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Selected Verse: Psalms 72:1 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Ps 72:1	Strong Concordance	A Psalm for Solomon [08010]. Give [05414] the king [04428] thy judgments [04941], O God [0430], and thy righteousness [06666] unto the king's [04428] son [01121].
	King James	A Psalm for Solomon. Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king's son.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
For, or literally, "of Solomon." The closing verse rather relates to the second book of Psalms, of which this is the last, and was perhaps added by some collector, to intimate that the collection, to which, as chief author, David's name was appended, was closed. In this view, these may consistently be the productions of others included, as of Asaph, sons of Korah, and Solomon; and a few of David's may be placed in the latter series. The fact that here the usual mode of denoting authorship is used, is strongly conclusive that Solomon was the author, especially as no stronger objection appears than what has been now set aside. The Psalm, in highly wrought figurative style, describes the reign of a king as "righteous, universal, beneficent, and perpetual." By the older Jewish and most modern Christian interpreters, it has been referred to Christ, whose reign, present and prospective, alone corresponds with its statements. As the imagery of the second Psalm was drawn from the martial character of David's reign, that of this is from the peaceful and prosperous state of Solomon's. (Psa. 72:1-19) Give the king, &c.--a prayer which is equivalent to a prediction. judgments--the acts, and (figuratively) the principles of a right government (Joh 5:22; Joh 9:39). righteousness--qualifications for conducting such a government. king's son--same person as a king--a very proper title for Christ, as such in both natures.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

For, or literally, "of Solomon." The closing verse rather relates to the second book of Psalms, of which this is the last, and was perhaps added by some collector, to intimate that the collection, to which, as chief author, David's name was appended, was closed. In this view, these may consistently be the productions of others included, as of Asaph, sons of Korah, and Solomon; and a few of David's may be placed in the latter series. The fact that here the usual mode of denoting authorship is used, is strongly conclusive that Solomon was the author, especially as no stronger objection appears than what has been now set aside. The Psalm, in highly wrought figurative style, describes the reign of a king as "righteous, universal, beneficent, and perpetual." By the older Jewish and most modern Christian interpreters, it has been referred to Christ, whose reign, present and prospective, alone corresponds with its statements. As the imagery of the second Psalm was drawn from the martial character of David's reign, that of this is from the peaceful and prosperous state of Solomon's. (Psa. 72:1-19)

Give the king, &c.--a prayer which is equivalent to a prediction.

judgments--the acts, and (figuratively) the principles of a right government (Joh 5:22; Joh 9:39).

righteousness--qualifications for conducting such a government.

king's son--same person as a king--a very proper title for Christ, as such in both natures.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
Give the king - Supposing the psalm to have been composed by David in view of the inauguration of his son and successor, this is a prayer that God would bestow on him the qualifications which would tend to secure a just, a protracted, and a peaceful reign. Though it is to be admitted that the psalm was designed to refer ultimately to the Messiah, and to be descriptive of "his" reign, yet there is no impropriety in supposing that the psalmist believed the reign of Solomon would be, in some proper sense emblematic of that reign, and that it was his desire the reign of the one "might," as far as possible, resemble that of the other. There is no improbability, therefore, in supposing that the mind of the psalmist might have been directed to both in the composition of the psalm, and that while he used the language of prayer for the one, his eye was mainly directed to the characteristics of the other. Thy judgments - Knowledge; authority; ability to execute thy judgments, or thy laws. That is, he speaks of the king as appointed to administer justice; to maintain the laws of God, and to exercise judicial power. It is one of the primary ideas in the character of a king that he is the fountain of justice; the maker of the laws; the dispenser of right to all his subjects. The officers of the law administer justice "under" him; the last appeal is to him. And thy righteousness - That is, Clothe him, in the administration of justice, with a righteousness like thine own. Let it be seen that he represents "thee;" that his government may be regarded as thine own administration through him. Unto the king's son - Not only to him, but to his successor; that is, let the administration of justice in the government be perpetuated. There is no improbability in supposing that in this the psalmist may have designed also to refer to the last and the greatest of his successors in the line - the Messiah.

