Psalms 72:20 Meaning: The Colophon That Divided the Psalms

This ends the prayers by David, the son of Jesse.

Meaning in one sentence

Psalm 72:20 is an editorial note closing Book II of the Psalms.

Psalms Old Testament Hebrew

Context

Psalm 72 is a prayer for a king who will rule with justice and bring blessing to all nations. It was likely composed by David for his son Solomon, though some traditions read it as a direct prophecy of the Messiah. The psalm ends with a doxology in verses 18, 19, praising the God of Israel. Then comes verse 20, which stands apart. It is not part of the psalm itself. Commentators across the centuries have recognised it as an editorial colophon, a note placed there by a compiler to mark the close of a collection. That collection, now called Book II of the Psalms (Psalms 42, 72), was apparently known as “the prayers of David the son of Jesse.” This note tells us that the Psalter was assembled in stages, with earlier collections being gathered before the whole book took its final shape.

How Christians Read This Verse

Christians have understood this verse in several ways. Some, like Matthew Henry and John Wesley, read it as a simple historical note: this was the last psalm David ever wrote. Adam Clarke agreed, calling it “the last Psalm he ever composed.” Others, such as Albert Barnes and the Cambridge Bible editors, point out that many psalms attributed to David appear later in the Psalter. They see the verse as an editorial marker, closing a specific collection that once ended here. The Greek Septuagint even translates “prayers” as “hymns,” hinting that the collection may have been known by that title. Both views agree that the verse is not part of Psalm 72 itself, but a window into how the Psalms were gathered and treasured by God’s people over time.

A common misunderstanding

A common misreading is to think this verse means David stopped writing psalms after this point, so all psalms beyond Psalm 72 were written by others. In fact, the verse is an editorial colophon for a specific collection. Numerous psalms attributed to David appear later (e.g., Psalms 86, 101, 103, 110, 138, 145). The colophon simply marks the end of the collection known as “the prayers of David,” not the end of David’s literary output.

Main takeaway: This verse marks the end of an early collection of David’s psalms, showing us that the Psalter was carefully compiled in stages over time.

Questions People Ask

What does “the prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended” mean?

It is a note added by an editor to mark the end of a collection of psalms attributed to David. This collection, now Book II of the Psalms (Psalms 42, 72), was known as “the prayers of David.” The verse does not mean David wrote no more psalms; it simply closes that specific group.

Why is this verse important for understanding the book of Psalms?

It shows that the Psalms were gathered in stages. The verse is evidence that earlier collections (like a “Davidic” collection) existed before the whole book was compiled. It helps scholars trace how the Psalter was formed.

Who wrote Psalm 72:20?

The verse was not written by David. It was added by an editor or compiler, likely during the time when the Psalms were being collected and arranged into books (perhaps in the period of Hezekiah or later). It is a colophon, not part of the original psalm.

Are there other verses like this in the Bible?

Yes. A similar colophon appears at Job 31:40, “The words of Job are ended”, which marks the end of Job’s speeches. Jeremiah 51:64 also has a note: “Thus far are the words of Jeremiah.” These verses help divide literary sections within biblical books.

Does this verse mean David only wrote psalms up to Psalm 72?

No. Later psalms in Books III, V are also attributed to David (e.g., Psalm 86, 101, 103, 110, 138, 145). The colophon only indicates that this specific collection ended here. David may have written many more psalms that were placed in other collections.

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