Psalm 72:5 kjv
They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations.
Psalm 72:5 nkjv
They shall fear You As long as the sun and moon endure, Throughout all generations.
Psalm 72:5 niv
May he endure as long as the sun, as long as the moon, through all generations.
Psalm 72:5 esv
May they fear you while the sun endures, and as long as the moon, throughout all generations!
Psalm 72:5 nlt
May they fear you as long as the sun shines,
as long as the moon remains in the sky.
Yes, forever!
Psalm 72 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference (Short Note) |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 72:7 | In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace... | Blessings of righteous rule |
| Ps 2:11 | Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. | The necessity of fearing God |
| Prov 1:7 | The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge... | Fear of the Lord as wisdom's start |
| Deut 6:24 | And the Lord commanded us to obey... and to fear the Lord our God... | Command to fear and obey God |
| Psa 34:9 | Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints; for those who fear Him lack nothing. | Fear leading to provision & blessedness |
| Ecc 12:13 | Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. | The sum of human duty |
| Neh 1:11 | ...I pray, let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant and to the prayer of Your servants who delight to fear Your name. | Delight in fearing God's name |
| Isa 9:7 | Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end... | Eternal Messianic government |
| Dan 7:14 | His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away... | Christ's eternal, universal dominion |
| Lk 1:33 | ...He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end. | Messiah's endless kingdom |
| 2 Sam 7:16 | And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you... | Davidic covenant for an enduring dynasty |
| Psa 89:36-37 | His seed shall endure forever, and His throne as the sun before Me... it shall be established forever like the moon... | Eternal covenant and Messianic reign symbolized by sun/moon |
| Jer 33:17 | For thus says the Lord: David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne... | Promise of Davidic lineage, eternal throne |
| Gen 8:22 | While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest... cold and heat... summer and winter, day and night shall not cease. | Cosmic permanence of God's order |
| Psa 104:19 | He made the moon for seasons; the sun knows its setting. | God's design and control over celestial bodies |
| Jer 31:35-36 | If these ordinances depart from before Me, says the Lord, then the seed of Israel shall also cease from being a nation... | God's faithfulness tied to cosmic order |
| Ps 100:5 | For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations. | God's truth enduring through generations |
| Exo 12:14 | So this day shall be to you a memorial; and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord throughout your generations... | Perpetual observance through generations |
| Deut 32:7 | Remember the days of old; consider the years of many generations... | Passing down history and teaching |
| Psa 90:2 | Before the mountains were born... even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God. | God's eternal nature |
| Rev 11:15 | The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever! | Fulfillment: Christ's eternal reign |
Psalm 72 verses
Psalm 72 5 Meaning
Psalm 72:5 is a prayer or a declaration envisioning an ideal, enduring reign where the people continuously express reverence for God. It expresses a desire for perpetual fear and worship of God by His people, sustained throughout all generations, as long as the sun and moon exist. This points to the stability and eternal nature of the kingdom governed by a righteous ruler, ultimately a Messianic kingdom.
Psalm 72 5 Context
Psalm 72 is a royal psalm, believed to have been written by David for Solomon, or by Solomon himself (Psa 72:20 states "The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended"). It is a prayer for the king, focusing on the character and outcome of his righteous rule. The psalm envisions a king who governs with justice and righteousness, especially for the poor and oppressed, bringing peace and prosperity to his realm. This depiction of an ideal king often extends beyond any earthly monarch, pointing ultimately to the promised Messiah. Verse 5 specifically addresses the enduring nature of this kingdom's influence, expressed as the fear and worship of God by its people for all time, enduring as the sun and moon. This perpetuity signifies the king's dominion reflects the everlasting reign of God Himself.
