Psalms 86:9

All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name.

All nations {H1471} whom thou hast made {H6213}{H8804)} shall come {H935}{H8799)} and worship {H7812}{H8691)} before {H6440} thee, O Lord {H136}; and shall glorify {H3513}{H8762)} thy name {H8034}.

All the nations you have made will come and bow before you, Adonai; they will honor your name.

All the nations You have made will come and bow before You, O Lord, and they will glorify Your name.

All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; And they shall glorify thy name.

Commentary

Psalm 86:9 is a powerful prophetic declaration within a prayer of David, looking forward to a future time when God's sovereignty will be universally acknowledged. It anticipates a day when all peoples, recognizing Him as their Creator, will willingly offer Him worship and glory.

Context

Psalm 86 is a deeply personal prayer of King David, full of petitions for deliverance, mercy, and guidance in times of trouble. Throughout the psalm, David expresses his dependence on God, praising His character as good, merciful, and ready to forgive (Psalm 86:5). Amidst his personal pleas, verse 9 shifts to a grand, universal vision, expanding beyond David's immediate circumstances to God's ultimate plan for all humanity. This vision of universal worship is immediately followed by a declaration of God's uniqueness and greatness in Psalm 86:10, reinforcing the reason for such worship.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Universal Worship and Acknowledgment: The primary message is the prophetic certainty that one day, every nation will come to recognize and worship the Lord. This is not limited to Israel but extends to "all nations," signifying a global, inclusive worship.
  • God as Creator and Sovereign: The phrase "whom thou hast made" underscores God's absolute authority and ownership over all humanity. Because He created them, they owe Him worship and allegiance. This highlights God's sovereignty over all creation.
  • Glorifying God's Name: The ultimate purpose of this universal coming and worship is to "glorify thy name." To glorify God's name means to acknowledge His character, power, and holiness, and to declare His supreme worth to the world.
  • Prophetic Hope: For the original audience, and for believers today, this verse offers immense hope for a future where peace, justice, and true worship prevail, fulfilling God's ultimate purposes for humanity.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "nations" is goyim (ื’ึผื•ึนื™ึดื), which in many contexts refers to the Gentile nations, distinct from Israel. Here, it clearly encompasses all peoples on earth. The word for "worship" is shachah (ืฉืึธื—ึธื”), which means to bow down, prostrate oneself, or show reverence, indicating a posture of submission and adoration. "Glorify" comes from the root kabad (ื›ึธึผื‘ึทื“), meaning to be heavy, weighty, or honorable, implying that God's name will be given its due weight and honor by all.

Related Scriptures

This verse finds echoes throughout the Old Testament prophets and the New Testament, pointing to a future fulfillment where all nations shall come and worship before the Lord. Similar prophecies can be found in Isaiah 2:2, which speaks of all nations flowing to the mountain of the Lord's house, and Zechariah 14:16, which envisions the survivors of all nations going up to worship the King, the Lord of hosts. The vision of universal worship is a cornerstone of biblical prophecy regarding God's kingdom and the ultimate triumph of His will.

Practical Application

For believers today, Psalm 86:9 serves as both an encouragement and a call to action. It assures us of God's ultimate victory and the eventual recognition of His sovereignty by all people, reinforcing our hope in His kingdom. It also fuels the missionary mandate, reminding us that God desires all nations to know and worship Him. Our current efforts in sharing the Gospel are part of this grand, unfolding plan, contributing to the day when this prophecy is fully realized. It encourages us to live in a way that glorifies God's name in our daily lives, reflecting His character to the world around us.

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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Revelation 15:4 (14 votes)

    Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for [thou] only [art] holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.

  • Isaiah 66:23 (12 votes)

    And it shall come to pass, [that] from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.

  • Psalms 66:4 (9 votes)

    All the earth shall worship thee, and shall sing unto thee; they shall sing [to] thy name. Selah.

  • Isaiah 2:2 (5 votes)

    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 2:4 (5 votes)

    And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

  • Revelation 11:15 (5 votes)

    And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become [the kingdoms] of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

  • Psalms 102:15 (5 votes)

    So the heathen shall fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth thy glory.