Psalm 22:27-28
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The verse points to a profound transformation where "remembering" isn't just recalling facts, but a deep, internal reawakening. It’s about lost people being reminded of God's existence and their innate connection to Him, prompting a voluntary turning away from idols and toward true worship.
All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you. For kingship belongs to the LORD, and he rules over the nations.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The psalm moves from intense suffering and lament to confident hope and a vision of God's universal reign. Having described his personal anguish and abandonment, the Psalmist proclaims his deliverance will lead him to declare God's name and pay his vows. This deliverance isn't just for him, but foreshadows a future where all nations will turn to God and worship.
This psalm begins with a cry of abandonment but ends with a breathtaking vision of worldwide worship. How does the suffering of one lead to the salvation of all?
Psalm 22 famously begins with the anguished cry, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?' But this verse, Psalm 22:27, dramatically shifts the focus from suffering to celebration. It reveals that the psalm isn't just about David's personal pain, but a profound prophecy pointing to the Messiah.
The Messiah's Purpose
The commentators highlight that this verse, along with others in Psalm 22, directly points to Jesus Christ. His suffering and death were not an end, but a means to a glorious end: the redemption of people from every corner of the globe.
Beyond Borders
The phrase 'all the ends of the earth' and 'all the families of the nations' signifies a scope far beyond any single nation or time. It paints a picture of God's salvific plan reaching every people group, fulfilling the Abrahamic covenant that through him all nations would be blessed.
What does it truly mean for nations to 'remember' and 'turn' to the Lord? This isn't just a mental recall; it's a profound transformation.
The heart of this verse lies in the powerful action: 'remember and turn.' This describes a dynamic, life-altering response to encountering God's truth.
Remembering What Was Forgotten
'Remember' here implies recalling truths that have been obscured or forgotten. For nations steeped in idolatry, this means remembering the one true God, the Creator, who has been present even when ignored. It's about a dawning awareness of His reality and sovereignty.
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Turning from Darkness
'Turn' signifies repentance – a complete change of direction. It's moving away from self-reliance, idols, and sin, and turning toward the Lord. This turning is fueled by the remembrance of God's goodness, Christ's sacrifice, and His unfailing grace.
Worship as the Result
The ultimate outcome of this remembering and turning is worship. 'Worship before you' signifies submitting to God's authority and acknowledging His worthiness in His presence. It's the natural outpouring of a heart transformed by remembering and turning.
Understand the original words
goy · Hebrew Noun
Refers to the collective peoples, ethnic groups, or political entities outside of the covenant people of Israel. Scripture predicts that all nations will eventually acknowledge God's sovereignty.
chawah · Hebrew Verb
To show reverence, submission, and adoration toward God through physical posture or spiritual attitude. It acknowledges God's supreme worthiness and the worshipper's complete dependence on Him.
melukah · Hebrew Noun
The sovereign authority and dominion of God over all creation. It declares that God is the rightful Ruler and King of the universe, possessing absolute power and judicial authority.
This psalm's vision of global worship points to a future fulfillment far beyond the Davidic kingdom, pointing to the expansive reach of the Messiah's redemptive work through the gospel.
c. 1000 BC
Davidic Kingdom Flourishes
King David establishes a united monarchy in Israel, with Jerusalem as its capital, bringing a period of relative peace and expansion.
c. 970 BC
Solomon's Temple Construction Begins
King Solomon begins the construction of the First Temple in Jerusalem, a central place of worship and national identity for the Israelites.
c. 722 BC
Assyrian Conquest of Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern Kingdom of Israel, deporting many Israelites and scattering them among conquered peoples.
586 BC
Babylonian Destruction of Jerusalem
The Babylonian Empire under Nebuchadnezzar II conquers the southern Kingdom of Judah, destroys Jerusalem and the First Temple, and exiles a significant portion of the population.
c. 538 BC
Edict of Cyrus Allows Return
The Persian king Cyrus the Great issues a decree allowing the Jewish exiles in Babylon to return to their homeland and rebuild the Temple.
c. 1st century AD— this verse
Jesus' Ministry and Crucifixion
Jesus of Nazareth, believed by Christians to be the Messiah, lives, teaches, dies, and is resurrected, fulfilling prophecies interpreted from psalms like this one.
c. AD 40-60
Apostle Paul's Missionary Journeys
The Apostle Paul undertakes extensive missionary journeys throughout the Roman Empire, preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to both Jews and Gentiles.
This passage echoes the same global reach of salvation, stating that the Servant of the Lord will be a light to the Gentiles and salvation to the ends of the earth, directly paralleling the nations turning to God mentioned in Psalms 22:27.
Matthew 28:19Jesus' Great Commission directly commands his followers to make disciples of all nations, showing the fulfillment of the psalm's prophecy that all families of the nations would worship God.
Acts 10:35Peter's realization that God shows no favoritism and accepts anyone from any nation who fears him and does what is right demonstrates the theological understanding of the nations turning to God as prophesied.
Revelation 7:9This vision of a great multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language worshiping before the throne is the ultimate picture of the prophecy in Psalms 22:27 coming to fruition.
calvinPsalms 22:25-29: "My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him."
- My praise shall proceed from thee [522] in the great assembly; I will pay my vows in the presence of them that fear him. 26. The poor shall eat and be satisfied; they shall praise Jehovah that seek him: your heart shall live for ever. 27. All the ends of the earth shall remember, and turn to Jehovah; and all the tribes of the Gentiles shall prostrate themselves before his f…
poolePsalms 22:27: "All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee."
All the ends of the world, i.e. all nations, from one end of the world to the other. So this is an evident prophecy of the calling of the Gentilesto the knowledge of God and Christ by thy gospel, and consequently a clear proof that this Psalm doth directly and immediately speak of Christ; to whom alone, and not to David, this and divers other passages o…
The verse points to a profound transformation where "remembering" isn't just recalling facts, but a deep, internal reawakening. It’s about lost people being reminded of God's existence and their innate connection to Him, prompting a voluntary turning away from idols and toward true worship.
The psalm moves from intense suffering and lament to confident hope and a vision of God's universal reign. Having described his personal anguish and abandonment, the Psalmist proclaims his deliverance will lead him to declare God's name and pay his vows. This deliverance isn't just for him, but foreshadows a future where all nations will turn to God and worship.
The psalm moves from intense suffering and lament to confident hope and a vision of God's universal reign. Having described his personal anguish and abandonment, the Psalmist proclaims his deliverance will lead him to declare God's name and pay his vows. This deliverance isn't just for him, but foreshadows a future where all nations will turn to God and worship.
"All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you. For kingship belongs to the LORD, and he rules over the nations." — The verse points to a profound transformation where "remembering" isn't just recalling facts, but a deep, internal reawakening. It’s about lost people being reminded of God's existence and their inna…
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Last reviewed October 2026
