Psalms 144:14 · Bible study
Psalms 144:14 Commentary: The Threefold Picture of Peace
Hebrew · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Exegetical study of Psalm 144:14. How the threefold negation describes complete peace and its relation to covenant blessing with God.
Research Summary
- Meaning: A prayer for comprehensive peace, agricultural prosperity, military security, and social tranquility, as a sign of God's covenant blessing.
- Key words: Məsubbālîm (laden/loaded), perets (breach), yōtsēt (going out), tsəvāchāh (outcry), rəchōvōt (broad places/streets).
- Main debate: Whether the oxen are laden with produce, fat, or young; and whether 'going out' refers to captivity or to offensive military action.
- Theological theme: The relationship between material peace and covenantal relationship with God; true happiness is found in God himself.
- Best use: Teaching on God's care for every area of life; praying for national peace; balancing prosperity with dependence on God.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
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.
WEB World English Bible 2000
Our oxen will pull heavy loads. There is no breaking in, and no going away, and no outcry in our streets.
KJV King James Version 1769
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.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Whenour oxen are well laden; When there isno breaking in, and no going forth, And no outcry in our streets:
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
Our oxen are carrying, there is no breach, And there is no outgoing, And there is no crying in our broad places.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
Our kine laden [with young]; no breaking in and no going forth, and no outcry in our streets.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
The Lord lifteth up all that fall: and setteth up all that are cast down.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Que nuestros bueyes estén fuertes para el trabajo; que no tengamos asalto, ni que hacer salida, ni grito de alarma en nuestras plazas.
Nossos bois sejam vigorosos; não haja nem assalto, nem fugas, nem gritos em nossas ruas.
Nos génisses sont fécondes;
daß unsere Ochsen viel erarbeiten; daß kein Schade, kein Verlust noch Klage auf unsern Gassen sei.
Dat onze ossen wel geladen zijn; dat geen inbreuk, noch uitval, noch gekrijs zij op onze straten.
Le nostre giovenche siano feconde; e non vi sia né breccia, né fuga, né grido nelle nostre piazze.
Woły nasze niech będą tłuste; niech nie będzie wtargnienia, ani zajęcia, ani narzekania po ulicach naszych.
Господь поддерживает всех падающих и восставляет всех низверженных.
我們的牛 馱著滿馱，沒有人 闖進來搶奪，也沒有人 出去爭戰；我們的街市上 也沒有 哭號的聲音。
Our oxen are well weighted down; our cows give birth safely; there is no going out, and there is no cry of sorrow in our open places.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Psalms 144:14
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree this verse depicts a state of complete security and prosperity. Barnes notes the Hebrew text presents a threefold negation: no breach in walls, no going out into captivity or to repel an enemy, and no outcry of distress in the public squares. Clarke interprets 'no breaking in' as the absence of invasion or banditry, and 'no going out' as no captivity or forced departure. Gill adds that the verse prays for no 'breaking in' of enemies and no 'going out' to fight or surrender. The image of oxen pulling heavy loads (Hebrew participle məsubbālîm, 'laden') likely refers to agricultural prosperity, laden with produce, fat, or possibly young. The overall picture is a people enjoying the fruits of their labor without fear, a tangible sign of God's covenant favor.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: The verse describes a state of comprehensive peace — no invasion, no captivity, no public lament — as a blessing from God.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning of 'oxen will pull heavy loads' | Most commentators see it as an image of agricultural abundance, the oxen are well-laden or in good condition. | Some (Gill, Bochart) take it as pregnant cows, others as fattened cattle, others as oxen laden with produce (Cambridge Bible). The Hebrew participle is passive, so 'laden' is common ground, but what they carry is debated. |
| Interpretation of 'no breaking in, nor going out' | The phrases point to security from enemy invasion and captivity. | Clarke and Barnes see 'breaking in' as enemy incursion into homes or fields, and 'going out' as being led into captivity or forced exile. Wesley sees 'going out' as the need to sally forth for battle. A minority (some rabbinic sources) interpret these as references to abortion or miscarriage. |
| Promise of material blessing and its application | The verse presents material peace and prosperity as part of the covenant blessings for Israel (cf. Deuteronomy 28). | Christians differ on whether this pattern directly applies to believers today. Some see it as a model for prayer and expectation of God's provision; others emphasize that the New Covenant may involve suffering and lack, and that our ultimate peace is in Christ, not in material abundance. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Psalm 144 is attributed to David, though some scholars note its mixed character, partly praise for past victories, partly prayer for present deliverance. Calvin observes that unlike the triumphant tone of Psalm 18, this psalm includes anxiety about remaining enemies. The specific phrase 'no breaking in, nor going out, nor outcry' must be understood against the backdrop of ancient Near Eastern warfare. 'Breaking in' (Hebrew perets) refers to a breach in city walls or the invasion of a country by enemies (see Nehemiah 6:1). 'Going out' (yātsā) can mean sallying forth to fight (Judges 5:8) or, more likely here, being led out into captivity (Deuteronomy 28:25; 2 Kings 24:11). 'Outcry' (tsəvāchāh) is the cry of lament or terror in the city streets when disaster strikes (Jeremiah 14:2; 46:12).
