Psalms 22:30 — Word Study
WLCזֶ֥רַע יַֽעַבְדֶ֑נּוּ יְסֻפַּ֖ר לַֽאדֹנָ֣י לַדּֽוֹר׃
BSAto eatʼâkal [inform, teach] to bowshâchâh allkôl fatdâshên landʼerets facepânîym to bowkâraʻ allkôl to go downyârad dustʻâphâr soulnephesh notlôʼ to livechâyâh
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| זֶ֥רַע | offspring | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| יַֽעַבְדֶ֑נּוּ | it will serve him | Verb qal imperfect third person masculine singular, suffix |
| יְסֻפַּ֖ר | it will be recounted | Verb, Pual, imperfect third person masculine singular |
| לַֽאדֹנָ֣י | of [the] Lord | Preposition, noun proper |
| לַדּֽוֹר׃ | to the generation | Preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Posterity will serve Him; they will declare the Lord to a new generation. |
| KJV | A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation. |
| ASV | A seed shall serve him; It shall be told of the Lord unto the next generation. |
| YLT | A seed doth serve Him, It is declared of the Lord to the generation. |
| WEB | Posterity shall serve him. Future generations shall be told about the Lord. |
| BBE | A seed will be his servant; the doings of the Lord will be made clear to the generation which comes after. |
The translations agree on the essential meaning of the verse.
The sentence has a main clause with two subordinate phrases detailing the actions of future generations.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectאָכַל
verbכֹּל
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Psalms 22:30
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Enduring Worship of Future Generationsgenerated
Psalm 22:30 expresses a prophetic vision where future generations will serve and declare the Lord. This verse is part of a larger psalm that emphasizes God's sovereignty and the response of His people across time. It highlights the continuity of faith and worship from one generation to the next, affirming God's enduring presence and the call to declare His greatness.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Isaiah 53:10 | Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush Him and to cause Him to suffer; and when His soul is made a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, and the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand. |
| 2 | Hebrews 2:13 | And again: “I will put My trust in Him.” And once again: “Here am I, and the children God has given Me.” |
| 3 | Psalm 14:5 | There they are, overwhelmed with dread, for God is in the company of the righteous. |
| 4 | Psalm 24:6 | Such is the generation of those who seek Him, who seek Your face, O God of Jacob. Selah |
| 5 | Psalm 73:15 | If I had said, “I will speak this way,” then I would have betrayed Your children. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 9 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — זֶ֫רַע, Ze.ra'generated
The word זֶ֫רַע (zera`) means seed or offspring, referring to descendants or future generations. It can denote both literal seeds in agriculture and figurative offspring, emphasizing the idea of continuity and growth in God's plan for humanity.
This noun is masculine singular and is used frequently in the Hebrew Bible, indicating its importance in discussions of lineage and heritage. The concept of זֶ֫רַע connects to God's promises, such as those made to Abraham about his many descendants, and underscores the importance of passing faith and worship down through the ages.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The translations agree on the meaning of the verse, emphasizing that future generations will serve the Lord and proclaim His name.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The verse contains two main clauses: the first describes the action of future generations serving the Lord, while the second states that they will declare His greatness. The structure emphasizes the relationship between service and proclamation.
The finite verbs יַֽעַבְדֶ֑נּוּ and יְסֻפַּ֖ר are central, linking the subjects to their actions. The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the offspring as the subject of both actions.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the Hebrew זֶ֫רַע is translated as ἔφαγον, which means 'to eat' but is used here in a context that implies consuming or taking in the teachings of the Lord. This choice suggests a nurturing aspect of the relationship between God and His people.
The translation reflects a broader interpretation of the Hebrew text, emphasizing the act of receiving and internalizing God's message across generations.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 22:30 tells us that future generations will serve the Lord and declare His greatness. This verse emphasizes the importance of passing down faith and worship from one generation to the next, highlighting God's enduring presence and the call to proclaim His name.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It signifies that descendants will continue to worship and obey God, maintaining a relationship with Him.
They will proclaim His greatness and share His teachings with those who come after them.
