Psalm 102:16 kjv
When the LORD shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory.
Psalm 102:16 nkjv
For the LORD shall build up Zion; He shall appear in His glory.
Psalm 102:16 niv
For the LORD will rebuild Zion and appear in his glory.
Psalm 102:16 esv
For the LORD builds up Zion; he appears in his glory;
Psalm 102:16 nlt
For the LORD will rebuild Jerusalem.
He will appear in his glory.
Psalm 102 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Psa 147:2 | The LORD builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the outcasts of Israel. | God is the divine architect of His city. |
| Isa 58:12 | Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations... | Prophecy of future rebuilding led by God's people, empowered by Him. |
| Jer 31:4 | Again I will build you, and you shall be built, O Virgin Israel! | God's specific promise to rebuild and re-establish Israel. |
| Amos 9:11 | "In that day I will raise up the booth of David that is fallen... and rebuild it as in the days of old..." | Promise of restoration for David's dwelling, a Messianic and kingdom promise. |
| Zec 1:16 | "Therefore thus says the LORD, I have returned to Jerusalem with compassion; my house shall be built in it," | God's compassionate return to Jerusalem and commitment to rebuild His temple/city. |
| Neh 2:17 | "Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer suffer derision." | Human cooperation in rebuilding, divinely inspired for His people's honor. |
| Psa 127:1 | Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. | Underscores that true and lasting construction comes only from divine initiation and help. |
| Exo 40:34-35 | Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. | God's glory visibly dwelling in His sanctuary. |
| 1 Kgs 8:10-11 | ...the cloud filled the house of the LORD, so that the priests could not stand... for the glory of the LORD filled the house... | God's glory filling Solomon's Temple at its dedication. |
| Isa 40:5 | And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together... | Prophetic promise of a universal and public manifestation of God's glory. |
| Isa 60:1-3 | Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. | Zion illuminated and glorified by the manifest presence of God. |
| Zec 2:5 | "For I declare to be a wall of fire all around it, and I will be the glory in her midst." | God's protective and indwelling presence as glory within Jerusalem. |
| Rev 21:10-11 | ...and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God... | The ultimate fulfillment: New Jerusalem with God's inherent glory. |
| Rev 21:23-24 | And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light... | God's glory as the sole, sufficient source of light in the New Jerusalem. |
| Heb 12:22 | But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem... | Christians' spiritual connection to the heavenly, ultimate Zion. |
| Isa 9:6-7 | For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder... | Messianic prophecy pointing to the establishment of an eternal kingdom through Christ. |
| Isa 49:14-16 | "Can a woman forget her nursing child... Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands..." | God's enduring and unfailing remembrance and commitment to Zion/His people. |
| Psa 102:13 | You will arise and have pity on Zion; for it is time to favor her; the appointed time has come. | Immediate context: God's appointed time for compassion and favor towards Zion. |
| Mal 3:1 | "And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming..." | Prophecy of the Lord's sudden, glorious arrival at His temple, often seen as Messianic. |
| Luk 9:32 | Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. | A revelation of Jesus' divine glory at the Transfiguration. |
| Act 7:55-56 | But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. | Stephen's vision of God's heavenly glory with the resurrected Jesus. |
| 2 Cor 3:18 | And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. | Spiritual transformation in believers through beholding Christ's glory. |
| Phil 3:20-21 | But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body... | Hope in resurrection and being transformed into Christ's glorious likeness. |
Psalm 102 verses
Psalm 102 16 Meaning
Psalm 102:16 expresses a profound theological truth: Yahweh Himself takes action to restore His holy city, Zion, and in doing so, reveals His majestic presence and power. This verse encapsulates a divinely assured promise of restoration and revelation, shifting the focus from the psalmist's personal suffering to God's eternal commitment to His people and His dwelling place. It signifies that God’s intervention in the world will culminate in the public manifestation of His splendor and sovereignty within the place He has chosen.
Psalm 102 16 Context
Psalm 102 is titled "A Prayer of an afflicted one when he is faint and pours out his complaint before the LORD." It begins as a deep personal lament, depicting the psalmist's severe physical and emotional suffering (vv. 1-11). However, the psalm makes a profound transition, lifting the perspective from individual distress to an appeal for the entire nation and the future of Zion (vv. 12-28). The immediate context of verse 16 follows the psalmist's affirmation of God's eternal nature (v. 12) and His enduring remembrance of Zion, explicitly stating that "it is time to favor her; the appointed time has come" (v. 13). Historically, this psalm is often seen as emerging from a period of national desolation, possibly during or after the Babylonian exile, when Jerusalem (Zion) lay in ruins or was undergoing challenging rebuilding. In such despair, the promise in verse 16 serves as a powerful assurance, anchoring human hope in certain divine action for restoration.
