May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth!
English Standard Version (ESV)
The ancient Hebrew word translated "mown grass" can also mean "pastured grass." This subtle shift reveals the verse isn't just about renewal after cutting, but about restoring grass that's been eaten by animals, highlighting the ruler's ability to bring life back even to depleted lands. This imagery speaks of a gentleness that nourishes and revives what has been consumed.
May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth!
English Standard Version (ESV)
This psalm is a prayer for King Solomon, asking for God's wisdom and justice for him and his successors. It describes the kind of righteous rule expected, one that would bring peace and prosperity, especially to the poor and oppressed. The verse imagines this benevolent leadership arriving like a much-needed, life-giving rain to revitalize the land.
When we hear about kings and rulers, we might think of power, authority, and maybe even force. But this verse uses a much softer image to describe the impact of a good king.
The imagery of rain on 'mown grass' or 'pastured land' is not about a king's gentle rule, but about his gentle effect. Think about it: mown grass has been cut, and fields in ancient Israel could get very dry and hot. The rain here isn't a downpour that causes floods; it's a gentle, life-giving moisture that revives what has been depleted.
This points to a king whose influence brings renewal and restoration. The scholars noted that the Hebrew word can refer to pastured land that needs restoring after grazing, or a field that's been mown and is ready for new growth. Either way, the king's presence and governance are depicted as bringing life-sustaining refreshment, much like rain does to thirsty land.
The text doesn't just present a pleasant image; it hints at the source of this king's refreshing influence. What nourishes the land is also what nourishes God's people.
Commentators across the board see this rain as a powerful metaphor for the impact of a righteous ruler, and especially for the work of the Messiah. The 'rain' and 'showers' represent more than just physical sustenance; they symbolize the life-giving doctrine and the powerful, sweet influences of the Spirit that flow from a divinely appointed leader.
This king's reign isn't just about political stability; it's about spiritual vitality. His words and his Spirit bring life to a spiritually parched land, causing God's people to flourish. This is especially true when we understand this Psalm as pointing forward to Christ, whose teachings and Spirit are the ultimate source of spiritual life and restoration.
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This passage echoes the imagery of rain, specifically mentioning the Lord coming 'like the rain' and 'like showers that water the earth,' directly paralleling the life-giving, restorative nature described in Psalm 72:6.
Deuteronomy 32:2Moses' 'last words' to Israel compare his teaching to 'rain' and 'showers,' highlighting how divine instruction, like the rain in Psalm 72:6, nourishes and brings life to a people.
2 Samuel 23:4David's own final words describe a ruler like 'the morning grass' that brings forth 'rain' after clear shining, resonating with the theme of a king's just reign being a source of refreshment and flourishing for the land.
Isaiah 44:3God promises to pour out 'water on the thirsty land' and 'streams on the dry ground,' demonstrating His own promise of refreshment and blessing, similar to the nourishing effect of rain on parched earth in Psalm 72:6.
Galatians 3:28While not using the same imagery, this passage speaks to a radical unity in Christ where distinctions of status are removed, much like the rain that falls equally on all the mown grass, bringing undiscriminating refreshment and life.
clarkePsalms 72:6: "He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth."
He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass - The word גז gez, which we translate mown grass, more properly means pastured grass or pastured land; for the dew of the night is intended to restore the grass which has been eaten in the course of the day. This very idea the Chaldee has seized, and renders the place thus: "He shall descend gently, like rain upon the grass which has been eaten by t…
poolePsalms 72:6: "He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth."
Come down, to wit, by the influences of his government upon his people under him. But this phrase doth much better agree to Christ, who was yet to come, and who did come down from heaven, and brought or sent down from heaven his doctrine, which is oft compared to rain, and the sweet and powerful influences of his Spirit. Rain upon the mown grass; which it both refresheth and improveth, or causeth t…
The ancient Hebrew word translated "mown grass" can also mean "pastured grass." This subtle shift reveals the verse isn't just about renewal after cutting, but about restoring grass that's been eaten by animals, highlighting the ruler's ability to bring life back even to depleted lands. This imagery speaks of a gentleness that nourishes and revives what has been consumed.
This psalm is a prayer for King Solomon, asking for God's wisdom and justice for him and his successors. It describes the kind of righteous rule expected, one that would bring peace and prosperity, especially to the poor and oppressed. The verse imagines this benevolent leadership arriving like a much-needed, life-giving rain to revitalize the land.
This psalm is a prayer for King Solomon, asking for God's wisdom and justice for him and his successors. It describes the kind of righteous rule expected, one that would bring peace and prosperity, especially to the poor and oppressed. The verse imagines this benevolent leadership arriving like a much-needed, life-giving rain to revitalize the land.
"May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth!" — The ancient Hebrew word translated "mown grass" can also mean "pastured grass." This subtle shift reveals the verse isn't just about renewal after cutting, but about restoring grass that's been eaten…
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Last reviewed October 2026