Psalms 72:16 Meaning and Explanation
“There shall be an handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains; the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon: and they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Even the mountains will produce abundant grain, and all people will flourish.
The Context of Psalms 72:16
The king's reign produces abundance across all lands.
What Does Psalms 72:16 Mean?
This verse uses agricultural imagery to express universal abundance. Grain on mountain tops—normally barren ground—represents the transformation of the entire landscape under the king's reign. The fruit will shake like Lebanon's forests, suggesting overflowing harvest. The transformation extends from wilderness to cities.
The promise that city dwellers will 'flourish like grass' shows that plenty is not limited to rural areas but reaches urban centers too. The doubled imagery of grain and grass emphasizes that sustenance and growth permeate every environment, suggesting an economy of such abundance that want itself becomes obsolete.
Psalms 72:16 in the Original Language
perachim (פְּרָחִים), 'fruit' — produce, abundance; related to 'flourish' or growth that spreads.
Frequently Asked Questions About Psalms 72:16
What does Psalms 72:16 mean?
Even the mountains will produce abundant grain, and all people will flourish.
What is the context of Psalms 72:16?
The king's reign produces abundance across all lands.