The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917]
Give the king The Psalm as a whole forms a complete vision of Messiah's kingdom so far as the Old Testament revelation extended. All David's prayers will find their fruition in the kingdom (Psa 72:20); (Sa2 23:1-4). Verse 1 (Psa 72:1) refers to the investiture of the King's Son with the kingdom, of which investiture the formal description is given in (Dan 7:13); (Dan 7:14); (Rev 5:5-10); (Psa 72:2-7); (Psa 72:12-14) give the character of the kingdom. Compare (Isa 11:3-9). The emphatic word is righteousness. The sermon on the Mount describes the kingdom of righteousness. Verses 8-11 (Psa 72:8-11) speak of the universality of the kingdom. Verse 16 (Psa 72:16) hints at the means by which universal blessing is to be brought in. Converted Israel will be the "handful of corn" (Amo 9:9) as the King Himself in death and resurrection was the single grain, the "corn of wheat" (Joh 12:24) "To the Jew first" is the order alike of Church and kingdom. (Rom 1:16); (Act 13:46); (Act 15:16); (Act 15:17). It is through restored Israel that the kingdom is to be extended over the earth. (Zac 8:13); (Zac 8:20-23). See Psalm 89, next in order of the Messianic Psalms.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]
The name of God, occurring only once, is Elohim; and this is sufficient to stamp the Psalm as an Elohimic Psalm. מלך (cf. Psa 21:2) and בּן־מלך are only used without the article according to a poetical usage of the language. The petition itself, and even the position of the words, show that the king's son is present, and that he is king; God is implored to bestow upon him His משׁפּטים, i.e., the rights or legal powers belonging to Him, the God of Israel, and צדקה, i.e., the official gift in order that he may exercise those rights in accordance with divine righteousness. After the supplicatory teen the futures which now follow, without the Waw apodoseos, are manifestly optatives. Mountains and hills describe synecdochically the whole land of which they are the high points visible afar off. נשׂא is used in the sense of נשׂא פּרי Eze 17:8 : may שׁלום be the fruit which ripens upon every mountain and hill; universal prosperity satisfied and contented within itself. The predicate for Psa 72:3 is to be taken from Psa 72:3, just as, on the other hand, בּצדקה, "in or by righteousness," the fruit of which is indeed peace (Isa 32:17), belongs also to Psa 72:3; so that consequently both members supplement one another. The wish of the poet is this: By righteousness, may there in due season be such peaceful fruit adorning all the heights of the land. Psa 72:3, however, always makes one feel as though a verb were wanting, like תּפרחנה suggested by Bttcher. In Psa 72:4 the wishes are continued in plain unfigurative language. הושׁיע in the signification to save, to obtain salvation for, has, as is frequently the case, a dative of the object. בּני־אביון are those who are born to poverty, just like בּן־מלך, one who is born a king. Those who are born to poverty are more or less regarded, by an unrighteous government, as having no rights.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
Judgments - He saith judgments in the plural number, because though the office of judging and ruling was but one, yet there were divers parts and branches, of it; in all which he begs that Solomon may be directed to do as God would have him to do.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
Give the king thy judgments - Let Solomon receive thy law, as the civil and ecclesiastical code by which he is to govern the kingdom. And thy righteousness unto the king's son - Righteousness may signify equity. Let him not only rule according to the strict letter of thy law, that being the base on which all his decisions shall be founded; but let him rule also according to equity, that rigorous justice may never become oppressive. Solomon is called here the king, because now set upon the Jewish throne; and he is called the king's son, to signify his right to that throne on which he now sat.

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³⁹ And [2532] Jesus [2424] said [2036], For [1519] judgment [2917] I [1473] am come [2064] into [1519] this [5126] world [2889], that [2443] they which see [991] not [3361] might see [991]; and [2532] that they which see [991] might be made [1096] blind [5185].

