Psalms 72:6

KJV

He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers [that] water the earth.

KJV (with Strong's)

He shall come down {H3381}{H8799)} like rain {H4306} upon the mown {H1488} grass: as showers {H7241} that water {H2222} the earth {H776}.

Complete Jewish Bible

May he be like rain falling on mown grass, like showers watering the land.

Berean Standard Bible

May he be like rain that falls on freshly cut grass, like spring showers that water the earth.

American Standard Version

He will come down like rain upon the mown grass, As showers that water the earth.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 72:6 vividly portrays the profound blessing and revitalizing impact of a righteous king's reign, employing rich agricultural metaphors. It depicts the king's presence and governance as a life-giving force, akin to gentle, pervasive rain that descends upon parched land, bringing refreshment, growth, and renewal, especially to those who are vulnerable and in need of restoration. This imagery underscores the idea that true flourishing and abundance flow from just and compassionate leadership, ultimately pointing to a divine, Messianic fulfillment.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 72 concludes Book II of the Psalter and is uniquely titled "A Psalm for Solomon" or "Of Solomon," indicating its association with King Solomon's reign. It functions as a royal psalm, a prayer for a just and prosperous king who rules with righteousness, compassion, and brings peace and abundance to his people. The verses immediately preceding verse 6 describe the king's commitment to judging the poor and needy and crushing oppressors, setting the stage for the life-giving nature of his rule. The subsequent verses continue to elaborate on the enduring and universal nature of his dominion, his care for the afflicted, and the global spread of his influence, culminating in a doxology that closes Book II. While rooted in the earthly monarchy, the psalm's elevated language and promises of universal peace and an everlasting kingdom transcend any human king, leading many to interpret it as a profound Messianic prophecy ultimately fulfilled in the person and reign of Jesus Christ.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Israel, an agrarian society, rain was not merely a meteorological event but a direct symbol of divine blessing and a prerequisite for life and prosperity. The land was heavily dependent on seasonal rains for crops and pasture. A king's reign was often viewed through the lens of its impact on the land's fertility and the people's well-being. A righteous king was believed to be a channel of God's blessing, ensuring good harvests and a flourishing society, while an unrighteous king could bring drought and famine. The imagery of "mown grass" (grass cut for hay or pasture) speaks to a state of vulnerability, depletion, or even desolation, highlighting its desperate need for water to regenerate and thrive. This context emphasizes the king's vital role as a source of renewal and life for a people who, like parched land, are in dire need of refreshment.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several key themes within [Psalm 72](/psalms/72 "Psalm 72 - A Prayer for the King") and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it highlights **Righteous Governance**, portraying the king's rule not as oppressive power but as a life-giving force that brings flourishing and abundance, much like rain revitalizes parched land. This underscores that true blessing and societal well-being are intrinsically linked to just and equitable leadership. Secondly, the verse emphasizes **Divine Blessing and Refreshment**, presenting the king as a conduit for God's providential care. The comparison to "rain upon the mown grass" and "showers that water the earth" signifies renewal, restoration, and an outpouring of abundance, particularly for the vulnerable and those in need of revival. This aligns with the biblical concept of God's blessings pouring out upon His people, as seen in passages like [Deuteronomy 32:2](/deuteronomy/32-2 "Deuteronomy 32:2 - Moses' Teaching Like Rain") where Moses' teaching is likened to refreshing rain. Finally, the verse strongly points to **Messianic Hope**. The ideal of a ruler who brings such pervasive, life-sustaining blessing transcends any earthly monarch, pointing ultimately to Christ. His spiritual reign provides [living water](/john/4-14 "John 4:14 - Jesus Offers Living Water") and spiritual nourishment to all who believe, ensuring spiritual growth and vitality even in times of spiritual dryness, fulfilling the deepest longings for a king who brings ultimate refreshment and eternal life.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Come down (Hebrew, _yârad'_):** This primitive root (H3381) signifies to descend, literally to go downwards, or figuratively to fall. In this context, it implies a deliberate, beneficial descent, suggesting the king's active engagement and the divine origin of his blessing. It denotes a proactive movement towards the people, bringing his influence to bear directly upon their circumstances.
* **Rain (Hebrew, _mâṭar'_):** This word (H4306) refers to rain, often as a direct blessing from God, essential for the fertility and sustenance of the land. It denotes a natural, life-sustaining precipitation, symbolizing the king's presence as a consistent, beneficial force that brings growth and vitality, contrasting with destructive meteorological events.
* **Mown grass (Hebrew, _gêz'_):** Derived from a root meaning "to shear" (H1488), this term specifically refers to grass that has been cut or shorn, often for hay. This imagery evokes a state of vulnerability, depletion, or even desolation. It signifies something that has been diminished or brought low, highlighting its desperate need for water to regenerate and thrive. The king's coming to "mown grass" emphasizes his restorative power for the weak and downtrodden.
* **Showers (Hebrew, _râbîyb'_):** This word (H7241) refers to abundant, gentle, and refreshing showers, often associated with the latter rains that bring crops to maturity. It suggests a pervasive, widespread, and deeply penetrating watering, signifying the comprehensive and abundant nature of the king's blessing, which reaches every part of the "earth."

