprep · עַל (H5921)Particle or relational elementעַל (H5921) 'on'.
יִשְׂרָאֵֽלIsraelN · יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478) 'Israel'.