Psalm 102 18

Psalm 102:18 kjv

This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD.

Psalm 102:18 nkjv

This will be written for the generation to come, That a people yet to be created may praise the LORD.

Psalm 102:18 niv

Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the LORD:

Psalm 102:18 esv

Let this be recorded for a generation to come, so that a people yet to be created may praise the LORD:

Psalm 102:18 nlt

Let this be recorded for future generations,
so that a people not yet born will praise the LORD.

Psalm 102 verses

Psalm 102 18 Meaning

Psalm 102:18 declares that the record of God's eternal character and His compassionate acts towards Zion (the afflicted Jerusalem, or metaphorically, God's people) will be preserved for future generations. The intent is that a new people, divinely brought into existence—whether through natural birth, spiritual renewal, or as a new covenant community—will witness God's faithfulness through this testimony and respond with fervent praise to the Lord. It transforms a cry of personal and communal lament into a hopeful declaration of God's enduring purpose and His continued active role in history, leading all creation to worship Him.

Psalm 102 18 Context

Psalm 102 is a "prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed and pours out his complaint before the LORD" (Psalm 102:title). It belongs to a group of lament psalms, often identified as one of the seven penitential psalms. The initial verses (Ps 102:1-11) express the psalmist's deep personal distress, reflecting severe suffering, physical weakness, isolation, and scorn. However, from verse 12 onwards, there is a significant shift in focus from personal suffering to God's enduring nature and His promised restoration of Zion (Ps 102:12-17). This pivot demonstrates a faith that looks beyond present circumstances to God's eternal reign and covenant faithfulness. Verse 18 is a pivotal statement within this transition, indicating that the preceding promises of God's merciful restoration are not just for the psalmist's immediate time, but are meant to serve as a testimony for all future generations. Historically, this psalm could reflect the experience of an individual during a period of national calamity, possibly the Babylonian exile or a similar time of Jerusalem's desolation, anticipating God's return to His people and the rebuilding of their sacred city and lives. The act of "writing" was crucial for preserving the sacred traditions, laws, and prophetic messages, ensuring their transmission and continued impact.

Psalm 102 18 Word analysis

• "This": Refers to the divine action and promise declared in the immediately preceding verses (Ps 102:13-17), particularly God's ultimate mercy on Zion, His rebuilding of Jerusalem, and His future manifestation of glory to the nations. It encompasses the entirety of God's saving work and His unchanging nature.

• "shall be written" (וְיִכָּתֵב, və-yik-kā-ṯēḇ): Derived from the Hebrew root kāṯaḇ, meaning "to write." The verb form signifies a divine imperative or certain future action, ensuring that this message is formally recorded and permanently preserved. It implies authoritative documentation and the enduring power of God's Word, to serve as a testimony.

• "for the generation to come" (לְדוֹר אַחֲרוֹן, lə-ḏōr ’aḥă-rōwn): Literally "for a later generation" or "the last generation." It emphasizes future lineage and descendants, highlighting the trans-generational impact of God's work. The divine purpose transcends any single lifespan or era.

• "and the people" (וְעַם, və-‘am): A general term for "a people" or "a nation," signifying a collective entity distinct from prior generations. This suggests inclusivity, encompassing all who will later exist and be called to God's worship.

• "which shall be created" (נִבְרָא, niv-rā’): From the Hebrew verb bārā’, uniquely associated with God's creative activity, especially forming something new or out of nothing (e.g., the creation of the heavens and earth in Gen 1:1). Here, it implies more than mere physical birth; it signifies a divinely initiated and sustained existence, potentially alluding to a spiritual new birth or the forming of a people (such as a new covenant community) uniquely brought forth by God for His redemptive purposes. This term powerfully underscores God's direct sovereignty and involvement in bringing new people into being.

• "shall praise" (יְהַלֶּל-יָהּ, yə-hal-lel-yāh): From the root hālal, which means "to praise," "to commend," "to boast." The accompanying "Yah" (short for Yahweh) refers to the covenant God of Israel. This signifies an enthusiastic, celebrative, and covenantal praise. It indicates the desired outcome: the future people's worshipful response to God's revealed character and actions.

• "the LORD" (יָהּ, Yah): The abbreviated form of Yahweh, God's covenant name. It emphasizes His eternal, self-existent, and faithful nature, underscoring that the praise is directed towards the one true, personal God who keeps His promises through generations.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "This shall be written for the generation to come": This phrase highlights the divine intention for history to be recorded, ensuring that the remembrance of God's acts is not lost. It stresses the continuity of God's plan through time and the enduring nature of His word as a living testimony, providing a foundation for future faith and understanding. It signifies the authoritative nature of scripture as divinely inspired record keeping.
  • "and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD": This powerful assertion establishes the ultimate purpose of God's redemptive history: the raising up of a new people, directly fashioned by Him (physically, and perhaps spiritually reformed or regenerated), whose primary function and response will be spontaneous, heartfelt praise and worship to the Eternal Covenant God. This phrase connects the preservation of truth to the proliferation of worship, fulfilling God's original purpose for humanity.

Psalm 102 18 Bonus section

• This verse undergirds the divine inspiration and purpose of Scripture itself, validating the act of recording God's deeds and words for subsequent teaching and exhortation.
• The transition from individual and communal lament (earlier in Ps 102) to future hope and universal praise demonstrates a profound spiritual shift, illustrating that a right understanding of God's enduring nature can transform even the deepest despair into worship.
• The concept of "a people which shall be created" finds its fullest expression in the New Testament with the "new creation" in Christ, comprising all believers—Jew and Gentile—who are spiritually reborn (created anew) and become part of God's worshiping community (2 Cor 5:17, Eph 2:10).
• This verse assures us that no matter how desolate the present may seem, God is perpetually active in raising up future generations of worshippers who will carry forward His testimony and proclaim His praise. It reinforces the idea of God's unwavering faithfulness even when His people are unfaithful.

Psalm 102 18 Commentary

Psalm 102:18 serves as a pivotal and highly encouraging statement within a psalm that begins with deep anguish. It transcends the immediate suffering of the psalmist to project a confident hope into the distant future. The core message is that the narrative of God’s redemptive faithfulness—His eternal nature and His mercy toward Zion—is not transient but is eternally decreed to be preserved. This record, the "writing" of God's character and actions, ensures that subsequent generations are equipped to understand and glorify Him. The unique emphasis on "the people which shall be created" signifies God's direct and sovereign involvement in bringing forth those who will respond to Him. This extends beyond mere biological succession; it suggests a divinely prepared, possibly spiritually renewed, community that will inevitably fulfill their created purpose by rendering praise. This echoes themes found throughout the Bible where God calls and forms a people for His own glory. Ultimately, the verse reveals that suffering, lament, and restoration are all part of a larger divine purpose designed to bring about the widespread and enduring worship of the Lord across all time.