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Psalms 72

BSB·20 verses ·Old Testament
✦ Tap any verse to open Scripture Explorer — original Hebrew/Greek, commentary, notes & highlights
1Endowתֵּ֑ןtên — to give, grant, or bestowH5414 — Full Word Study → the kingלְמֶ֣לֶךְlə·me·leḵ — A male ruler or sovereign who governs a nation or kingdomH4428 — Full Word Study → with Your justiceמִ֭שְׁפָּטֶיךָmiš·pā·ṭe·ḵā — Justice, judgment, or legal decisionH4941 — Full Word Study →, O Godאֱ‍ֽלֹהִ֗ים’ĕlō·hîm — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study →, and the sonלְבֶן־lə·ḇen- — Son; descendant; member of a groupH1121 — Full Word Study → of the kingמֶֽלֶךְ׃me·leḵ — A male ruler or sovereign who governs a nation or kingdomH4428 — Full Word Study → with Your righteousnessוְצִדְקָתְךָ֥wə·ṣiḏ·qā·ṯə·ḵā — Righteousness, justice, right conductH6666 — Full Word Study →. 2May he judgeיָדִ֣יןyā·ḏîn — to judge, govern, or execute judgmentH1777 — Full Word Study → Your peopleעַמְּךָ֣‘am·mə·ḵā — a people; nation; communityH5971 — Full Word Study → with righteousnessבְצֶ֑דֶקḇə·ṣe·ḏeq — Righteousness, justice, right standingH6664 — Full Word Study → and Your afflictedוַעֲנִיֶּ֥יךָwa·‘ă·nî·ye·ḵā — Poor, afflicted, humbleH6041 — Full Word Study → with justiceבְמִשְׁפָּֽט׃ḇə·miš·pāṭ — Justice, judgment, or legal decisionH4941 — Full Word Study →. 3May the mountainsהָרִ֓יםhā·rîm — Mountain, hill, or elevated land massH2022 — Full Word Study → bringיִשְׂא֤וּyiś·’ū — To lift up, raise, or bear; to carry or supportH5375 — Full Word Study → peaceשָׁ֘ל֥וֹםšā·lō·wm — Peace, wholeness, well-being, prosperityH7965 — Full Word Study → to the peopleלָעָ֑םlā·‘ām — a people; nation; communityH5971 — Full Word Study →, and the hillsוּ֝גְבָע֗וֹתū·ḡə·ḇā·‘ō·wṯ — hill, elevated terrainH1389 — Full Word Study → bring righteousness. 4May he vindicateיִשְׁפֹּ֤ט׀yiš·pōṭ — to judge, govern, or execute justiceH8199 — Full Word Study → the afflictedעֲ‍ֽנִיֵּי־‘ănî·yê- — Poor, afflicted, humbleH6041 — Full Word Study → among the peopleעָ֗ם‘ām — a people; nation; communityH5971 — Full Word Study →; may he saveי֭וֹשִׁיעַyō·wō·šî·a‘ — To deliver, rescue, or save from dangerH3467 — Full Word Study → the childrenלִבְנֵ֣יliḇ·nê — Son; descendant; member of a groupH1121 — Full Word Study → of the needyאֶבְי֑וֹן’eḇ·yō·wn — Poor person in dire needH34 — Full Word Study → and crushוִֽידַכֵּ֣אwî·ḏak·kê — to crush, break, or oppressH1792 — Full Word Study → the oppressorעוֹשֵֽׁק׃‘ō·wō·šêq — To oppress, defraud, or exploitH6231 — Full Word Study →. 5May they fear himיִֽירָא֥וּךָyî·rā·’ū·ḵā — to fear, revere, or be afraidH3372 — Full Word Study → as long asעִם־‘im- — with, together with, amongH5973 — Full Word Study → the sun shines, as long asוְלִפְנֵ֥יwə·lip̄·nê — face; presence; beforeH6440 — Full Word Study → the moon remains, through allדּ֣וֹרdō·wr — generation; age; lifetime; posterityH1755 — Full Word Study → generationsדּוֹרִֽים׃dō·w·rîm — generation; age; lifetime; posterityH1755 — Full Word Study →. 6May he be like rainכְּמָטָ֣רkə·mā·ṭār — Rain; rainfall; precipitation from heavenH4306 — Full Word Study → that fallsיֵ֭רֵדyê·rêḏ — To descend, go down, come downH3381 — Full Word Study → onעַל־‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → freshly cut grassגֵּ֑זgêz — fleece; wool; harvest of wool or grassH1488 — Full Word Study →, like spring showersכִּ֝רְבִיבִ֗יםkir·ḇî·ḇîm — A rain shower or light rainH7241 — Full Word Study → that waterזַרְזִ֥יףzar·zîp̄ — Heavy downpour; torrential rainH2222 — Full Word Study → the earthאָֽרֶץ׃’ā·reṣ — Land, earth, or countryH776 — Full Word Study →. 