“Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.”
Children are indeed a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. This verse shifts from labor and vigilance to progeny and generativity, suggesting that true gain and blessing manifest in offspring rather than accumulated goods. The term heritage typically refers to land inheritance; children as heritage elevates them to the status of most-valued possession. The doubling of children/fruit of the womb emphasizes divine ownership and gift-character, removing human procreation from the sphere of mere biological function into the realm of blessing. This establishes progeny as a central category of divine favor throughout the ancient Near East and biblical theology.
Church Fathers on Psalms 127:3
1. Among all the Songs entitled the Song of degrees, this Psalm has a further addition in the title, that it is “Solomon's.” For thus it is entitled, “A Song of degrees of Solomon.” It has therefore aroused our attention, and caused us to enquire the reason of this addition, “of Solomon.” For it is needless to repeat explanations of the other words, Song of degrees....Solomon was in his time David's son, a great man, through whom many holy precepts and healthful admonitions…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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