May desert tribes bow down before him, and his enemies lick the dust!
English Standard Version (ESV)
The imagery of "enemies licking the dust" isn't just about defeat; it paints a picture of profound, abject submission. It highlights the absolute totality of the king's authority, so complete that even those who resist are forced into the lowliest posture of deference, showing the vast reach of his power.
May desert tribes bow down before him, and his enemies lick the dust!
English Standard Version (ESV)
This psalm is a prayer for King Solomon, asking that God bless him with righteous rule and peace. The preceding verses celebrate the ideal king who will bring justice and prosperity, and this verse expands on the vast scope of his dominion, predicting how far his influence and submission will reach. It paints a picture of universal recognition and power extending beyond Israel's borders.
Who are these 'desert tribes,' and why is their submission so significant?
The psalm describes a king whose reign extends far beyond the settled lands, reaching even the most remote and perhaps 'uncivilized' peoples. The Hebrew word used here, often translated as 'desert dwellers' or 'inhabitants of the wilderness,' refers to nomadic tribes accustomed to a harsh, independent life in the dry, barren lands.
Their bowing down signifies more than just acknowledging authority; it represents a profound act of reverence and submission from those who are fiercely self-reliant and accustomed to freedom. This imagery points to a universal reign that embraces even those on the fringes of established society, bringing them under a benevolent rule.
What does it mean for enemies to 'lick the dust,' and what does it reveal about this king's victory?
The phrase 'his enemies shall lick the dust' is a powerful metaphor for utter defeat and abject submission. In ancient Near Eastern culture, kissing or licking the dust before a conqueror was a sign of complete subjugation, acknowledging the victor's absolute power and the vanquished's humiliation.
This imagery in Psalm 72 doesn't just describe military conquest. It speaks to the total dismantling of opposition to this king's reign. It promises a peace secured not just by the absence of conflict, but by the definitive end of rebellion against his righteous rule. This ultimate victory isn't about crushing people out of spite, but about establishing a peace where all enemies are brought into willing, humble submission.
Understand the original words
Ask a follow-up
kara' · Hebrew Verb
The act of showing reverence, submission, or worship by prostrating oneself before a superior, deity, or king. It signifies total acknowledgement of the authority and sovereignty of the one being bowed to.
'oyeb · Hebrew Noun
Those who oppose, resist, or are hostile toward God or His anointed King. Their fate is ultimately defeat and humiliation under the reign of the righteous ruler.
This psalm, likely written during Solomon's prosperous reign, poetically envisions his kingdom's vast influence. It reflects the historical reality of a powerful Israelite monarchy interacting with, and receiving tribute from, surrounding peoples, including nomadic desert dwellers and subjugated enemies.
c. 970 BC
Reign of Solomon Begins
Solomon ascends to the throne of Israel, inheriting a stable kingdom and ushering in an era of peace and prosperity.
c. 970-930 BC— this verse
Solomon's Kingdom Flourishes
During Solomon's reign, Israel experiences its golden age. Trade routes flourish, bringing wealth and interaction with distant peoples, including desert tribes and nations from afar.
c. 930 BC
Kingdom Divides
After Solomon's death, the unified kingdom of Israel splits into two: the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah.
8th Century BC
Assyrian Empire's Expansion
The powerful Neo-Assyrian Empire begins its aggressive expansion, conquering many of the surrounding nations and influencing the political landscape of the ancient Near East.
6th Century BC
Babylonian Exile
The Neo-Babylonian Empire conquers Judah, destroying Jerusalem and exiling much of its population, profoundly impacting Jewish identity and theology.
This passage directly echoes the imagery of enemies licking dust, describing kings and queens serving and bowing down with their faces to the ground before God's people, highlighting a future of complete submission and restoration.
Micah 7:17This verse speaks of the Lord's enemies acting like a serpent, eating dust, which is a powerful image of their utter defeat and forced subjugation, mirroring the 'licking the dust' in Psalms.
Revelation 1:7This prophetic vision shows 'every eye' seeing Christ, including those who pierced Him, and all tribes of the earth wailing because of Him, indicating a universal acknowledgment and submission to His authority, even by His former adversaries.
Philippians 2:10-11This New Testament passage states that at Jesus' name, every knee should bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, which is the ultimate fulfillment of the universal dominion described in the Psalm, extending submission to all creation.
Psalm 68:31This Psalm speaks of Egypt and Ethiopia hastening to offer gifts to God, with rulers coming from afar and bowing down, which parallels the submission of distant and 'desert' tribes mentioned in Psalm 72.
jfbPsalms 72:9: "They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust."
9-11. The extent of the conquests.They that dwell in the wilderness—the wild, untutored tribes of deserts.bow … dust—in profound submission. The remotest and wealthiest nations shall acknowledge Him (compare Ps 45:12).
bensonPsalms 72:9: "They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust."
Psalm 72:9 . They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him — That is, that inhabit solitary places. The Hebrew word, ציים , tziim, here used, (from ציה , tziah siccitas, dryness, or a dry place, ) is applied to barren grounds or deserts, parched up for want of springs and rains, and it here signifies the inhabitants of such countries, and particularly the people and kings of Arab…
The imagery of "enemies licking the dust" isn't just about defeat; it paints a picture of profound, abject submission. It highlights the absolute totality of the king's authority, so complete that even those who resist are forced into the lowliest posture of deference, showing the vast reach of his power.
This psalm is a prayer for King Solomon, asking that God bless him with righteous rule and peace. The preceding verses celebrate the ideal king who will bring justice and prosperity, and this verse expands on the vast scope of his dominion, predicting how far his influence and submission will reach. It paints a picture of universal recognition and power extending beyond Israel's borders.
This psalm is a prayer for King Solomon, asking that God bless him with righteous rule and peace. The preceding verses celebrate the ideal king who will bring justice and prosperity, and this verse expands on the vast scope of his dominion, predicting how far his influence and submission will reach. It paints a picture of universal recognition and power extending beyond Israel's borders.
"May desert tribes bow down before him, and his enemies lick the dust!" — The imagery of "enemies licking the dust" isn't just about defeat; it paints a picture of profound, abject submission. It highlights the absolute totality of the king's authority, so complete that ev…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026