The Meaning of Psalms 72:8 Explained

Psalms 72:8

KJV: He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.

YLT: And he ruleth from sea unto sea, And from the river unto the ends of earth.

Darby: And he shall have dominion from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.

ASV: He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, And from the River unto the ends of the earth.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

He shall have dominion  also from sea  to sea,  and from the river  unto the ends  of the earth. 

What does Psalms 72:8 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalm 72:1-11 - "king Of Kings"
Solomon's reign opened as a morning without clouds. Much of the imagery of this royal ode is derived from the circumstances of his life. Compare Psalms 72:1-4 with his prayer for the listening heart, 1 Kings 3:9; the anticipations of peace, Psalms 72:3; Psalms 72:7, with his name, "the peaceful one;" the rule from sea to sea, Psalms 72:8, with 1 Kings 4:24; the presents from Sheba, Psalms 72:10, with 1 Kings 10:1-29. But Solomon's failure to realize his ideals compelled men to anticipate with great desire the advent of a greater Prince of Peace. Of Jesus alone is this psalm true in its details.
Notice the foundations of Jesus' reign, Psalms 72:1-4; the perpetuity of His kingdom, Psalms 72:5-7, and its universality, Psalms 72:8-11. The poor are His care. The peace He gives is in abundance and it passes understanding. Sun and moon may fail, but His love is unaffected by the flight of ages. The rain on mown grass and the distilling of the dew are not more gentle than His work in human souls that lie open to His approach. Take this glorious psalm and claim it, verse by verse, as true for you. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalm 72

1  David, praying for Solomon, shows the goodness and glory of God's kingdom
18  He blessed God

What do the individual words in Psalms 72:8 mean?

And He shall have dominion from sea to sea and from the River the ends [of] the earth
וְ֭יֵרְדְּ מִיָּ֣ם עַד־ יָ֑ם וּ֝מִנָּהָ֗ר אַפְסֵי־ אָֽרֶץ

וְ֭יֵרְדְּ  And  He  shall  have  dominion 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive imperfect Jussive, third person masculine singular
Root: רָדָה 
Sense: to rule, have dominion, dominate, tread down.
מִיָּ֣ם  from  sea 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יָם  
Sense: sea.
יָ֑ם  sea 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: יָם  
Sense: sea.
וּ֝מִנָּהָ֗ר  and  from  the  River 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular
Root: נָהָר  
Sense: stream, river.
אַפְסֵי־  the  ends  [of] 
Parse: Adverb
Root: אֶפֶס 
Sense: ceasing, end, finality.
אָֽרֶץ  the  earth 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.