It highlights the continuity of faith and the responsibility to pass down worship and reverence for God through time.
We are reminded of our role in teaching future generations about God and encouraging their faith.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways can I actively pass down my faith to the next generation?
- How can I ensure that my worship and service to God influence those around me?
- What are some practical steps I can take to declare God's greatness in my community?
- How does understanding the concept of זֶ֫רַע change my perspective on my role in God's plan?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
The early Church Fathers have commented on this verse, often reflecting on the implications of future generations worshiping God and proclaiming His name.
"And My Soul shall live to Him." And My Soul, which in the contempt of this world seems to men as it were to die, shall live, not to itself, but to Him.Early Church Fathers on Psalms 22 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 22:30 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleA seed shall serve him,.... That is, Christ shall always have a seed to serve him in every age; a remnant according to the election of grace; see Romans 9:29; so that as the former verses speak of
Read John Gill on Psalms 22 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryA seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation. A seed shall serve him - (Isaiah 53:10). As He is the "seed" long promised, so He has a "seed" which springs up from Him spiritually.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 22 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleChrist shall not want a seed or posterity, ; for though the Jewish nation should generally reject and forsake him, which may seem to be here implied, Christ shall have many disciples or followers, and the Gentiles shall come in their stead. Compare this promise with that, he shall see his seed, . Or, their seed, i.e. the seed of the Gentile worshippers last mentioned. Christian religion shall not be the business of one age, but, as the Gentiles shall believe in Christ, so shall their posterity in succeeding generations; this being God’ s usual method, to take children into covenant with their parents, of which see 30:19 44:3. And as when the Jews refused Christ, their children were cast out…
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 22 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 22:30 A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.Ver. 30. A seed shall serve him] And be saved by him, a remnant reserved for royal use, a chosen generation, Romans 9:20 Isaiah 53:10.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 22 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(30) A seed . . .—Better, Posterity shall serve Him. About Jehovah it shall be told to the (coming) generation. The article makes for this interpretation. Others, as in Psalms 87:6, understand a reference to the census; but the parallelism is against this reference. The next verse repeats the same thought in another form.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 22 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 30. Shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.] They shall be called Christians after the name of Christ.
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 22 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges30. It shall be accounted &c.] i.e. as R.V. marg., It shall be counted unto the Lord for his generation. Better, however, as R.V. text, It shall be told of the Lord unto the next generation. But here again it seems best slightly to alter the text, and following the LXX to connect the first word of Psa 22:31 with Psalms 22:30 : It shall be told of the Lord unto the generation that shall come: for (1) the generation needs the qualification which R.V. supplies by inserting next: and (2) they shall come absolutely in the sense of they shall come into being is doubtful.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 22 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleA seed shall serve him - A people; a race. The word used here, and rendered “seed” - זרע zera‛ - means properly “a sowing;” then, a planting, a plantation; then.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 22 →The verse in English, compared — 16 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Posterity will serve Him; they will declare the Lord to a new generation.
Posterity shall serve him. Future generations shall be told about the Lord.
Posterity will serve Him; they will declare the Lord to a new generation.
A whole generation will serve him; they will tell the next generation about the sovereign Lord.
Tyndale line
A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.
A seed shall serve him; It shall be told of the Lord unto the next generation.
A seed shall serve him; it shall be told of the Lord unto the next generation.
A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the LORD for a generation.
Their seede shall serue him: it shalbe counted vnto the Lord for a generation.
Strictly literal
A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.
A seed doth serve Him, It is declared of the Lord to the generation.
A seed serves Him, || It is declared of the Lord to the generation.
(22:31) Distant ages shall serve him; there shall be related of the Lord unto future generations.
A generation to come will serve him; they will tell the next generation of the Lord.
Simplified
Our descendants will serve him; they will tell the next generation about the Lord.
A seed will be his servant; the doings of the Lord will be made clear to the generation which comes after.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree closely on the wording of this verse, with all five key words matching. This consistency indicates a strong textual tradition for this passage.
