May they fear you while the sun endures, and as long as the moon, throughout all generations!
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse shifts focus unexpectedly from the king to God, indicating that the king's righteous rule is meant to foster true worship and reverence for the Almighty, not just loyalty to the ruler. This establishes the deep connection between good governance and genuine faith, showing how earthly leadership can point us toward heavenly devotion.
May they fear you while the sun endures, and as long as the moon, throughout all generations!
English Standard Version (ESV)
This Psalm is a prayer for King Solomon, focusing on his righteous rule and its far-reaching impact. It asks that God grant Solomon wisdom and justice to govern the people fairly, especially the poor and oppressed. The verses that follow describe the peace and prosperity that will flourish under such a wise and just king, leading into the hope for enduring reverence for God.
When the psalmist says, 'They shall fear you,' who is the 'you' he's referring to? It's a question that unlocks a deeper understanding of this royal psalm.
There's a fascinating debate about whether the 'you' in this verse refers to the king or to God. While the psalm is addressed to King Solomon (or a king like him), many commentators point out that the ultimate object of this everlasting fear isn't a human ruler, but God Himself.
Think about it: King Solomon's reign, though righteous, had its ups and downs. But the promise here stretches far beyond any single human lifetime. The consistent address to God in the earlier verses of the psalm, and the sheer immensity of the timeframe mentioned ('as long as the sun and moon endure'), strongly suggest that the ultimate fear and reverence are directed toward the Almighty. The king's just rule is the means through which God's reign and righteousness are reflected and experienced on earth, leading people to worship the King of Kings.
What does it mean for fear or worship to last 'as long as the sun and moon endure'? This isn't just about a long time; it's about a profound, cosmic scale.
The imagery of the sun and moon is a powerful, ancient way to describe something that is constant, reliable, and unending. These celestial bodies have marked time and provided light since creation, appearing to humanity as symbols of permanence.
When the psalm speaks of fear lasting 'as long as the sun and moon endure,' it's not suggesting that the sun and moon will literally last forever (though they are incredibly long-lasting!). Instead, it's using a hyperbole, a grand exaggeration, to convey a sense of eternity. It means that the reverence and worship described should continue without interruption, through all the days and nights, through every passing generation, until the very end of time as we know it. It points to a hope that extends beyond the immediate, beyond the reign of any single king, and reaches towards the ultimate, everlasting kingdom.
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Understand the original words
yare · Hebrew Verb
A reverential awe or honor toward God that leads to obedience and worship. It is the proper human response to recognizing God's sovereignty, holiness, and majesty.
This psalm, while initially reflecting hopes for Solomon's reign, points beyond earthly kings to a perpetual, divine kingdom. The historical context of Israel's divided kingdom, exile, and restoration highlights the limitations of human rulers and underscores the ultimate hope found in God's enduring covenant and the coming Messiah.
c. 1000 BC
David's Reign and Solomon's Succession
King David, nearing the end of his long reign, composes this psalm, likely intended for his son Solomon, the designated successor. It expresses hopes for a just and righteous reign that would reflect God's character.
c. 970 BC— this verse
Solomon's Accession and Reign Begins
Solomon becomes king of Israel. His early reign is marked by wisdom and justice, fulfilling some aspects of the psalm's vision, including building the First Temple in Jerusalem.
c. 931 BC
Division of the Kingdom
Following Solomon's reign and the apostasy it ended with, the united kingdom splits into two: Israel in the north and Judah in the south. This division leads to a period of instability and often corrupt leadership.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
The southern kingdom of Judah falls to the Babylonians. The First Temple is destroyed, and many Israelites are exiled, a stark contrast to the psalm's vision of enduring peace and righteousness.
c. 538 BC
Return from Exile
The Persian Empire allows many Jews to return to Jerusalem and begin rebuilding. While a significant event, the restored kingdom never achieves the full, lasting peace and universal reverence envisioned in the psalm.
1st Century AD
Jesus' Ministry and Early Church
The ministry of Jesus and the growth of the early Christian church are seen by many as the ultimate fulfillment of the psalm's messianic prophecies, establishing a reign of righteousness and devotion to God that transcends generations.
This passage speaks of an everlasting dynasty, directly paralleling the 'as long as the sun and moon endure' phrasing in Psalm 72:5 and reinforcing the theme of enduring reign and covenant faithfulness.
Isaiah 11:1-9This prophecy describes the righteous reign of a descendant of Jesse (ultimately Christ), detailing peace, justice for the poor, and a transformed creation, echoing the themes of good governance and its widespread positive effects found in Psalm 72.
Jeremiah 33:15-16This prophetic word promises a 'righteous branch' who will execute justice and righteousness, connecting the idea of a just ruler with the flourishing of the land, much like Psalm 72 anticipates.
Matthew 5:16Jesus instructs his followers to let their light shine so that others may see their good works and glorify their Father in heaven, mirroring how the king's righteous rule in Psalm 72 leads people to fear and revere God.
1 Timothy 2:1-2The Apostle Paul urges prayers for kings and authorities so that believers may live peaceful and godly lives, highlighting the vital connection between good governance and the promotion of true religion, a key outcome envisioned in Psalm 72.
poolePsalms 72:5: "They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations."
Fear; or, reverence , or worship , as this word is used, Isaiah 29:13 , compared with Matthew 15:9 , and elsewhere. Thee ; either, 1. Thee, O king, to whom he suddenly turneth his speech. And so this is hyperbolically true of Solomon, but truly and literally of Christ. Or rather, 2. Thee, O God, of whom he had spoken before, and that in the second person, Psalm 72:1,2 , as it is here; whereas he…
bensonPsalms 72:5: "They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations."
Psalm 72:5 . They shall fear thee, &c. — Most commentators consider the psalmist as suddenly turning his speech to Solomon here, and signifying that his wisdom and righteous administration of his government should redound to his everlasting honour, so that all posterity should continually esteem and revere him as the wisest and best of princes. They acknowledge, however, that in this he was a typ…
The verse shifts focus unexpectedly from the king to God, indicating that the king's righteous rule is meant to foster true worship and reverence for the Almighty, not just loyalty to the ruler. This establishes the deep connection between good governance and genuine faith, showing how earthly leadership can point us toward heavenly devotion.
This Psalm is a prayer for King Solomon, focusing on his righteous rule and its far-reaching impact. It asks that God grant Solomon wisdom and justice to govern the people fairly, especially the poor and oppressed. The verses that follow describe the peace and prosperity that will flourish under such a wise and just king, leading into the hope for enduring reverence for God.
This Psalm is a prayer for King Solomon, focusing on his righteous rule and its far-reaching impact. It asks that God grant Solomon wisdom and justice to govern the people fairly, especially the poor and oppressed. The verses that follow describe the peace and prosperity that will flourish under such a wise and just king, leading into the hope for enduring reverence for God.
"May they fear you while the sun endures, and as long as the moon, throughout all generations!" — The verse shifts focus unexpectedly from the king to God, indicating that the king's righteous rule is meant to foster true worship and reverence for the Almighty, not just loyalty to the ruler. This…
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Last reviewed October 2026