Psalm 65 2

Psalm 65:2 kjv

O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.

Psalm 65:2 nkjv

O You who hear prayer, To You all flesh will come.

Psalm 65:2 niv

You who answer prayer, to you all people will come.

Psalm 65:2 esv

O you who hear prayer, to you shall all flesh come.

Psalm 65:2 nlt

for you answer our prayers.
All of us must come to you.

Psalm 65 verses

Psalm 65 2 Meaning

Psalm 65:2 declares God's unique and fundamental character as the One who actively listens to and responds to all prayers. This core attribute forms the basis for the declaration that, in an assured future, all humanity will come to Him. This implies a universal acknowledgment of His sovereignty and a culmination where all "flesh"—mankind in its entirety—will eventually seek Him, whether in worship, submission, or final accountability. The verse thereby connects God's intimate accessibility through prayer with His ultimate, global dominion.

Psalm 65 2 Context

Psalm 65 is a song of praise and thanksgiving, celebrating God's power in nature and His benevolent provision. It likely served as a liturgical psalm, perhaps for a communal worship service following a season of bountiful harvest, attributing the earth's fruitfulness directly to divine intervention.

Verse 65:1 opens with praise waiting for God in Zion and vows being paid, grounding the worship within Israel's covenant context. Verse 65:2 then serves as a profound transition. From the specific praises of Israel, it pivots to a universal declaration, stating that because God is uniquely the Hearer of prayer, all "flesh"—all humanity—will ultimately come to Him. This universal scope prepares the ground for the psalm's subsequent verses (65:3-13), which describe God's active forgiveness, His power over chaotic natural forces (seas, human unrest), and His bountiful blessing of the earth, highlighting His dominion over all creation, not just Israel. The verse solidifies God's role as the accessible, sovereign Lord over all peoples.

Psalm 65 2 Word analysis

• O You who hear prayer:

  • Hebrew: שֹׁמֵעַ תְּפִלָּה (Shome'a T'fillah).
  • שֹׁמֵעַ (Shome'a): This is a participle derived from the verb shamah, meaning "to hear" or "to listen." However, in this context, it implies more than mere passive reception of sound. It conveys active, attentive listening, understanding, and crucially, readiness to respond or act. It suggests divine responsiveness and engagement with human supplications, highlighting God's dynamic interaction with His people. This active attribute contrasts sharply with the deaf and inanimate idols of other nations (e.g., Ps 115:5-7; Isa 44:9-20).
  • תְּפִלָּה (T'fillah): Refers to prayer, supplication, intercession, or a plea. It encompasses all forms of reverent address to God, whether arising from a state of need, confession, praise, or thanksgiving.
  • Significance: This specific designation of God, "Hearer of prayer," is unique in the Psalter and underscores a central comforting truth about His nature: He is approachable, attentive to individual cries, and involved in the concerns of His worshippers. This assurance serves as a foundational encouragement for believers in their communion with God.

• to You:

  • This dative phrase (to You) precisely identifies the ultimate, exclusive destination of the "coming" of all flesh. It directs all worship, submission, and eventual accounting solely to God, emphasizing His singular and unrivaled position of authority. There is no alternative recipient of this universal homage.

• all flesh:

  • Hebrew: כָּל בָּשָׂר (kol basar).
  • כָּל (kol): Meaning "all," "every," or "the whole." This signifies absolute totality and universality, encompassing every individual and group without exception.
  • בָּשָׂר (basar): Primarily meaning "flesh," it universally denotes mankind, human beings, or all living creatures. Theologically, "flesh" often implies human mortality, weakness, and dependence in contrast to the divine, immortal, and self-sufficient God (e.g., Isa 40:6-8; John 3:6).
  • Significance: This phrase points to the universal scope of God's sovereign dominion, extending beyond the covenant nation of Israel to embrace all humanity. It declares that every human being, regardless of background or current belief, will one day acknowledge God's ultimate reign, either willingly or by necessity.

• will come:

  • Hebrew: יָבוֹאוּ (yavo'u).
  • This is a future tense verb, meaning "they will come," "they will approach," or "they will arrive."
  • Significance: The future tense indicates an inevitable and certain event. This "coming" suggests various implications: coming in worship, coming in submission (whether voluntary or compelled), or coming for ultimate judgment. It carries significant eschatological weight, declaring a future where God's unique identity as the "Hearer of prayer" is universally recognized, culminating in global acknowledgment of His divine authority.

• Words-group Analysis: "O You who hear prayer, to You all flesh will come."

  • This powerful clause establishes a profound theological link: God's character as the Hearer and Answerer of prayer is intrinsically tied to His future universal recognition and worship. It suggests that His very responsiveness and accessibility, demonstrated through His attention to personal supplication, are foundational elements that will draw all humanity to Him. This declaration stands as a robust polemic against any competing deities who are portrayed as deaf, distant, or impotent. It paints a picture of a benevolent yet sovereign God whose personal engagement ensures His ultimate universal triumph and acknowledgment. This unity of individual experience with cosmic destiny undergirds the hope and purpose of worship.

Psalm 65 2 Bonus section

• This verse provides a fundamental theological basis for global missions and evangelism. Since it is decreed that "all flesh will come" to God, and He is identified by His character as the "Hearer of prayer," believers are called to participate in making Him known so that people may indeed call upon Him.
• The progression from individual, local worship (implied in 65:1 "in Zion") to universal coming ("all flesh" in 65:2) beautifully illustrates God's expanding kingdom from a particular people to encompass all humanity.
• The phrase "will come" also carries an implicit aspect of judgment. While many will "come" in worship, there will be others who "come" to face His righteous verdict, as every knee must eventually bow before His authority, whether willingly or reluctantly.

Psalm 65 2 Commentary

Psalm 65:2 is a majestic affirmation of God's character and future global reign. The opening epithet, "O You who hear prayer," identifies God not as an impersonal force, but as an actively engaged, attentive, and responsive Father. This distinguishes Him from lifeless idols that cannot hear (Ps 115) and grounds the psalmist's and every believer's confidence in seeking divine intervention. Because God truly hears—and is thus able to respond and act—prayer becomes a vital link between the finite human and the infinite Creator. This intimacy, paradoxically, forms the very foundation for the verse's breathtaking universal proclamation: "to You all flesh will come." This is not merely an expression of hopeful expectation but a prophetic declaration of certainty. "All flesh" signifies every human being, from every tribe and tongue, transcending all geographical and historical boundaries. Their "coming" denotes an ultimate submission, acknowledgment, or worship before this same prayer-hearing God. Whether it's the willing coming of redeemed saints to adore Him or the compelled bowing of all creation before His undeniable power, this verse points to a culmination of history where God's unparalleled sovereignty is universally manifest. Thus, the verse comforts the praying individual while simultaneously asserting the boundless scope of God's dominion and His unwavering purpose to draw all peoples to Himself.