Psalm 102 15

Psalm 102:15 kjv

So the heathen shall fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth thy glory.

Psalm 102:15 nkjv

So the nations shall fear the name of the LORD, And all the kings of the earth Your glory.

Psalm 102:15 niv

The nations will fear the name of the LORD, all the kings of the earth will revere your glory.

Psalm 102:15 esv

Nations will fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth will fear your glory.

Psalm 102:15 nlt

Then the nations will tremble before the LORD.
The kings of the earth will tremble before his glory.

Psalm 102 15 Cross References

VerseTextReference
Ps 111:10The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow His precepts have good understanding.True wisdom begins with reverence for God.
Prov 9:10The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.Foundation of all true understanding.
Ps 2:11Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling.Call for reverence in service.
Deut 10:12And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require from you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways...God's requirement for His people.
Ps 86:9All the nations You have made will come and worship before You, Lord; they will bring glory to Your name.Universal worship of God by nations.
Isa 2:2-4In the last days... all nations will stream to it... many peoples will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD..."Future pilgrimage of nations to God's presence.
Isa 49:6-7...I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that My salvation may reach to the ends of the earth... Kings will see and rise...Messiah as light to nations, kings bowing.
Isa 60:3Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.Nations and kings drawn to Zion's light.
Zech 8:20-23Peoples will come... Many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the LORD Almighty...Future gathering of nations to God in Jerusalem.
Rev 15:4Who will not fear You, Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before You...All nations fear and worship God in final vision.
Rev 21:24The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it.Kings and nations enter the New Jerusalem.
Dan 2:44-45...the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed... it will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end...God's eternal kingdom supersedes earthly ones.
Ps 72:11May all kings bow down to him and all nations serve him.Prophetic reign of the righteous king.
Ps 67:2...that Your way may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations.God's salvation extended globally.
Ps 138:4-5All the kings of the earth will give You thanks, O LORD, when they hear the words of Your mouth.Kings acknowledge God's spoken word.
Ps 19:1The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.God's glory declared throughout creation.
Hab 2:14For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.Universal knowledge of God's glory.
Phil 2:9-11...every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord...Universal submission to Christ's Lordship.
Isa 42:8I am the LORD; that is My name! I will not yield My glory to another or My praise to idols.God protects His unique name and glory.
Ps 29:2Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name; worship the LORD in the splendor of His holiness.Adoring God's glorious name.
Ps 102:16For the LORD will rebuild Zion and appear in His glory.Immediate context: God's building of Zion.
Mic 4:1-2In the last days... the mountain of the LORD's temple will be established... peoples will stream to it.Zion as the center of universal instruction.

Psalm 102 verses

Psalm 102 15 Meaning

Psalm 102:15 proclaims a future universal recognition of the living God. It declares that as a result of God's redemptive work, specifically in rebuilding Zion, the gentile nations and all the earthly rulers will be compelled to revere the character and authority of the Lord, and acknowledge His manifest glory and supreme majesty. This verse paints an eschatological picture of the world bowing in awe before the one true God, contrasting the transient power of human kings with the enduring dominion and splendor of the Almighty.

Psalm 102 15 Context

Psalm 102 is a "prayer of an afflicted person who has grown weak and pours out a lament before the LORD." It begins as a deeply personal and somber lament (Ps 102:1-11), expressing the psalmist's personal suffering and the desolate state of Zion (Jerusalem) (Ps 102:12). However, a dramatic shift occurs around verses 12-14, moving from personal and collective despair to an outburst of eschatological hope. The psalmist remembers God's enduring reign (Ps 102:12), expresses hope for God's compassion on Zion (Ps 102:13), and declares that the time for God to show favor to Zion has come because His servants cherish its ruins (Ps 102:14). Verse 102:15 serves as a direct consequence and culmination of this divine action mentioned in the very next verse, Ps 102:16, "For the LORD will rebuild Zion and appear in His glory." The context, therefore, frames 102:15 as a prophetic vision of universal acknowledgement and reverence for God, triggered by His restorative work for His people and holy city. It contrasts the temporary suffering and desolation with God's eternal sovereignty and future glorious manifestation, which will elicit worship from all peoples.

