Psalms 22:31 · Bible study
Psalms 22:31 Commentary: Righteousness Proclaimed to the Unborn
Hebrew · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
What does 'his righteousness' mean in Psalm 22:31? A study of how future generations hear of God's saving work through the Messiah.
Research Summary
- Meaning: The verse proclaims that future generations will hear of God's saving righteousness because He has accomplished His work.
- Key words: 'declare,' 'righteousness,' 'born,' 'done', each points to public testimony, God's saving action, and the continuation of faith.
- Main debate: Whether 'his righteousness' refers to Christ's imputed righteousness (Gill, Wesley) or God's covenant faithfulness (Keil, Cambridge).
- Theological theme: The perpetuity of the church and the proclamation of redemption across all generations.
- Best use: A foundation for teaching on evangelism, generational discipleship, and the finished work of Christ.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
They will come and proclaim His righteousness to a people yet unborn— all that He has done.
WEB World English Bible 2000
They shall come and shall declare his righteousness to a people that shall be born, for he has done it.
KJV King James Version 1769
They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
They shall come and shall declare his righteousness Unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done it.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
They come and declare His righteousness, To a people that is borne, that He hath made!
Darby Darby Bible 1890
They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done [it].
Translations in other languages (9 available)
Vendrán, y anunciarán al pueblo que naciere, su justicia que él hizo.
Chegarão, e anunciarão a justiça dele ao povo que nascer, porque ele assim fez.
La postérité le servira;
Sie werden kommen und seine Gerechtigkeit predigen dem Volk, das geboren wird, daß er's getan hat.
Het zaad zal Hem dienen; het zal den HEERE aangeschreven worden tot in geslachten. Zij zullen aankomen, en Zijn gerechtigheid verkondigen den volke, dat geboren wordt, omdat Hij het gedaan heeft.
Essi verranno e proclameranno la sua giustizia, al popolo che nascerà diranno come egli ha operato.
Nasienie ich służyć mu będzie, a będzie przywłaszczane Panu w każdym wieku. Zbieżą się, a będą opowiadali sprawiedliwość jego narodowi, który z nich wynijdzie, iż ją on wykonał.
他們必來 把他的公義 傳 給將要生 的民，言明 這事是他所行的。
They will come and make his righteousness clear to a people of the future because he has done this.
Verse in Context
Scholars' Consensus
The verse closes a psalm that moves from deep suffering to universal praise. Commentators agree that it describes an unbroken chain of testimony: one generation declares God's righteousness to the next. Barnes calls this a fair description of the office of gospel ministers, set apart to keep the memory of redemption alive. Gill specifies that the righteousness declared is Christ's righteousness, the only basis for justification. Keil and Delitzsch, along with the Cambridge Bible, read 'righteousness' as God's covenant faithfulness, His saving intervention on behalf of the sufferer. The final line, 'he has done it,' is widely understood as a completion formula: God has accomplished His saving purpose. Matthew Henry applies this directly to Christ's exaltation after the cross, seeing the phrase as an echo of 'It is finished.' The consensus is that the verse envisions the spread of the gospel through all ages, with the content being God's saving action in the Messiah.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Messianic fulfillment view: The New Testament applies Psalm 22 to Christ; 'he has done it' echoes the finished work of the cross.
- Typological deliverance view: David's personal deliverance is a type of a greater salvation; the righteousness declared is God's faithfulness in answer to prayer.
- Covenant faithfulness view: The righteousness is God's covenant loyalty demonstrated in history, passed down through generations as a testimony.
