Christianity

Psalms 128Thy Wife a Fruitful Vine

Summary

Psalm 128, a Song of Ascents, pronounces blessing on everyone who fears the LORD and walks in his ways. Such a person will eat the labor of his hands and be happy; his wife will be like a fruitful vine by the sides of his house and his children like olive plants around his table. The psalm ends by wishing that the LORD bless him out of Zion, that he see the good of Jerusalem all his life and his children's children, and peace upon Israel.

Key verse

“Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.”

Psalms 128:3

Themes

Blessing of the God-Fearing
Family Life
Fruitful Work
Generations

Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways.

For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.

Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.

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

The LORD shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.

Yea, thou shalt see thy children’s children, and peace upon Israel.

Text: King James Version (1611/1769), public domain.

Across traditions

Christianity
Psalm 127: Children Are a Heritage
Psalm 127 treats children as God's gift, and Psalm 128 widens the picture to a whole blessed household and the prosperity of Jerusalem.
Christianity
Proverbs 31: The Virtuous Woman
Proverbs 31 praises the capable wife whose household flourishes, another wisdom picture of a home blessed through faithful living.

Questions about Psalms 128

Why is Psalm 128 read at weddings?

Its picture of a blessed household, with a wife like a fruitful vine and children like olive plants, made it a traditional wedding psalm. The marriage service of the 1662 Book of Common Prayer, for example, appoints Psalm 128.

What do the olive plants mean in Psalm 128?

Psalm 128:3 likens children to young olive shoots around the table. Olive trees were long-lived and productive, so the image suggests a family that will grow and endure.