Psalms 72:16
Psalms 72:16 in Multiple Translations
May there be an abundance of grain in the land; may it sway atop the hills. May its fruit trees flourish like the forests of Lebanon, and its people like the grass of the field.
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.
There shall be abundance of grain 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.
May there be wide-stretching fields of grain in the land, shaking on the top of the mountains, full of fruit like Lebanon: may its stems be unnumbered like the grass of the earth.
May there be plenty of grain in the land, even growing on mountain-tops. May the fruit on the trees sway like the trees of Lebanon. May the people in the city flourish like grass in a field.
An handfull of corne shall be sowen in the earth, euen in the toppe of the mountaines, and the fruite thereof shall shake like the trees of Lebanon: and the children shall florish out of the citie like the grasse of the earth.
There is a handful of corn in the earth, On the top of mountains, Shake like Lebanon doth its fruit, And they flourish out of the city as the herb of the earth.
Abundance of grain shall be throughout the land. Its fruit sways like Lebanon. Let it flourish, thriving like the grass of the field.
There shall be a handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains; the fruit of it shall shake like Lebanon: and they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth.
I studied that I might know this thing, it is a labour in my sight:
I hope/desire that the fields will produce plenty of grain everywhere, even on the tops of the hills in the land where they rule, like the grain that grows on the hills in Lebanon. I hope/desire that the cities in Israel will be full of people like the fields are full of grass.
Berean Amplified Bible — Psalms 72:16
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Psalms 72:16 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
יְהִ֤י
פִסַּת
בַּ֨ר
בָּ/אָרֶץ֮
בְּ/רֹ֪אשׁ
הָ֫רִ֥ים
יִרְעַ֣שׁ
כַּ/לְּבָנ֣וֹן
פִּרְי֑/וֹ
וְ/יָצִ֥יצוּ
מֵ֝/עִ֗יר
כְּ/עֵ֣שֶׂב
הָ/אָֽרֶץ
יְהִ֤י
hâyâh
H1961
to be
V-Qal-Juss-3ms
פִסַּת
piççâh
H6451
abundance
N-fs
בַּ֨ר
bâr
H1250
grain
N-ms
בָּ/אָרֶץ֮
ʼerets
H776
land
Prep | N-cs
בְּ/רֹ֪אשׁ
rôʼsh
H7218
head
Prep | N-ms
הָ֫רִ֥ים
har
H2022
mountain
N-mp
יִרְעַ֣שׁ
râʻash
H7493
to shake
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms
כַּ/לְּבָנ֣וֹן
Lᵉbânôwn
H3844
Lebanon
Prep | N-proper
פִּרְי֑/וֹ
pᵉrîy
H6529
fruit
N-ms | Suff
וְ/יָצִ֥יצוּ
tsûwts
H6692
to blossom
Conj | V-Hiphil-Imperf-3mp
מֵ֝/עִ֗יר
ʻîyr
H5892
excitement
Prep | N-fs
כְּ/עֵ֣שֶׂב
ʻeseb
H6212
vegetation
Prep | N-ms
הָ/אָֽרֶץ
ʼerets
H776
land
Art | N-cs
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — Psalms 72:16
יְהִ֤י
hâyâh
H1961
"to be"
V-Qal-Juss-3ms
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Definition: 1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) --- 1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass 1a1b) to come about, come to pass 1a2) to come into being, become 1a2a) to arise, appear, come 1a2b) to become 1a2b1) to become 1a2b2) to become like 1a2b3) to be instituted, be established 1a3) to be 1a3a) to exist, be in existence 1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time) 1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality) 1a3d) to accompany, be with 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about 1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
Usage: Occurs in 3131 OT verses. KJV: beacon, [idiom] altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, [phrase] follow, happen, [idiom] have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, [idiom] use. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 17:4; Genesis 36:11.
פִסַּת
piççâh
H6451
"abundance"
N-fs
This word means abundance or fullness, but its exact meaning is uncertain. It is translated as handful in some Bible versions.
Definition: 1) abundance, fulness, plenty 1a) meaning uncertain
Usage: Occurs in 1 OT verses. KJV: handful. See also: Psalms 72:16.
בַּ֨ר
bâr
H1250
"grain"
N-ms
In Aramaic, 'bar' refers to a field of grain, like wheat or corn. It can also describe the open countryside. This term is used in books like Daniel, where it describes rural areas.
