Psalm 72:10 kjv
The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.
Psalm 72:10 nkjv
The kings of Tarshish and of the isles Will bring presents; The kings of Sheba and Seba Will offer gifts.
Psalm 72:10 niv
May the kings of Tarshish and of distant shores bring tribute to him. May the kings of Sheba and Seba present him gifts.
Psalm 72:10 esv
May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands render him tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts!
Psalm 72:10 nlt
The western kings of Tarshish and other distant lands
will bring him tribute.
The eastern kings of Sheba and Seba
will bring him gifts.
Psalm 72 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 2:2-4 | And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house... nations shall flow unto it. | All nations drawn to God's reign |
| Isa 49:6-7 | I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth... Kings shall see and arise. | Messiah's light to Gentiles; kings respond |
| Isa 60:3-6 | The Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising... The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense... | Nations and kings, including Sheba, bring gifts to Jerusalem |
| Isa 60:9 | Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them... | Isles (including Tarshish) return with gifts |
| Mic 4:1-2 | But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the Lord... and peoples shall flow unto it. | Nations flowing to the Lord's house |
| Zech 8:20-23 | Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the Lord. | Many nations seeking the Lord |
| Zech 14:16-17 | And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts... | Nations worshipping the King in Jerusalem |
| Ps 2:8 | Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. | Messianic dominion over all nations |
| Ps 22:27-28 | All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee... For the kingdom is the Lord's: and he is the governor among the nations. | Universal worship and God's reign |
| Ps 47:9 | The princes of the people are gathered together, even the people of the God of Abraham: for the shields of the earth belong unto God... | Nations united under God's rule |
| Ps 68:29-31 | Because of thy temple at Jerusalem shall kings bring presents unto thee... Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God. | Kings bringing gifts; Egypt/Ethiopia's worship |
| Ps 86:9 | All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name. | All nations worshipping the Lord |
| Ps 72:8 | He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth. | Direct immediate context: expansive dominion |
| Ps 72:11 | Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him. | Direct immediate context: all kings bow |
| 1 Ki 10:23-25 | So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom... And all the earth sought to Solomon, to hear his wisdom... And they brought every man his present... | Solomon receiving gifts and homage |
| 2 Chr 9:22-24 | And king Solomon passed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom... And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon... they brought every man his present... | Solomon receiving gifts and homage (parallel) |
| Mt 2:11 | And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. | Wise Men (kings from the East) bringing gifts to Jesus |
| Php 2:9-11 | Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name... That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth. | All creation bowing to Jesus' name |
| Rev 21:24 | And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. | Kings bringing glory to the New Jerusalem |
| Rev 21:26 | And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. | Nations' glory brought into the holy city |
| 1 Cor 15:25 | For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. | Christ's ultimate, conquering reign |
Psalm 72 verses
Psalm 72 10 Meaning
Psalm 72:10 is a poetic depiction of the universal homage and tribute that will be offered to a righteous, benevolent king. It signifies that even distant and powerful nations, represented by specific geographical regions, will acknowledge the king's authority and wisdom, bringing gifts and bowing in submission. This verse is understood in Christian theology as both an ideal for Israel's king and a profound prophecy concerning the Messiah, Jesus Christ, whose spiritual and future physical reign will truly extend to every corner of the earth, drawing all peoples and rulers into His dominion.
Psalm 72 10 Context
Psalm 72 is often described as a royal psalm, attributed to Solomon (the title says "for Solomon," though it could also mean "of Solomon" or "about Solomon"). It is a prayer, likely from a royal parent for their heir or from the people for their king, seeking divine blessings upon his reign. The psalm envisions a king whose rule is characterized by justice, righteousness, and peace, extending blessings to the poor and needy. While these characteristics partially reflect Solomon's early reign of prosperity and peace, the full scope and ideal described (e.g., dominion from "sea to sea," justice for all peoples) far transcend the reality of any earthly monarch. This disparity strongly suggests a prophetic element, pointing to a future, perfect King—the Messiah. Verse 10 builds on the preceding verses that establish the vastness of the king's dominion, specifying distant peoples and kings who will acknowledge this universal reign by bringing tribute. It anticipates the voluntary submission of all humanity to a righteous and divine sovereign, serving as a powerful bridge between the human kingship in Israel and the coming Kingdom of God.
Psalm 72 10 Word analysis
- The kings: In Hebrew, məlāḵîm (מְלָכִים), plural, emphasizing numerous rulers. This highlights the broad and comprehensive nature of the tribute – not just a single monarch but many from varied realms. It also underscores the King's unparalleled authority, exceeding that of all other rulers.
