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.
There shall be an handful {H6451} of corn {H1250} in the earth {H776} upon the top {H7218} of the mountains {H2022}; the fruit {H6529} thereof shall shake {H7493}{H8799)} like Lebanon {H3844}: and they of the city {H5892} shall flourish {H6692}{H8686)} like grass {H6212} of the earth {H776}.
May there be an abundance of grain in the land, all the way to the tops of the mountains. May its crops rustle like the L'vanon. May people blossom in the city like the grasses in the fields.
May there be an abundance of grain in the land; may it sway atop the hills. May its fruit trees flourish like the forests of Lebanon, and its people like the grass of the field.
There shall be abundance of grain 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.
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Revelation 7:9
After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; -
Isaiah 2:2
And it shall come to pass in the last days, [that] the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. -
Isaiah 2:3
And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. -
Job 8:7
Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase. -
Acts 1:15
¶ And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,) -
1 Kings 4:20
¶ Judah and Israel [were] many, as the sand which [is] by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking, and making merry. -
Isaiah 29:17
¶ [Is] it not yet a very little while, and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest?
Context of Psalms 72:16
Psalm 72 is a royal psalm, often attributed to King Solomon, or a prayer for him. It describes the ideal reign of a righteous king, characterized by justice, peace, and widespread prosperity. While it speaks of the earthly reign of a monarch like Solomon, many biblical scholars interpret this psalm as having a dual fulfillment, ultimately pointing to the perfect and everlasting reign of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. This verse, in particular, paints a vivid picture of the extraordinary abundance and flourishing that would characterize such a kingdom, far surpassing any normal earthly conditions.
Key Themes
Abundant Prosperity
The imagery in Psalms 72:16 signifies an almost miraculous abundance. "An handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains" suggests that even in seemingly infertile or barren places, where agriculture would normally be impossible, there will be bountiful harvests. The phrase "the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon" evokes the mighty cedars of Lebanon, renowned for their immense size, strength, and dense forests, symbolizing immense, thriving produce and widespread growth. This speaks to a prosperity that extends beyond mere sustenance to lavish overflow.
Messianic Hope and Divine Blessing
The description of such an ideal kingdom, marked by universal peace and unprecedented fertility, transcends the capabilities of any human king. This leads many to see Psalms 72 as a prophetic glimpse into the future kingdom of the Messiah. Under His reign, God's blessings would be poured out so profusely that the land and its people would flourish beyond imagination. This theme resonates with other prophetic passages that speak of the future agricultural abundance and peace in God's kingdom, such as Amos 9:13, where "the ploughman shall overtake the reaper."
Flourishing of the People
The verse concludes with "and they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth." This extends the promise of prosperity from the agricultural fields to the urban centers, indicating that the entire population, both rural and urban, will experience vigorous, widespread growth and well-being. This flourishing is a direct result of the righteous leadership and divine blessing present in the king's reign, mirroring the flourishing of the righteous described in Psalms 92:12.
Linguistic Insights
The KJV term "corn" in this context refers to grain, such as wheat or barley, which were staple crops in ancient Israel. The Hebrew word for "shake" (רעש - ra'ash) can imply a rustling, quivering, or even a roaring sound, suggesting the vastness and density of the harvest, akin to the sound of a massive forest like Lebanon's cedars in the wind. This powerful imagery underscores the extraordinary nature of the promised abundance.
Practical Application
For believers today, Psalms 72:16 offers profound hope and a vision of God's ultimate kingdom. It reminds us that true and lasting prosperity, both spiritual and physical, flows from righteous leadership and divine blessing. While we may not see such perfect conditions in our current world, this verse encourages us to pray for and work towards a society that reflects God's justice and peace. It also points us to the future, when Christ's reign will bring about a complete and universal flourishing, where the earth and its inhabitants will truly thrive under His perfect rule, as promised in passages about the kingdoms of this world becoming the kingdoms of our Lord.