Definition: corn, grain
Usage: Occurs in 14 OT verses. KJV: corn, wheat. See also: Genesis 41:35; Psalms 72:16; Psalms 65:14.
בָּ/אָרֶץ֮
ʼerets
H776
"land"
Prep | N-cs
The land or earth refers to the soil or ground, and can also mean a country, territory, or region. In the Bible, it is used to describe the earth and its inhabitants, and is often translated as 'land' or 'country'.
Definition: : soil 1) land, earth 1a) earth 1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part) 1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven) 1a3) earth (inhabitants) 1b) land 1b1) country, territory 1b2) district, region 1b3) tribal territory 1b4) piece of ground 1b5) land of Canaan, Israel 1b6) inhabitants of land 1b7) Sheol, land without return, (under) world 1b8) city (-state) 1c) ground, surface of the earth 1c1) ground 1c2) soil 1d) (in phrases) 1d1) people of the land 1d2) space or distance of country (in measurements of distance) 1d3) level or plain country 1d4) land of the living 1d5) end(s) of the earth 1e) (almost wholly late in usage) 1e1) lands, countries 1e1a) often in contrast to Canaan
Usage: Occurs in 2190 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world. See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 18:18; Genesis 42:13.
בְּ/רֹ֪אשׁ
rôʼsh
H7218
"head"
Prep | N-ms
This Hebrew word means chief or prince, and is used to describe leaders in the Bible, such as in the book of 1 Samuel. It signifies a position of authority and importance.
Definition: : head 1) head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning 1a) head (of man, animals) 1b) top, tip (of mountain) 1c) height (of stars) 1d) chief, head (of man, city, nation, place, family, priest) 1e) head, front, beginning 1f) chief, choicest, best 1g) head, division, company, band 1h) sum
Usage: Occurs in 547 OT verses. KJV: band, beginning, captain, chapiter, chief(-est place, man, things), company, end, [idiom] every (man), excellent, first, forefront, (be-)head, height, (on) high(-est part, (priest)), [idiom] lead, [idiom] poor, principal, ruler, sum, top. See also: Genesis 2:10; Numbers 17:18; 2 Samuel 4:7.
הָ֫רִ֥ים
har
H2022
"mountain"
N-mp
A mountain or hill, sometimes used to describe a spiritual high point. In the Bible, it can refer to a real mountain or a figurative one. The word is often translated as hill or mount.
Definition: : mount/hill hill, mountain, hill country, mount
Usage: Occurs in 486 OT verses. KJV: hill (country), mount(-ain), [idiom] promotion. See also: Genesis 7:19; Deuteronomy 3:12; Judges 18:13.
יִרְעַ֣שׁ
râʻash
H7493
"to shake"
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms
In the Bible, this word means to shake or quake, often describing the earth or sky trembling with fear. It's used in the books of Psalms and Isaiah, describing God's power and majesty.
Definition: 1) to quake, shake 1a) (Qal) to quake, shake 1b) (Niphal) to be made to quake 1c)(Hiphil) 1c1) to cause to quake 1c2) to cause to spring or leap (of horse)
Usage: Occurs in 30 OT verses. KJV: make afraid, (re-) move, quake, (make to) shake, (make to) tremble. See also: Judges 5:4; Jeremiah 49:21; Psalms 18:8.
כַּ/לְּבָנ֣וֹן
Lᵉbânôwn
H3844
"Lebanon"
Prep | N-proper
Lebanon is a mountain range in Israel, named for its white snow or limestone peaks, often mentioned in Psalms and other books.
Definition: Combined with biq.ah (בִּקְעָה " Valley" H1237I) § Lebanon = "whiteness" a wooded mountain range on the northern border of Israel
Usage: Occurs in 64 OT verses. KJV: Lebanon. See also: Deuteronomy 1:7; Psalms 104:16; Psalms 29:5.
פִּרְי֑/וֹ
pᵉrîy
H6529
"fruit"
N-ms | Suff
In the Bible, this word means the fruit that comes from the ground or from our actions. It is used in many books, including Genesis and Isaiah, to describe the results of our labor or the consequences of our choices.
Definition: 1) fruit 1a) fruit, produce (of the ground) 1b) fruit, offspring, children, progeny (of the womb) 1c) fruit (of actions) (fig.)