7May the righteousצַדִּ֑יקṣad·dîq — Righteous, just person; one who is right with GodH6662 — Full Word Study → flourishיִֽפְרַח־yip̄·raḥ- — to bloom, flourish, or spread forthH6524 — Full Word Study → in his daysבְּיָמָ֥יוbə·yā·māw — day; time; period; ageH3117 — Full Word Study → and prosperityשָׁ֝ל֗וֹםšā·lôm — Peace, wholeness, well-being, prosperityH7965 — Full Word Study → aboundוְרֹ֥בwə·rōḇ — Abundance, multitude, or great quantityH7230 — Full Word Study →, untilעַד־‘aḏ- — until, till, up to (temporal or spatial limit)H5704 — Full Word Study → the moonיָרֵֽחַ׃yā·rê·aḥ — The moon; lunar bodyH3394 — Full Word Study → is no moreבְּלִ֥יbə·lî — without, lack of, absenceH1097 — Full Word Study →. 8May he ruleוְ֭יֵרְדְּwə·yê·rəd — To rule, reign, or exercise dominion overH7287 — Full Word Study → from seaמִיָּ֣םmî·yām — Sea, body of water; also directional (west, south)H3220 — Full Word Study → toעַד־‘aḏ- — until, till, up to (temporal or spatial limit)H5704 — Full Word Study → seaיָ֑םyām — Sea, body of water; also directional (west, south)H3220 — Full Word Study →, and from the Euphrates toעַד־‘aḏ- — until, till, up to (temporal or spatial limit)H5704 — Full Word Study → the endsאַפְסֵי־’ap̄·sê- — End, cessation, extremity; nothing, noughtH657 — Full Word Study → of the earthאָֽרֶץ׃’ā·reṣ — Land, earth, or countryH776 — Full Word Study →. 9May the nomadsצִיִּ֑יםṣî·yîm — Wild beasts of the desert; jackalsH6728 — Full Word Study → bowיִכְרְע֣וּyiḵ·rə·‘ū — to bow down, kneel, or fall to the groundH3766 — Full Word Study → before himלְ֭פָנָיוlə·p̄ā·nāw — face; presence; beforeH6440 — Full Word Study →, and his enemiesוְ֝אֹיְבָ֗יוwə·’ō·yə·ḇāw — Enemy; adversary; one who opposesH341 — Full Word Study → lickיְלַחֵֽכוּ׃yə·la·ḥê·ḵū — to lick up or consume by lickingH3897 — Full Word Study → the dustעָפָ֥ר‘ā·p̄ār — dust; fine particles of earth or ground matterH6083 — Full Word Study →. 10May the kingsמַלְכֵ֬יmal·ḵê — A male ruler or sovereign who governs a nation or kingdomH4428 — Full Word Study → of Tarshishתַרְשִׁ֣ישׁṯar·šîš — Distant maritime nationH8659 — Full Word Study → and distant shoresוְ֭אִיִּיםwə·’î·yîm — coastland, distant island, or remote regionH339 — Full Word Study → bringיָשִׁ֑יבוּyā·šî·ḇū — to turn back, return, restoreH7725 — Full Word Study → tributeמִנְחָ֣הmin·ḥāh — Gift offering; present or tributeH4503 — Full Word Study →; may the kingsמַלְכֵ֥יmal·ḵê — A male ruler or sovereign who governs a nation or kingdomH4428 — Full Word Study → of Shebaשְׁבָ֥אšə·ḇā — Oath, sevenH7614 — Full Word Study → and Sebaוּ֝סְבָ֗אū·sə·ḇā — A son of CushH5434 — Full Word Study → offerיַקְרִֽיבוּ׃yaq·rî·ḇū — to approach, draw near, come forwardH7126 — Full Word Study → giftsאֶשְׁכָּ֥ר’eš·kār — A gift or present given as a token or offeringH814 — Full Word Study →. 11May allכָל־ḵāl — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → kingsמְלָכִ֑יםmə·lā·ḵîm — A male ruler or sovereign who governs a nation or kingdomH4428 — Full Word Study → bow downוְיִשְׁתַּחֲווּ־wə·yiš·ta·ḥă·wū- — To bow down; to worship or show reverenceH7812 — Full Word Study → to him and all nationsגּוֹיִ֥םgō·w·yim — Nation; a people or ethnic groupH1471 — Full Word Study → serve himיַֽעַבְדֽוּהוּ׃ya·‘aḇ·ḏū·hū — to serve, labor, workH5647 — Full Word Study →. 