What is clear: Every generation will hear of God's saving righteousness because He has decisively accomplished His purpose.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning of 'his righteousness' | It refers to God's saving action, righteousness as a term for deliverance and covenant faithfulness. | Some traditions (Reformed, Baptist) emphasize this as the imputed righteousness of Christ received by faith. Others (more broadly) see it as God's faithful character demonstrated in history. |
| Who does the declaring? | There will be a continuous line of witnesses from generation to generation. | Barnes and Wesley apply it specifically to gospel ministers; Gill includes all regenerate believers. The text does not specify an office. |
| Reference of 'he has done it' | It points to a completed divine act, the basis for all subsequent proclamation. | Evangelical and Reformed interpreters (Matthew Henry, Barnes) see this as the atonement of Christ. Others (Cambridge, Keil) view it as the specific deliverance of the psalmist, which typifies the greater deliverance. |
| Audience: 'people that shall be born' | Future generations are the recipients of this testimony. | Gill argues this refers to those born again spiritually; most commentators see it as natural descendants. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Psalm 22 is a lament of David that the New Testament writers apply to Christ (Matt 27:46; Heb 2:12). The historical setting may be a period of intense suffering in David's life, but the language reaches beyond any single event. The psalm opens with the anguished cry of abandonment and closes with a vision of worldwide worship. Verse 31 belongs to the final strophe (vv. 27, 31), where the focus shifts from personal deliverance to the global consequences of God's saving act. Ancient Israel understood the duty of passing down God's works to children (Deut 6:7; Ps 78:5, 6). Here the scope expands: all nations, not just Israel, will remember and turn to Yahweh (v. 27), and the proclamation continues to 'a people that shall be born', every future generation. The phrase 'declare his righteousness' echoes the language of covenant lawsuit and victory. In Israel's worship, such declarations were made at festivals and in the assembly. The psalmist expects that the report of God's mighty deliverance will spark a chain reaction of worship that never ends. The early church read this as a prophecy of the gospel's spread from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth, a movement that would sustain itself through the ministry of the Word until Christ returns.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for this verse. The Hebrew text is stable, and translations differ only in phrasing, not in meaning. The main interpretive questions arise from theological emphasis, not manuscript divergence.
Reception History
The verse has been read primarily as a messianic conclusion to the psalm. Early church fathers, following the apostles, saw it as a prophecy of the spread of Christ's kingdom. Augustine used it to illustrate the church's mission to the Gentiles in his commentary on the Psalms. The Reformed tradition, especially Calvin and later Puritans, read the psalm as a type of Christ, with this verse guaranteeing the success of the gospel to the end of time. In Wesleyan and Methodist circles, the verse was applied explicitly to the apostolic mission and the ongoing work of evangelism. The phrase 'he has done it' has been linked to Christ's cry 'It is finished' (John 19:30) in many devotional and liturgical settings, strengthening the connection to the atonement. Modern mission movements have also drawn on this verse to affirm the inevitability of the gospel reaching every people group.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Proclamation of righteousness, The content of the message is God's righteousness, whether understood as His saving faithfulness or the imputed righteousness of Christ. This is the heart of gospel preaching.
- Uninterrupted succession, The verse promises that there will always be a generation that hears and a generation that tells. The church's mission is not a fragile project; God guarantees its continuity.
- Divine completion, 'He has done it' points to a finished work. The basis for all proclamation is the completed act of God, whether the resurrection, the atonement, or the deliverance of the sufferer. We declare what God has already accomplished.
Five-point outline
- They shall come, A steady stream of witnesses arises from every age. Not by human planning, but by God's provision.
- And shall declare, The verb implies public, intentional testimony. It is not accidental; it is the mission of the church.
- His righteousness, The key term. It is God's saving justice, unearned, powerful, and faithful to the covenant.
- To a people that shall be born, The audience stretches forward in time. No generation is left without witness.
- That he hath done it, The ultimate reason for the declaration: God has acted decisively. Our words rest on His deeds.
Illustration hooks
- The passing of a family heirloom: a watch or a ring given from grandparent to grandchild carries a story. Each generation tells it again. The gospel is the story that saves.
- A relay race: the baton must be handed from runner to runner. The race is not over until every generation has received the same truth.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Will the gospel survive in a culture that is increasingly hostile or indifferent?
- How can I personally contribute to passing on the faith to the next generation?
- What is the 'righteousness' we are supposed to declare, moral living, or something more foundational?
Leading a Discussion
This verse is a promise and a commission. It assures us that God's saving work will be told to every future generation, and it calls us to be part of that chain of testimony. As you discuss, focus on what we are declaring, why it matters, and how we can faithfully pass it on.
Discussion questions
- What does the phrase 'his righteousness' mean in the context of Psalm 22? Look at verses 27, 30 to see how this righteousness leads to worship.
