The Meaning of Psalms 72:5 Explained

Psalms 72:5

KJV: They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations.

YLT: They fear Thee with the sun, and before the moon, Generation -- generations.

Darby: They shall fear thee as long as sun and moon endure, from generation to generation.

ASV: They shall fear thee while the sun endureth, And so long as the moon, throughout all generations.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

They shall fear  thee as long as  the sun  and moon  endure,  throughout all  generations. 

What does Psalms 72:5 Mean?

Study Notes

fear
.
fear of the Lord
The "fear of the Lord," a phrase of the O.T. piety, meaning reverential trust, with hatred of evil.

Context Summary

Psalms 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: Psalms 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 72:5 mean?

They shall fear You as long as the sun and endure moon time Throughout all generations
יִֽירָא֥וּךָ עִם־ שָׁ֑מֶשׁ וְלִפְנֵ֥י יָ֝רֵ֗חַ דּ֣וֹר דּוֹרִֽים

יִֽירָא֥וּךָ  They  shall  fear  You 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural, second person masculine singular
Root: יָרֵא 
Sense: to fear, revere, be afraid.
עִם־  as  long  as 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עִם  
Sense: with.
שָׁ֑מֶשׁ  the  sun 
Parse: Noun, common singular
Root: שֶׁמֶשׁ  
Sense: sun.
וְלִפְנֵ֥י  and  endure 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Noun, common plural construct
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
יָ֝רֵ֗חַ  moon 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: יָרֵחַ  
Sense: moon.
דּ֣וֹר  time 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: דֹּור 
Sense: period, generation, habitation, dwelling.
דּוֹרִֽים  Throughout  all  generations 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: דֹּור 
Sense: period, generation, habitation, dwelling.