זֶ֥רַע יַֽעַבְדֶ֑נּוּ יְסֻפַּ֖ר לַֽאדֹנָ֣י לַדּֽוֹר׃
5 of the 5 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Psalms 22:30
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
זֶ֫רַע (zera`) means seed, sowing, or offspring. It can refer to literal seed, such as in agriculture, or figuratively to descendants and moral qualities of individuals or communities. The term encompasses concepts like sowing time and can denote a practitioner of righteousness. There is a consistent emphasis on both physical and moral implications of the word.
זֶ֫רַע n.m. sowing, seed, offspring
lit.:
a sowing
sowing as regularly recurring at its season
seed
seed = semen virile
seed = offspring
seed as marked by moral quality = persons (or community) of such a quality
base
H2233 זֶ֫רַע sowing, seed, offspring . lit.: . a sowing
. sowing as regularly recurring at its season
. seed
. seed = semen virile
. seed = offspring
. seed as marked by moral quality = persons (or community) of such a quality
2233 zera` zeh'-rah
from 2232; seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time,
posterity:--X carnally, child, fruitful, seed(-time), sowing-
time.
see HEBREW for 02232
זֶ֫רַע (ze.ra) — seed.
: seed/sowing
1) seed, sowing, offspring
1a) a sowing
1b) seed
1c) semen virile
1d) offspring, descendants, posterity, children
1e) of moral quality
1e1) a practitioner of righteousness (fig.)
1f) sowing time (by meton)
זֶ֫רַע (ze.ra) — seed: children.
: children/descendants
1) seed, sowing, offspring
1a) a sowing
1b) seed
1c) semen virile
1d) offspring, descendants, posterity, children
1e) of moral quality
1e1) a practitioner of righteousness (fig.)
1f) sowing time (by meton)
זֶ֫רַע (ze.ra) — seed: semen.
: semen
1) seed, sowing, offspring
1a) a sowing
1b) seed
1c) semen virile
1d) offspring, descendants, posterity, children
1e) of moral quality
1e1) a practitioner of righteousness (fig.)
1f) sowing time (by meton)
HNcmsa — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
of'-spring.
See CHILDREN.
עָבַד (abad) is a Hebrew verb meaning to work or serve, encompassing a range of activities from laboring for others to serving God, including Levitical service. It can also refer to the cultivation of land or the act of enslaving. The word appears in various forms, indicating different nuances of service and labor.
עָבַד 290 vb. work, serve
Qal
labour, work, do work
work for another, serve him by labour
serve as subjects
serve God
serve י׳ with Levitical service
Niph.
be tilled, of land
dub. cultivated field
Pu. worked
Hiph.
compel to labour as slaves
make to serve as subjects
cause to serve God
Hoph. be led or enticed to serve
base
H5647 עָבַד work, serve .. labour, work, do work
. work for another, serve him by labour
. serve as subjects
. serve God
. serve י׳ with Levitical service
. . be tilled, of land
. dub. cultivated field
. worked
. . compel to labour as slaves
. make to serve as subjects
. cause to serve God
. be led or enticed to serve
5647 `abad aw-bad'
a primitive root; to work (in any sense); by implication, to
serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc.:--X be, keep in
bondage, be bondmen, bond-service, compel, do, dress, ear,
execute, + husbandman, keep, labour(-ing man, bring to pass,
(cause to, make to) serve(-ing, self), (be, become)
servant(-s), do (use) service, till(-er), transgress (from
margin), (set a) work, be wrought, worshipper,
עָבַד (a.vad) — to serve.
: serve[someone]
1) to work, serve
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to labour, work, do work
1a2) to work for another, serve another by labour
1a3) to serve as subjects
1a4) to serve (God)
1a5) to serve (with Levitical service)
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be worked, be tilled (of land)
1b2) to make oneself a servant
1c) (Pual) to be worked
1d) (Hiphil)
1d1) to compel to labour or work, cause to labour, cause to serve
1d2) to cause to serve as subjects
1e) (Hophal) to be led or enticed to serve
עָבַד (a.vad) — to serve: minister.
