Bible Strands
Psalms 102:15
So the nations will fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth will fear Your glory.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The psalmist addresses God concerning the future restoration of Zion, following a plea for divine pity on the city's stones and dust. The speaker anticipates a moment when God's visible intervention will be recognized by foreign rulers.
The words — יִֽירְא֣וּ (yi.re.'U) literally means "they may fear," indicating a reverent response to divine action. שֵׁם (shem) translates as "name," functioning in the text as the concrete representation of God's revealed character and authority.
The thread — The motif of nations and kings responding to God's manifestation appears in 1 Kings 8:43, Psalms 138:4, and Isaiah 60:3. These passages consistently link God's work in Zion with the subsequent recognition by foreign powers.
Why it lands — The text requires a reader to acknowledge that divine action is not confined to a single community but will command universal recognition. It demands alignment of personal hope with the historical reality of God's sovereign rule over all earthly powers.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
So the heathen shall fear the name of the Lord, and all the kings of the earth thy glory.
Cross-references
- 1 Kings 8:43 then may You hear from heaven, Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You. Then all the peoples of the earth will know Your name and fear You, as do Your people Israel, and they will know that this house I have built is called by Your Name.
- Psalms 138:4 All the kings of the earth will give You thanks, O LORD, when they hear the words of Your mouth.
- Isaiah 60:3 Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
- Psalms 86:9 All the nations You have made will come and bow before You, O Lord, and they will glorify Your name.
- Zechariah 8:20 This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Peoples will yet come—the residents of many cities—
- Psalms 67:2 that Your ways may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations.
- Psalms 68:31 Envoys will arrive from Egypt; Cush will stretch out her hands to God.
- Psalms 72:11 May all kings bow down to him and all nations serve him.
- Revelation 11:15 Then the seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and loud voices called out in heaven: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign forever and ever.”
- Isaiah 55:5 Surely you will summon a nation you do not know, and nations who do not know you will run to you. For the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, has bestowed glory on you.”