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass":** This clause introduces the central simile, comparing the king's advent and influence to the gentle, life-giving descent of rain. The phrase "come down" suggests a divine or elevated source for the king's blessing, implying that his reign is divinely sanctioned and empowered. The specific target, "the mown grass," powerfully conveys the king's particular concern for the vulnerable, the depleted, and those in a state of need, bringing them renewal and regeneration.
* **"as showers [that] water the earth":** This second clause reinforces and expands upon the first, using a synonymous parallelism. "Showers" (râbîyb) emphasizes the abundance and refreshing quality of the precipitation, while "water the earth" broadens the scope of the king's beneficial influence from the specific "mown grass" to the entire land. This signifies that the king's righteous rule brings pervasive, widespread, and comprehensive blessing and prosperity to all his dominion, ensuring flourishing and vitality across the entire realm.

#### Literary Devices
The verse is rich in **Imagery**, particularly agricultural imagery, which was highly resonant in an agrarian society. The vivid pictures of "rain," "mown grass," "showers," and "watering the earth" evoke a sense of refreshment, growth, and prosperity. The primary literary device is **Simile**, explicitly comparing the king's coming and influence to "rain upon the mown grass" and "showers that water the earth," using the comparative "like" and "as." This simile functions as a powerful **Metaphor** for the king's reign, suggesting that his rule is inherently life-giving and restorative. The verse also employs **Parallelism**, specifically synonymous parallelism, where the second clause ("as showers that water the earth") reiterates and expands the idea presented in the first clause ("He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass"), intensifying the image of pervasive and abundant blessing.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 72:6 profoundly connects the earthly king's righteous reign to the divine nature of blessing and renewal. It posits that true leadership, when aligned with God's justice and compassion, becomes a channel for life, growth, and restoration, much like God Himself provides the essential rain for the earth's sustenance. This imagery elevates the role of a just ruler from mere governance to a sacred task, reflecting God's own character as the ultimate provider and sustainer of life. The verse thus serves as a theological statement about divine providence flowing through human instruments, highlighting that God's blessing is not only spiritual but also manifests in tangible ways, bringing flourishing to the physical world and its inhabitants, especially those who are vulnerable.

