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Psalm 72:11
Yes, all kings shall fall down before him. All nations shall serve him.
9Those who dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him. His enemies shall lick the dust.
10The kings of Tarshish and of the islands will bring tribute. The kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.
11Yes, all kings shall fall down before him. All nations shall serve him.
12For he will deliver the needy when he cries; the poor, who has no helper.
13He will have pity on the poor and needy. He will save the souls of the needy.
Notice
The words “all kings” picture even the world's highest rulers bowing, challenging the sense that any earthly power stands beyond a greater king's rule.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
Which earthly power seems hardest to picture among the “all kings” bowing here?
Write on thisHow does the king's care for the helpless shape your response to the nations serving him?
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Where else Scripture says this
12 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.
This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Romans 14:11For it is written, “‘As I live,’ says the Lord, ‘to me every knee will bow. Every tongue will confess to God.’”Both passages describe universal bowing: kings before the king in Psalm 72, and every knee before God in Romans.
Daniel 7:27The kingdom and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole sky, will be given to the people of the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is …Both passages envision rule extending over every earthly power, with nations or dominions serving the one who reigns.
Psalm 113:3From the rising of the sun to its going down, the LORD’s name is to be praised.Both passages have a worldwide scope, though Psalm 72 speaks of royal service and Psalm 113 of praise to the LORD.
Revelation 1:5and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us, and washed us from our …Psalm 72 pictures all kings bowing before its king; Revelation names Jesus Christ as ruler of the kings of the earth.
Isaiah 60:3Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.Both passages picture kings and nations drawn toward a shared center, bowing in the psalm and coming to light in Isaiah.
Revelation 4:10the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever, and throw their crowns before the throne, saying,Both passages describe figures of authority falling down before one who reigns, kings in the psalm and crowned elders in Revelation.
Revelation 19:16He has on his garment and on his thigh a name written, “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”The title in Revelation expresses supremacy over kings, matching Psalm 72's picture of all kings bowing before one ruler.
Psalm 22:27All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD. All the relatives of the nations shall worship before you.Both psalms envision homage across national boundaries, with all nations serving the king and the nations' families worshiping the LORD.
Psalm 86:9All nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord. They shall glorify your name.Both passages name all nations coming under one authority, serving the king in Psalm 72 and worshiping the Lord in Psalm 86.
Psalm 89:27I will also appoint him my firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.Both passages describe a king above other kings, expressed through their bowing in Psalm 72 and his highest rank in Psalm 89.
1 Kings 4:24For he had dominion over all on this side of the River, from Tiphsah even to Gaza, over all the kings on this side of the River; and he had peace on all sides …Both texts describe authority over other kings, though Kings names a bounded territory while Psalm 72 speaks of all nations.
Isaiah 49:22–23The Lord GOD says, “Behold, I will lift up my hand to the nations, and lift up my banner to the peoples. They shall bring your sons in their bosom, and your …Both passages depict nations responding to authority, through service in the psalm and through carrying children at God's signal in Isaiah.
Where this verse fits
Praise and worship. fear for the future. leadership weight.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
The king before whom all nations bow hears the needy person's cry; in this psalm, worldwide rule and care for the helpless belong together.
Now put it in your words.
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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).