Usage: Occurs in 107 OT verses. KJV: bough, (first-)fruit(-ful), reward. See also: Genesis 1:11; Proverbs 18:20; Psalms 1:3.
וְ/יָצִ֥יצוּ
tsûwts
H6692
"to blossom"
Conj | V-Hiphil-Imperf-3mp
To gaze means to look closely or glance at something. It can also mean to blossom or flourish, like a flower opening up. This word is used to describe something beautiful or attractive.
Definition: 1) to blossom, shine, sparkle 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to flourish 1a2) to shine, gleam 1b) (Hiphil) to blossom, put forth blossoms, produce blossoms
Usage: Occurs in 9 OT verses. KJV: bloom, blossom, flourish, shew self. See also: Numbers 17:23; Psalms 103:15; Psalms 72:16.
מֵ֝/עִ֗יר
ʻîyr
H5892
"excitement"
Prep | N-fs
In the Bible, this word refers to a city or town, often a place with a wall or a watchman. It is used to describe a settlement or encampment, like the city of Ai, which is mentioned in the book of Joshua. The word is used to identify specific locations in the Bible.
Definition: 1) excitement, anguish 1a) of terror
Usage: Occurs in 936 OT verses. KJV: Ai (from margin), city, court (from margin), town. See also: Genesis 4:17; Deuteronomy 3:6; Joshua 14:12.
כְּ/עֵ֣שֶׂב
ʻeseb
H6212
"vegetation"
Prep | N-ms
This Hebrew word means vegetation or grass, representing growth and new life. It is used in Genesis 1:11 to describe the creation of plants and in Psalm 23:2 to describe a peaceful landscape.
Definition: herb, herbage, grass, green plants Aramaic equivalent: a.sav (עֲשַׂב "grass" H6211B)
Usage: Occurs in 32 OT verses. KJV: grass, herb. See also: Genesis 1:11; Psalms 72:16; Psalms 92:8.
הָ/אָֽרֶץ
ʼerets
H776
"land"
Art | N-cs
The land or earth refers to the soil or ground, and can also mean a country, territory, or region. In the Bible, it is used to describe the earth and its inhabitants, and is often translated as 'land' or 'country'.
Definition: : soil 1) land, earth 1a) earth 1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part) 1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven) 1a3) earth (inhabitants) 1b) land 1b1) country, territory 1b2) district, region 1b3) tribal territory 1b4) piece of ground 1b5) land of Canaan, Israel 1b6) inhabitants of land 1b7) Sheol, land without return, (under) world 1b8) city (-state) 1c) ground, surface of the earth 1c1) ground 1c2) soil 1d) (in phrases) 1d1) people of the land 1d2) space or distance of country (in measurements of distance) 1d3) level or plain country 1d4) land of the living 1d5) end(s) of the earth 1e) (almost wholly late in usage) 1e1) lands, countries 1e1a) often in contrast to Canaan
Usage: Occurs in 2190 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world. See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 18:18; Genesis 42:13.
Study Notes — Psalms 72:16
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Psalms 72:16 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Psalms 72:16
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 72:16
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 72:16
- Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 72:16
- Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 72:16
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 72:16
- Cambridge Bible on Psalms 72:16
- Barnes' Notes on Psalms 72:16
- Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 72:16
- Sermons on Psalms 72:16
Context — Endow the King with Your Justice
14He will redeem them from oppression and violence, for their blood is precious in his sight.
15Long may he live! May gold from Sheba be given him. May people ever pray for him; may they bless him all day long.
16May there be an abundance of grain in the land; may it sway atop the hills. May its fruit trees flourish like the forests of Lebanon, the people of its cities like the grass of the field.