Psalm 102 15 Word analysis

  • So (כִּֽי ki): This conjunction often means 'for' or 'because' but here serves to indicate a consequence or result. It points forward to what will happen "because of" God's action in verse 16. It ties the universal acknowledgment directly to God's coming restorative work.
  • the nations (גּוֹיִ֖ם goyim): This Hebrew term refers specifically to the non-Israelite, gentile peoples. It emphasizes the universal scope of this future reverence, extending beyond the chosen people to all peoples of the earth, often seen as those opposed to or ignorant of God.
  • will fear (יִֽירְא֣וּ yire'u): Derived from the root yare, meaning "to fear," "to be afraid," or "to stand in awe of." In this biblical context, especially regarding God, it primarily signifies reverence, deep respect, submission, and awe, rather than merely terror. It implies a response of worship and humble acknowledgement of His sovereignty.
  • the name of the Lord (שֵׁם יְהוָ֑ה shem YHVH): "Name" (שֵׁם shem) in Hebrew scripture represents the person, character, reputation, authority, and presence of an individual. "LORD" (יְהוָה YHVH) is the personal covenant name of God, revealing His self-existent, faithful, and unchangeable nature. So, "fear the name of the Lord" means to revere His entire revealed being, His authority, power, and essence as the one true God.
  • and all (וְכָל־ vechol): This conjuctive particle adds emphasis to the universality, extending the scope to every single one without exception.
  • the kings of the earth (מַלְכֵי־אָֽרֶץ malkei-arets): This phrase denotes all earthly rulers, sovereign powers, and their respective dominions. It explicitly targets those who often exalt themselves and their power, contrasting them with the supreme authority of YHVH. It highlights that even the highest human authorities will eventually bow before God.
  • Your glory (כְּבוֹדֶֽךָ kevodeka): Derived from kavod (כָּבוֹד), which literally means 'weight' or 'heaviness,' metaphorically denoting honor, splendor, majesty, reputation, and the visible manifestation of divine presence and inherent greatness. When kings fear His glory, it means they will acknowledge and stand in awe of His divine majesty, visible manifestations of His power, and incomparable worth.

Psalm 102 15 Bonus section

This verse's profound impact is strengthened by its immediate link to the preceding verses (especially 102:13-14), which describe God's favorable time to have compassion on Zion, and the following verse (102:16), where the reason for this universal fear is explicitly stated: "For the LORD will rebuild Zion and appear in His glory." This highlights a significant theological truth: God's redemptive work for His people serves as a universal testimony to His power and character. The salvation of a remnant and the restoration of His dwelling place (Zion/Jerusalem) are not merely insular events but catalysts for global worship. It also implies a reversal of human pride and idolatry, where the powers that once oppressed God's people will now humbly revere Him. The "name" and "glory" are practically synonymous, portraying God's comprehensive manifestation and His very being. This divine manifestation is potent enough to convert adversaries into adorers.

Psalm 102 15 Commentary

Psalm 102:15 offers a breathtaking prophetic vision of God's ultimate triumph and universal acknowledgment. It asserts that God's future action of rebuilding Zion, detailed in the following verse, will not merely bring comfort to His afflicted people but will serve as a powerful testament to His divine identity, prompting a global response of awe and reverence. The "fear" is not one of terror from a tyrannical power, but a holy awe born from recognizing the inherent greatness and overwhelming majesty of the living God. The phrase "name of the Lord" encompasses God's entire revealed character—His power, faithfulness, holiness, and sovereignty—which will be unmistakably displayed through His redemptive acts. Similarly, "Your glory" refers to the brilliant manifestation of His divine presence and infinite worth. This declaration is a direct polemic against all forms of idolatry and self-exaltation among nations and kings, emphasizing that their power and glory are fleeting compared to the eternal and supreme glory of the Almighty. The verse holds significant eschatological weight, pointing to a future era—ultimately realized in the Messianic kingdom—when all human authorities will cease their opposition and willingly submit to the King of kings, bringing Him the honor due to His majestic being. It reminds believers that no matter the present trials or global turmoil, God's sovereign plan for universal recognition of His glory will inevitably come to pass.