Psalms 144:14 Meaning: What Complete Peace Looks Like
Our oxen will pull heavy loads. There is no breaking in, and no going away, and no outcry in our streets.
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.
Whenour oxen are well laden; When there isno breaking in, and no going forth, And no outcry in our streets:
Our oxen are carrying, there is no breach, And there is no outgoing, And there is no crying in our broad places.
Our kine laden [with young]; no breaking in and no going forth, and no outcry in our streets.
Meaning in one sentence
Psalm 144:14 describes a community with no invasion, no captivity, no public distress. What does this peace mean for us today?
Context
This psalm comes from a time when David had seen God deliver him from enemies, and he prays for that help to continue. Verses 12 through 15 paint a picture of what life would be like if God gave complete peace: children thriving, barns full, sheep abundant, and oxen strong enough to pull heavy loads. Then come three negatives, no breaking in, no going out, no outcry in the streets. David is not daydreaming about a comfortable life. He is describing the fruit of God’s covenant blessing, the kind of security that lets a whole community rest. Verse 15 ties it together: the people who enjoy this are happy, but even happier are those whose God is the Lord. The material blessing points to something greater.
Key Words
The Hebrew behind this verse carries layers of meaning. The word for 'breaking in' (perets) means a breach in a wall, the kind an enemy makes when attacking a city. To have no breach is to be safe from invasion. The word for 'going out' (yotzet) is debated. Some read it as no one going out to fight, others as no one being led into captivity, and still others as no miscarriage among the cattle. Whichever meaning you take, the point is the same: nothing precious is lost, no one is forced to leave. The final word, 'outcry' (tzevachah), is a shout of distress or lament. Imagine a town where no one is crying out in panic or grief. Taken together, these three negatives describe a community that is safe from outside threats, suffers no sudden losses, and lives without public sorrow. It is peace with all the holes plugged.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians have read this verse in different ways. Matthew Henry saw it as a prayer for national happiness, where the people enjoy the fruit of God’s protection. Calvin read it as David asking for continued favor after experiencing deliverance, aware that enemies still lingered. Many have taken the picture of earthly peace as a sign of the deeper peace God gives through Christ. In the New Testament, the peace of the kingdom is not just material safety but reconciliation with God and one another. Both readings are faithful: one honors the literal prayer for a community’s well-being, and the other sees it as a glimpse of the complete restoration God promises. What both traditions share is the conviction that every good gift comes from the Lord, and that true happiness is found in Him.
A common misunderstanding
One mistake readers sometimes make is treating this verse as a guarantee that every faithful Christian will enjoy this kind of material security and peace. In fact, many believers throughout history have lived without strong oxen or safe streets. The psalm is a prayer, not a promise for every circumstance. Its deepest point comes in the next verse: happy are the people whose God is the Lord, not happy are the people whose barns are full. The physical blessings are real, but they point to an even greater gift: God Himself.
Living This Out
This verse might seem far from your life if your home is not secure or your needs are not met. Let it first remind you that God cares about your whole life, your work, your safety, your community. You can pray for those things honestly. If you are in a season of peace, thank God for it. Notice the ordinary gifts: a roof that stays whole, children who can play without fear, no urgent cries from your street. And if you are in a season where there is breaking in or outcry, hold onto verse 15. Your happiness is not in the situation but in the God who holds you, even when the walls have holes.
Main takeaway: Complete peace includes safety from harm, provision for daily needs, and a community without distress, all of which are gifts from God, but He Himself is the greater gift.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
This verse talks about a time when everything is safe and peaceful. The animals are strong, nobody breaks in, nobody has to leave, and nobody is crying. That is a blessing from God.
For ages 9, 12
Sometimes we think peace means just no fighting. But this verse shows a bigger peace: safe homes, enough food, strong animals, no enemies breaking in, no one taken away, no sad cries in the streets. God can give that kind of complete peace. It is good to pray for your community to have that safety. And remember, even when things are not peaceful, God is still with you.
Questions People Ask
What does 'no breaking in' mean in Psalm 144:14?
It means no enemy invading the land or breaking through city walls. In ancient times, walls were a city's main defense; a breach meant disaster. The psalmist prays for complete security from attack.
What does 'no going out' refer to?
Commentators disagree. Some see it as no going out to fight, meaning peace instead of war. Others read it as no one being led into captivity. A few understand it as no miscarriage among cattle. The common point is the absence of loss or forcible departure.
Does this verse promise that all Christians will have material prosperity?
Not exactly. It is a prayer for a specific situation in ancient Israel. While God does bless His people, not every believer experiences this level of safety and abundance. The key is that true happiness comes from God, not from things (see verse 15).
What is the 'outcry' in the streets?
It refers to loud cries of distress, such as mourning, panic, or lament. In a peaceful society, there is no need for such cries. It pictures public well-being and the absence of tragedy.
How does this verse connect to the New Testament?
Many Christians see this picture of earthly peace as a sign of the deeper peace Christ brings, reconciliation with God and the hope of a new creation where there will be no more crying or pain (Revelation 21:4).
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study