Psalms 72:5

KJV

They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations.

KJV (with Strong's)

They shall fear {H3372}{H8799)} thee as long as {H5973} the sun {H8121} and moon {H3394} endure {H6440}, throughout all {H1755} generations {H1755}.

Complete Jewish Bible

May they fear you as long as the sun endures and as long as the moon, through all generations.

Berean Standard Bible

May they fear him as long as the sun shines, as long as the moon remains, through all generations.

American Standard Version

They shall fear thee while the sun endureth, And so long as the moon, throughout all generations.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 72:5 presents a profound declaration regarding the enduring reverence for a righteous king, a vision that ultimately points to the everlasting dominion of God and His Messiah. This verse, embedded within a prayer for an ideal monarch, proclaims that the awe, respect, and worship inspired by such a reign will persist as long as the celestial bodies endure, spanning across all successive generations. It speaks to the stability of divine influence and the perpetual worship it rightfully inspires, reflecting the eternal nature of God's covenant and kingdom.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 72 is a quintessential royal psalm, traditionally associated with Solomon, either as a prayer for him or a psalm composed by him. However, its lofty language and universal scope clearly transcend the limitations of any earthly monarch, pointing prophetically to a future, ideal king—the Messiah. The preceding verses, such as [Psalms 72:1-4](/psalms/72-1-4 "Psalms 72:1-4 - A Prayer for a Righteous King's Justice and Deliverance"), establish the king's character as one who embodies divine justice, judging the poor with righteousness, delivering the needy, and crushing oppressors. Verse 5 then extends this vision from the *nature* of his righteous reign to its *duration*, asserting that the reverence and awe for such a king (and, by extension, for God, the ultimate source of all righteous authority) will be as constant and unwavering as the sun and moon. The subsequent verses, including [Psalms 72:6-19](/psalms/72-6-19 "Psalms 72:6-19 - The Blessings and Scope of the King's Reign"), further elaborate on the king's universal dominion, the peace and prosperity he ushers in, and the lasting fame of his name, all contributing to the psalm's comprehensive portrayal of an ideal, messianic rule.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, kings were often viewed as divinely appointed representatives, responsible for maintaining cosmic order, dispensing justice, and ensuring the well-being of their people. An ideal king's reign was thus expected to bring prosperity, stability, and blessings, mirroring the favor of the gods. The concept of "fear" (Hebrew: _yârêʼ_) in this context is crucial; it is not mere terror but a profound reverence, awe, and respect that acknowledges the king's divinely ordained authority and the majesty of the deity he represents. This reverence was a cornerstone of social and religious order. Furthermore, the imagery of the sun and moon as symbols of permanence and eternity was ubiquitous across ancient cultures. These celestial bodies, with their unwavering cycles, served as powerful metaphors for constancy, reliability, and the natural order established by the Creator. Their enduring presence in the heavens reflected a worldview where the stability of the cosmos mirrored the steadfastness of divine covenants and the perpetuity of righteous rule.
* **Key Themes:** This verse profoundly contributes to several overarching themes within Psalm 72 and the broader biblical narrative. The most prominent is **Enduring Reverence**, emphasizing that the awe and worship directed towards God (through His righteous representative) are not fleeting but are portrayed as lasting for all time, mirrored by the constancy of the celestial bodies. This points to the eternal nature of God's covenant with His people and the unwavering stability of His character, as seen in passages like [Jeremiah 31:35-36](/jeremiah/31-35-36 "Jeremiah 31:35-36 - God's Enduring Covenant"). Another key theme is **Divine Perpetuity**, where the "sun and moon" serve as a potent metaphor for eternity or an extremely long duration, symbolizing the unwavering and everlasting nature of God's reign and the worship He rightly deserves. This imagery underscores the reliability of God's promises and the unshakeable foundation of His kingdom. Finally, **Generational Faithfulness** is highlighted by the phrase "throughout all generations," underscoring the hope that faith in God and respect for His ways will not diminish but will be faithfully transmitted from one generation to the next, ensuring a continuous legacy of worship and obedience. This aligns with the biblical emphasis on discipleship and teaching God's statutes to children, as encouraged in [Deuteronomy 6:6-7](/deuteronomy/6-6-7 "Deuteronomy 6:6-7 - Teaching God's Commands to Your Children") and [Psalm 78:4](/psalms/78-4 "Psalm 78:4 - Passing on God's Deeds to Future Generations").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Fear (Hebrew, _yârêʼ_):** H3372 (yârêʼ) is a primitive root meaning "to fear," but morally, "to revere." In the context of Psalms 72:5, this word signifies far more than mere fright or terror. It encompasses a profound sense of awe, reverence, respect, and adoration for a majestic and powerful entity. When directed towards God or His divinely appointed representative, it denotes acknowledging their authority, holiness, and sovereignty, leading to humble submission, obedient worship, and a right relationship. This concept of the "fear of the Lord" is consistently presented in scripture as the very beginning of knowledge and wisdom, as articulated in [Proverbs 1:7](/proverbs/1-7 "Proverbs 1:7 - The Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of Knowledge") and [Psalm 111:10](/psalms/111-10 "Psalm 111:10 - The Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of Wisdom").
* **Sun (Hebrew, _shemesh_):** H8121 (shemesh) refers to the sun, the primary celestial body that governs day and provides light and warmth. In ancient cultures, the sun was often associated with life, power, and divine presence. Here, its enduring, predictable cycle serves as a powerful symbol of permanence and unwavering constancy.
* **Moon (Hebrew, _yârêach_):** H3394 (yârêach) refers to the moon, the celestial body that governs night and marks time. Like the sun, the moon's consistent appearance and cycles make it a universal symbol of reliability and enduring order. Together, "sun and moon" represent the entire created cosmic order, signifying perpetuity and an extremely long, effectively eternal, duration. Their enduring presence testifies to God's steadfast faithfulness and the stability He imparts to His promises and righteous rule.
* **Generations (Hebrew, _dôwr_):** H1755 (dôwr) refers to a revolution of time, an age, or a succession of people born around the same time. The plural "generations" emphasizes the continuity and transmission of this profound reverence from one age to the next. It speaks to the hope and expectation that the legacy of faith and awe for the righteous king (and ultimately, God) will not only endure for an immense duration but will also be faithfully passed down through the lineage of humanity, ensuring a perpetual stream of worshipers and adherents to divine truth.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"They shall fear thee":** The "they" refers to the people living under the reign of the righteous king described in the psalm, the beneficiaries of his just and peaceful rule. The "thee" primarily refers to this ideal king, but within the broader messianic context of the psalm, it ultimately points to God Himself, from whom all legitimate authority, justice, and righteousness flow. The "fear" here is not terror but a deep, reverential awe, worship, and humble submission, a fitting response to the king's (and God's) just character, benevolent reign, and majestic power.
* **"as long as the sun and moon endure":** This clause employs a powerful and vivid simile, comparing the duration of the people's reverence to the seemingly eternal and unwavering existence of the sun and moon. It is a hyperbolic expression signifying perpetuity, an unending or extremely long period of time. Just as these celestial bodies reliably appear day after day, year after year, so too will the awe and respect for this righteous king and his God persist without end, reflecting an unshakeable and perpetual devotion.
* **"throughout all generations":** This phrase reinforces and expands upon the previous clause, emphasizing the continuity of this reverence not just in terms of time, but also across the lineage of humanity. It speaks to the transmission of faith, worship, and godly fear from parents to children, from one age to the next. It underscores the hope and expectation that the legacy of awe and obedience to God's righteous rule will be maintained and passed down through successive ages, ensuring a perpetual stream of worshipers and a continuous renewal of the covenant relationship.