²² For [1063] [3761] the Father [3962] judgeth [2919] no man [3762], but [235] hath committed [1325] all [3956] judgment [2920] unto the Son [5207]:

²⁰ Thus saith [0559] the LORD [03068] of hosts [06635]; It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come [0935] people [05971], and the inhabitants [03427] of many [07227] cities [05892]:
²¹ And the inhabitants [03427] of one [0259] city shall go [01980] to another [0259], saying [0559], Let us go [03212] speedily [01980] to pray [02470] before [06440] the LORD [03068], and to seek [01245] the LORD [03068] of hosts [06635]: I will go [03212] also.
²² Yea, many [07227] people [05971] and strong [06099] nations [01471] shall come [0935] to seek [01245] the LORD [03068] of hosts [06635] in Jerusalem [03389], and to pray [02470] before [06440] the LORD [03068].
²³ Thus saith [0559] the LORD [03068] of hosts [06635]; In those days [03117] it shall come to pass, that ten [06235] men [0582] shall take hold [02388] out of all languages [03956] of the nations [01471], even shall take hold [02388] of the skirt [03671] of him that is a Jew [0376] [03064], saying [0559], We will go [03212] with you: for we have heard [08085] that God [0430] is with you.

¹³ And it shall come to pass, that as ye were a curse [07045] among the heathen [01471], O house [01004] of Judah [03063], and house [01004] of Israel [03478]; so will I save [03467] you, and ye shall be a blessing [01293]: fear [03372] not, but let your hands [03027] be strong [02388].

¹⁷ That [3704] [302] the residue [2645] of men [444] might seek after [1567] the Lord [2962], and [2532] all [3956] the Gentiles [1484], upon [1909] whom [3739] my [3450] name [3686] is called [1941] [1909] [846], saith [3004] the Lord [2962], who [3588] doeth [4160] all [3956] these things [5023].

¹⁶ After [3326] this [5023] I will return [390], and [2532] will build again [456] the tabernacle [4633] of David [1138], which [3588] is fallen down [4098]; and [2532] I will build again [456] the ruins [2679] thereof [846], and [2532] I will set [461] it [846] up [461]:

⁴⁶ Then [1161] Paul [3972] and [2532] Barnabas [921] waxed bold [3955], and said [2036], It was [2258] necessary [316] that the word [3056] of God [2316] should [2980] first [4412] have been spoken [2980] to you [5213]: but [1161] seeing [1894] ye put [683] it [846] from you [683], and [2532] judge [2919] yourselves [1438] unworthy [3756] [514] of everlasting [166] life [2222], lo [2400], we turn [4762] to [1519] the Gentiles [1484].

¹⁶ For [1063] I am [1870] not [3756] ashamed [1870] of the gospel [2098] of Christ [5547]: for [1063] it is [2076] the power [1411] of God [2316] unto [1519] salvation [4991] to every one [3956] that believeth [4100]; to the Jew [2453] first [4412], and [5037] also [2532] to the Greek [1672].

²⁴ Verily [281], verily [281], I say [3004] unto you [5213], Except [3362] a corn [2848] of wheat [4621] fall [4098] into [1519] the ground [1093] and die [599], it [846] abideth [3306] alone [3441]: but [1161] if [1437] it die [599], it bringeth forth [5342] much [4183] fruit [2590].

⁹ For, lo, I will command [06680], and I will sift [05128] the house [01004] of Israel [03478] among all nations [01471], like as corn is sifted [05128] in a sieve [03531], yet shall not the least grain [06872] fall [05307] upon the earth [0776].

¹⁶ There shall be an handful [06451] of corn [01250] in the earth [0776] upon the top [07218] of the mountains [02022]; the fruit [06529] thereof shall shake [07493] like Lebanon [03844]: and they of the city [05892] shall flourish [06692] like grass [06212] of the earth [0776].

⁸ He shall have dominion [07287] also from sea [03220] to sea [03220], and from the river [05104] unto the ends [0657] of the earth [0776].
⁹ They that dwell in the wilderness [06728] shall bow [03766] before [06440] him; and his enemies [0341] shall lick [03897] the dust [06083].
¹⁰ The kings [04428] of Tarshish [08659] and of the isles [0339] shall bring [07725] presents [04503]: the kings [04428] of Sheba [07614] and Seba [05434] shall offer [07126] gifts [0814].
¹¹ Yea, all kings [04428] shall fall down [07812] before him: all nations [01471] shall serve [05647] him.

