Psalm 67 2

Psalm 67:2 kjv

That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations.

Psalm 67:2 nkjv

That Your way may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations.

Psalm 67:2 niv

so that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations.

Psalm 67:2 esv

that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations.

Psalm 67:2 nlt

May your ways be known throughout the earth,
your saving power among people everywhere.

Psalm 67 verses

Psalm 67 2 Meaning

Psalm 67:2 expresses a profound aspiration: that the blessing God bestows upon His people in the preceding verse is not for their sole benefit, but for a higher, universal purpose. It is a prayer that God’s redemptive path—His established principles, methods, and providential dealings—and His mighty acts of deliverance become clearly understood and experienced across the entire globe, reaching every single people group and nation. This verse encapsulates the missionary heart of God, envisioning a worldwide acknowledgment of His saving power.

Psalm 67 2 Context

Psalm 67 is a communal prayer, likely for a harvest festival (Feast of Booths or Sukkot), beginning with an invocation for divine blessing upon Israel (Ps 67:1), mirroring the Aaronic blessing from Num 6:24-26. Verse 2 immediately broadens the scope and clarifies the purpose of this blessing: it is not just for Israel's prosperity, but specifically so that God's character and saving deeds are revealed globally. The subsequent verses continue this theme, calling for all peoples to praise God (Ps 67:3-5) and envisioning a bountiful harvest as a sign of God's blessing, leading to all ends of the earth fearing Him (Ps 67:6-7). Historically, Israel understood its covenant with God not just for self-preservation, but also for bearing witness to YHWH among the pagan nations, demonstrating that their God was the one true God, unlike the localized or impotent deities of surrounding cultures.

Psalm 67 2 Word analysis

• that (Hebrew: לְמַעַן, ləma‘an): This is a conjunction indicating purpose or result. It establishes the "why" behind the blessing sought in verse 1. The blessing is not an end in itself, but a means to a universal divine revelation.
• your way (Hebrew: דַּרְכֶּךָ, darkeḵa): The Hebrew word derekh (way, path, road) when applied to God, refers to His course of action, His character as revealed in His dealings, His established principles, or His moral governance. It encompasses His providential methods and His redemptive plan throughout history. It is His divinely ordained and revealed manner of acting and relating to humanity.
• may be known (Hebrew: יִוָּדַע, yiwādaʿ): This is the Hophal imperfect form of the verb yada‘ (to know). The Hophal stem implies a passive and causative sense: "to be made known," "to be caused to be known," or "to be revealed." It highlights that the revelation of God’s way is a divine initiative, yet it implies an active recognition and understanding on the part of those who encounter it. It's not merely intellectual acquaintance, but an experiential and transformative knowing.
• on earth (Hebrew: בָּאָרֶץ, bā’āreṣ): This phrase indicates a universal geographical scope, encompassing the entire inhabited world, not merely the land of Israel. It serves to emphasize the global reach of God’s redemptive purpose.
• your saving power (Hebrew: יְשׁוּעָתֶךָ, yəšūʿāṯeḵā): Derived from the root yasha‘ (to save, deliver, help). This noun signifies deliverance, salvation, victory, or well-being. It points specifically to God’s powerful acts of intervention that bring rescue and restoration, particularly from sin, death, and oppression. The root yasha is the origin of the name Yeshua (Jesus), underscoring the personification of divine salvation in the New Testament.
• among all nations (Hebrew: בְּכָל־גּוֹיִם, bəḵol-goyim): The term goyim plural of goy, specifically refers to non-Israelite peoples or Gentiles. The inclusion of bəḵol ("among all" or "to all") unequivocally expresses God's universal intent for salvation, reaching every ethnic group and country beyond Israel.

• "that your way may be known on earth": This phrase speaks to the revelation of God's character, His divine blueprint, His moral order, and His methods of interaction with humanity. It suggests a worldwide understanding of how God acts and what He expects.
• "your saving power among all nations": This emphasizes the global manifestation of God's active, redemptive intervention. It’s a longing for all people to experience and witness His mighty deliverance and restoration, fulfilled supremely in the work of Christ.

Psalm 67 2 Bonus section

This verse carries strong Messianic implications, especially when viewed through a New Testament lens. "Your way" ultimately finds its perfect embodiment in Jesus Christ, who declared Himself to be "the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). Similarly, "your saving power" (yəšūʿāṯeḵā) directly correlates with the person and work of Jesus, whose name (Yeshua) literally means "The Lord is salvation." The prayer for God’s way and saving power to be known among all nations is fully realized in the global spread of the Gospel, as believers are called to participate in making Him known. This psalm therefore bridges the Old Testament aspiration for God's global glory with the New Testament fulfillment in Christ and the missionary mandate given to His church.

Psalm 67 2 Commentary

Psalm 67:2 unveils the ultimate reason for God's blessings upon His chosen people: Israel's prosperity and security were meant to serve as a testimony to God's benevolent power, allowing His character and salvation to be declared and apprehended by all nations. This verse elevates a national petition to a global prayer for God's glory. It is a powerful affirmation of God's universal love and redemptive design, a theme echoed throughout the Prophets concerning the inclusion of Gentiles in God's saving plan. The very blessing Israel receives becomes a catalyst for others to seek and find the Lord's way and His salvation, demonstrating that the scope of God’s mercy and dominion extends beyond any single people group to encompass all humanity. It encapsulates the core of the Great Commission before its New Testament articulation, urging a longing for every heart and every tongue on earth to acknowledge Christ as Savior and Lord.