The Meaning of Psalms 72:11 Explained

Psalms 72:11

KJV: Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him.

YLT: And all kings do bow themselves to him, All nations do serve him,

Darby: Yea, all kings shall bow down before him; all nations shall serve him.

ASV: Yea, all kings shall fall down before him; All nations shall serve him.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Yea, all kings  shall fall down  before him: all nations  shall serve  him. 

What does Psalms 72:11 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 72:1-11 - "king Of Kings"
Solomon's reign opened as a morning without clouds. Much of the imagery of this royal ode is derived from the circumstances of his life. Compare Psalms 72:1-4 with his prayer for the listening heart, 1 Kings 3:9; the anticipations of peace, Psalms 72:3; Psalms 72:7, with his name, "the peaceful one;" the rule from sea to sea, Psalms 72:8, with 1 Kings 4:24; the presents from Sheba, Psalms 72:10, with 1 Kings 10:1-29. But Solomon's failure to realize his ideals compelled men to anticipate with great desire the advent of a greater Prince of Peace. Of Jesus alone is this psalm true in its details.
Notice the foundations of Jesus' reign, Psalms 72:1-4; the perpetuity of His kingdom, Psalms 72:5-7, and its universality, Psalms 72:8-11. The poor are His care. The peace He gives is in abundance and it passes understanding. Sun and moon may fail, but His love is unaffected by the flight of ages. The rain on mown grass and the distilling of the dew are not more gentle than His work in human souls that lie open to His approach. Take this glorious psalm and claim it, verse by verse, as true for you. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 72

1  David, praying for Solomon, shows the goodness and glory of God's kingdom
18  He blessed God

What do the individual words in Psalms 72:11 mean?

And Yes shall fall down before Him all kings all nations shall serve Him
וְיִשְׁתַּחֲווּ־ ל֥וֹ כָל־ מְלָכִ֑ים כָּל־ גּוֹיִ֥ם יַֽעַבְדֽוּהוּ

וְיִשְׁתַּחֲווּ־  And  Yes  shall  fall  down 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hitpael, Conjunctive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: שָׁחָה  
Sense: to bow down.
ל֥וֹ  before  Him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
מְלָכִ֑ים  kings 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
גּוֹיִ֥ם  nations 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: גֹּוי 
Sense: nation, people.
יַֽעַבְדֽוּהוּ  shall  serve  Him 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural, third person masculine singular
Root: עָבַד  
Sense: to work, serve.