: minister/serve[God/tabernacle/temple]/worship
1) to work, serve
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to labour, work, do work
1a2) to work for another, serve another by labour
1a3) to serve as subjects
1a4) to serve (God)
1a5) to serve (with Levitical service)
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be worked, be tilled (of land)
1b2) to make oneself a servant
1c) (Pual) to be worked
1d) (Hiphil)
HVqi3ms/Sp3ms — Verb qal imperfect third person masculine singular · suffixHVqi3ms/Sp3ms
סָפַר (safar) is a Hebrew verb meaning to count or recount, with various forms indicating actions like declaring or rehearsing. The noun form סֹפֵר (sofer) refers to a scribe or secretary. The entries highlight its use in contexts of enumeration and record-keeping, but do not present significant disagreement among lexicons.
סָפַר 107 vb. count, Pi. recount, relate
Qal 27
count things, to learn their number
number = take account of, carefully observe and consider, reckon
Niph. be counted, numbered
Pi. 67 recount, rehearse, declare
Pu. be recounted, related, rehearsed
base
סֹפֵר, סוֹפֵר n.m. enumerator, muster-officer, secretary, scribe
base
H5608a סָפַר count, Pi. recount, relate .. count things, to learn their number
. number = take account of, carefully observe and consider, reckon
. be counted, numbered
. recount, rehearse, declare
. be recounted, related, rehearsed
H5608b סֹפֵר, סוֹפֵר enumerator, muster-officer, secretary, scribe
5608 caphar saw-far'
a primitive root; properly, to score with a mark as a tally
or record, i.e. (by implication) to inscribe, and also to
enumerate; intensively, to recount, i.e. celebrate:--commune,
(ac-)count; declare, number, + penknife, reckon, scribe, shew
forth, speak, talk, tell (out), writer.
סָפַר (sa.phar) — to recount.
v
1) to count, recount, relate
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to count (things)
1a2) to number, take account of, reckon
1b) (Niphal) to be counted, be numbered
1c) (Piel) to recount, rehearse, declare
1c1) to recount (something), rehearse
1c2) to talk
1c3) to count exactly or accurately
1d) (Pual) to be recounted, be rehearsed, be related
סֹפֵר (so.pher) — secretary.
1) enumerator, muster-officer, secretary, scribe
1a) enumerator, muster-officer, secretary
1b) learned man, scribe
Aramaic equivalent: sa.pher (סָפִר "scribe" H5613)
HVPi3ms — Verb · Pual · imperfect third person masculine singularHVPi3ms
אֲדֹנָי (Adonay) means 'Lord' and is an emphatic form of another Hebrew word for lord. It is used specifically as a title for God, often in place of Yahweh to show reverence. Variations include אֲדֹנִי and אֲדֹנַי, which help distinguish divine from human references.
אָדוֹן n.m. lord (אֲדֹנִי, אֲדֹנַי, אֲדֹנָי are variations of Mass. pointing to distinguish divine reference fr. human. Pl., with few exc. an intens. pl. of rank; word takes sf. as pl. in all other pers.; so doubtless here. Orig. reading prob. in all cases אֲדֹנַי; אֲדֹנִי now found in J 51 t.)
base
H136 אָדוֹן lord (אֲדֹנִי, אֲדֹנַי, אֲדֹנָי are variations of Mass. pointing to distinguish divine reference fr. human. Pl., with few exc. an intens. pl. of rank; word takes sf. as pl. in all other pers.; so doubtless here. Orig. reading prob. in all cases אֲדֹנַי; אֲדֹנִי now found in J 51 t.)
136 'Adonay ad-o-noy'
am emphatic form of 113; the Lord (used as a proper name of
God only):--(my) Lord.
see HEBREW for 0113
אֲדֹנָי (a.do.nai) — Lord.
Lord - a title, spoken in place of Yahweh in Jewish display of reverence
Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)
HR/Npt — Preposition · noun properHR/Npt
Lord
There are various Hebrew and Greek words so rendered.
(1.) Heb. Jehovah, has been rendered in the English Bible LORD, printed in small capitals. This is the proper name of the God of the Hebrews. The form “Jehovah” is retained only in Ex. 6:3; Ps. 83:18; Isa. 12:2; 26:4, both in the Authorized and the Revised Version.
