Psalms 72:3
Psalms 72:3 in Multiple Translations
May the mountains bring peace to the people, and the hills bring righteousness.
The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness.
The mountains shall bring peace to the people, And the hills, in righteousness.
May the mountains give peace to the people, and the hills righteousness.
May the mountains bring peace to the people, and the hills bring goodness.
The mountaines and the hilles shall bring peace to the people by iustice.
The mountains bear peace to the people, And the heights by righteousness.
The mountains shall bring prosperity to the people. The hills bring the fruit of righteousness.
The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness.
Because I had a zeal on occasion of the wicked, seeing the prosperity of sinners.
I desire that all over the country—even on the hills and mountains [DOU]— people will live peacefully and righteously.
Berean Amplified Bible — Psalms 72:3
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Psalms 72:3 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
יִשְׂא֤וּ
הָרִ֓ים
שָׁ֘ל֥וֹם
לָ/עָ֑ם
וּ֝/גְבָע֗וֹת
בִּ/צְדָקָֽה
יִשְׂא֤וּ
nâsâʼ
H5375
to lift
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp
הָרִ֓ים
har
H2022
mountain
N-mp
שָׁ֘ל֥וֹם
shâlôwm
H7965
Peace
N-ms
לָ/עָ֑ם
ʻam
H5971
Amaw
Prep | N-ms
וּ֝/גְבָע֗וֹת
gibʻâh
H1389
Gibeat
Conj | N-fp
בִּ/צְדָקָֽה
tsᵉdâqâh
H6666
righteousness
Prep | N-fs
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Psalms 72:3
יִשְׂא֤וּ
nâsâʼ
H5375
"to lift"
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to lift or raise something, and it's used in many ways, like lifting a burden or raising someone's status. It appears in books like Genesis and Isaiah, often talking about God lifting people up. It's about supporting or carrying something or someone.
Definition: : raise/take_up 1) to lift, bear up, carry, take 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to lift, lift up 1a2) to bear, carry, support, sustain, endure 1a3) to take, take away, carry off, forgive 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be lifted up, be exalted 1b2) to lift oneself up, rise up 1b3) to be borne, be carried 1b4) to be taken away, be carried off, be swept away 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to lift up, exalt, support, aid, assist 1c2) to desire, long (fig.) 1c3) to carry, bear continuously 1c4) to take, take away 1d) (Hithpael) to lift oneself up, exalt oneself 1e) (Hiphil) 1e1) to cause one to bear (iniquity) 1e2) to cause to bring, have brought
Usage: Occurs in 609 OT verses. KJV: accept, advance, arise, (able to, (armor), suffer to) bear(-er, up), bring (forth), burn, carry (away), cast, contain, desire, ease, exact, exalt (self), extol, fetch, forgive, furnish, further, give, go on, help, high, hold up, honorable ([phrase] man), lade, lay, lift (self) up, lofty, marry, magnify, [idiom] needs, obtain, pardon, raise (up), receive, regard, respect, set (up), spare, stir up, [phrase] swear, take (away, up), [idiom] utterly, wear, yield. See also: Genesis 4:13; Numbers 4:2; 1 Samuel 14:3.
הָרִ֓ים
har
H2022
"mountain"
N-mp
A mountain or hill, sometimes used to describe a spiritual high point. In the Bible, it can refer to a real mountain or a figurative one. The word is often translated as hill or mount.
Definition: : mount/hill hill, mountain, hill country, mount
Usage: Occurs in 486 OT verses. KJV: hill (country), mount(-ain), [idiom] promotion. See also: Genesis 7:19; Deuteronomy 3:12; Judges 18:13.
שָׁ֘ל֥וֹם
shâlôwm
H7965
"Peace"
N-ms
This Hebrew word for peace, shalom, means completeness, wellness, and friendship, and is often used to describe God's relationship with humanity, as seen in the covenant with the Israelites. It encompasses physical and spiritual health, prosperity, and harmony.
Definition: This name means completeness, peace Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)
Usage: Occurs in 209 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] do, familiar, [idiom] fare, favour, [phrase] friend, [idiom] great, (good) health, ([idiom] perfect, such as be at) peace(-able, -ably), prosper(-ity, -ous), rest, safe(-ty), salute, welfare, ([idiom] all is, be) well, [idiom] wholly. See also: Genesis 15:15; Esther 2:11; Psalms 4:9.
לָ/עָ֑ם
ʻam
H5971
"Amaw"
Prep | N-ms
A people or nation is what this Hebrew word represents, like the nation of Israel in Exodus 33:13. It can also mean a tribe, troops, or attendants, and is used to describe a group of people gathered together. The word is often used to refer to the people of God.
Definition: This name means nation, people
Usage: Occurs in 1655 OT verses. KJV: folk, men, nation, people. See also: Genesis 11:6; Exodus 16:4; Leviticus 17:9.
וּ֝/גְבָע֗וֹת
gibʻâh
H1389
"Gibeat"
Conj | N-fp
Gibeat refers to a small hill, with the name meaning hill, and is another spelling of Gibeah. It appears in various KJV translations as hill or little hill.
Definition: This name means hill Another spelling of giv.ah (גִּבְעָה "Gibeah" H1390H)
Usage: Occurs in 71 OT verses. KJV: hill, little hill. See also: Genesis 49:26; Isaiah 30:17; Psalms 65:13.
בִּ/צְדָקָֽה
tsᵉdâqâh
H6666
"righteousness"
Prep | N-fs
Encompasses the idea of righteousness, including justice, virtue, and morality, often describing God's attribute or the standard for human behavior. It is used to describe the ideal for personal conduct and societal norms, emphasizing the importance of living a righteous life.
Definition: 1) justice, righteousness 1a) righteousness (in government) 1a1) of judge, ruler, king 1a2) of law 1a3) of Davidic king Messiah 1b) righteousness (of God's attribute) 1c) righteousness (in a case or cause) 1d) righteousness, truthfulness 1e) righteousness (as ethically right) 1f) righteousness (as vindicated), justification, salvation 1f1) of God 1f2) prosperity (of people) 1g) righteous acts Aramaic equivalent: tsid.qah (צִדְקָה "righteousness" H6665)
Usage: Occurs in 150 OT verses. KJV: justice, moderately, right(-eous) (act, -ly, -ness). See also: Genesis 15:6; Proverbs 16:31; Psalms 5:9.
Study Notes — Psalms 72:3
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Psalms 72:3 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Psalms 72:3
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 72:3
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 72:3
- Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 72:3
- Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 72:3
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 72:3
- Cambridge Bible on Psalms 72:3
- Barnes' Notes on Psalms 72:3
- Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 72:3
- Sermons on Psalms 72:3
Context — Endow the King with Your Justice
1Endow the king with Your justice, O God, and the son of the king with Your righteousness.
2May he judge Your people with righteousness and Your afflicted with justice.
3May the mountains bring peace to the people, and the hills bring righteousness.
4May he vindicate the afflicted among the people; may he save the children of the needy and crush the oppressor. 5May they fear him as long as the sun shines, as long as the moon remains, through all generations.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Isaiah 52:7 | How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” |
| 2 | Psalms 96:11–13 | Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice; let the sea resound, and all that fills it. Let the fields exult, and all that is in them. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy before the LORD, for He is coming— He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in His faithfulness. |
| 3 | Psalms 72:16 | 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. |
| 4 | Psalms 85:10–11 | Loving devotion and faithfulness have joined together; righteousness and peace have kissed. Faithfulness sprouts from the earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven. |
| 5 | Daniel 9:24 | Seventy weeks are decreed for your people and your holy city to stop their transgression, to put an end to sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy Place. |
| 6 | Joel 3:18 | And in that day the mountains will drip with sweet wine, and the hills will flow with milk. All the streams of Judah will run with water, and a spring will flow from the house of the LORD to water the Valley of Acacias. |
| 7 | Psalms 65:12 | The pastures of the wilderness overflow; the hills are robed with joy. |
| 8 | Isaiah 32:16–17 | Then justice will inhabit the wilderness, and righteousness will dwell in the fertile field. The work of righteousness will be peace; the service of righteousness will be quiet confidence forever. |
| 9 | 2 Corinthians 5:19–21 | that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s trespasses against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ: Be reconciled to God. God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. |
| 10 | Ezekiel 34:13–14 | I will bring them out from the peoples, gather them from the countries, and bring them into their own land. I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines, and in all the settlements of the land. I will feed them in good pasture, and the lofty mountains of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in a good grazing land; they will feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. |
Psalms 72:3 Summary
[This verse is a poetic way of expressing the desire for God's peace and righteousness to fill the earth, just like the mountains and hills provide a stable foundation for the natural world. In the same way that mountains and hills bring a sense of calm and security, God's peace and righteousness can bring a sense of stability and hope to our lives (Isaiah 11:9). By seeking to bring peace and righteousness to those around us, we can reflect the character of God and help to create a more just and peaceful world (Matthew 5:9). As we look to the natural world for inspiration, we can also look to God's word for guidance on how to live out this verse in our daily lives (Psalms 19:1-6).]
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean for mountains to bring peace to the people?
In Psalms 72:3, the mountains and hills are used as a metaphor for the natural world and the stability it provides, much like in Isaiah 11:9 where the earth is filled with the knowledge of the Lord, bringing peace to all creation.
How does righteousness come from the hills?
The idea of hills bringing righteousness is a poetic way of expressing how God's creation can reflect His character, as seen in Psalms 19:1-6 where the heavens declare the glory of God, and Romans 1:20 which says that God's invisible attributes are clearly seen in the things that have been made.
Is this verse talking about a literal king or a spiritual one?
While the context of Psalms 72 does refer to a king, the principles of peace and righteousness are applicable to the kingdom of God, as described in Luke 17:21, where the kingdom of God is within us, and in Revelation 11:15, where Jesus Christ reigns as the King of kings.
How can we apply this verse to our daily lives?
By recognizing that our daily lives are an extension of God's kingdom, we can seek to bring peace and righteousness to those around us, just as the mountains and hills are called to do in Psalms 72:3, and as encouraged in Matthew 5:9 where the peacemakers are called children of God.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that nature reflects the peace and righteousness of God, and how can I appreciate these reflections in my daily life?
- How can I be an instrument of peace and righteousness in my community, just as the mountains and hills are called to be in this verse?
- What are some areas in my life where I need to seek peace and righteousness, and how can I apply the principles of this verse to those areas?
- In what ways can I partner with God to bring peace and righteousness to those around me, just as the natural world is called to do in this verse?
Gill's Exposition on Psalms 72:3
The mountains shall bring peace to the people,.... The people of God, as before.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 72:3
The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness. The mountains shall bring peace to the people.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 72:3
He mentioneth the mountains and hills, as bringing forth this blessed fruit; either because such places are usually barren, and therefore this was an evidence of extraordinary fruitfulness, and a special blessing of God; or because they are dangerous to passengers, in regard of the robbers and wild beasts, which commonly abide there; whereby it is implied that other places should do so too, and that it should be common and universal. Peace; all manner of prosperity and felicity, which the Hebrews frequently express by that word.
Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 72:3
Psalms 72:3 The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness.Ver. 3. The mountains shall bring peace] i.e. They shall not be so pestered and infested by thieves and robbers, who usually haunt and hide themselves in hills and hollow places. By righteousness] By right administration of justice, as it was here in King Alfred’ s days, who ordained that his subjects should be divided into tens, or tithings, every one of which severally should give bond for the good abearing of each other; and he who was of that dissolute behaviour, that he could not be admitted to these tithings, was forthwith conveyed to the house of correction. The most ancient of these men were called by a specialty the tithing men.
Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 72:3
(3) The mountains . . .—Better, literally, Let the mountains and the hills bring forth to the people peace in (or by) righteousness. This imperative sense, instead of the future, is by most modern commentators preserved throughout the psalm. The LXX. give it here and in Psalms 72:17, but else use the future. The verb here employed (properly meaning “lift up”) is used in Ezekiel 17:8, for “bearing fruit,” and in Isaiah 32:17 peace is described as the natural work or fruit of righteousness. (Comp. Psalms 85:10.) For the same prominence given to its hills as the characteristic feature of Palestine, a land which is “not only mountainous, but a heap of mountains,” comp. Joe 3:18.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 72:3
Verse 3. The mountains shall bring peace] Perhaps mountains and hills are here taken in their figurative sense, to signify princes and petty governors; and it is a prediction that all governors of provinces and magistrates should administer equal justice in their several departments and jurisdictions; so that universal peace should be preserved, and the people be every where prosperous; for shalom signifies both peace and prosperity, for without the former the latter never existed. But what is the meaning of "the little hills by righteousness?" Why, it has no meaning: and it has none, because it is a false division of the verse. The word בצדקה bitsedakah, in righteousness, at the end of verse 3, should begin verse 4, and then the sense will be plain. Ver. 3: "The mountains and the hills shall bring prosperity to the people." Ver. 4: "In righteousness he shall judge the poor of the people: he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor." The effects, mentioned in the fourth verse, show that King Solomon should act according to the law of his God; and that all officers, magistrates, and governors, should minister equal rights through every part of the land. The Septuagint has the true division: Αναλαβετωταορηειρηνηντῳλαῳσου, καιοἱβουνοι·Ενδικαιοσυνῃκρινειτουςπτωχουςτουλαου, κ. τ. λ. "The mountains shall bring peace to thy people, and the hills: In righteousness shall he judge the poor of thy people," &c.
Cambridge Bible on Psalms 72:3
3. Logically this verse forms but one sentence, and the exact reproduction of the Heb. division into two clauses for the sake of rhythm has an awkward effect. The sense is, By righteousness shall the mountains and the hills bear peace for the people. The mountains and the hills, which are the characteristic features of Palestine, represent poetically the whole land, which, under a just government, will bear the fruit of peace and general welfare for its inhabitants. Similarly Isaiah describes peace as the result of righteousness (Isaiah 32:17); and peace was the distinguishing characteristic of Solomon’s reign (1 Chronicles 22:9), as well as of its antitype the Messianic age (Isaiah 2:4; Isaiah 9:6-7; Zechariah 9:10).
Barnes' Notes on Psalms 72:3
The mountains shall bring peace to the people - The idea in this verse is that the land would be full of peace and the fruits of peace.
Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 72:3
3. Mountains shall bring peace—The verb may be taken in the sense of to elevate, lift up, as a signal, and hence the ensigns of war upon the tops of the mountains shall give place to peace-signals and publishers of good tidings.
Sermons on Psalms 72:3
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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Christ's Legacy of Peace by Bob Jennings | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of truly believing and trusting in God in order to experience peace. He shares a personal anecdote about his wife reminding h |
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As You Go, Make Disciples by Paul Washer | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of understanding the structure of the text. The main command or controlling verb is to make disciples, accompanied by three pa |
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Absalom by Jacob Prasch | This sermon emphasizes the importance of sharing the full gospel message, including the need for repentance and the reality of trials, not just the blessings and feel-good aspects. |
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Nahum, Habakkuk by Zac Poonen | In this sermon, the speaker addresses the frustration and confusion that believers often feel when they see the wicked prospering and the righteous suffering. The speaker uses the |
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How Shall People Come to Faith in Christ? by John Piper | In this sermon, Pastor John focuses on the relevance of Romans 10:13-21 in understanding salvation and spreading the gospel. He emphasizes the importance of calling upon the name o |
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The Parable of the Sower - Part 1 by Keith Daniel | In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the parable of the sower from Luke 8:5. He describes how a sower went out to sow his seed, and as he sowed, some fell by the wayside, some f |
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(Through the Bible) Nahum by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the deep and complete nature of God's love. He shares how his own loving nature can quickly change when those he loves are threatened. The ser |