Psalms 144 · Verse 12

Psalms 144:12

That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace:
Psalms 144:12, King James Version

Psalms 144:12 in other translations

BSBThen our sons will be like plants nurtured in their youth, our daughters like corner pillars carved to adorn a palace.
WEBThen our sons will be like well-nurtured plants, our daughters like pillars carved to adorn a palace.
ASVWhen our sons shall be as plants grown up in their youth, And our daughters as corner-stones hewn after the fashion of a palace;
YLTBecause our sons are as plants, Becoming great in their youth, Our daughters as hewn stones, Polished--the likeness of a palace,
DARBYThat our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; our daughters as corner-columns, sculptured after the fashion of a palace:
BBEOur sons are like tall young plants; and our daughters like the shining stones of a king's house;
WebsterThat our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace:

What does Psalms 144:12 mean?

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 12 That our sons may be as plants - God had promised to his people, being faithful, Three descriptions of Blessings, Deu 28:4. 1. The fruit of the body - sons and daughters. 2. The fruits of the ground - grass and corn in sufficient plenty. 3. Fruit of the cattle-"the increase of kine, and flocks of sheep." These are the blessings to wnich the psalmist refers here, as those in which he might at present exult and triumph: blessings actually enjoyed by his people at large; proofs of his mild and paternal government, and of the especial blessing of the Almighty. The people who there in such a state, and revolted, had no excuse: they were doubly guilty, as ungrateful both to God and man.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 144:9-15

Fresh favours call for fresh returns of thanks; we must praise God for the mercies we hope for by his promise, as well as those we have received by his providence. To be saved from the hurtful sword, or from wasting sickness, without deliverance from the dominion of sin and the wrath to come, is but a small advantage. The public prosperity David desired for his people, is stated. It adds much to the comfort and…

Read the full comment on Psalms 144:9-15 →

Psalms 144:12 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

אֲשֶׁ֤ר'a.SherwhoH834
בָּנֵ֨ינוּ\׀ba.Nei.nusons ourH1121
כִּנְטִעִים֮kin.ti.'Im[will be] like plantsH5195
מְגֻדָּלִ֪יםme.gu.da.Limfull grownH1431
בִּֽנְעוּרֵ֫יהֶ֥םbin.'u.Rei.Hemin youth<s> theirH5271
בְּנוֹתֵ֥ינוּbe.no.Tei.nudaughters ourH1323
כְזָוִיֹּ֑תkhe.za.vi.Yot[will be] like cornersH2106
מְ֝חֻטָּב֗וֹתme.chu.ta.VotcarvedH2404
תַּבְנִ֥יתtav.Nit[the] structure ofH8403
הֵיכָֽל\׃hei.Khala palaceH1964

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Psalms 144:12

  • Psalms 128:3

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

  • 1 Peter 3:3-6

    Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.

  • Isaiah 44:3-5

    For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring: And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses. One shall say, I am the Lord’s; and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the Lord, and surname himself by the name of Israel.

  • Psalms 115:14-15

    The Lord shall increase you more and more, you and your children. Ye are blessed of the Lord which made heaven and earth.

  • Job 42:15

    And in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job: and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren.

  • Song of Solomon 8:8-9

    We have a little sister, and she hath no breasts: what shall we do for our sister in the day when she shall be spoken for? If she be a wall, we will build upon her a palace of silver: and if she be a door, we will inclose her with boards of cedar.

  • Lamentations 4:2

    The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!

  • Psalms 127:4-5

    As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

  • Proverbs 31:10-27

    Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. …

  • Isaiah 3:16-24

    Moreover the Lord saith, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet: Therefore the Lord will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the Lord will discover their secret parts. In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, and their round tires like the moon, The chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers, …

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
as plants.
115:14,15; 127:4,5; 128:3; Isa 44:3-5; La 4:2
as corner stones.
Job 42:15; Pr 31:10-27; Isa 3:16-24
polished. Heb. cut. the similitude.
So 8:8,9; 1Pe 3:3-6

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Psalms 144:11

    Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children, whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood:

  • Psalms 144:12

    That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace:

  • Psalms 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:

Read all of Psalms 144

Psalms 144:12 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Que nuestros hijos sean como plantas crecidas en su juventud; nuestras hijas como las esquinas labradas á manera de las de un palacio;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Afin que nos fils soient comme des plantes croissant dans leur jeunesse, et nos filles comme des pierres d’angle, ornementées selon le style des palais.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Daß unsere Söhne in ihrer Jugend seien gleich hochgezogenen Pflanzen, unsere Töchter gleich behauenen Ecksäulen nach der Bauart eines Palastes;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		ut notam faciant filiis hominum potentiam tuam, et gloriam magnificentiæ regni tui.