12Forכִּֽי־kî- — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → he will deliverיַ֭צִּילyaṣ·ṣîl — to rescue, deliver, or snatch awayH5337 — Full Word Study → the needyאֶבְי֣וֹן’eḇ·yō·wn — Poor person in dire needH34 — Full Word Study → who cry outמְשַׁוֵּ֑עַmə·šaw·wê·a‘ — to cry out, shout for helpH7768 — Full Word Study → and the afflictedוְ֝עָנִ֗יwə·‘ā·nî — Poor, afflicted, humbleH6041 — Full Word Study → who have noוְֽאֵין־wə·’ên- — nothing, nonexistence, absenceH369 — Full Word Study → helperעֹזֵ֥ר‘ō·zêr — to help, aid, supportH5826 — Full Word Study →. 13He will take pityיָ֭חֹסyā·ḥōs — to have compassion, spare, or show pityH2347 — Full Word Study → onעַל־‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → the poorדַּ֣לdal — poor, needy, weakH1800 — Full Word Study → and needyוְאֶבְי֑וֹןwə·’eḇ·yō·wn — Poor person in dire needH34 — Full Word Study → and saveיוֹשִֽׁיעַ׃yō·wō·šî·a‘ — To deliver, rescue, or save from dangerH3467 — Full Word Study → the livesוְנַפְשׁ֖וֹתwə·nap̄·šō·wṯ — soul, life, person, selfH5315 — Full Word Study → of the oppressedאֶבְיוֹנִ֣ים’eḇ·yō·w·nîm — Poor person in dire needH34 — Full Word Study →. 14He will redeemיִגְאַ֣לyiḡ·’al — to redeem; to act as kinsman-redeemerH1350 — Full Word Study → themנַפְשָׁ֑םnap̄·šām — soul, life, person, selfH5315 — Full Word Study → from oppressionמִתּ֣וֹךְmit·tō·wḵ — Deceit, fraud, or deceptionH8496 — Full Word Study → and violenceוּ֭מֵחָמָסū·mê·ḥā·mās — Violence, cruelty, or wrongful harmH2555 — Full Word Study →, for their bloodדָּמָ֣םdā·mām — blood; life force; bloodshed; guiltH1818 — Full Word Study → is preciousוְיֵיקַ֖רwə·yê·qar — to be precious, honored, or highly valuedH3365 — Full Word Study → in his sightבְּעֵינָֽיו׃bə·‘ê·nāw — Eye; sight; appearance; fountainH5869 — Full Word Study →. 15Long may he liveוִיחִ֗יwî·ḥî — To live, to preserve alive, to give lifeH2421 — Full Word Study →! May goldמִזְּהַ֪בmiz·zə·haḇ — Gold; precious metal; wealth and valueH2091 — Full Word Study → from Shebaשְׁ֫בָ֥אšə·ḇā — Oath, sevenH7614 — Full Word Study → be givenוְיִתֶּן־wə·yit·ten- — to give, grant, or bestowH5414 — Full Word Study → him. May people everתָמִ֑ידṯā·mîḏ — continually, perpetually, alwaysH8548 — Full Word Study → prayוְיִתְפַּלֵּ֣לwə·yiṯ·pal·lêl — to pray, intercede, or judgeH6419 — Full Word Study → for himבַּעֲד֣וֹba·‘ă·ḏōw — through, by means of, on behalf ofH1157 — Full Word Study →; may they bless himיְבָרֲכֶֽנְהֽוּ׃yə·ḇā·ră·ḵen·hū — to bless, kneel, praiseH1288 — Full Word Study → allכָּל־kāl- — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → day longהַ֝יּ֗וֹםhay·yō·wm — day; time; period; ageH3117 — Full Word Study →. 16May there beיְהִ֤יyə·hî — to be, become, exist, happenH1961 — Full Word Study → an abundanceפִסַּת־p̄is·saṯ- — a handful; small measure or portionH6451 — Full Word Study → of grainבַּ֨ר׀bar — grain, corn, wheat; harvest fieldH1250 — Full Word Study → in the landבָּאָרֶץ֮bā·’ā·reṣ — Land, earth, or countryH776 — Full Word Study →; may it swayיִרְעַ֣שׁyir·‘aš — To shake, tremble, or quake with forceH7493 — Full Word Study → atopבְּרֹ֪אשׁbə·rōš — Head; chief; beginning; topH7218 — Full Word Study → the hillsהָ֫רִ֥יםhā·rîm — Mountain, hill, or elevated land massH2022 — Full Word Study →. May its fruit treesפִּרְי֑וֹpir·yōw — Fruit; produce; offspring; rewardH6529 — Full Word Study → flourishוְיָצִ֥יצוּwə·yā·ṣî·ṣū — to blossom, flourish, or shine forthH6692 — Full Word Study → like the forests of Lebanon, and its people like the grassכְּעֵ֣שֶׂבkə·‘ê·śeḇ — grass, vegetation, or herbageH6212 — Full Word Study → of the fieldהָאָֽרֶץ׃hā·’ā·reṣ — Land, earth, or countryH776 — Full Word Study →. 