Psalm Chapter 72 KJV
King James Version, Holy Bible
1 Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king's son.
2 He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment.
3 The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness.
4 He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor.
5 They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations.
More Psalms Chapter 72 (Old Testament)
6 He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth.
7 In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth.
8 He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.
9 They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust.
10 The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.
11 Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him.
12 For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper.
13 He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy.
14 He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in his sight.
15 And he shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba: prayer also shall be made for him continually; and daily shall he be praised.
16 There shall be an handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains; the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon: and they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth.
More Psalms Chapter 72 (Old Testament)
17 His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed.
18 Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things.
19 And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen.
20 The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.
Key Takeaways from This Psalm:
Psalm 72:17
Verse: יִתְפָּרֵשׂ כְּשֶׁמֶן שְׁמֵי עַל-רֹאשׁוֹ
Transliteration: Yitparesh k’shemen sh’mei al-rosho
English: “May His name endure forever; may all nations bless themselves by Him.”
Focus Word: שֵׁם (Shem)
- Root: ש-מ (Shin-Mem)
- Meaning: “Name,” “reputation,” “character.”
- Deeper Insight: Shem reflects identity, authority, and honor. Blessing flows from recognizing God’s character and reputation.
Biblical Scholars On This Chapter:
| Scholar (Institution & Dates) | Work | View on Psalm 72 |
|---|---|---|
| Philip Doddridge (Northampton Academy, 1702–1751) | Family Expositor | Observes that the Psalm models prayer for righteous leadership and just governance. |
| James Durham (St Andrews / Edinburgh, 1622–1658) | Commentary on the Psalms | Notes that God’s guidance ensures the king rules in fairness and protects the weak. |
| William Lowth (University of Oxford, 1660–1732) | Commentary on the Psalms | Highlights the Psalm’s vision of universal peace and prosperity under God’s blessing. |
| Richard Hooker (Oxford, 1554–1600) | Of the Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity | Observes that governance should reflect divine principles of justice and mercy. |
| John Brown (Edinburgh, 1722–1787) | Self-Interpreting Bible | Notes the Psalm encourages the faithful to pray for godly rulers and national blessing. |
| Scholar & Work | View |
|---|---|
| John Calvin – Commentary on the Psalms | Calvin sees the psalm as describing the ideal reign accomplished only in Christ. His justice blesses the poor. His kingdom endures forever. |
| Matthew Henry – Exposition on the Psalms | Henry interprets the psalm as a prophetic portrait of Christ’s righteous rule. The poor are defended and the oppressor crushed. The earth is filled with His glory. |
| Albert Barnes – Notes on the Psalms | Barnes views the psalm as royal and Messianic in scope. The king’s reign brings universal peace. Blessings flow from his dominion. |
| John Morison – Practical Exposition of the Psalms | Morison sees the psalm as expressing longing for the perfect kingdom. The righteous king uplifts the needy. His name endures with blessing. |
| William Walford – Commentary on the Psalms | Walford interprets the psalm as presenting the crowning vision of Messiah’s reign. Righteousness defines His rule. The whole earth shares in His prosperity. |
| Andrew A. Bonar – Christ and His Church in the Psalms | Bonar views the psalm as foretelling Christ’s global dominion. The poor find deliverance. The nations bring tribute to Him. |
| Joseph Parker – People’s Bible Notes | Parker reads the psalm as the world’s hope realized in Messiah’s rule. Justice becomes universal. Worship rises from all nations. |
| Thomas Dale – Exposition of the Psalms | Dale interprets the psalm as revealing the nobility and mercy of the righteous king. His reign brings peace and abundance. Praise crowns His dominion. |
| Horatius Bonar – Psalm Meditations | Bonar sees the psalm as a prophecy of Christ’s endless reign. The needy are cared for with compassion. Earth rejoices under His rule. |
| Christopher Wordsworth – Commentary on the Psalms | Wordsworth interprets the psalm as the Church’s celebration of Christ’s kingdom. His dominion is from sea to sea. Blessing and glory are His forever. |
