Psalms 128:4

Study note

Setting — The psalmist addresses a worshiper who reveres Yahweh, positioned between a description of domestic blessing in verse 3 and a priestly benediction in verse 5.

The words — The Hebrew כֵּן (khen) means "thus" or "in this way," explicitly tying the coming blessing to the preceding household imagery. The verb יְבֹרַךְ (yevo.rakh) translates "he will be blessed," stating a passive divine action rather than a human achievement.

The thread — This formula links reverence to blessing and appears in Psalm 128:1, while the structural pattern of fearing Yahweh receiving favor runs through the covenant blessings of Deuteronomy 28:1–2.

Why it lands — The text states that blessing follows the posture of fearing Yahweh, not the manipulation of circumstances. It requires the reader to maintain reverence as the baseline for receiving divine favor, without attaching conditions to the outcome.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.