17May his nameשְׁמ֨וֹšə·mōw — Name; reputation; renownH8034 — Full Word Study → endureיְהִ֤יyə·hî — to be, become, exist, happenH1961 — Full Word Study → foreverלְֽעוֹלָ֗םlə·‘ō·w·lām — forever, eternity, perpetual durationH5769 — Full Word Study →; may his nameשְׁ֫מ֥וֹšə·mōw — Name; reputation; renownH8034 — Full Word Study → continueיָנִיןyå̄·nīn — to propagate, continue, extendH5125 — Full Word Study → asלִפְנֵי־lip̄·nê- — face; presence; beforeH6440 — Full Word Study → long as the sun shines. In him may allכָּל־kāl- — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → nationsגּוֹיִ֥םgō·w·yim — Nation; a people or ethnic groupH1471 — Full Word Study → be blessedוְיִתְבָּ֥רְכוּwə·yiṯ·bā·rə·ḵū — to bless, kneel, praiseH1288 — Full Word Study →; may they call him blessedיְאַשְּׁרֽוּהוּ׃yə·’aš·šə·rū·hū — to bless, to make happy or prosperousH833 — Full Word Study →. 18Blessed beבָּר֤וּךְ׀bā·rūḵ — to bless, kneel, praiseH1288 — Full Word Study → the LORDיְהוָ֣הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study → Godאֱ֭לֹהִים’ĕ·lō·hîm — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study →, the Godאֱלֹהֵ֣י’ĕ·lō·hê — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study → of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לyiś·rā·’êl — God prevailsH3478 — Full Word Study →, who aloneלְבַדּֽוֹ׃lə·ḇad·dōw — alone, apart, or bar/poleH905 — Full Word Study → doesעֹשֵׂ֖ה‘ō·śêh — to do, make, or accomplish; to act or performH6213 — Full Word Study → marvelous deedsנִפְלָא֣וֹתnip̄·lā·’ō·wṯ — to be wonderful, perform miracles, do marvelous thingsH6381 — Full Word Study →. 19And blessedוּבָר֤וּךְ׀ū·ḇā·rūḵ — to bless, kneel, praiseH1288 — Full Word Study → be His glorious nameשֵׁ֥םšêm — Name; reputation; renownH8034 — Full Word Study → foreverלְע֫וֹלָ֥םlə·‘ō·w·lām — forever, eternity, perpetual durationH5769 — Full Word Study →; may allכֹּ֥לkōl — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → the earthהָאָ֗רֶץhā·’ā·reṣ — Land, earth, or countryH776 — Full Word Study → be filledוְיִמָּלֵ֣אwə·yim·mā·lê — to fill, fulfill, completeH4390 — Full Word Study → with His gloryכְ֭בוֹדוֹḵə·ḇō·w·ḏōw — weightiness, honor, splendor, gloryH3519 — Full Word Study →. Amenאָ֘מֵ֥ן׀’ā·mên — So be it; truly; affirmation of truth and agreementH543 — Full Word Study → and amenוְאָמֵֽן׃wə·’ā·mên — So be it; truly; affirmation of truth and agreementH543 — Full Word Study →. 20Thus concludeכָּלּ֥וּkāl·lū — to finish, complete, or bring to an endH3615 — Full Word Study → the prayersתְפִלּ֑וֹתṯə·p̄il·lō·wṯ — Prayer; formal or spontaneous petition to GodH8605 — Full Word Study → of Davidדָּ֝וִ֗דdā·wiḏ — BelovedH1732 — Full Word Study → sonבֶּן־ben- — Son; descendant; member of a groupH1121 — Full Word Study → of Jesseיִשָֽׁי׃yi·šāy — Jesse, father of DavidH3448 — Full Word Study →.
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Chapter Commentary — Psalms 72
Chapter Overview

