The Meaning of Psalms 127:2 Explained

Psalms 127:2

KJV: It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.

YLT: Vain for you who are rising early, Who delay sitting, eating the bread of griefs, So He giveth to His beloved one sleep.

Darby: It is vain for you to rise up early, to lie down late, to eat the bread of sorrows: so to his beloved one he giveth sleep.

ASV: It is vain for you to rise up early, To take rest late, To eat the bread of toil; For'so he giveth unto his beloved sleep.

Discover Psalms 127:2

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Psalms 127:2?

MEANING: What does Psalms 127:2 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Psalms 127:2 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Psalms 127:2?

What is the context of Psalms 127:2?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

[It is] vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: [for] so he giveth his beloved sleep.

What does Psalms 127:2 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 127:1-5 - "the Lord Hath Done Great Things For Us"

The circumstances under which this psalm was written are evident upon its face. The exiles, lately back from Babylon, are rejoicing in the gladness of their return. But their joy was not complete so long as the larger portion of their nation were still in bondage. The metaphor of streams in the South is derived from the rapidity with which dry water-courses become flushed with torrent streams. The returned exiles longed to see the vacant solitudes of their land suddenly filled with returning crowds. They asked that their tears might be the seeds of mighty harvests. Let not the Christian worker count as lost the seeds he sows or the tears in which he steeps them. That doubtless is God's guarantee.

Psalms 127:1-5

This psalm was probably suggested by Ezra's efforts to rebuild the Temple. We cannot succeed apart from God, but must be His fellow-workers. See Proverbs 10:22. The bread of trouble is that which is hardly obtained, where labor is severe, and the results slow. Beware of needless anxiety. As builders, Psalms 127:1, look to God for plan, materials, and co-operation. As watchers, Psalms 127:1, commit all keeping to God's watch and ward. As toilers, Psalms 127:2, have a little more quiet rest and ease of mind. As parents, Psalms 127:3-5, do not shrink from parental responsibilities; when you are old, your children will answer for you. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 127

¹ The virtue of God's blessing
³ Good children are his gift

What do the individual words in Psalms 127:2 mean?

[it is] vain for you early to rise up late to sit up to eat the bread of sorrows [For] so He gives His beloved sleep

שָׁ֤וְא לָכֶ֨ם ׀ מַשְׁכִּ֪ימֵי ק֡וּם מְאַֽחֲרֵי־ שֶׁ֗בֶת אֹ֭כְלֵי לֶ֣חֶם הָעֲצָבִ֑ים כֵּ֤ן יִתֵּ֖ן לִֽידִיד֣וֹ שֵׁנָֽא

שָׁ֤וְא	[it is] vain
Parse: Noun, masculine singular Root: שָׁוְא Sense: emptiness, vanity, falsehood.
לָכֶ֨ם ׀	for you
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine plural
מַשְׁכִּ֪ימֵי	early
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine plural construct Root: שָׁכַם Sense: to rise or start early.
ק֡וּם	to rise up
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct Root: קוּם Sense: to rise, arise, stand, rise up, stand up.
מְאַֽחֲרֵי־	late
Parse: Verb, Piel, Participle, masculine plural construct Root: אָחַר Sense: to delay, hesitate, tarry, defer, remain behind.
שֶׁ֗בֶת	to sit up
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct Root: יָשַׁב Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.
אֹ֭כְלֵי	to eat
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct Root: אָכַל Sense: to eat, devour, burn up, feed.
לֶ֣חֶם	the bread
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct Root: לֶחֶם Sense: bread, food, grain.
הָעֲצָבִ֑ים	of sorrows
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural Root: עֶצֶב Sense: pain, hurt, toil, sorrow, labour, hardship.
כֵּ֤ן	[For] so
Parse: Adverb Root: כֵּן Sense: so, therefore, thus.
יִתֵּ֖ן	He gives
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular Root: יָתַן Sense: to give, put, set.
לִֽידִיד֣וֹ	His beloved
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular Root: יָדִיד Sense: one beloved, beloved adj.
שֵׁנָֽא	sleep
Parse: Noun, feminine singular Root: שֵׁנָא Sense: sleep.

What are the major concepts related to Psalms 127:2?

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Similar Scriptures for Psalms 127:2

		Ecclesiastes 5:12 [10]
		Psalms 4:8 [10]
		Psalms 3:5 [7]
		Jeremiah 31:26 [7]
		Job 11:18 [7]
		Ezekiel 34:25 [3]
		Ecclesiastes 2:20-23 [3]
		Acts 12:5-6 [3]
		Ecclesiastes 1:14 [1]
		Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 [1]
		Proverbs 31:15-18 [1]
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		Genesis 3:17-19 [0]
		Psalms 60:5 [0]
		Psalms 39:5-6 [0]
		Ecclesiastes 4:8 [0]
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