#### Literary Devices
Psalms 72:5 masterfully employs several literary devices to convey its profound message of enduring reverence. The most prominent is **Simile**, evident in the phrase "as long as the sun and moon endure," which directly compares the desired permanence of the people's reverence to the perceived eternal existence of these celestial bodies. This comparison vividly illustrates the unwavering and perpetual nature of the worship envisioned. Closely related is **Hyperbole**, as the literal interpretation of "as long as the sun and moon endure" suggests an infinite duration, emphasizing the extreme and unending nature of the reverence and the king's reign. The sun and moon also function as powerful **Symbolism**, representing stability, divine order, and eternity, thereby underscoring the unwavering nature of God's promises and the righteous king's dominion. Furthermore, the entire psalm, including this verse, functions as **Messianic Prophecy**, where the description of an ideal earthly king's reign points beyond any human monarch to the ultimate, eternal, and universal dominion of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, whose kingdom truly inspires everlasting worship and endures forever. The use of **Parallelism** is also subtle but present, as "as long as the sun and moon endure" is reinforced by "throughout all generations," creating a sense of comprehensive and continuous duration across both cosmic time and human lineage.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse beautifully intertwines themes of divine sovereignty, covenant faithfulness, and the nature of true worship. It posits that genuine reverence for God is not a fleeting emotion but an enduring posture of the heart, as constant and reliable as the celestial order He established. The stability of creation serves as a testament to the unwavering faithfulness of the Creator, implying that the worship offered to Him should reflect that same steadfastness. This enduring reverence is a mark of God's eternal kingdom, which transcends all earthly reigns and promises a perpetual relationship between God and His people. It speaks to the hope that God's truth and the awe it inspires will never vanish but will be passed down through time, preserving His legacy among humanity, ensuring that His glory is acknowledged from generation to generation.