Psalm 102 16 Word analysis
- For (כִּי, ki): This conjunction acts as a pivotal explanatory or causal element. It introduces the divine foundation and absolute certainty behind the hope previously expressed regarding Zion's restoration.
- the LORD (יְהוָה, Yahweh): The sacred, personal, and covenant name of God. It signifies His unchanging nature, faithfulness, and active presence in history, ensuring that the promise originates from the sovereign God who keeps His word.
- builds up (יִבְנֶה, yivneh, from בָּנָה, banah): This verb signifies to construct, restore, or rebuild. The imperfect active form denotes an ongoing or certain future action, highlighting that the work of restoration is entirely God's initiative and commitment, encompassing physical reconstruction as well as spiritual re-establishment and honor.
- Zion (צִיּוֹן, Tziyyon): Originally a prominent hill in Jerusalem, it metonymically represents the entire city, particularly as God's chosen dwelling place. Beyond the physical location, it symbolizes God's covenant people, His spiritual kingdom, and ultimately, His Church.
- he appears (יֵרָאָה, yera'ah, from רָאָה, ra'ah): This verb, in its Niphal (passive) stem, translates to "will be seen" or "will show Himself." It describes a visible, undeniable divine self-revelation, an epiphany, where God's presence and action are clearly and unmistakably manifest.
- in His glory (בִּכְבוֹדוֹ, bikh'vodo): This refers to God's kavod, encompassing His intrinsic weight, honor, splendor, majesty, and the manifest outpouring of His divine nature. To appear "in His glory" means God will reveal Himself in His full, awe-inspiring power and majestic presence.
Words-group by words-group analysis
- For the LORD builds up Zion: This phrase establishes divine agency as the sole guarantor of Zion's restoration. It shifts the focus from human inability and despondency to God's sovereign capacity. The "building up" signifies comprehensive restoration—physical, social, and spiritual—ensuring the stability and renewed prominence of God's holy city and people. It underlines that ultimate renewal comes through God's will and power alone.
- he appears in His glory: This declaration explains the culmination and purpose of Zion's restoration: a glorious divine manifestation. God's act of rebuilding is ultimately for the sake of His own self-revelation, a visible demonstration of His presence, power, and sovereign rule among His people. It points to a time when God’s reign and presence will be unmistakably evident, echoing earlier instances of God’s glory filling the Tabernacle and Temple, yet looking forward to an even more profound, public, and enduring divine presence.
Psalm 102 16 Bonus section
The deep eschatological significance of Psalm 102:16 is often highlighted by scholars. While initially a comfort during the Babylonian exile and the subsequent rebuilding of Jerusalem, its language extends prophetically to the ultimate dwelling of God with humanity. The "Zion" being built by the Lord points not just to the earthly Jerusalem but culminates in the "heavenly Jerusalem" and the "New Jerusalem" of Revelation (Rev 21), where God truly resides among His people without an earthly temple, for He Himself, along with the Lamb, is its light and glory. This multi-layered fulfillment underscores God's faithfulness across history and eternity, revealing that His plan of restoration encompasses all creation. The psalm moves from personal lament to universal, cosmic hope, grounding all future blessedness in the direct and glorious intervention of Yahweh.
Psalm 102 16 Commentary
Psalm 102:16 stands as a powerful statement of divine assurance amidst profound desolation. The psalmist's personal anguish transforms into a grand hope rooted not in human strength, but in God’s eternal faithfulness. "The LORD builds up Zion" is a testament to God's unyielding commitment to His chosen place and people. This building implies more than mere physical reconstruction; it signifies a comprehensive re-establishment of prominence, security, and spiritual vitality, ultimately culminating in the new heavens and new earth. This divine action guarantees restoration from any state of ruin. The subsequent promise, "he appears in His glory," signifies the visible, undeniable manifestation of God's majestic presence within this restored community. This revelation validates all previous divine promises and provides ultimate comfort and vindication for His suffering people. It points to a future where God's divine majesty is universally recognized, shining forth from His people. For instance, in times of personal despair or collective crisis, this verse assures believers that God, in His sovereign power, is actively working for their ultimate restoration and the glorification of His presence among them.