Bible Strands
Psalms 144:14
Our oxen will bear great loads. There will be no breach in the walls, no going into captivity, and no cry of lament in our streets.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The psalmist speaks to the gathered community of Israel, describing the tangible blessings that follow divine deliverance. This declaration occurs immediately after detailing agricultural abundance and precedes the concluding beatitude on national favor.
The words — The Hebrew אַלּוּפֵ֗י/נוּ ('a.lu.Fei./nu) literally means "our cattle," paired with מְֽסֻבָּ֫לִ֥ים (me.su.Ba.Lim), indicating they will be heavily loaded. The text also uses אֵֽין\־ ('ein-) and פֶּ֭רֶץ (Pe.retz) to declare there will be no breach in the walls.
The thread — The imagery of secure walls and absence of captivity echoes the prophetic restoration in Zechariah 8:3, where God returns to dwell in Jerusalem. Conversely, the threat of breached walls and exile mirrors the covenant curses outlined in Deuteronomy 28:25.
Why it lands — The verse demands acknowledgment that national security and agricultural abundance are direct results of divine presence rather than human effort. It requires the reader to recognize that peace in the streets and intact walls are signs of covenant favor.
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.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
That our oxen may be strong to labour; that there be no breaking in, nor going out; that there be no complaining in our streets.
Cross-references
- Zechariah 8:3 This is what the LORD says: “I will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth, and the mountain of the LORD of Hosts will be called the Holy Mountain.”
- Deuteronomy 28:7 The LORD will cause the enemies who rise up against you to be defeated before you. They will march out against you in one direction but flee from you in seven.
- Deuteronomy 28:25 The LORD will cause you to be defeated before your enemies. You will march out against them in one direction but flee from them in seven. You will be an object of horror to all the kingdoms of the earth.
- Judges 5:8 When they chose new gods, then war came to their gates. Not a shield or spear was found among forty thousand in Israel.
- Judges 6:3 Whenever the Israelites planted their crops, the Midianites, Amalekites, and other people of the east would come up and invade them,
- Judges 6:6 Israel was greatly impoverished by Midian, and the Israelites cried out to the LORD.
- 1 Samuel 13:17 And raiders went out of the Philistine camp in three divisions. One headed toward Ophrah in the land of Shual,
- 1 Samuel 31:7 When the Israelites along the valley and those on the other side of the Jordan saw that the army of Israel had fled and that Saul and his sons had died, they abandoned their cities and ran away. So the Philistines came and occupied their cities.
- Isaiah 24:11 In the streets they cry out for wine. All joy turns to gloom; rejoicing is exiled from the land.
- Jeremiah 13:17 But if you do not listen, I will weep in secret because of your pride. My eyes will overflow with tears, because the LORD’s flock has been taken captive.