³ And shall make him of quick understanding [07306] in the fear [03374] of the LORD [03068]: and he shall not judge [08199] after the sight [04758] of his eyes [05869], neither reprove [03198] after the hearing [04926] of his ears [0241]:
⁴ But with righteousness [06664] shall he judge [08199] the poor [01800], and reprove [03198] with equity [04334] for the meek [06035] of the earth [0776]: and he shall smite [05221] the earth [0776] with the rod [07626] of his mouth [06310], and with the breath [07307] of his lips [08193] shall he slay [04191] the wicked [07563].
⁵ And righteousness [06664] shall be the girdle [0232] of his loins [04975], and faithfulness [0530] the girdle [0232] of his reins [02504].
⁶ The wolf [02061] also shall dwell [01481] with the lamb [03532], and the leopard [05246] shall lie down [07257] with the kid [01423]; and the calf [05695] and the young lion [03715] and the fatling [04806] together [03162]; and a little [06996] child [05288] shall lead [05090] them.
⁷ And the cow [06510] and the bear [01677] shall feed [07462]; their young ones [03206] shall lie down [07257] together [03162]: and the lion [0738] shall eat [0398] straw [08401] like the ox [01241].
⁸ And the sucking child [03243] shall play [08173] on the hole [02352] of the asp [06620], and the weaned child [01580] shall put [01911] his hand [03027] on the cockatrice [06848]' den [03975].
⁹ They shall not hurt [07489] nor destroy [07843] in all my holy [06944] mountain [02022]: for the earth [0776] shall be full [04390] of the knowledge [01844] of the LORD [03068], as the waters [04325] cover [03680] the sea [03220].

¹² For he shall deliver [05337] the needy [034] when he crieth [07768]; the poor [06041] also, and him that hath no helper [05826].
¹³ He shall spare [02347] the poor [01800] and needy [034], and shall save [03467] the souls [05315] of the needy [034].
¹⁴ He shall redeem [01350] their soul [05315] from deceit [08496] and violence [02555]: and precious [03365] shall their blood [01818] be in his sight [05869].

² He shall judge [01777] thy people [05971] with righteousness [06664], and thy poor [06041] with judgment [04941].
³ The mountains [02022] shall bring [05375] peace [07965] to the people [05971], and the little hills [01389], by righteousness [06666].
⁴ He shall judge [08199] the poor [06041] of the people [05971], he shall save [03467] the children [01121] of the needy [034], and shall break in pieces [01792] the oppressor [06231].
⁵ They shall fear [03372] thee as long as [05973] the sun [08121] and moon [03394] endure [06440], throughout all [01755] generations [01755].
⁶ He shall come down [03381] like rain [04306] upon the mown [01488] grass: as showers [07241] that water [02222] the earth [0776].
⁷ In his days [03117] shall the righteous [06662] flourish [06524]; and abundance [07230] of peace [07965] so long as the moon [03394] endureth.

