Psalms 72:20 - This ends the prayers by David, the son of Jesse.
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What does "Psalms 72:20" mean?
Psalm 72:20, "This ends the prayers by David, the son of Jesse," is a seemingly straightforward statement, but its meaning and placement have been debated by scholars for centuries. Here's a breakdown of the possible interpretations:
Literal Interpretation: Ending David's Psalter: This simplest view suggests that this verse literally marks the conclusion of the psalms written by David within the Book of Psalms. According to this understanding, Psalms 1-72 are attributed to David, and the subsequent psalms are authored by others (like Asaph, the sons of Korah, etc.) or are anonymous.
Editorial Marker: A Collection Boundary: Some scholars believe that Psalm 72:20 was added by an editor or compiler of the Book of Psalms, rather than being part of the original psalm. This editor likely used it as a marker to separate a collection of Davidic psalms from other collections or individual psalms.
Problem with the Literal Interpretation:
Psalms traditionally attributed to David appear after Psalm 72. For instance, Psalms 86, 101, 103, 108-110, 122, 124, 131, 133, 138-145 are all attributed to David.
The verse doesn't actually preclude additional psalms from David.
In summary:
The verse likely indicates a collection of David's writings. It does not necessarily mean that David wrote all the Psalms before Psalm 72, nor does it mean that David wrote none of the Psalms after Psalm 72.
The verse was probably added by a later editor/compiler of the Book of Psalms.
Psalms 72:20 - This ends the prayers by David, the son of Jesse.
What does "Psalms 72:20" mean?
Psalm 72:20, "This ends the prayers by David, the son of Jesse," is a seemingly straightforward statement, but its meaning and placement have been debated by scholars for centuries. Here's a breakdown of the possible interpretations:
Literal Interpretation: Ending David's Psalter: This simplest view suggests that this verse literally marks the conclusion of the psalms written by David within the Book of Psalms. According to this understanding, Psalms 1-72 are attributed to David, and the subsequent psalms are authored by others (like Asaph, the sons of Korah, etc.) or are anonymous.
Editorial Marker: A Collection Boundary: Some scholars believe that Psalm 72:20 was added by an editor or compiler of the Book of Psalms, rather than being part of the original psalm. This editor likely used it as a marker to separate a collection of Davidic psalms from other collections or individual psalms.
Problem with the Literal Interpretation:
Psalms traditionally attributed to David appear after Psalm 72. For instance, Psalms 86, 101, 103, 108-110, 122, 124, 131, 133, 138-145 are all attributed to David.
The verse doesn't actually preclude additional psalms from David.
In summary:
The verse likely indicates a collection of David's writings. It does not necessarily mean that David wrote all the Psalms before Psalm 72, nor does it mean that David wrote none of the Psalms after Psalm 72.
The verse was probably added by a later editor/compiler of the Book of Psalms.