Psalm 72:10
New International Version
May the kings of Tarshish and of distant shores bring tribute to him. May the kings of Sheba and Seba present him gifts.

New Living Translation
The western kings of Tarshish and other distant lands will bring him tribute. The eastern kings of Sheba and Seba will bring him gifts.

English Standard Version
May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands render him tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts!

Berean Standard Bible
May the kings of Tarshish and distant shores bring tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts.

King James Bible
The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.

New King James Version
The kings of Tarshish and of the isles Will bring presents; The kings of Sheba and Seba Will offer gifts.

New American Standard Bible
May the kings of Tarshish and of the islands bring gifts; May the kings of Sheba and Seba offer tributes.

NASB 1995
Let the kings of Tarshish and of the islands bring presents; The kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts.

NASB 1977
Let the kings of Tarshish and of the islands bring presents; The kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts.

Legacy Standard Bible
Let the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands bring a present; The kings of Sheba and Seba offer tribute.

Amplified Bible
The kings of Tarshish and of the islands will bring offerings; The kings of Sheba and Seba will offer gifts.

Christian Standard Bible
May the kings of Tarshish and the coasts and islands bring tribute, the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
May the kings of Tarshish and the coasts and islands bring tribute, the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts.

American Standard Version
The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall render tribute: The kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.

Contemporary English Version
Force the rulers of Tarshish and of the islands to pay taxes to him. Make the kings of Sheba and of Seba bring gifts.

English Revised Version
The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
May the kings from Tarshish and the islands bring presents. May the kings from Sheba and Seba bring gifts.

Good News Translation
The kings of Spain and of the islands will offer him gifts; the kings of Sheba and Seba will bring him offerings.

International Standard Version
May the kings of Tarshish and of distant shores bring gifts, and may the kings of Sheba and Seba offer tribute.

Majority Standard Bible
May the kings of Tarshish and distant shores bring tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts.

NET Bible
The kings of Tarshish and the coastlands will offer gifts; the kings of Sheba and Seba will bring tribute.

New Heart English Bible
The kings of Tarshish and of the islands will bring tribute. The kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.

Webster's Bible Translation
The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.

World English Bible
The kings of Tarshish and of the islands will bring tribute. The kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Kings of Tarshish and of the islands send back a present. Kings of Sheba and Seba bring a reward near.

Young's Literal Translation
Kings of Tarshish and of the isles send back a present. Kings of Sheba and Seba a reward bring near.

Smith's Literal Translation
The kings of Tarshish and the islands shall turn back a gift, the kings of Sheba and Seba shall bring a present.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The kings of Tharsis and the islands shall offer presents: the kings of the Arabians and of Saba shall bring gifts:

Catholic Public Domain Version
The kings of Tarshish and the islands will offer gifts. The kings of Arabia and of Seba will bring gifts.

New American Bible
May the kings of Tarshish and the islands bring tribute, the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts.

New Revised Standard Version
May the kings of Tarshish and of the isles render him tribute, may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
The kings of Tarshish and of the islands shall bring presents; the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Kings of Tarshish and of the islands will bring him offerings; the Kings of Sheba and of Seba shall bring him offerings.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall render tribute; The kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
The kings of Tharsis, and the isles, shall bring presents: the kings of the Arabians and Saba shall offer gifts.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Endow the King with Your Justice
9May the nomads bow before him, and his enemies lick the dust. 10May the kings of Tarshish and distant shores bring tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts. 11May all kings bow down to him and all nations serve him.…

Cross References
Isaiah 60:6
Caravans of camels will cover your land, young camels of Midian and Ephah, and all from Sheba will come, bearing gold and frankincense and proclaiming the praises of the LORD.

1 Kings 10:1-2
Now when the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to test him with difficult questions. / She arrived in Jerusalem with a very large caravan—with camels bearing spices, gold in great abundance, and precious stones. And she came to Solomon and spoke to him all that was on her mind.

1 Kings 10:10
Then she gave the king 120 talents of gold, a great quantity of spices, and precious stones. Never again were spices in such abundance brought in as those the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.

2 Chronicles 9:1-2
Now when the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon, she came to test him with difficult questions. She arrived in Jerusalem with a very large caravan—with camels bearing spices, gold in abundance, and precious stones. And she came to Solomon and spoke with him about all that was on her mind. / And Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too difficult for him to explain.

2 Chronicles 9:9
Then she gave the king 120 talents of gold, a great quantity of spices, and precious stones. There had never been such spices as those the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.

Matthew 2:1-2
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, / asking, “Where is the One who has been born King of the Jews? We saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”

Matthew 2:11
On coming to the house, they saw the Child with His mother Mary, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh.

Isaiah 60:9
Surely the islands will wait for Me, with the ships of Tarshish in the lead, to bring your children from afar, with their silver and gold, to the honor of the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, for He has glorified you.

Isaiah 60:11
Your gates will always stand open; they will never be shut, day or night, so that the wealth of the nations may be brought into you, with their kings being led in procession.

Revelation 21:24
By its light the nations will walk, and into it the kings of the earth will bring their glory.

Revelation 21:26
And into the city will be brought the glory and honor of the nations.

Psalm 68:29
Because of Your temple at Jerusalem kings will bring You gifts.

Psalm 45:12
The Daughter of Tyre will come with a gift; men of wealth will seek your favor.

1 Kings 10:25
Year after year, each visitor would bring his tribute: articles of silver and gold, clothing, weapons, spices, horses, and mules.

2 Chronicles 9:24
Year after year, each visitor would bring his tribute: articles of silver and gold, clothing, weapons, spices, horses, and mules.


Treasury of Scripture

The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.

