Psalms 72 · Verse 6

Psalms 72:6

He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth.
Psalms 72:6, King James Version

Psalms 72:6 in other translations

BSBMay he be like rain that falls on freshly cut grass, like spring showers that water the earth.
WEBHe will come down like rain on the mown grass, as showers that water the earth.
ASVHe will come down like rain upon the mown grass, As showers that water the earth.
YLTHe cometh down as rain on mown grass, As showers--sprinkling the earth.
DARBYHe shall come down like rain on the mown grass, as showers that water the earth.
BBEMay he come down like rain on the cut grass; like showers watering the earth.
WebsterHe shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth.

What does Psalms 72:6 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
6. A beautiful figure expresses the grateful nature of His influence; 7, and, carrying out the figure, the results are described in an abundant production. the righteous--literally, "righteousness." flourish--literally, "sprout," or, "spring forth."

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 6 He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass - The word גז gez, which we translate mown grass, more properly means pastured grass or pastured land; for the dew of the night is intended to restore the grass which has been eaten in the course of the day. This very idea the Chaldee has seized, and renders the place thus: "He shall descend gently, like rain upon the grass which has been eaten by the locust." But there seems to be a reference to the thick night dews which in summer fall on the pasturages, and become the means of restoring the grass consumed in the day-time by the cattle. This is finely expressed by the most accomplished of all poets and agriculturists: - Et quantum longis carpent armenta diebus, Exigua tantum gelidus ros nocte reponet. Virg. Geor. ii., ver. 201. "For what the day devours, the nightly dew Shall to the morn by pearly drops renew." Dryden. Or to leave poetry, which always says too much or too little, the plain prose is: - "And as much as the flocks crop in the long days, So much shall the cold dew restore in one short night." As showers that water the earth - The influence of the doctrine and Spirit of Christ on the soul of man shall be as grateful, as refreshing, and as fructifying, as the nightly dews on the cropped fields, and the vernal showers on the cultivated lands. Without his influence all tillage is vain; without him there can neither be seed nor fruit.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 72:2-17

This is a prophecy of the kingdom of Christ; many passages in it cannot be applied to the reign of Solomon. There were righteousness and peace at first in the administration of his government; but, before the end of his reign, there were troubles and unrighteousness. The kingdom here spoken of is to last as long as the sun, but Solomon's was soon at an end. Even the Jewish expositors understood it of the kingdom of…

Read the full comment on Psalms 72:2-17 →

Psalms 72:6 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

יֵ֭רֵדYe.redhe will come downH3381
כְּמָטָ֣רke.ma.Tarlike rainH4306
עַל\־'al-onH5921
גֵּ֑זGezmown grassH1488
כִּ֝רְבִיבִ֗יםkir.vi.Vimlike copious showersH7241
זַרְזִ֥יףzar.Zifdropping ofH2222
אָֽרֶץ\׃'A.retz[the] earthH776

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Psalms 72:6

  • Hosea 6:3

    Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.

  • Deuteronomy 32:2

    My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass:

  • 2 Samuel 23:4

    And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain.

  • Psalms 65:10

    Thou waterest the ridges thereof abundantly: thou settlest the furrows thereof: thou makest it soft with showers: thou blessest the springing thereof.

  • Hosea 14:5-7

    I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon. They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.

  • Isaiah 14:3-5

    And it shall come to pass in the day that the Lord shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve, That thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased! The Lord hath broken the staff of the wicked, and the sceptre of the rulers.

  • Proverbs 16:15

    In the light of the king’s countenance is life; and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain.

  • Isaiah 5:6

    And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.

  • Ezekiel 34:23-26

    And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. And I the Lord will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the Lord have spoken it. And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods. And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing.

  • Proverbs 19:12

    The king’s wrath is as the roaring of a lion; but his favour is as dew upon the grass.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
like.
De 32:2; 2Sa 23:4; Pr 16:15; 19:12; Isa 5:6; 14:3-5; Eze 34:23-26
Ho 6:3; 14:5-7

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Psalms 72:5

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

  • Psalms 72:6

    He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth.

  • Psalms 72:7

    In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth.

Read all of Psalms 72

Psalms 72:6 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Descenderá como la lluvia sobre la hierba cortada; como el rocío que destila sobre la tierra.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Il descendra comme la pluie sur un pré fauché, comme les gouttes d’une ondée sur la terre.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Er wird herabkommen wie ein Regen auf die gemähte Flur, wie Regenschauer, Regengüsse auf das Land.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Ideo tenuit eos superbia; operti sunt iniquitate et impietate sua.