Psalms 72:16

“May there be abundance of grain in the land, on the top of the mountains; may its fruit wave like Lebanon; and may those of the city flourish like the grass of the earth.”

Psalms 72:16 · direct translation from the Hebrew
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16

Psalms 72:16, word by word

May there beיְהִיyehi

exist

To exist: "let there be light".

Where else “yehi” appears
abundanceפִסַּתfisat

abundance

Abundance, plenty. It appears only once, said of grain.

Where else “fisat” appears
of grainבַּרbar

grain

Cereal already threshed and cleaned, the basis of bread.

Where else “bar” appears
in the landאָרֶץarets

land

A region or nation, above all Israel's.

Where else “arets” appears
on the topרֹאשׁrosh

top

Literally "the head": the highest part, as of a mountain.

Where else “rosh” appears
of the mountainsהָרִיםharim

mountain

A great rise of land, like Sinai or Zion.

Where else “harim” appears
may its fruitפִּרְיpiry

fruit

What a tree or the land produces, which is eaten.

Where else “piry” appears
waveיִרְעַשׁyirash

quake

To rumble, like the earth or mountains.

Where else “yirash” appears
like Lebanonלְּבָנוֹןlevanon

Lebanon

See it on the mapWhere else “levanon” appears
and may those of the cityעִירir

city

A settled place protected by a wall, with a gate and houses.

Where else “ir” appears
flourishיָצִיצוּyatsitsu

blossom

To put out petals; grow strong, thrive.

Where else “yatsitsu” appears
like the grassעֵשֶׂבesev

plants, vegetation

Small plants, herbs and crops that serve as food for people and animals.

Where else “esev” appears

Translation note

“May its fruit wave like Lebanon”: it can be understood that the ears of grain sway in the wind like the forests of Lebanon.

Places in this verse

Lebanon
Approximate location. A “?” means it is not known for sure where it was.
  • Lebanon

    Today: Lebanon (Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon ranges)

    A mountain range north of Israel, famous for its cedars; today it gives its name to the country of Lebanon.

    Solomon asked for cedar wood from Lebanon to build the temple (1 Kgs 5:6). The Psalms compare the righteous to its cedars (Ps 92:12).

    Deuteronomy 3:251 Kings 5:6Psalms 92:12Isaiah 35:2

The context

15And may he live, and may there be given to him of the gold of Sheba; and may prayer be made for him continually; all the day may he be blessed.

16 · This verse (above)

17May his name endure forever; before the sun may his name continue; and may they bless themselves in him; may all nations call him happy.

Read all of Psalms 72

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