Psalm 86 9

Psalm 86:9 kjv

All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name.

Psalm 86:9 nkjv

All nations whom You have made Shall come and worship before You, O Lord, And shall glorify Your name.

Psalm 86:9 niv

All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord; they will bring glory to your name.

Psalm 86:9 esv

All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name.

Psalm 86:9 nlt

All the nations you made
will come and bow before you, Lord;
they will praise your holy name.

Psalm 86 verses

Psalm 86 9 Meaning

Psalm 86:9 declares a powerful prophetic vision of the future, foretelling a time when every nation, because of God's creative work and supreme sovereignty, will willingly come before the Lord, offer Him worship, and openly acknowledge His unique worth and magnificent character. It asserts the ultimate triumph of God's universal reign and the universal acknowledgment of His Name as the one true Creator and Sovereign.

Psalm 86 9 Context

Psalm 86 is a fervent prayer of David, categorized as a "mikhtam" or "golden psalm," signifying its profound spiritual value. While the surrounding verses express David's personal anguish, deep dependence, and earnest plea for divine help against enemies (e.g., Ps 86:1-7, 14-17), verse 9 strikingly pivots to a universal and prophetic declaration. It projects a vision of global worship that extends far beyond David's immediate concerns or the boundaries of Israel. This declaration is a powerful affirmation of David's faith in God's ultimate plan for all humanity, serving as a beacon of hope and a reminder of God's sovereignty over all creation, despite present difficulties. The historical context reflects ancient Israel's understanding that their God, YHWH, was the true God, distinct from the regional deities of other nations. This verse implicitly functions as a polemic, challenging the contemporary beliefs in polytheism and territorial gods by declaring a future where all such gods would be abandoned for the one Creator-God.

Psalm 86 9 Word analysis

• All the nations (כָּל־גּוֹיִם - kol goyim):
  • All (כָּל - kol): Emphasizes universality and completeness. No exclusion; every single nation is included in this future vision.
  • Nations (גּוֹיִם - goyim): Refers specifically to the non-Israelite peoples, the Gentiles. This highlights God's plan extending beyond His chosen covenant people to encompass all humanity.
• you have made (עָשִׂיתָ - asita):
  • Signifies God's creative power and foundational role. As Creator, God has inherent ownership and authority over all nations. This directly refutes the claims of regional gods, asserting that the Lord's dominion stems from His role as the sole originator of all peoples.
• shall come (יָבֹאוּ - yavo'u):
  • Future tense, conveying certainty and a purposeful movement. It's not a suggestion but a definitive prophetic statement. Implies a pilgrimage or voluntary movement towards God.
• and worship (וְיִשְׁתַּחֲוּוּ - ve'yishtachavu):
  • To bow down or prostrate oneself in profound reverence and submission. It signifies adoration, honor, and allegiance given to the one true God.
• before you (לְפָנֶיךָ - lefanecha):
  • Literally "to your face" or "in your presence." This indicates a direct, personal encounter and submission to the Lord Himself, not indirectly or through intermediaries.
• O Lord (אֲדֹנָי - Adonai):
  • A primary Hebrew title for God, expressing His mastership, sovereignty, and supreme authority. It denotes God as the absolute controller and owner, often used when speaking reverently of God's authority. In contexts where YHWH (the personal covenant name) might appear, Adonai is often substituted out of reverence.
• and shall glorify (וִיכַבְּדוּ - vi'khabdu):
  • To make heavy (with honor), honor, respect, or acknowledge the inherent worth and majesty of God. It means recognizing and exalting God's divine excellence and character.
• your name (שְׁמֶךָ - shemecha):
  • In biblical thought, God's "name" represents His entire being, character, attributes, reputation, and manifest presence. To glorify His name is to magnify all that God is – His power, holiness, wisdom, goodness, and love.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• All the nations you have made: Establishes the Creator-creature relationship as the universal foundation for worship and acknowledges God's absolute sovereignty over all peoples, stemming from His act of creation.
• shall come and worship before you: Describes a future, definitive, and voluntary action where peoples from every ethnic background will draw near and offer direct adoration and submission to the Lord. This counters the exclusivity of national deities and the worship of idols.
• O Lord, and shall glorify your name: Directs the universal worship specifically to the true and sovereign God of Israel. It defines the nature of this worship as one of acknowledging and exalting all that God is, bringing honor to His unique character and manifest revelation.

Psalm 86 9 Bonus section

This verse demonstrates a significant prophetic shift within a personal lament. David moves from expressing his own struggles to articulating a universal hope, revealing that God's plan for His glory extends far beyond any individual's or nation's present circumstances. It functions as a bold assertion of monotheism in a polytheistic world, challenging the prevailing notion that each nation had its own gods. This divine decree finds its fullest realization in the New Covenant and the culmination of God's redemptive plan in Christ, as anticipated in the Book of Revelation where a multitude from every nation stands before the throne, worshipping God and the Lamb. It underscores that all people, by virtue of being made by God, are fundamentally accountable to Him and are destined to acknowledge His supreme Lordship.

Psalm 86 9 Commentary

Psalm 86:9 encapsulates a profound theological truth that resonates throughout the entire biblical narrative: God's ultimate plan encompasses all humanity. Despite the current brokenness and diverse religious practices in the world, this verse declares with prophetic certainty that a day is coming when the Lord's universal authority, rooted in His creative power, will be universally acknowledged. All nations, not just Israel, are depicted as pilgrims coming to Zion, willingly bending the knee, and vocalizing the praises of the one true God. This worship is not forced, but arises from recognition of who God truly is—the only One great enough to have created and sustained all peoples. Glorifying His "name" implies a complete understanding and proclamation of His entire divine essence and deeds. This grand vision offers a powerful encouragement for evangelism and missions, emphasizing God's heart for every tribe, tongue, people, and nation. It is a promise that His redemptive work will culminate in a unified chorus of praise from every corner of the earth.