Worthy.Bible » STRONG » Psalms » Chapter 72 » Verse 4-20

Psalms 72:4-20 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

4 He shall judge H8199 the poor H6041 of the people, H5971 he shall save H3467 the children H1121 of the needy, H34 and shall break in pieces H1792 the oppressor. H6231

5 They shall fear H3372 thee as long as H5973 the sun H8121 and moon H3394 endure, H6440 throughout all H1755 generations. H1755

6 He shall come down H3381 like rain H4306 upon the mown H1488 grass: as showers H7241 that water H2222 the earth. H776

7 In his days H3117 shall the righteous H6662 flourish; H6524 and abundance H7230 of peace H7965 so long as the moon H3394 endureth.

8 He shall have dominion H7287 also from sea H3220 to sea, H3220 and from the river H5104 unto the ends H657 of the earth. H776

9 They that dwell in the wilderness H6728 shall bow H3766 before H6440 him; and his enemies H341 shall lick H3897 the dust. H6083

10 The kings H4428 of Tarshish H8659 and of the isles H339 shall bring H7725 presents: H4503 the kings H4428 of Sheba H7614 and Seba H5434 shall offer H7126 gifts. H814

11 Yea, all kings H4428 shall fall down H7812 before him: all nations H1471 shall serve H5647 him.

12 For he shall deliver H5337 the needy H34 when he crieth; H7768 the poor H6041 also, and him that hath no helper. H5826

13 He shall spare H2347 the poor H1800 and needy, H34 and shall save H3467 the souls H5315 of the needy. H34

14 He shall redeem H1350 their soul H5315 from deceit H8496 and violence: H2555 and precious H3365 shall their blood H1818 be in his sight. H5869

15 And he shall live, H2421 and to him shall be given H5414 of the gold H2091 of Sheba: H7614 prayer also shall be made H6419 for him continually; H8548 and daily H3117 shall he be praised. H1288

16 There shall be an handful H6451 of corn H1250 in the earth H776 upon the top H7218 of the mountains; H2022 the fruit H6529 thereof shall shake H7493 like Lebanon: H3844 and they of the city H5892 shall flourish H6692 like grass H6212 of the earth. H776

17 His name H8034 shall endure for ever: H5769 his name H8034 shall be continued H5125 H5125 as long as H6440 the sun: H8121 and men shall be blessed H1288 in him: all nations H1471 shall call him blessed. H833

18 Blessed H1288 be the LORD H3068 God, H430 the God H430 of Israel, H3478 who only doeth H6213 wondrous things. H6381

19 And blessed H1288 be his glorious H3519 name H8034 for ever: H5769 and let the whole earth H776 be filled H4390 with his glory; H3519 Amen, H543 and Amen. H543

20 The prayers H8605 of David H1732 the son H1121 of Jesse H3448 are ended. H3615

Commentary on Psalms 72 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible


PSALM 72

Ps 72:1-19. For, or literally, "of Solomon." The closing verse rather relates to the second book of Psalms, of which this is the last, and was perhaps added by some collector, to intimate that the collection, to which, as chief author, David's name was appended, was closed. In this view, these may consistently be the productions of others included, as of Asaph, sons of Korah, and Solomon; and a few of David's may be placed in the latter series. The fact that here the usual mode of denoting authorship is used, is strongly conclusive that Solomon was the author, especially as no stronger objection appears than what has been now set aside. The Psalm, in highly wrought figurative style, describes the reign of a king as "righteous, universal, beneficent, and perpetual." By the older Jewish and most modern Christian interpreters, it has been referred to Christ, whose reign, present and prospective, alone corresponds with its statements. As the imagery of the second Psalm was drawn from the martial character of David's reign, that of this is from the peaceful and prosperous state of Solomon's.

1. Give the king, &c.—a prayer which is equivalent to a prediction.

judgments—the acts, and (figuratively) the principles of a right government (Joh 5:22; 9:39).

righteousness—qualifications for conducting such a government.

king's son—same person as a king—a very proper title for Christ, as such in both natures.

2, &c. The effects of such a government by one thus endowed are detailed.

thy people … and thy poor—or, "meek," the pious subjects of his government.

3. As mountains and hills are not usually productive, they are here selected to show the abundance of peace, being represented as

bringing—or, literally, "bearing" it as a produce.

by righteousness—that is, by means of his eminently just and good methods of ruling.

4. That peace, including prosperity, as an eminent characteristic of Christ's reign (Isa 2:4; Isa 9:6; 11:9), will be illustrated in the security provided for the helpless and needy, and the punishment inflicted on oppressors, whose power to injure or mar the peace of others will be destroyed (compare Isa 65:25; Zec 9:10).

children of the needy—for the needy (compare sons of strangers, Ps 18:45 [Margin]).

5. as long as … endure—literally, "with the sun," coeval with its existence, and before, or, in presence of the moon, while it lasts (compare Ge 11:28, "before Terah," literally, "in presence of," while he lived).

6. A beautiful figure expresses the grateful nature of His influence;

7, and, carrying out the figure, the results are described in an abundant production.

the righteous—literally, "righteousness."

flourish—literally, "sprout," or, "spring forth."

8. The foreign nations mentioned (Ps 72:9, 10) could not be included in the limits, if designed to indicate the boundaries of Solomon's kingdom. The terms, though derived from those used (Ex 23:31; De 11:24) to denote the possessions of Israel, must have a wider sense. Thus, "ends of the earth" is never used of Palestine, but always of the world (compare Margin).

9-11. The extent of the conquests.

They that dwell in the wilderness—the wild, untutored tribes of deserts.

bow … dust—in profound submission. The remotest and wealthiest nations shall acknowledge Him (compare Ps 45:12).

12-14. They are not the conquests of arms, but the influences of humane and peaceful principles (compare Isa 9:7; 11:1-9; Zec 9:9, 10).

15. In his prolonged life he will continue to receive the honorable gifts of the rich, and the prayers of his people shall be made for him, and their praises given to him.

16. The spiritual blessings, as often in Scripture, are set forth by material, the abundance of which is described by a figure, in which a "handful" (or literally, "a piece," or small portion) of corn in the most unpropitious locality, shall produce a crop, waving in the wind in its luxuriant growth, like the forests of Lebanon.

they of the city … earth—This clause denotes the rapid and abundant increase of population—

of—or, "from"

the city—Jerusalem, the center and seat of the typical kingdom.

flourish—or, glitter as new grass—that is, bloom. This increase corresponds with the increased productiveness. So, as the gospel blessings are diffused, there shall arise increasing recipients of them, out of the Church in which Christ resides as head.

17. His name—or, "glorious perfections."

as long as the sun—(Compare Ps 72:5).

men shall be blessed—(Ge 12:3; 18:18).

18, 19. These words close the Psalm in terms consistent with the style of the context, while Ps 72:20 is evidently, from its prosaic style, an addition for the purpose above explained [see on Ps 72:1].

20. ended—literally, "finished," or completed; the word never denotes fulfilment, except in a very late usage, as in Ezr 1:1; Da 12:7.