Tobit 8:17 - Blessed are you, because you have had mercy on two that were the only begotten children of their parents. Show them mercy, O Lord. Fulfill their life in health with gladness and mercy.
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "Tobit 8:17" mean?
Tobit 8:17 reads: "Blessed are you, because you have had mercy on two that were the only begotten children of their parents. Show them mercy, O Lord. Fulfill their life in health with gladness and mercy."
To understand this verse, we need to consider its context in the Book of Tobit.
The Background: Tobit and Sarah are two people suffering greatly. Tobit is blind, and Sarah is plagued by a demon who kills her husbands on their wedding night. They are both desperate and pray to God for relief.
The Event: Tobias, Tobit's son, marries Sarah. With the help of the angel Raphael (disguised as a human), Tobias overcomes the demon. He and Sarah are finally safe.
The Prayer: This verse is part of a prayer of praise to God offered by Tobit and Sarah after their suffering has ended and their union is blessed.
Meaning of the Verse:
"Blessed are you..." This is a statement of praise and gratitude to God for his intervention.
"...because you have had mercy on two that were the only begotten children of their parents." This is a key element. It highlights:
The mercy of God: They recognize that their deliverance is not due to their own merit but to God's compassion.
Their vulnerability: Being only children meant their parents' hopes rested entirely on them. If either died, the family line would end, and the parents would be left with no future. Sarah's previous marriages were particularly devastating since she was the only child. Their survival and union are therefore a great blessing, not just for themselves, but for their parents. It underscores the fragility of their existence and the profound consequences of their individual fates.
"Show them mercy, O Lord." This is a continued prayer, asking for ongoing divine favor and protection for Tobias and Sarah.
"Fulfill their life in health with gladness and mercy." This is a petition for a long and happy life for the newly married couple. It asks that their lives be characterized by:
Health: Physical well-being.
Gladness: Joy and happiness.
Mercy: Not just that they receive mercy, but also that they show mercy to others. The ideal is a life lived in God's grace and reflecting that grace to others.
In summary, Tobit 8:17 is a prayer of thanksgiving and petition. It acknowledges God's mercy in rescuing Tobias and Sarah from their respective trials, emphasizing their vulnerability as only children, and asking for their future to be filled with health, happiness, and the capacity to show mercy to others. The verse connects the idea of God's mercy with the preciousness of their lives as only children, highlighting the enormity of the blessing they have received.
Tobit 8:17 - Blessed are you, because you have had mercy on two that were the only begotten children of their parents. Show them mercy, O Lord. Fulfill their life in health with gladness and mercy.
What does "Tobit 8:17" mean?
Tobit 8:17 reads: "Blessed are you, because you have had mercy on two that were the only begotten children of their parents. Show them mercy, O Lord. Fulfill their life in health with gladness and mercy."
To understand this verse, we need to consider its context in the Book of Tobit.
The Background: Tobit and Sarah are two people suffering greatly. Tobit is blind, and Sarah is plagued by a demon who kills her husbands on their wedding night. They are both desperate and pray to God for relief.
The Event: Tobias, Tobit's son, marries Sarah. With the help of the angel Raphael (disguised as a human), Tobias overcomes the demon. He and Sarah are finally safe.
The Prayer: This verse is part of a prayer of praise to God offered by Tobit and Sarah after their suffering has ended and their union is blessed.
Meaning of the Verse:
"Blessed are you..." This is a statement of praise and gratitude to God for his intervention.
"...because you have had mercy on two that were the only begotten children of their parents." This is a key element. It highlights:
The mercy of God: They recognize that their deliverance is not due to their own merit but to God's compassion.
Their vulnerability: Being only children meant their parents' hopes rested entirely on them. If either died, the family line would end, and the parents would be left with no future. Sarah's previous marriages were particularly devastating since she was the only child. Their survival and union are therefore a great blessing, not just for themselves, but for their parents. It underscores the fragility of their existence and the profound consequences of their individual fates.
"Show them mercy, O Lord." This is a continued prayer, asking for ongoing divine favor and protection for Tobias and Sarah.
"Fulfill their life in health with gladness and mercy." This is a petition for a long and happy life for the newly married couple. It asks that their lives be characterized by:
Health: Physical well-being.
Gladness: Joy and happiness.
Mercy: Not just that they receive mercy, but also that they show mercy to others. The ideal is a life lived in God's grace and reflecting that grace to others.
In summary, Tobit 8:17 is a prayer of thanksgiving and petition. It acknowledges God's mercy in rescuing Tobias and Sarah from their respective trials, emphasizing their vulnerability as only children, and asking for their future to be filled with health, happiness, and the capacity to show mercy to others. The verse connects the idea of God's mercy with the preciousness of their lives as only children, highlighting the enormity of the blessing they have received.