Psalm 67 · a question people ask

Who are "us", and who are "the peoples"?

In the text

The psalm doesn't name either. Us are those who say "God, even our own God, will bless us" (67:6). The peoples are "all nations" (67:2), "all the peoples" (67:3, 67:5) and "All the ends of the earth" (67:7). The psalm never names Israel, Jerusalem or a king. What it does do is pray in words the priests' blessing used for "the children of Israel" (Numbers 6:23), and then turn at once to the whole earth (67:2). These notes don't name us for the psalm.

The verses

“That your way may be known on earth, and your salvation among all nations, let the peoples praise you, God. Let all the peoples praise you.”
Psalm 67:2-3 · World English Bible
“Let the peoples praise you, God. Let all the peoples praise you. The earth has yielded its increase. God, even our own God, will bless us. God will bless us. All the ends of the earth shall fear him.”
Psalm 67:5-7 · World English Bible
““Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying, ‘This is how you shall bless the children of Israel.’ You shall tell them,”
Numbers 6:23 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Psalm 67

Psalm 67: Let all the peoples praise you

Psalm 67:1 prays with four Hebrew words from the priests' blessing (Numbers 6:24-25) over "us", and the next verse says what the blessing is for: "That your way may be known on earth, and your salvation among all nations" (67:2).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions