The Church Fathers on this verse

Psalm 22 (21):28Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

All the ends of the earth shall remember, and shall be converted to the Lord: And all the kindreds of the Gentiles shall adore in his sight.

Douay-Rheims · Hebrew numbering, Septuagint numbering in brackets.

יִזְכְּר֤וּ ׀ וְיָשֻׁ֣בוּ אֶל־יְ֭הוָה כָּל־אַפְסֵי־אָ֑רֶץ וְיִֽשְׁתַּחֲו֥וּ לְ֝פָנֶ֗יךָ כָּֽל־מִשְׁפְּח֥וֹת גּוֹיִֽם׃

Hebrew (Masoretic text)

The Church Fathers on this verse

6 Church Fathers comment on this verse · 7 commentaries

Augustine of Hippo

5th centuryChurch Father

It is clear that the remainder of the passage in the same psalm, which may be less explicit, will be rightly interpreted in light of what is clearly stated; this holds true especially because what we perceive as unfinished, and regard only as ongoing, is currently being fulfilled across the entire globe, just as it was predicted in that ancient psalm. The text continues with, “All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before You: for the Lord is the kingdom, and He reigns over the nations” (Psalm 21:28-29).

They will come to recognize their true selves, for the Gentiles have set aside God, consumed by death and focused on worldly matters. Yet, in due time, all the ends of the earth will turn to the Lord. Every nation shall bow in reverence before Him, and all peoples will worship Him from their innermost being.

Athanasius the Great

4th centuryChurch Father

And every nation will bow down in reverence before Him. Even though He is the supreme Sovereign of all, it is proclaimed that He will rule over those who inhabit the earth, transforming them from the dominion of evil to belief in Him, to gratitude and righteousness.

Theodoret of Cyrus

5th centuryChurch Father

It is rightly noted that ‘they shall be remembered’; for, having been created by God, they have turned away from the One who formed them. ‘All the ends of the earth’ will not refer to just one or two countries, but rather to peoples from every nation across the globe who will come forth and gladly embrace the illuminating wisdom of the Lord. ‘And before Him shall all the nations of the earth bow down in worship.’ Furthermore, emphasizing that sovereignty belongs to God alone, it is affirmed (Psalm 21:29): ‘For the Lord is the kingdom, and He is Ruler over the nations.’

Euthymios Zigabenos

11th centuryCommentator

All the corners of the earth will be recalled and will turn to the Lord. Remembering signifies acknowledgment of something previously known. Thus, these words illustrate that an awareness of God is instilled within humanity. However, for the Gentiles, the veil of error obscured this knowledge. When the Lord came, the radiant Sun of Righteousness dispelled this darkness, allowing the Gentiles to remember their Creator and consequently turn to Him in faith. Instead of stating they would be honored with remembrance, it is mentioned that they shall be recognized, referring to Gentiles who had previously been overlooked. Note that David articulates this in a sequence: first, he indicates they shall be remembered; then, they shall be converted; and finally, they shall worship.

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He proclaims that all the nations of the earth shall bow before Him. One might question why he asserts this, given that not every corner of the earth and not all the nations of the Gentiles have yet believed. The answer lies in the fact that since the proclamation of the Gospel has reached all the corners of the world and every nation, and since individuals from each nation have believed, he portrays the entirety through its parts. It is evident that from every people, some have come to faith in Christ and have, through Him, worshipped the Father. John of Damascus affirmed that the awareness of God's existence is embedded in the nature of every person. Furthermore, it is noted in Scripture that "He that seeketh blood from them remembered."

Irenaeus (Klementjewsky)

18th centuryCommentator

This passage illustrates that David does not focus solely on himself but instead portrays the realm of the promised Messiah through prophetic insights and symbols. Although David's name was widely recognized among neighboring nations, his kingdom was relatively small, comprising just a fraction of the world. While it is true that he subdued various foreign nations, compelling them to adhere to his reign, he did not lead them to the genuine worship of the Lord. There is a significant distinction between this forced servitude, which bound the pagan nations to an earthly ruler, and the voluntary devotion that invites people from all corners of the earth to draw near to God.

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Thus, what is conveyed by these words is not simply a transition but rather the turning of all nations towards God, as David calls them to partake in the sacred communion of the church.

The subsequent verb is interpreted by some as a reference to the rekindling of faith, suggesting that the Gentiles, having once turned away from God, would now recall Him in their newfound faith. However, this interpretation lacks a solid foundation and deviates from the Prophet's intentions. It is accurate to say that the conversion mentioned involves the Gentiles having previously distanced themselves from God due to their transgressions. Yet the term "remembrance" implies that the unbelievers, stirred by the magnificent deeds of God, would return to authentic piety from which they had strayed. It can also be understood that the Gentiles will recollect their origins, recognizing that they were created by God through their ancestral forefather. Due to original sin, they have long forgotten this truth, exclaiming to wood and stone, "My father you are; you have made me" (Jeremiah 2:27). Consequently, all the ends of the earth will recall their initial creation and turn to the Lord—this includes all peoples throughout the world, even those at the farthest reaches of the earth. Every nation and tongue will come to worship before Him.

It is vital to note that turning to God is rooted in the knowledge of Him. Only those who have contemplated the works of God and attained true knowledge of Him will bow down in worship, as signified here. This notion is further supported by the subsequent elucidation: for the Lord is sovereign, and He possesses nations. These statements not only affirm that God created the Gentiles and governs them, but they also emphasize that He has provided them with access to His kingdom. The Lord reigns over us directly when He dispels the darkness of our ignorance, filling us with the light of true understanding of God.

Psalter with Commentaries (Cave Monastery in Kiew)

19th centuryCommentator

Initially, 120 individuals came to faith, followed by 3,000 and then 5,000, marking the inception of the Church in Jerusalem. At that time, approximately one in ten residents of the Roman Empire during the 1st to 3rd centuries BC identified as Christians.

Cross references

Passages read together with this verse.