Psalm 72:17 - Printer Friendly

ESV: May his name endure forever, his fame continue as long as the sun! May people be blessed in him, all nations call him blessed!

NIV: May his name endure forever; may it continue as long as the sun. Then all nations will be blessed through him, and they will call him blessed.

NASB: May his name endure forever; May his name produce descendants as long as the sun shines; And may people wish blessings on themselves by him; May all nations call him blessed.

CSB: May his name endure forever; as long as the sun shines, may his fame increase. May all nations be blessed by him and call him blessed.

NLT: May the king’s name endure forever; may it continue as long as the sun shines. May all nations be blessed through him and bring him praise.

KJV: His name shall endure forever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed.

NKJV: His name shall endure forever; His name shall continue as long as the sun. And men shall be blessed in Him; All nations shall call Him blessed.

Psalm 72:15–17 continues to blend requests for Solomon's rule with a prophetic look to the end times. There, the Messiah—Jesus Christ—will rule the world in person. This segment asks for blessings over Solomon's reign: a long-lasting rule bringing prosperity to the entire nation. And, eventually, to the world. What comes next (Psalms 72:18–20) is probably a marker for the end of Book Two of the psalms.

The psalmist prays for a king to rule successfully, and that he would serve as the ideal leader of a successful, stable, prosperous nation. This appears to be a request made to God regarding the rule of Solomon. It also has prophetic meaning: the descriptions given here preview the rule of Messiah on earth. The final verses are a formal statement of praise which marks the end of "Book Two" of the psalms.

This is one of two psalms (Psalm 127:1) connected to Solomon. It might have been dedicated to him by his father, David (1 Kings 2:1–4). The final verse refers to David and a conclusion of his prayers. Yet, psalms are not numbered in chronological order, and the style of this psalm is much more like that of the book of Proverbs, most of which are attributed to Solomon. In either case, this psalm is both a prayer and a prophecy. It asks for God's blessings on a king's rule: praying he would be the ideal leader. This continues to depict a kingdom which blesses the entire world.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.

Accessed 9/1/2024 1:16:34 AM