Psalms 72:16

Authorized King James Version

There shall be an handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains; the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon: and they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth.

Word-by-Word Analysis

יְהִ֤י

H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

פִסַּת

H6451

There shall be an handful

expansion, i.e., abundance

בַּ֨ר׀

H1250

of corn

grain of any kind (even while standing in the field); by extension the open country

הָאָֽרֶץ׃

H776

in the earth

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

בְּרֹ֪אשׁ

H7218

upon the top

the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.)

הָ֫רִ֥ים

H2022

of the mountains

a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)

יִרְעַ֣שׁ

H7493

thereof shall shake

to undulate (as the earth, the sky, etc.; also a field of grain), particularly through fear; specifically, to spring (as a locust)

כַּלְּבָנ֣וֹן

H3844

like Lebanon

lebanon, a mountain range in palestine

פִּרְי֑וֹ

H6529

the fruit

fruit (literally or figuratively)

#10

וְיָצִ֥יצוּ

H6692

shall flourish

to twinkle, i.e., glance

#11

מֵ֝עִ֗יר

H5892

and they of the city

a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)

#12

כְּעֵ֣שֶׂב

H6212

like grass

grass (or any tender shoot)

#13

הָאָֽרֶץ׃

H776

in the earth

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

Analysis

The worship and praise theme here intersects with the broader canonical witness to God's character and purposes. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of progressive revelation that finds its culmination in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine revelation contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's consistent character and purposes.

Historical Context

This passage must be understood within the Israelite monarchy with its court politics and military conflicts. The author writes to address worshipers in the temple and those seeking God in times of distress, making the emphasis on worship and praise particularly relevant. Historical documents from this period show cultural practices and social structures that would have been familiar to the original readers, illuminating the verse's original impact.

Questions for Reflection

What systematic theological implications arise from this verse's treatment of worship and praise, and how does it contribute to a biblical theology of fundamental Christian doctrine?
In what ways does understanding divine revelation in its original context challenge or deepen contemporary Christian thinking about worship and praise?
In what ways does this verse's emphasis on divine revelation address questions about God's character and purposes in the modern world, and how should the church respond?