Surrounding verses (12-13) describe ideal conditions: sons like well-nurtured plants, daughters like carved pillars, full barns, multiplying sheep. The oxen pulling heavy loads complete this picture of abundant agricultural life. In the ancient world, a society without military conflict, internal strife, or economic lack was seen as a sign of divine blessing. The psalmist prays for such conditions, not as an end in themselves, but as evidence that God is with His people.
The final verse (15) declares: 'Happy are the people who are in such a situation. Happy are the people whose God is Yahweh.' This ties national peace directly to covenant relationship. The combination of material provision and security is not abstract; it is the concrete experience of living under God's rule. The context of warfare in earlier verses (5-8, 10-11) shows that this peace is not automatically guaranteed, it is prayed for, and it depends on God's continued deliverance.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for this verse. The different English translations stem from interpretive choices regarding the Hebrew lexemes (e.g., 'allūfênû rendered 'oxen' or 'chieftains'; məsubbālîm rendered 'laden' or 'strong to labour'; yōtsēt interpreted as 'going out' or 'captivity'). These are translation decisions, not manuscript variations.
Reception History
Throughout church history, Psalm 144:14 has been read as a prayer for the peace and prosperity of God's people. Early interpreters, including the Septuagint and the Vulgate, rendered the imagery in terms of agricultural and military security. In the Reformation, Calvin and the Geneva Bible connected it to David's desire for the safety of Israel under God's covenant. Later commentators, such as Matthew Henry, used the verse to model prayer for national blessing while always pointing to the ultimate happiness of knowing God (v.15). The verse has also been cited in hymns and liturgies that express longing for the peace of God's kingdom.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- God's blessing includes tangible provision. The loaded oxen, full barns, and multiplying flocks are not dismissed as merely material. The psalmist prays for them as gifts from God.
- God's blessing brings comprehensive security. The threefold negation covers every threat: no breach (external attack), no captivity (forced departure), no outcry (internal collapse). Peace touches every corner of life.
- God's blessing points to the ultimate Treasure. Verse 15 crowns the list: happiness flows from having Yahweh as God. Material peace without God would be hollow.
Five-point outline
- The scope of blessing: sons, daughters, barns, fields, flocks, oxen, every area of life.
- The necessity of security: no breach, no captivity, no outcry, the absence of evil.
- The foundation of confidence: God is the one who gives salvation to kings (v.10); the same God provides for His people.
- The prayer posture: this is not a claim of entitlement but a request (the psalm as a whole is a prayer).
- The ultimate beatitude: happiness is not in the things themselves but in the God who gives them.
Illustration hooks
- A farmer after harvest with silos full and no fear of raids, the kind of peace that allows rest.
- A family living in a city with no violent crime, no police sirens at night, no fear in the streets.
- A congregation praying for peace in their nation, longing for the time when 'every man may sit under his own vine and fig tree' (Micah 4:4).
Questions your congregation is asking
- Does God promise material prosperity to His people? How do we understand this in light of the cross and suffering?
- How should we pray for national peace and security without idolizing our nation?
- What do we do when God does not give us 'full barns' and 'no outcry'? Where is God in our lack?
Leading a Discussion
Psalm 144:14 pictures a community that lacks nothing and fears nothing. The description is concrete: strong oxen, full barns, no invasion, no captivity, no wailing in the streets. In a world marked by insecurity and want, this verse offers a vision of shalom that many of us long for. As you discuss, consider how this Old Testament prayer relates to our lives under the new covenant.