* [Jeremiah 31:35-36](/jeremiah/31-35-36 "Jeremiah 31:35-36 - God's Covenant Endures as Long as the Sun and Moon")
* [Psalm 89:36-37](/psalms/89-36-37 "Psalm 89:36-37 - The Davidic Covenant Endures Like the Sun")
* [Ecclesiastes 12:13](/ecclesiastes/12-13 "Ecclesiastes 12:13 - The Whole Duty of Man is to Fear God")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 72:5 calls believers today to cultivate a deep, abiding reverence for God that is not contingent upon circumstances or fleeting emotions. Our worship, obedience, and awe should be as constant and reliable as the sun and moon, reflecting the unchanging nature of God Himself. This verse encourages us to trust in God's eternal faithfulness and the enduring nature of His kingdom, finding profound security and hope in the knowledge that His dominion far surpasses any earthly power or transient human reign. It also lays a significant responsibility upon us: to actively transmit our faith and reverence for God to future generations. We are called to be faithful stewards of the spiritual legacy, ensuring that the awe and worship of God continue to thrive "throughout all generations" through intentional discipleship, godly living, and sharing the truth of His enduring kingdom. Ultimately, it fuels our longing for the full realization of God's kingdom, where the reign of the true Messianic King will inspire perfect and everlasting reverence from all creation.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does my daily life demonstrate a deep, abiding reverence for God that is not swayed by circumstances or personal feelings?**
* **In what practical ways can I actively contribute to passing on a legacy of faith and awe for God to my children, family, and future generations within my sphere of influence?**
* **How does the promise of an enduring, righteous kingdom in this psalm shape my hope, prayers, and priorities in the present age, especially in light of temporal earthly powers?**

### FAQ
**Is the "fear" mentioned in this verse about being afraid of God?**

Answer: No, the "fear" (Hebrew: _yârêʼ_) in Psalms 72:5, and generally throughout the Old Testament when referring to God, does not primarily mean terror or fright in the sense of being scared. Instead, it signifies a profound sense of awe, reverence, respect, and worship. It implies recognizing God's immense power, majesty, holiness, and sovereignty, which naturally leads to humble submission, obedience, and a desire to honor Him in all things. This "fear of the Lord" is consistently presented as the foundation of wisdom and knowledge, as seen in [Proverbs 9:10](/proverbs/9-10 "Proverbs 9:10 - The Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of Wisdom") and [Psalm 111:10](/psalms/111-10 "Psalm 111:10 - The Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of Wisdom"). It's a healthy, worshipful fear that acknowledges God's rightful place as Creator and Lord, fostering a right relationship with Him.

**How can an earthly king's reign last "as long as the sun and moon endure"?**

Answer: This phrase, "as long as the sun and moon endure," is a poetic and hyperbolic expression signifying an extremely long, perpetual, or eternal duration. While it speaks to the ideal longevity and stability of a righteous earthly king's reign (like Solomon's, to whom the psalm is traditionally attributed), it points beyond the limitations of any human monarch. No earthly kingdom or ruler truly lasts "as long as the sun and moon endure" in a literal sense. Therefore, this verse, like much of Psalm 72, has a profound messianic dimension. It anticipates a king whose reign *will* truly be eternal and universal, a king whose dominion will never end. This ultimate fulfillment is found only in the person and kingdom of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, whose reign is indeed everlasting and whose kingdom will endure throughout all generations, as prophesied in [Daniel 2:44](/daniel/2-44 "Daniel 2:44 - God's Eternal Kingdom") and [Luke 1:33](/luke/1-33 "Luke 1:33 - Jesus' Eternal Kingdom").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 72:5 finds its ultimate and perfect fulfillment in Jesus Christ, the true Messianic King whose reign truly endures "as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations." While the psalm initially describes an ideal earthly monarch, its language and aspirations transcend any human king, pointing directly to the eternal dominion of Christ. He is the righteous King who judges the poor with equity and delivers the needy, as anticipated in [Isaiah 9:6-7](/isaiah/9-6-7 "Isaiah 9:6-7 - Prophecy of the Messiah's Reign and Kingdom"). His kingdom is not of this world, yet it is an everlasting kingdom that will never be destroyed, as declared in [Daniel 7:14](/daniel/7-14 "Daniel 7:14 - The Son of Man's Everlasting Dominion") and affirmed in [Luke 1:33](/luke/1-33 "Luke 1:33 - Jesus' Eternal Kingdom"). The "fear" or profound reverence described in this verse is perfectly and eternally directed towards Him, for He is worthy of all glory, honor, and praise from every creature "throughout all generations" ([Revelation 5:13](/revelation/5-13 "Revelation 5:13 - All Creation Worships the Lamb")). Unlike any earthly ruler whose reign is finite, Jesus Christ is the same "yesterday, today, and forever" ([Hebrews 13:8](/hebrews/13-8 "Hebrews 13:8 - Jesus Christ is the Same Yesterday, Today, and Forever")), ensuring that the awe and worship inspired by His perfect justice, peace, and love will indeed endure for all eternity, a kingdom without end.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Psalms 89:36

His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me.

Psalms 89:37

It shall be established for ever as the moon, and [as] a faithful witness in heaven. Selah.

Psalms 72:17

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.

Daniel 7:14

And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion [is] an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom [that] which shall not be destroyed.

Luke 1:32

He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

Luke 1:33

And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

1 Kings 3:28

And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God [was] in him, to do judgment.