“His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed.”
My Notes
What Does Psalms 72:17 Mean?
The psalmist prophesies about a coming king whose name endures forever — as long as the sun. An everlasting name, an everlasting reign, an everlasting blessing.
"Men shall be blessed in him" echoes the Abrahamic covenant (Genesis 12:3) — all families of the earth blessed through one person. The king described in this psalm is the conduit through which blessing reaches every nation.
"All nations shall call him blessed" — universal recognition of this king's goodness. Not forced worship but genuine acknowledgment: he is blessed, and through him, we are blessed.
Psalm 72 is attributed to Solomon but points beyond Solomon to someone greater. No earthly king's name lasts as long as the sun. No human ruler blesses all nations. The psalm presses beyond its historical moment toward its messianic fulfillment.
Reflection Questions
- 1.Whose name in history has endured the longest — and how does it compare to the king described here?
- 2.What does it mean to be 'blessed in him' — how do you experience blessing through Christ?
- 3.How does this psalm point beyond Solomon to someone greater?
- 4.What does the universality of this king's recognition — 'all nations' — mean for the gospel's scope?
Devotional
His name shall endure for ever. As long as the sun. When the sun still rises, this king's name is still spoken. When every other name has been forgotten — every emperor, every dynasty, every kingdom that seemed invincible — his name remains.
Men shall be blessed in him. Through this king, blessing flows to the world. Not from his military power or political influence, but from his person. Being connected to him is being connected to blessing.
All nations shall call him blessed. The recognition is not coerced. Nations will look at this king and say: blessed. The goodness is so evident that even those who do not worship him will acknowledge it.
No human king fulfills this psalm. Solomon did not. David did not. The psalmist is describing someone whose name outlasts the sun, whose blessing reaches every nation, whose reign has no end.
That name is Jesus. And two thousand years after a baby was born in Bethlehem, his name is spoken in every language, on every continent, in every time zone. As long as the sun. And counting.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
His name shall endure for ever,.... As a King; for he is chiefly spoken of here in his kingly office: not merely the…
His name shall endure for ever - Margin, as in Hebrew, “Shall be forever;” that is, “He” shall endure forever. His name…
May his name endure for ever;
As long as the sun doth shine may his name have Issue:
May all nations bless themselves…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture