Psalm 22 30

Psalm 22:30 kjv

A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.

Psalm 22:30 nkjv

A posterity shall serve Him. It will be recounted of the Lord to the next generation,

Psalm 22:30 niv

Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord.

Psalm 22:30 esv

Posterity shall serve him; it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation;

Psalm 22:30 nlt

Our children will also serve him.
Future generations will hear about the wonders of the Lord.

Psalm 22 verses

Psalm 22 30 Meaning

Psalm 22:30 proclaims a profound spiritual legacy and eternal worship resulting from the work described in the psalm. It signifies that a new generation, a spiritual posterity, will devotedly serve the Lord. Their central purpose will be to recount and declare the Lord's greatness and mighty deeds to the subsequent generations, ensuring His truth and glory are continually remembered and proclaimed across time. This perpetuation of worship and witness is a direct consequence of the suffering and ultimate triumph foreshadowed in the psalm.

Psalm 22 30 Context

Psalm 22 begins as a desperate lament of profound suffering, articulating the anguish of one forsaken by God ("My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"). This early section (vv. 1-21) is widely understood as a prophetic portrayal of the Messiah's suffering on the cross. The psalm then transitions dramatically at verse 22 into a glorious section of praise and universal worship (vv. 22-31), recognizing God's deliverance and reign. Verse 30 is situated within this triumphal conclusion, looking beyond the immediate suffering to the eternal, global impact of God's redemptive work. It speaks of the continuity of faith and worship across future generations, emphasizing the widespread and enduring recognition of the Lord's sovereignty that will stem from this Messianic act of deliverance.

Psalm 22 30 Word analysis

• A posterity / זֶרַע (zeraʿ):
  • Meaning: Seed, offspring, descendants, posterity.
  • Significance: In a covenantal context, this term is foundational to the Abrahamic promise (Gen 12, 15). Here, it transitions from a purely physical lineage to encompass a spiritual offspring. It suggests those who believe and identify with the Lord's redemptive work. This spiritual seed is not limited by ethnicity but comprises all who are reborn by the Spirit (1 Pet 1:23) through faith in the Messiah (Gal 3:29; Isa 53:10).
• will serve Him / יַעַבְדֶנּוּ (yaʿavdennu):
  • Meaning: They will serve Him, they will work for Him, they will worship Him. The root is עָבַד (ʿavad), denoting various forms of service, work, and worship.
  • Significance: This signifies active, dedicated devotion and obedience. It's not merely passive belief but engaged service and worship. The "Him" refers unambiguously to the Lord, the God of Israel. It implies a life consecrated to His will and praise, a core duty for God's people (Deu 6:13, Matt 4:10).
• it will be told of the Lord / יְסֻפַּר לַאדֹנָי (yəsuppar laʾădonāy):
  • Meaning: "It will be recounted/narrated/proclaimed of/to the Lord." יְסֻפַּר (yəsuppar) is in the passive voice, indicating that the telling will happen. לַאדֹנָי (laʾădonāy) uses אֲדֹנָי (Adonai), a divine title emphasizing God's sovereignty.
  • Significance: This speaks to the powerful and unceasing declaration of God's deeds and character. The passive voice suggests divine assurance; God Himself will ensure His story is told. It's an active proclamation of His mighty acts, salvation, and sovereignty, intended for instruction and adoration. The telling is about God, proclaiming His name, attributes, and salvation, which is essentially the ongoing mission of the Church.
• to the coming generation / לַדּוֹר (laddôr):
  • Meaning: To the generation, to the next age/era, posterity. דּוֹר (dôr) signifies a continuous succession of human beings over time.
  • Significance: This emphasizes the enduring nature of God's truth and the importance of intergenerational discipleship and spiritual legacy. It speaks of the perpetuity of the Gospel message and the worship of God from one age to the next. The faithful responsibility to pass down truth ensures God's story remains alive and effective through all future ages (Ps 78:6, Ps 145:4, Joel 1:3).

• "A posterity will serve Him; it will be told of the Lord": This phrase links the existence of a new generation (the "posterity") directly to their dual responsibilities: worshipful service and active proclamation. The very essence of this generation's identity is found in their relationship with God, characterized by devotion and testimony. This suggests a direct spiritual heritage where the suffering of the Messiah produces not just salvation, but active discipleship and evangelism for the nations.
• "it will be told of the Lord to the coming generation": This highlights the generational continuity of witness. It speaks of a constant retelling of God's deeds (especially His ultimate redemptive act). This points to the mission of discipleship, where those who know God are entrusted with communicating His truth, goodness, and power to those who follow. It envisions an unending stream of worshipers and witnesses stretching into eternity, rooted in God's faithfulness.

Psalm 22 30 Bonus section

This verse encapsulates the very essence of intergenerational discipleship and the Church's missional mandate. The phrase "it will be told of the Lord" serves as a timeless commission to narrative theology, emphasizing the importance of recounting God's history of redemption to new believers and unbelievers alike. The scope is not merely national but universal, reflecting the "all the ends of the earth" vision of Psalm 22:27. This posterity, being spiritual, transcends any single ethnic group or period, indicating a global, ever-expanding community of worshipers. It affirms that the death and resurrection of the Messiah are not isolated historical events but eternal, creating an endless lineage of worshippers who faithfully declare His name. This establishes the Church as the fulfillment of this spiritual posterity, continuously serving and witnessing throughout history.

Psalm 22 30 Commentary

Psalm 22:30 articulates a foundational promise rooted in the triumphant conclusion of the psalm. It moves from the deep agony of the Messiah's suffering to the profound and everlasting results of His redemptive work. The "posterity" refers to a spiritual lineage, encompassing all who would be brought into covenant relationship with God through the suffering Servant, foreshadowing the Church universal. This spiritual offspring is called to active service, denoting worship, obedience, and lives lived for God.

Furthermore, this verse mandates a continuous, generational proclamation. It is not enough for this posterity to simply exist; they must "tell of the Lord." This echoes the core mission of God's people throughout biblical history: to recount His saving acts, His character, and His dominion. The passive voice ("it will be told") underlines the divine initiative and certainty that God's truth will be propagated. This prophetic vision ultimately finds its fulfillment in the global mission of the Gospel, where the story of the Lord's redemption, achieved through the Messiah's work, is faithfully declared across cultures and throughout successive generations until His return. It signifies that the suffering detailed in the psalm yields eternal worship and an endless legacy of truth.