- Who are the 'they' in verse 31? Barnes applies this to ministers; Gill to all regenerate persons. Who do you think is responsible for this declaration?
- The verse says 'to a people that shall be born.' How does this shape your view of the church's mission across time?
- 'He has done it' echoes Jesus' final cry from the cross in John 19:30. How does the completed work of Christ give confidence to our proclamation?
- In what concrete ways can your small group or church intentionally invest in passing the faith to the next generation?
- Does the promise of this verse encourage you more about the future of the church, or does it challenge you about your own role?
- How does the global vision of Psalm 22 (all nations, all generations) affect the way you pray for missions or support cross-cultural workers?
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Psalms 40:9 | I have proclaimed glad news of righteousness in the great assembly. Behold, I will not seal my lips, Yahweh, you know. |
| Psalms 78:6 | that the generation to come might know, even the children who should be born; who should arise and tell their children, |
| Psalms 86:9 | All nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord. They shall glorify your name. |
| Psalms 102:18 | This will be written for the generation to come. A people which will be created will praise Yah, |
| Psalms 145:4 | One generation will commend your works to another, and will declare your mighty acts. |
| Psalms 145:7 | They will utter the memory of your great goodness, and will sing of your righteousness. |
| Isaiah 44:3 | For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and streams on the dry ground. I will pour my Spirit on your descendants, and my blessing on your offspring; |
| Isaiah 44:5 | One will say, ‘I am Yahweh’s.’ Another will be called by the name of Jacob; and another will write with his hand ‘to Yahweh,’ and honor the name of Israel.” |
Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
11 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke highlights that the passage points to an unbroken chain of witness: each generation passes the true religion of Christ to the next. This continual proclamation guarantees that Christ's kingdom will never have an end, being forever propagated on earth.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes reads this verse as a prophecy of the ongoing succession of ministers who would proclaim God's righteousness to future generations. He insists the psalm applies entirely to the Messiah and gives a uniquely full record of the Redeemer's inner thoughts during His crucifixion, focusing on the work of atonement.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin reads this psalm as David's personal complaint that serves as a prophetic type of Christ, showing the pattern of abasement before exaltation. He is notably dismissive of elaborate mystical interpretations of the title "hind of the morning," insisting interpreters have needlessly sought hidden meaning in a minor detail.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator notes that the psalmist’s hopes expand from personal deliverance to national worship and finally to all nations and future generations. However, unlike Isaiah 53, this psalm does not clearly present the psalmist’s sufferings as the cause of God’s universal reign. The emphasis is on God’s faithfulness being passed down through generations.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note highlights that the proclamation of God's righteousness is directed specifically to generations yet unborn, and the driving cause is that God Himself has accomplished the work. The declaration rests entirely on what He has done, not on human effort or report.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill emphasizes the perpetual succession of regenerate people and gospel ministers who declare Christ's righteousness to every new generation. This righteousness is not human effort but the finished work of Christ, proclaimed to those who are born again and to successive generations of believers.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB notes that the phrase "he hath done this" requires a supplied object—either "it" or "this"—and that what is meant is everything the Psalm has just unfolded: the whole preceding description of God's works and care.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch see the Psalm reaching far beyond David's own experience to foretell a global conversion. The sufferer's rescue sparks a spiritual feast where both the wealthy and the destitute worship God, and news of this salvation passes from generation to generation. The Psalm's final word, implying God's completed work, points to the same proclamation as Christ's "It is finished."
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange argues that David speaks here as a prophet who sees himself as a type of the coming Messiah. The psalm is neither a purely historical account of David nor a direct prophecy spoken entirely by Christ. Instead, the Spirit enables David to describe his own sufferings in words that point forward to and are fully realized only in Jesus.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Matthew Henry sees the psalm's sudden shift from complaint to triumph as Christ himself moving from humiliation to exaltation. The opening words of the triumph are Christ's own promise to declare God's name among his people. Christ's certain hope of the joy before him turned his laments into praise.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley reads this as a prophecy David makes about the spread of the gospel, not about himself. He stresses that the seed mentioned are the apostles, carrying God's righteousness — meaning His mercy in Christ — from Jerusalem to the Gentiles. The passage declares this is God's work, not human effort, for future generations.