Psa 127:1 | NETfull | STEP | If the Lord does not build a house, then those who build it work in vain. If the Lord does not guard a city, then the watchman stands guard in vain.

Psalms 127:1

1 If the Lord does not build a house, ^{▼▼ The expression build a house may have a double meaning here. It may refer on the surface level to a literal physical structure in which a family lives, but at a deeper, metaphorical level it refers to building, perpetuating, and maintaining a family line. See Deut 25:9; Ruth 4:11; 1 Sam 2:35; 2 Sam 7:27; 1 Kgs 11:38; 1 Chr 17:10, 25. Having a family line provided security in ancient Israel.}
then those who build it work in vain.
If the Lord does not guard a city, ^{▼▼ The city symbolizes community security, which is the necessary framework for family security.}
then the watchman stands guard in vain.