Albert Barnes Commentary Psalms 22:30

Albert Barnes Commentary

Psalms 22:30

1798–1870
Presbyterian
Albert Barnes
Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes Commentary

Psalms 22:30

1798–1870
Presbyterian
SCRIPTURE

"A seed shall serve him; It shall be told of the Lord unto the [next] generation." — Psalms 22:30 (ASV)

A seed shall serve him — This refers to a people, a race. The word used here and rendered “seed”—זרע zera‛—properly means “a sowing;” then, a planting, a plantation; then, seed sown (of plants, trees, or grain); and then, a generation of men—children, offspring, posterity (Genesis 3:15; Genesis 13:16; Genesis 15:5; Genesis 15:13; and others).

Hence, it means a race, stock, or family. It is used here to denote those who belong to the family of God, His children (Isaiah 65:9; Isaiah 65:23). The meaning here is that, as the result of the work performed by the Sufferer, many would be brought to serve God.

It — Namely, the seed mentioned, the people referred to.

Shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation — The word here rendered “Lord” is not יהוה Yahweh—but אדני 'dônay—a word often used as a name of God, and it should not be printed here in small capitals. Professor Alexander renders this, it seems to me improperly, “It shall be related of the Lord to the next generation.” So DeWette and Hengstenberg.

But the common rendering appears to me to provide a better meaning and to be more in accordance with the original. According to this, the idea is that the seed—the people referred to—would be reckoned to the Lord as a generation of His own people: a race, a tribe, a family pertaining to Him. They would be regarded as such by Him; they would be so esteemed by mankind.

They would not be a generation of aliens and strangers, but a generation of His people and friends .