- of Tarshish: תַּרְשִׁישׁ (Tarshish). A legendary distant trading city, likely in modern-day Spain or a place synonymous with the farthest western reaches of the then-known world, reachable only by sea. Mentioned frequently in the Bible for its wealth and large ships. It symbolizes the distant West, representing maritime power and far-off lands, implying the king's global recognition even by peoples at the edges of the world.
- and of the isles: וְאִיִּים (wə·’iy·yim). Meaning "and islands" or "coastlands." This refers to peoples inhabiting coastal regions or islands, extending the geographical scope to encompass lands across the sea, beyond the continent. In prophetic literature (e.g., Isaiah), "isles" often denote Gentile nations, emphasizing that non-Israelite peoples will also acknowledge the King's sovereignty.
- shall bring presents: יָשִׁיבוּ מִנְחָה (yā·šî·ḇū min·ḥāh). Literally "they shall return a meal offering" or "bring tribute/gift." The word minchah (מִנְחָה) can refer to a grain offering in worship, or more generally to a gift or tribute. In this context, it denotes homage, a demonstration of submission and respect, signifying acknowledgement of the king's supremacy and the blessings derived from his reign.
- the kings: Again, məlāḵîm (מְלָכִים), reinforcing the comprehensive nature of the global homage.
- of Sheba: שְׁבָא (šə·ḇā). A powerful and wealthy kingdom traditionally located in Southern Arabia (modern Yemen), known for its gold, spices, and precious stones. The Queen of Sheba's visit to Solomon (1 Ki 10) directly connects this name to a historical example of a distant ruler bringing gifts to a wise king. Sheba symbolizes the South and East, representing vast wealth and cultural influence.
- and Seba: סְבָא (sə·ḇā). Often identified with Cush or Ethiopia (in the region of modern Sudan/N.E. Africa), this location typically represents Africa and distant lands to the south. Paired with Sheba, it completes a vast geographical representation, from the extreme West (Tarshish and isles) to the far South (Sheba and Seba), collectively symbolizing the entirety of the known world, and thus all nations.
- shall offer gifts: יַגִּישׁוּ דּוֹרוֹן (yaġ·gî·šū ḏō·rōn). Literally "they shall bring near a gift" or "present a gift." Doron (דּוֹרוֹן) emphasizes a voluntary, honorific offering or donation, reinforcing the idea that these distant kings will not be compelled but willingly and reverently present their tribute. Both "presents" (minchah) and "gifts" (doron) denote acts of allegiance and submission.
This verse highlights geographical extremes to underscore the universality of the king's dominion. "Tarshish and the isles" represent the farthest Western, sea-faring nations, while "Sheba and Seba" represent wealthy and distant Southern/Eastern kingdoms. The use of two different terms for "gifts/presents" (minchah and doron) can be seen as poetic parallelism, emphasizing the abundant and varied forms of tribute and homage the King will receive from across the globe, indicating comprehensive recognition and willing submission.
Psalm 72 10 Bonus section
The gifts brought by these kings can be interpreted not just as material tribute, but also as an offering of their culture, their wisdom, and their very selves in recognition of the righteous King. This mirrors the biblical narrative of nations flowing to Zion in the last days, bringing their glory and honor into God's presence. The ideal king in Psalm 72 is characterized by delivering the needy, crushing oppressors, and ensuring abundant peace (v. 4, 7, 12-14), which inspires such widespread reverence. The kings' gifts are a response to and a celebration of this perfect, compassionate governance, rather than a mere appeasement of power. This also sets the stage for the fulfillment in Christ, whose ultimate kingship is not marked by domination through force but by love, justice, and deliverance, prompting genuine adoration and spiritual "gifts" of faith and obedience from His global followers.
Psalm 72 10 Commentary
Psalm 72:10 paints a vivid picture of the global honor and resources directed toward the king whose reign is rooted in divine justice and compassion. It moves beyond the local recognition of an earthly monarch, even one as renowned as Solomon, to prophesy a rule of unparalleled scope. The selection of specific geographical regions – Tarshish (the far West, maritime power), the isles (distant coastlands, Gentile nations), Sheba (wealthy Arabia), and Seba (Africa, south of Egypt) – strategically covers the extremes of the ancient world. This is not merely an exaggeration but a prophetic declaration that every people group, from every direction and culture, will eventually acknowledge and submit to this King. The bringing of "presents" and "gifts" signifies voluntary homage, tribute, and perhaps an exchange of wealth and wisdom that enriches all. Ultimately, this verse serves as a key Messianic prophecy, perfectly fulfilled only in the Person and reign of Jesus Christ. His spiritual kingdom encompasses all believers, drawing people from every tongue, tribe, and nation, and His future physical kingdom will indeed command the absolute allegiance of all creation, fulfilling the full prophetic intent of this comprehensive, global submission and tribute.