Chapter Overview

Psalm 72 is a royal psalm attributed to David, presenting a prayer for godly kingship and divine justice. The psalm depicts an idealized king who rules with righteousness, protects the vulnerable, and whose reign brings universal peace and prosperity. While composed for Solomon's coronation or reign, evangelical interpreters have long recognized that the scope and glory described here ultimately point forward to Jesus Christ, the King of Kings, whose kingdom alone fulfills these eternal promises of perfect justice and peace.

Verses 1–5: The Prayer for Righteous Rule

David opens by asking God to grant the king divine judgment and righteousness (v. 1). This is not a request for the king's personal holiness alone, but for him to be equipped by God to judge the people and the poor with fairness and truth (v. 2). The mountains and hills becoming agents of peace (v. 3) is poetic language describing how the entire created order will flourish when righteousness reigns. Verses 4–5 emphasize the king's duty to defend the defenseless, crush oppression, and establish a reign so stable and beneficial that people will revere God throughout all generations.

Application: This section reminds us that true authority exists to serve the weak and vulnerable. In our own leadership—whether in families, workplaces, or churches—we are called to reflect this Christ-like compassion for those who cannot defend themselves.

Verses 6–12: Blessing and Universal Dominion

The king's reign is compared to rain on cut grass (v. 6)—refreshing, life-giving, and timely. Under his rule, righteousness flourishes and peace abounds (v. 7). His dominion extends from sea to sea and to the ends of the earth (v. 8), language echoing the promise given to Solomon but ultimately describing a kingdom that knows no geographical limits. Enemies submit, and distant kings bring tribute (vv. 9–11), symbolizing universal acknowledgment of his rule. Yet the heart of his power is revealed in verse 12: he delivers the needy when they cry out. True greatness is measured not by territory or tribute, but by compassion for the helpless.

Application: Christ's kingdom operates on completely different principles than earthly power. His victory comes through sacrificial love, not military conquest. We share in His reign as we advocate for and serve "the least of these."

Verses 13–17: Redemption and Eternal Legacy

The king's concern for the poor continues (vv. 13–14): he saves their souls and redeems them from deceit and violence. Their blood is precious in his sight—a beautiful affirmation that the vulnerable have infinite worth to a righteous ruler. His name endures forever (v. 17), and all nations call him blessed. This eternal, universal dimension of blessing transcends any historical king and speaks clearly to Christ's perpetual and cosmic reign.

Application: Jesus' redemptive work was accomplished precisely for those society deemed worthless. His name is indeed exalted above every name, and His blessing reaches to the uttermost parts of the earth.

Verses 18–20: Closing Doxology

David closes not with political triumph but with worship (vv. 18–19). He blesses the Lord for His wonderful deeds and prays that His glory fill the whole earth. This is a fitting conclusion: the psalm moves from a prayer for the king to praise of the King of Kings, reminding us that all earthly rule is subordinate to God's sovereign dominion.

Application for Today

Psalm 72 invites us to recognize Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of the ideal righteous king. His kingdom is not of this world, yet it addresses the deepest hungers for justice, peace, and dignity. As believers, we are called to embody these kingdom values now—defending the poor, speaking truth, and extending grace—while awaiting His glorious and complete return.

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