(2.) Heb. ‘adon, means one possessed of absolute control. It denotes a master, as of slaves (Gen. 24:14, 27), or a ruler of his subjects (45:8), or a husband, as lord of his wife (18:12).
The old plural form of this Hebrew word is ’adonai. From a superstitious reverence for the name “Jehovah,” the Jews, in reading their Scriptures, whenever that name…
[GOD]
This name belongs to God by preeminence; and in this sense ought never to be given to any creature. Jesus Christ, as the Messiah, the Son of God, and equal with the Father, is often called Lord in Scripture, especially in the writing of Paul. The word LORD, in the English Bible, when printed in small capitals, stands always for JEHOVAH in the Hebrew. See JEHOVAH.
The Hebrew word דּוֹר (dor) encompasses meanings related to a period or generation, often emphasizing the transitory nature of life. It can refer to a specific age, a class of people living at a certain time, or a dwelling place. The entries suggest a focus on both the temporal and spatial aspects of existence.
דּוֹר, דֹּר n.m. period, generation, dwelling
period, age, generation, mostly poet.
of men living at a particular time (period, age), generation, as transitory
generation characterized by quality or condition, class of men
dwelling-place, habitation
base
H1755 דּוֹר, דֹּר period, generation, dwelling . period, age, generation, mostly poet.
. of men living at a particular time (period, age), generation, as transitory
. generation characterized by quality or condition, class of men
. dwelling-place, habitation
1755 dowr dore
or (shortened) dor {dore}; from 1752; properly, a revolution
of time, i.e. an age or generation; also a dwelling:--age, X
evermore, generation, (n-)ever, posterity.
see HEBREW for 01752
דּוֹר (dor) — generation.
1) period, generation, habitation, dwelling
1a) period, age, generation (period of time)
1b) generation (those living during a period)
1c) generation (characterised by quality, condition, class of men)
1d) dwelling-place, habitation
Aramaic equivalent: dar (דָּר "generation" H1859)
HRd/Ncmsa — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHRd/Ncmsa
jen-er-a'-shun (Latin generatio, from genero, "beget"):
(1) The translation
(a) of dor, "circle," "generation," hence, "age," "period," "cycle": "many generations" (De 32:7);
(b) the people of any particular period or those born about the same time: "Righteous before me in this generation" (Ge 7:1); "four generations" (Job 42:16);
Generation
Gen. 2:4, “These are the generations,” means the “history.” 5:1, “The book of the generations,” means a family register, or history of Adam. 37:2, “The generations of Jacob” = the history of Jacob and his descendants. 7:1, “In this generation” = in this age. Ps. 49:19, “The generation of his fathers” = the dwelling of his fathers, i.e., the grave. Ps. 73:15, “The generation of thy children” = the contemporary race. Isa. 53:8, “Who shall declare his generation?” = His manner of life who shall declare? or rather = His race, posterity, shall be so numerous that no one shall be able to declare it.
In the long-lived patriarchal age a generation seems to have been computed at 100 years, (Genesis 15:16) comp. Genesis15:13 and Eccl 12:40 But subsequently the reckoning was the same which has been adopted by modern civilized nations, viz. from thirty to forty years (Job 42:16) (Generation is also used to signify the men of an age or time, as contemporaries, (Genesis 6:9; Isaiah 53:8) posterity , especially in legal formulae, (Leviticus 3:17) etc.; fathers, or ancestors. (Psalms 49:19)
Besides the common acceptation of this word, as signifying race, descent, lineage, it is used for the history and genealogy of a person, as in Ge 5:1, "the book of the generations of Adam," that is, the history of Adam’s creation and of his posterity. So in Ge 2:4, "The generations of the heavens and of the earth," that is, their genealogy, so to speak, the history of the creation of heaven and earth; also in Mt 1:1, "The book of the generation of Jesus Christ," that is, the genealogy of Jesus Christ," that is, the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the history of his descent and life. "The present generation" comprises all those who are now alive; "This generation shall not pass till all be fulfilled," some now living shall witness the…