The Meaning of Psalms 72:9 Explained

Psalms 72:9

KJV: They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust.

YLT: Before him bow do the inhabitants of the dry places, And his enemies lick the dust.

Darby: The dwellers in the desert shall bow before him, and his enemies shall lick the dust.

ASV: They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; And his enemies shall lick the dust.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

They that dwell in the wilderness  shall bow  before  him; and his enemies  shall lick  the dust. 

What does Psalms 72:9 Mean?

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 72:9 mean?

Before Him will bow Those who dwell in the wilderness and His enemies the dust will lick
לְ֭פָנָיו יִכְרְע֣וּ צִיִּ֑ים וְ֝אֹיְבָ֗יו עָפָ֥ר יְלַחֵֽכוּ

לְ֭פָנָיו  Before  Him 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, common plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
יִכְרְע֣וּ  will  bow 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: כָּרַע  
Sense: to bend, kneel, bow, bow down, sink down to one’s knees, kneel down to rest (of animals), kneel in reverence.
צִיִּ֑ים  Those  who  dwell  in  the  wilderness 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: צִי  
Sense: a wild beast, desert-dweller, crier, yelper.
וְ֝אֹיְבָ֗יו  and  His  enemies 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אֹיֵב  
Sense: (Qal) enemy.
עָפָ֥ר  the  dust 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: עָפָר  
Sense: dry earth, dust, powder, ashes, earth, ground, mortar, rubbish.
יְלַחֵֽכוּ  will  lick 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: לָחַךְ  
Sense: to lick, lick up.