17May his name endure forever; may his name continue as long as the sun shines. In him may all nations be blessed; may they call him blessed. 18Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Revelation 7:9 | After this I looked and saw a multitude too large to count, from every nation and tribe and people and tongue, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands. |
| 2 | Psalms 92:12–14 | The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God. In old age they will still bear fruit; healthy and green they will remain, |
| 3 | Isaiah 30:23 | Then He will send rain for the seed that you have sown in the ground, and the food that comes from your land will be rich and plentiful. On that day your cattle will graze in open pastures. |
| 4 | Isaiah 32:15 | until the Spirit is poured out upon us from on high. Then the desert will be an orchard, and the orchard will seem like a forest. |
| 5 | Psalms 104:16 | The trees of the LORD have their fill, the cedars of Lebanon that He planted, |
| 6 | Acts 2:41 | Those who embraced his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to the believers that day. |
| 7 | Acts 1:15 | In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (a gathering of about a hundred and twenty) and said, |
| 8 | Matthew 13:31–33 | He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man planted in his field. Although it is the smallest of all seeds, yet it grows into the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.” He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and mixed into three measures of flour, until all of it was leavened.” |
| 9 | 1 Corinthians 3:6–9 | I planted the seed and Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. He who plants and he who waters are one in purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building. |
| 10 | Isaiah 29:17 | In a very short time, will not Lebanon become an orchard, and the orchard seem like a forest? |
Psalms 72:16 Summary
This verse is a prayer for God's blessing and abundance in the land, where there would be plenty of food and the people would thrive. It's a picture of a community that is healthy, vibrant, and full of life, as God intended in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 1:28-30). Just like the natural world is blessed by God, so too can we experience His blessing and care in our lives, as promised in Jeremiah 31:12 and Psalms 37:3-7. By trusting in God and following His ways, we can live in a way that reflects the joy and freedom of being in a right relationship with Him.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the abundance of grain in the land represent in Psalms 72:16?
The abundance of grain in the land represents a time of great prosperity and blessing from God, similar to the promises made in Deuteronomy 28:1-14 and Leviticus 26:1-13, where God promises to bless the people for their obedience.
How do the fruit trees flourishing like the forests of Lebanon relate to the people in this verse?
The flourishing of the fruit trees and the people like the grass of the field in Psalms 72:16 suggests a vibrant and thriving community, where both the natural world and human society are blessed by God, as seen in the creation account in Genesis 1:11-12 and the promise of restoration in Isaiah 51:3.
Is this verse only talking about agricultural prosperity or is there a deeper meaning?
While this verse does describe agricultural prosperity, it also points to a broader picture of God's blessing and care for His people, as seen in Psalms 107:37-38, where the people are blessed and their cities flourish under God's provision and protection.
How does this verse relate to the Messiah and His kingdom?
Psalms 72:16 is part of a larger psalm that is often seen as messianic, looking forward to the time when the Messiah will reign and God's people will experience great blessing and prosperity, as described in Isaiah 2:1-4 and Micah 4:1-5.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that I have experienced God's abundance and blessing in my life, and how can I express gratitude for these gifts?
- How can I, like the fruit trees flourishing in this verse, be a source of life and nourishment for those around me, as described in Matthew 5:13-16 and John 15:1-17?
- In what ways can I pray for and work towards the flourishing of my community, just like the grass of the field in this verse, as encouraged in Jeremiah 29:7 and 1 Timothy 2:1-4?
- What does it mean for me to 'sway atop the hills' in my faith, and how can I live in a way that reflects the joy and freedom of being in a right relationship with God, as seen in Psalms 100:1-5 and Romans 5:1-5?
Gill's Exposition on Psalms 72:16
There shall be an handful of corn,.... By which are not meant the people of Christ, compared to corn, or wheat, in distinction from hypocrites, said to be as chaff, Matthew 2:12; who are but few, yet
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 72:16
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.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 72:16
An handful of corn; which intimates the small beginnings of this kingdom; and therefore doth not agree to Solomon, whose kingdom was in a manner as large at the beginning of his reign ms at the end; but it exactly agrees to Christ and his kingdom, ,32. In the earth; sown in the earth. Upon the top of the mountains; in the most barren grounds; and therefore this was an evidence of extraordinary and prodigious fertility. Shake like Lebanon; it shall yield such abundance of corn, that the ears, being thick, and high, and full of corn, shall, when they are shaken with the wind, make a noise not unlike that which the tops of the trees of Lebanon sometimes make upon the like occasion; which expressions, as well as many others of the like nature in the prophets, being applied to Christ, are to be understood in a spiritual sense, of the great and happy success of the preaching of the gospel. They of the city; the citizens of Jerusalem, which are here synecdochically put for the subjects of this kingdom. Shall flourish like grass of the earth; shall both increase in number, that there may be mouths to receive the meat provided, and enjoy great prosperity and happiness.
Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 72:16
Psalms 72:16 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.Ver. 16. There shall be an handful of corn, &c.] i.e. The barren mountains shall yield grain abundantly, and by handfuls; as Egypt did in those seven years of plenty, Genesis 41:47. The fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon] The grain shall rattle and rustle, like the trees in Lebanon, shaken by the wind. And they of the city shall flourish] Men also shall increase and multiply, Jeremiah 31:27, to a very great number, as piles of grass Christ’ s subjects shall.
Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 72:16
(16) An handful.—Rather, abundance, from a root meaning spread. The clauses, as arranged in the text, evidently miss the intention of the writer. Render, “Let there be abundance of corn on the earth; On the top of the mountains let it wave like Libanus,” i.e., like the cedars of Libanus. The word rendered “wave” elsewhere is used of “earthquakes” or “violent storm,” and suggests here rather a violent agitation than the quiet waving of a sunny cornfield, as if the very mountains were under cultivation, and their crowning woods that sway to and fro in the breeze were suddenly changed to grain. (Comp. Psalms 92:13.) The images suggested by the LXX. and Vulg., of the corn in the lowlands growing high enough to overtop Lebanon, is grotesque. And they of the city . . .—Better, and let them (men) spring forth from the city like grass from the earth. (As images of large population, comp. Psalms 92:7; Job 5:25.) But probably we ought to transpose a letter and read, “and let cities spring up like grass from the earth.”
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 72:16
Verse 16. There shall be a handful of corn] The earth shall be exceedingly fruitful. Even a handful of corn sown on the top of a mountain shall grow up strong and vigorous; and it shall be, in reference to crops in other times, as the cedars of Lebanon are to common trees or shrubs: and as the earth will bring forth in handfuls, so the people shall be multiplied who are to consume this great produce. And they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth.] There have been many puzzling criticisms concerning this verse. What I have given I believe to be the sense.
Cambridge Bible on Psalms 72:16
16. May there be abundance of corn in the land upon the top of the mountains: May the fruit thereof rustle like Lebanon; And may men flourish out of the city like grass of the earth. A prayer for the fertility of the land, and the prosperity of the people. The poet would see the cornfields stretching up to the very top of the hills, and hear the wind rustling through the ears of corn as through the cedars of Lebanon, a name in itself full of associations of beauty and fertility (Hosea 14:5 ff.). It is doubtful whether the verb means to wave, as A.V. shake, or to rustle. Grass is emblematic of freshness, beauty, abundant and vigorous growth. Cp. Job 5:25; Isaiah 27:6. The increase of the population was a marked feature of Solomon’s reign (1 Kings 4:20), and is a common characteristic in the pictures of the Messianic age (Isaiah 49:20 ff.).
Barnes' Notes on Psalms 72:16
There shall be an handful of corn - “Of grain,” for so the word means in the Scriptures. The “general” idea in this verse is plain.
Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 72:16
16. There shall be a handful of corn—Hebrew, There shall be a diffusion, or superabundance, of corn, etc., deriving τρδ, translated handful, from τρρ, to diffuse, (as Gesenius, Furst,) which is more
Sermons on Psalms 72:16
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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A Whole New World Is Coming by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of having joy and confidence in one's Christian life. He encourages those who may be doubting their readiness for heaven to c |
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Man’s Hour of Darkness Is God’s Hour of Power by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the story of Jesus turning water into wine at the wedding feast in Cana. He emphasizes that Jesus never acted without significance and that th |
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Authentic Missions, Part One by K.P. Yohannan | In this sermon, Brother K. P. Johannon discusses the concept of authentic missions and what it looks like according to the teachings of Jesus. He begins by acknowledging that Jesus |
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The Radical Example of Moravian Missions by Denny Kenaston | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes that the entire Bible is centered around the Lord Jesus Christ and what He can do for humanity. God's ultimate passion is revealed through Hi |
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Oswald J. Smith Preaching - Part 1 by Oswald J. Smith | This sermon emphasizes the importance of spreading the gospel to all nations, inspired by the realization that not everyone has had the opportunity to hear the message of Jesus Chr |
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(Basics) 28. the New Song of Praise by Zac Poonen | In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the theme of praising God in the book of Revelation. He highlights several instances where heavenly beings and angels are seen praising God |
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(Genesis) Genesis 11:5-9 by J. Vernon McGee | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the story of the Tower of Babel from the Bible. He emphasizes that the people's attempt to build the tower and unite against God was an act o |