Discussion questions
- What specific details does the psalmist mention in verses 12-14? What picture of life do these details create?
- The verse uses a threefold negation: no breaking in, no going out, no outcry. Why do you think the poet emphasizes what is absent?
- How does this description of peace compare with the way the New Testament talks about peace (e.g., John 14:27, Philippians 4:7)?
- Some Christians today argue that God wants to give material prosperity to all believers. How does the rest of Scripture, including the Psalms that lament, challenge that assumption?
- In what ways can we pray for 'no outcry' in our own communities? What does that look like in practical terms?
- Verse 15 says the people are happy when they have this peace and when they have Yahweh as God. Why is the relationship with God the ultimate point, even beyond the material blessings?
- How does Jesus fulfill the longing behind this verse? Where do we see 'full barns' and 'no outcry' in the kingdom Jesus brings?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Deuteronomy 28:7 | Yahweh will cause your enemies who rise up against you to be struck before you. They will come out against you one way, and will flee before you seven ways. |
| Deuteronomy 28:25 | Yahweh will cause you to be struck before your enemies. You will go out one way against them, and will flee seven ways before them. You will be tossed back and forth among all the kingdoms of the earth. |
| Judges 5:8 | They chose new gods. Then war was in the gates. Was there a shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel? |
| Judges 6:3 | So it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites, the Amalekites, and the children of the east came up against them. |
| Judges 6:6 | Israel was brought very low because of Midian; and the children of Israel cried to Yahweh. |
| I Samuel 13:17 | The raiders came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies: one company turned to the way that leads to Ophrah, to the land of Shual; |
| I Samuel 13:23 | The garrison of the Philistines went out to the pass of Michmash. |
| I Samuel 31:7 | When the men of Israel who were on the other side of the valley, and those who were beyond the Jordan, saw that the men of Israel fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned the cities and fled; and the Philistines came and lived in them. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
10 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke interprets the strong oxen and the absence of breaking in as signs of a nation with vigorous livestock and excellent public order. The land enjoys freedom from raids, robbers, and captivity, while former enemies either become allies or remain at a respectful distance due to fear.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes notes that the Hebrew word translated as "loaded" likely means "with young" rather than bearing burdens or flesh, so the prayer is for cattle to multiply abundantly. He sees the entire verse as a picture of complete security: no intruders, no escapes, no public outcry or legal disputes.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin draws a contrast between this psalm and Psalm 18, noting that Psalm 18 is completely triumphant while this one mixes praise with fear and anxiety. David still has remaining enemies who cause him apprehension, so his prayer reflects ongoing dependence even after great victories.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
This commentary highlights the textual puzzle of these verses, noting they were likely borrowed from an older poem and loosely attached. The main difficulty is grammatical: do they describe the enemies' temporary happiness, form a long conditional sentence, or depict the nation's prosperity as the goal of deliverance? Each option has problems.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Notes see these lines as a list of concrete, everyday blessings that flow from God's favor. Strong oxen for labor point to agricultural prosperity; no invasion or going out means military security; no crying in the streets signals social peace and public well-being.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill reads this as a prayer for comprehensive national peace and prosperity. He interprets strong oxen both literally, as healthy livestock fit for work, and figuratively, as laborious ministers who faithfully teach Gods word. The following lines express the desire for safety from invasion, captivity, and every kind of public distress that would cause outcry in the streets.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch reads the description of sons, daughters, and plentiful flocks as Israel's own domestic prosperity, not an enemy's. They interpret the daughters as modest treasures hidden in corners, like carved ornaments. The final blessing is not a contrast but an escalation: material abundance is good, but calling the Lord one's God is infinitely greater.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange argues that Psalm 144 is a composite work, pieced together from fragments of earlier psalms, especially Psalm 18. He sees the second half as a separate, unrelated poem clumsily attached, with its blessing on national prosperity sitting awkwardly with the king's personal plea for deliverance from enemies.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry observes that David praises God for mercies already received and then prays for more, treating fresh blessings as reasons for fresh songs of thanks. He notes that we should praise God for mercies promised as well as those already given, using the best instruments to express holy joy.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley interprets the phrases "breaking in" and "going out" as specific wartime realities: enemy invaders assaulting city walls or the land, and the people either marching out to fight or being led away into captivity.