⁵ And [2532] one [1520] of [1537] the elders [4245] saith [3004] unto me [3427], Weep [2799] not [3361]: behold [2400], the Lion [3023] of [5607] [1537] the tribe [5443] of Juda [2455], the Root [4491] of David [1138], hath prevailed [3528] to open [455] the book [975], and [2532] to loose [3089] the seven [2033] seals [4973] thereof [846].
⁶ And [2532] I beheld [1492], and [2532], lo [2400], in [1722] the midst [3319] of the throne [2362] and [2532] of the four [5064] beasts [2226], and [2532] in [1722] the midst [3319] of the elders [4245], stood [2476] a Lamb [721] as [5613] it had been slain [4969], having [2192] seven [2033] horns [2768] and [2532] seven [2033] eyes [3788], which [3739] are [1526] the seven [2033] Spirits [4151] of God [2316] sent forth [649] into [1519] all [3956] the earth [1093].
⁷ And [2532] he came [2064] and [2532] took [2983] the book [975] out of [1537] the right hand [1188] of him that sat [2521] upon [1909] the throne [2362].
⁸ And [2532] when [3753] he had taken [2983] the book [975], the four [5064] beasts [2226] and [2532] four [5064] and twenty [1501] elders [4245] fell down [4098] before [1799] the Lamb [721], having [2192] every one of them [1538] harps [2788], and [2532] golden [5552] vials [5357] full [1073] of odours [2368], which [3739] are [1526] the prayers [4335] of saints [40].
⁹ And [2532] they sung [103] a new [2537] song [5603], saying [3004], Thou art [1488] worthy [514] to take [2983] the book [975], and [2532] to open [455] the seals [4973] thereof [846]: for [3754] thou wast slain [4969], and [2532] hast redeemed [59] us [2248] to God [2316] by [1722] thy [4675] blood [129] out of [1537] every [3956] kindred [5443], and [2532] tongue [1100], and [2532] people [2992], and [2532] nation [1484];
¹⁰ And [2532] hast made [4160] us [2248] unto our [2257] God [2316] kings [935] and [2532] priests [2409]: and [2532] we shall reign [936] on [1909] the earth [1093].

¹⁴ And there was given [03052] him dominion [07985], and glory [03367], and a kingdom [04437], that all [03606] people [05972], nations [0524], and languages [03961], should serve [06399] him: his dominion [07985] is an everlasting [05957] dominion [07985], which shall not [03809] pass away [05709], and his kingdom [04437] that which shall not [03809] be destroyed [02255].

¹³ I saw [01934] [02370] in the night [03916] visions [02376], and, behold [0718], one like the Son [01247] of man [0606] came [0858] with [05974] the clouds [06050] of heaven [08065], and came [04291] to [05705] the Ancient [06268] of days [03118], and they brought him near [07127] before [06925] him.

¹ A Psalm for Solomon [08010]. Give [05414] the king [04428] thy judgments [04941], O God [0430], and thy righteousness [06666] unto the king's [04428] son [01121].

¹ Now these be the last [0314] words [01697] of David [01732]. David [01732] the son [01121] of Jesse [03448] said [05002], and the man [01397] who was raised up [06965] on high [05920], the anointed [04899] of the God [0430] of Jacob [03290], and the sweet [05273] psalmist [02158] of Israel [03478], said [05002],
² The Spirit [07307] of the LORD [03068] spake [01696] by me, and his word [04405] was in my tongue [03956].
³ The God [0430] of Israel [03478] said [0559], the Rock [06697] of Israel [03478] spake [01696] to me, He that ruleth [04910] over men [0120] must be just [06662], ruling [04910] in the fear [03374] of God [0430].
⁴ And he shall be as the light [0216] of the morning [01242], when the sun [08121] riseth [02224], even a morning [01242] without [03808] clouds [05645]; as the tender grass [01877] springing out of the earth [0776] by clear shining [05051] after rain [04306].

²⁰ The prayers [08605] of David [01732] the son [01121] of Jesse [03448] are ended [03615].

⁴ He shall judge [08199] the poor [06041] of the people [05971], he shall save [03467] the children [01121] of the needy [034], and shall break in pieces [01792] the oppressor [06231].

³ The mountains [02022] shall bring [05375] peace [07965] to the people [05971], and the little hills [01389], by righteousness [06666].

¹⁷ And the work [04639] of righteousness [06666] shall be peace [07965]; and the effect [05656] of righteousness [06666] quietness [08252] and assurance [0983] for [05704] ever [05769].

³ The mountains [02022] shall bring [05375] peace [07965] to the people [05971], and the little hills [01389], by righteousness [06666].

⁸ It was planted [08362] in a good [02896] soil [07704] by great [07227] waters [04325], that it might bring forth [06213] branches [06057], and that it might bear [05375] fruit [06529], that it might be a goodly [0155] vine [01612].

² Thou hast given [05414] him his heart's [03820] desire [08378], and hast not withholden [04513] the request [0782] of his lips [08193]. Selah [05542].