Psalm 45:12
And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift; even the rich among the people shall intreat thy favour.

Psalm 68:29
Because of thy temple at Jerusalem shall kings bring presents unto thee.

1 Kings 10:1,10,25
And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to prove him with hard questions…

Jump to Previous
Distant Gifts Islands Isles Kings Offer Offerings Present Presents Render Seba Sheba Shores Stores Tarshish Tribute
Jump to Next
Distant Gifts Islands Isles Kings Offer Offerings Present Presents Render Seba Sheba Shores Stores Tarshish Tribute
Psalm 72
1. David, praying for Solomon, shows the goodness and glory of God's kingdom
18. He blessed God














May the kings of Tarshish and of distant shores bring tribute to him
May the kings of Tarshish
The mention of "Tarshish" evokes a sense of distant lands and wealth, as Tarshish was a well-known maritime trading partner in the ancient world, often associated with wealth and exotic goods. The Hebrew root for Tarshish is often linked to the idea of a "smelting plant" or "refinery," suggesting a place of production and abundance. In a biblical context, Tarshish is frequently mentioned in connection with Solomon's extensive trade network (1 Kings 10:22). The invocation of "kings" here symbolizes the recognition of authority and power, suggesting that even the most distant and powerful rulers will acknowledge the sovereignty of the messianic king, a foreshadowing of the universal reign of Christ.

and of distant shores
This phrase expands the scope of the psalmist's vision to include all the farthest reaches of the known world. The Hebrew word for "distant" can also mean "islands" or "coastlands," indicating places that are remote and perhaps unknown to the original audience. This reflects the biblical theme of God's dominion extending to the ends of the earth, as seen in passages like Isaiah 42:10. The inclusion of "distant shores" emphasizes the universal nature of the messianic kingdom, where all nations, regardless of their location, will come to honor the king.

bring tribute to him
The act of bringing "tribute" signifies submission and acknowledgment of a higher authority. In the ancient Near Eastern context, tribute was often paid by lesser kings to a superior ruler as a sign of allegiance and respect. The Hebrew word for "tribute" can also imply a gift or offering, underscoring the voluntary nature of this homage. This phrase prophetically points to the messianic expectation that all nations will ultimately recognize and honor the reign of the Messiah, as seen in the eschatological visions of Revelation 21:24, where the kings of the earth bring their glory into the New Jerusalem. This tribute is not merely material but represents the submission of hearts and lives to the divine king, Jesus Christ, who reigns supreme over all creation.

(10) Tarshish.--The question of the identity of this place (or district) with the "Tartessus" of the Greeks is too long for a note. (See Jonah 1:3.) But plainly the mention here of "the isles," i.e., islands and coasts of the Mediterranean (comp. Daniel 11:18; Isaiah 11:11), is in favour of the identity.

Bring presents.--Literally, return presents, but not in the sense of an interchange of royal gifts (as 1Kings 10:13) but of "payment of tribute." The expression is illustrated by the words "revenue," "custom-house returns," &c. (Comp. the Latin, reditus.)

Sheba.--The Joktanic kingdom, embracing the greater part of Yemen or Arabia Felix, and so here representing Arabia, (the LXX. and Vulg. have "kings of Arabians") while "Seba" (or "Saba"), which was Cushite, and was by Josephus (A. J., 2:10, s. 2), identified with "Meroe," represents Africa. (See Genesis 10:7; Genesis 10:28, and Smith's Bible Dictionary, articles "Sheba" and "Seba.") . . .

Verse 10. - The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents. "Tarshish" here is probably Tartessus in Spain, so well known to the Israelites in the days of Solomon (1 Kings 10:22; 2 Chronicles 9:21). According to Herodotus, Tartessus, when it first became known to the Greeks, was governed by kings (Herod., 1:163). By "the isles" are to be understood the coasts and islands of the Mediterranean generally. All these have, at one time or another, paid homage to Christ. The kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts. "Sheba" and "Seba" are distinguished by the writer of Genesis (Genesis 10:7), and appear not even to have been very near the one to the other. Sheba was in Southeastern Arabia, and was known to the Greeks and Romans as the country of the Sabaeans (Diod. Sic., 3:45; Strabo, 16:4, § 19; Pliny, 'Hist. Nat.,' 6:23). Saba was in Africa, on the Middle Nile, and the Sebaeans (סְבָאִים) are closely connected by Isaiah with Ethiopia and Egypt (Isaiah 43:3; Isaiah 45:14).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
May the kings
מַלְכֵ֬י (mal·ḵê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 4428: A king

of Tarshish
תַרְשִׁ֣ישׁ (ṯar·šîš)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 8659: Tarshish -- a son of Javan, also a port on the Mediterranean, also a Benjamite

and distant shores
וְ֭אִיִּים (wə·’î·yîm)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 339: A habitable spot, dry land, a coast, an island

bring
יָשִׁ֑יבוּ (yā·šî·ḇū)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again

tribute;
מִנְחָ֣ה (min·ḥāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4503: A donation, tribute, a sacrificial offering

may the kings
מַלְכֵ֥י (mal·ḵê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 4428: A king

of Sheba
שְׁבָ֥א (šə·ḇā)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 7614: Sheba -- a territory in soutwest Arabia, also the name of one or more descendant of Noah

and Seba
וּ֝סְבָ֗א (ū·sə·ḇā)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 5434: Seba -- son of Cush, also his descendants and their land

offer
יַקְרִֽיבוּ׃ (yaq·rî·ḇū)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 7126: To come near, approach

gifts.
אֶשְׁכָּ֥ר (’eš·kār)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 814: A gratuity


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OT Poetry: Psalm 72:10 The kings of Tarshish and (Psalm Ps Psa.)
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