Psalm 72 5 Word analysis
- May they fear You: The Hebrew verb `yire'ukha` (יראוּךָ) derives from the root `yare'` (ירא), which signifies "fear," but not merely terror. It encompasses reverence, awe, respectful submission, and worship. In the biblical context, "fearing God" means acknowledging His sovereignty, respecting His commandments, and obeying His will out of love and adoration. The suffix `-kha` indicates "You," referring to God directly. This is a prayer for continuous and proper devotion to God under the ideal king's reign.
- while the sun endures: The Hebrew phrase `im-shemesh` (עִם-שָׁמֶשׁ) literally means "with the sun" or "as long as the sun." `Shemesh` (שֶׁמֶשׁ) is "sun." This establishes a duration as long as the most reliable and fundamental element of creation, the sun. It symbolizes the continuous and unchanging passage of time, denoting permanence and eternity in human understanding.
- and as long as the moon: The Hebrew `l'faney yareach` (לִפְנֵי יָרֵחַ) translates literally to "before the moon" or "in the presence of the moon." `Yareach` (יָרֵחַ) is "moon." While literally "before," the context universally interprets it as "as long as the moon endures" or "as long as the moon exists." Parallelism with the sun emphasizes the cosmic and absolute longevity of the period being described, underscoring unending duration.
- throughout all generations: The Hebrew phrase `dor vador` (דּוֹר וָדוֹר) literally means "generation and generation." This idiomatic expression signifies perpetuity, passing from one generation to the next without interruption. It highlights the trans-generational impact and eternal nature of the fear of God that is hoped for.
- May they fear You... while the sun endures, and as long as the moon: This phrase group links the perpetuity of human reverence for God with the enduring stability of the cosmos. The sun and moon, visible and consistent elements of creation, serve as timeless metaphors for unending existence. It implies that the righteous fear of God is as foundational and everlasting as the order of the universe, undergirded by the same divine power that sustains creation itself.
- while the sun endures, and as long as the moon, throughout all generations: The combined cosmic and generational expressions strongly emphasize a universal, unending duration. It’s a prayer for an eternal state of righteous fear and worship of God, stretching infinitely across both time and lineage, unbroken by the changing tides of human history, reflective of the eternal nature of God's own being and covenant promises.
Psalm 72 5 Bonus section
The concept of "fear of the Lord" in ancient Israel, as expressed in this verse, carried profound implications for societal order and individual conduct. It wasn't simply a religious feeling but encompassed civic duty, ethical behavior, and allegiance to God's covenant. This "fear" mirrored the fealty (loyalty, submission) expected of a vassal toward his suzerain in ancient Near Eastern treaties; therefore, "fearing God" was akin to upholding the covenant terms established by the Divine King. The aspiration for such fear to last "as long as the sun and moon" positions God's covenant with His people (through the king) as enduringly stable as the cosmos He created, reinforcing His supreme authority over all creation and time, and highlighting His promise to be faithful through all ages.
Psalm 72 5 Commentary
Psalm 72:5, embedded within a prayer for a righteous king, projects a future where reverence for God is eternal and universal. The "fear" here is not dread, but worship, obedient submission, and awe, stemming from a recognition of God's majesty and sovereign power. The parallelism of the "sun" and "moon" provides a vivid metaphor for perpetual duration, a concept understood and revered by ancient Near Eastern cultures who often linked their deities to celestial bodies. This verse asserts that the people's proper relationship with the true God will endure as steadfastly as creation itself. This permanence is not merely an aspiration for an earthly king's reign, but ultimately points to the Messiah, Jesus Christ, whose kingdom is indeed eternal and whose reign ushers in a new covenant where true worship flourishes unceasingly. Thus, the psalm speaks beyond Solomon, echoing the Davidic Covenant's promise of an everlasting throne and hinting at the cosmic extent of Christ's future kingdom where every knee will bow and every tongue confess His Lordship in fear and adoration. For practical usage, this verse can encourage believers to maintain consistent reverence for God through all circumstances, reminding them that their worship participates in an eternal reality. It also encourages us to pass on the faith, ensuring that the "fear of the Lord" continues throughout all generations, as we await Christ's eternal kingdom.