Psalms 72:3

Old Testament Poetry/Hymns ASV (1901)

What does Psalms 72:3 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “The mountains shall bring peace to the people, And the hills, in righteousness.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

The mountains shall bring peace to the people, And the hills, in righteousness.
Psalms 72:3 — American Standard Version

Context — Psalms 72

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
3The mountains shall bring peace to the people, And the hills, in righteousness.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“The mountains shall bring peace to the people, etc.] The people of God, as before. Kimchi and Ben Melech interpret this of the nations, and kings of the nations, comparable to mountains and hills, as in (<330601>Micah 6:1,2); that should make peace with Israel in the days of Solomon, and in the days of the King Messiah. Jarchi, of the abundance of fruit the mountains and hills should bring forth; so that there would be no contention among men about gathering it; but everyone would invite his neighbour to partake thereof, according to (<380310>Zechariah 3:10), and so the Midrash f978. The Targum explains it of the inhabitants of the mountains; and may be applied to the churches of Christ,…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The mountains shall bring peace to the people - The idea in this verse is that the land would be full of peace and the fruits of peace. All parts of it would be covered with the evidences that it was a land of quietness and security, where people could pursue their callings in safety, and enjoy the fruit of their labors. On the mountains and on all the little hills in the land there would be abundant harvests, the result of peace (so strongly in contrast with the desolations of war) - all showing the advantages of a peaceful reign. It is to be remembered that Judea is a country abounding in hills and mountains, and that a great part of its former fertility resulted from terracing the hills,…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“The mountains - Which are so dangerous to passengers, in regard of robbers and wild beasts. Hereby it is implied, that other places should do so too, and that it should be common and universal. Psalms 72:4”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“72:3 The administration of justice transforms the earth into fruitfulness, abundance, harmony, and goodness (see Isa 32:16-17).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“mountains: Psa 72:16; Isa 32:16, Isa 32:17, Isa 52:7; Eze 34:13, Eze 34:14; Joe 3:18 little: Psa 65:12 by righteousness: Psa 85:10, Psa 85:11, Psa 96:11-13, Psa 98:8, Psa 98:9; Dan 9:24; Co2 5:19-21 Psalms 72:4”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification