complete verse (Psalm 127:4)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 127:4:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Children of youthhood are like arrows in the hands
    of a person of war.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “A son born when a man is young
    is like an arrow which a soldier has in his hand.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “Children who were-born when their father (is) still young (are) like arrows in the hands of a soldier.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “Children that are born in the youth of a person,
    are like the arrows on the hands of warrior.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Watoto ambao wemezaliwa na wazazi wao katika ujana,
    wako kama vile mishale ambayo iko katika mikono ya mpigana vita.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “If a man has sons while he is still young, when they grow up, they will be able to help him defend his family
    like a soldier can defend himself if he has a bow and arrows in his hand.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Psalm 127:3 - 127:4

In this strophe (verses 3-5) the psalmist speaks of the happiness of having many children. The two lines of verse 3 are parallel and synonymous. Sons parallels the fruit of the womb, and heritage parallels reward. For heritage see 16.6. The parallel reward translates a word that means “wages”; there may be the connotation of being a payment for good deeds, but in parallel with heritage the word stresses the idea of an unearned gift. Good News Translation‘s “a real blessing” tries to bring out the idea of the LORD’s generosity in giving children. It is better to translate “Children” in verse 3a instead of sons, since the parallel fruit of the womb includes both male and female offspring. In some languages it may be necessary to recast Good News Translation‘s “gift from the LORD” and say, for example, “The LORD blesses people with children” or “The LORD gives people children, and these are a blessing.”

In verse 4 a man’s sons are compared to the soldier’s arrows; they are a guarantee of security. Naturally they are of greater benefit if they are born when the father is young (the sons of one’s youth), because they will be old enough to provide him real security when he is old. In languages in which arrows are unknown, the simile may not be useful. The translator may search for an equivalent comparison or avoid the comparison and say, for example, “(they) can defend him from his enemies.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Reyburn, William D. A Handbook on the Book of Psalms. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1991. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .