Psalm 72 16

Psalm 72:16 kjv

There shall be an handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains; the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon: and they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth.

Psalm 72:16 nkjv

There will be an abundance of grain in the earth, On the top of the mountains; Its fruit shall wave like Lebanon; And those of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth.

Psalm 72:16 niv

May grain abound throughout the land; on the tops of the hills may it sway. May the crops flourish like Lebanon and thrive like the grass of the field.

Psalm 72:16 esv

May there be abundance of grain in the land; on the tops of the mountains may it wave; may its fruit be like Lebanon; and may people blossom in the cities like the grass of the field!

Psalm 72:16 nlt

May there be abundant grain throughout the land,
flourishing even on the hilltops.
May the fruit trees flourish like the trees of Lebanon,
and may the people thrive like grass in a field.

Psalm 72 verses

Psalm 72 16 Meaning

Psalm 72:16 is a profound prophetic prayer envisioning unparalleled abundance, widespread prosperity, and pervasive flourishing across both land and people under the reign of a righteous, God-ordained king. It describes an extraordinary agricultural fertility that transcends natural limitations, such as grain growing luxuriantly even on barren mountaintops. This imagery extends to the societal realm, symbolizing demographic growth and spiritual vitality in urban centers, demonstrating that God's blessings permeate all aspects of existence.

Psalm 72 16 Context

Psalm 72 is primarily a royal psalm, widely attributed to or concerning King Solomon, depicting the ideal reign of a righteous king. It begins with a prayer for the king's just and righteous rule, emphasizing compassion for the poor and protection for the oppressed (v. 1-4). Subsequent verses portray the expansive dominion, peace, and universal reverence accorded to such a king (v. 5-11), underscoring his lasting legacy and global recognition (v. 17). Psalm 72:16 falls within this depiction of the king's blessings, specifically illustrating the extraordinary material prosperity and societal thriving that would characterize his reign. This verse, with its seemingly impossible imagery of grain on mountaintops, elevates the concept beyond merely an earthly monarch's success, strongly hinting at the ultimate righteous King—the Messiah—whose perfect rule would bring forth a redeemed, paradisiacal state of profound abundance and peace for all creation and humanity.

Psalm 72 16 Word analysis

• May there be (יְהִי - y'hi): This is a jussive verb form, expressing a strong desire, prayer, or declaration. It signals a fervent hope and aspiration that these blessings will indeed materialize, indicative of divine enablement and the king's connection to God's favor.

• abundance of grain (פִּסַּת בַּר - pissat bar):

  • pissat: Means "a handful," "a palm-full," or "a measure." When connected with bar, some translations and interpretations suggest that even a small amount sown will yield an immense and miraculous harvest, far beyond natural expectation. This emphasizes God's exponential blessing rather than just sufficiency.
  • bar: Refers to "grain," "wheat," or "corn." It represents the staple food and fundamental basis of economic prosperity and survival in ancient agrarian societies. Its abundance symbolizes total provision.
  • Significance: This phrase highlights a divine overflowing, where the output greatly exceeds the input, reflecting the extraordinary nature of the King's blessing.

• in the earth (בָאָרֶץ - ba'aretz): "In the land." While directly referring to the specific land of Israel, it carries implications for universal restoration, as God's kingdom has cosmic reach. It signifies a blessing that encompasses the entire inhabited world under this king's influence.

• on the tops of the mountains (בְּרֹאשׁ הָרִים - b'rosh harim):

  • rosh: "Head," "top."
  • harim: "Mountains." This is a profoundly hyperbolic image. Mountains are typically rocky, unproductive, and unsuitable for large-scale agriculture. The notion of grain growing abundantly "on the tops of the mountains" conveys a miraculous, supernaturally bestowed fertility that overcomes natural barrenness and challenges geographical limits, reversing the curse of Gen 3:17-18 and signifying pervasive blessing extending to the most unlikely and unproductive places.

• Its fruit will wave (יִרְעַשׁ פִּרְיֹו - yir'ash piryo):

  • yir'ash: "To tremble," "to shake," "to rustle," or "to wave." It paints a vivid auditory and visual picture of vast fields of ripe grain, tall and dense, swaying majestically in the wind, a powerful symbol of an overwhelming harvest and vitality.
  • piryo: "Its fruit," or "its produce." The outcome of the remarkable agricultural abundance.

• like Lebanon (כַּלְּבָנוֹן - ka'levanon): Lebanon was famous for its immense, towering cedar trees and its overall lush fertility (Isa 35:2, Isa 60:13). The comparison signifies impressive grandeur, density, prolific abundance, and an almost majestic quality, far surpassing a typical grain field's yield. It suggests the harvest is so abundant and vibrant it resembles a thick, verdant forest.

• And men will flourish (וְיָצִיצוּ מֵעִיר - v'yatztzu me'ir):

  • v'yatztzu: "And they will blossom," "shoot forth," "bud," or "flourish." This is a metaphorical application of plant growth to human beings. It signifies not merely population increase, but robust, healthy, vibrant, and rapid growth of people, indicative of peace and well-being.
  • me'ir: "From the city" or "in the city." This emphasizes that the blessing extends from the rural (mountains, land) to the urban areas. Even within dense population centers, there will be room and vitality for people to multiply and thrive.

• like the grass of the earth (כְּעֵשֶׂב הָאָרֶץ - k'esev ha'aretz): Grass is known for its rapid, widespread, and prolific growth, especially after rain (Ps 92:7). This simile highlights the numerous, vibrant, and pervasive increase of the population, underscoring that human flourishing is as abundant and pervasive as the most common vegetation. It implies conditions of profound peace and safety allowing for settled life and multiplication.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "May there be abundance of grain in the earth, on the tops of the mountains": This phrase showcases the supernatural extent of God's blessing. It highlights a divine intervention that reverses scarcity, extends fertility to the most unlikely and barren terrains, and ensures pervasive provision beyond all natural limitations.
  • "Its fruit will wave like Lebanon": This imagery combines the sight of a bountiful grain harvest with the majestic, verdant, and dense glory of Lebanon's famous forests. It paints a picture of agricultural prosperity that is awe-inspiring in its scale, beauty, and vitality, far exceeding ordinary harvests.
  • "And men will flourish in the city like the grass of the earth": This connects the miraculous fertility of the land directly to the vibrant well-being and rapid increase of the human population. It signifies a holistic flourishing – not just material wealth, but demographic strength, social stability, and an pervasive sense of life and vitality, even in urban environments, demonstrating universal blessing.

Psalm 72 16 Bonus section

• This verse contains powerful hyperbole, signifying blessings that are far beyond natural limits. Such exaggerated language is a literary device often employed in the Bible to describe divine activity and the extraordinary nature of God's kingdom, particularly characteristic of Messianic prophecies.
• The initial phrase, "a handful of grain" (pissat bar), if interpreted as "a mere handful [sown]," highlights that even the smallest effort or resource, when blessed by God through a righteous rule, can yield an astronomical, immeasurable harvest. This illustrates God's principle of exponential return on faithful endeavors.
• The prosperity described in this verse is holistic, encompassing ecological/environmental health (fertile land), economic security (grain abundance), and demographic vitality (flourishing people). It encapsulates the biblical concept of shalom—a state of comprehensive peace, welfare, and flourishing for all creation and humanity.
• The idea of crops growing on mountains and fruitfulness "like Lebanon" subtly hints at the "restoration of all things" (Acts 3:21) and the reversal of the Genesis curse on the ground (Gen 3:17-18). It looks forward to a renewed earth where nature perfectly aligns with divine will, serving to provide abundantly.

Psalm 72 16 Commentary

Psalm 72:16 provides a magnificent and profoundly hyperbolic depiction of the blessings under a righteous king's reign. The verse transcends natural capabilities, imagining grain not just in fertile valleys but on barren mountaintops, signifying an unimaginable abundance and reversal of the effects of the Fall. This miraculous fruitfulness of the land is directly mirrored by the flourishing of the human population, not only in rural areas but significantly "in the city," suggesting that God's shalom (wholeness, peace) under this king penetrates and vitalizes every aspect of life, rural and urban alike. The comparison to Lebanon's grandeur and grass's pervasiveness underscores the impressive scale and universal reach of this prosperity. While describing an ideal earthly reign, the magnitude of these blessings unmistakably points beyond any human monarch to the perfect, never-ending reign of Jesus Christ. His kingdom brings not just physical sustenance, but spiritual nourishment, true justice, and a blossoming of human potential rooted in His transformative power, restoring humanity and creation to a state of unprecedented flourishing.

• A nation experiencing widespread economic health and peace when its leaders follow divine wisdom and righteous principles.
• A church growing not only in number but also in spiritual maturity and impact, transforming its community.
• An individual's life bearing abundant fruit in difficult circumstances, showing God's miraculous provision and purpose through Christ.