Psalm 72:17 declares that all nations will be blessed through the ideal king, echoing the promise originally given to Abraham that the families of the earth would be blessed through his offspring. The royal psalm thus joins the Abrahamic promise of worldwide blessing with the hope of a righteous Davidic ruler.

Galatians 3:8 identifies the promise to Abraham as an advance proclamation of the gospel: "In you shall all the nations be blessed." Paul later identifies Christ as the promised offspring through whom that blessing comes. Although Galatians does not quote Psalm 72:17, the theological connection is strong. The universal blessing envisioned in the psalm is realized through Jesus, the Davidic Messiah and Abrahamic descendant through whom salvation extends to the nations.