* [Deuteronomy 32:2](/deuteronomy/32-2 "Deuteronomy 32:2 - Moses' Teaching as Rain")
* [Isaiah 55:10-11](/isaiah/55-10-11 "Isaiah 55:10-11 - God's Word Like Rain and Snow")
* [Hosea 6:3](/hosea/6-3 "Hosea 6:3 - God's Coming Like Rain")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
This verse offers a timeless metaphor for the transformative impact of righteous, life-giving influence, whether it stems from a national leader, a community figure, or an individual believer. It reminds us that authentic authority, especially that which is divinely inspired, is not about control or oppression but about serving as a conduit for refreshment, renewal, and growth, particularly for those who are "mown" or vulnerable. For believers, Psalms 72:6 profoundly illustrates the continuous, life-sustaining spiritual nourishment provided by Christ and His Word. Just as parched earth longs for rain, our souls yearn for the spiritual refreshment that comes from God's presence, His grace, and the truth of His Word, which brings renewal and vitality even in times of spiritual dryness or "mown" circumstances. It challenges us to reflect on how we, as followers of Christ, can embody this life-giving influence in our own spheres, bringing spiritual and practical refreshment to those around us, mirroring the restorative work of our King.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways does righteous leadership, whether in government, community, or family, bring life and renewal to those under its care?**
* **How do you personally experience God's "rain" of grace, truth, and spiritual nourishment in your life, especially during seasons of spiritual dryness or "mown" circumstances?**
* **Considering the imagery of refreshment and growth, how can believers actively embody the life-giving influence of Christ in their daily interactions and spheres of influence?**

### FAQ
**Why is "mown grass" specifically mentioned, and what does it signify in this context?**

Answer: The mention of "mown grass" (Hebrew: _gez_) is highly significant and adds a layer of profound meaning to the verse. It refers to grass that has been cut or shorn, typically for hay or pasture. In an agricultural society, this imagery immediately evokes a state of vulnerability, depletion, and a desperate need for regeneration. Grass that has been mown is not thriving; it is at its lowest point, having lost its vigor and height, and requires water to sprout anew and regain life. In this context, "mown grass" symbolizes those who are humble, afflicted, vulnerable, or in a state of spiritual or physical depletion. It highlights the king's particular concern for the downtrodden and needy, emphasizing that his righteous rule brings not just general prosperity but specific, targeted renewal and restoration to those who are most in need of it. Just as rain revitalizes the cut grass, the king's presence and governance bring life and hope to the marginalized and suffering, ensuring their flourishing. This foreshadows the compassionate care of the ultimate King, Jesus Christ, for the "poor in spirit" and those who "hunger and thirst for righteousness," as described in [Matthew 5:3-6](/matthew/5-3-6 "Matthew 5:3-6 - The Beatitudes").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 72:6 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and reign of Jesus Christ. While initially a prayer for an earthly king like Solomon, the psalm's lofty aspirations for universal, eternal, and perfectly righteous dominion transcend any human monarch, pointing directly to the Messiah. Jesus Christ is the true King who "comes down" not merely as a human ruler, but as God incarnate, bringing divine life and spiritual refreshment to a world parched by sin. His spiritual reign is precisely "like rain upon the mown grass," revitalizing souls that are spiritually depleted, broken, and vulnerable due to the fall. He is the source of [living water](/john/4-10 "John 4:10 - Jesus Offers Living Water") that quenches the deepest thirst, and from Him flow "rivers of living water" to those who believe, as promised in [John 7:38](/john/7-38 "John 7:38 - Rivers of Living Water"). His teaching, like the rain, nourishes and transforms, causing spiritual growth and fruitfulness where there was barrenness. The "showers that water the earth" speak to the universal scope of His redemptive work; His grace and truth are not limited but extend to all nations, bringing renewal to every corner of the spiritual "earth." Unlike earthly kings whose reigns are finite and imperfect, Christ's dominion is eternal, and His life-giving presence ensures that all who are in Him will never thirst again, experiencing continuous spiritual vitality and flourishing, ultimately leading to the eternal river of life in the new creation, as depicted in [Revelation 22:1](/revelation/22-1 "Revelation 22:1 - River of the Water of Life").

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

Hosea 6:3

Then shall we know, [if] we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter [and] former rain unto the earth.

Deuteronomy 32:2

My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass:

2 Samuel 23:4

And [he shall be] as the light of the morning, [when] the sun riseth, [even] a morning without clouds; [as] the tender grass [springing] out of the earth by clear shining after rain.

Hosea 14:5

I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.

Hosea 14:7

They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive [as] the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof [shall be] as the wine of Lebanon.

Psalms 65:10

Thou waterest the ridges thereof abundantly: thou settlest the furrows thereof: thou makest it soft with showers: thou blessest the springing thereof.

Isaiah 14:3

And it shall come to pass in the day that the LORD shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve,