Psalm 110:1 - Printer Friendly

ESV: The Lord says to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool."

NIV: Of David. A psalm. The Lord says to my lord: "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet."

NASB: The Lord says to my Lord: 'Sit at My right hand Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.'

CSB: A psalm of David. This is the declaration of the Lord to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool."

NLT: The Lord said to my Lord, 'Sit in the place of honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet.'

KJV: A Psalm of David. The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

NKJV: {A Psalm of David.} The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”

This statement has major implications for the Bible's view of God. David relates a revelation, where he hears a conversation between two Persons. David uses two important terms here. One is Yahweh, or YHWH, the nearest thing to a personal name claimed by God (Exodus 3:15). Many translations render this as "LORD" using small capital letters. The other is Adonai, which literally means "Lord." This word was occasionally used as a general term (Judges 19:26–27; 1 Samuel 20:38; 1 Kings 16:24) but is mostly applied to God. David also describes the speaking of these words using a Hebrew term associated with oracles and visions.

David's statement, then, could be read as "Yahweh declares to Adonai" or "God said to my [David's] Lord." What David describes in the rest of the psalm is a messianic vision; this means the second Person is the Messiah. The Messiah was to be a descendant of David (Genesis 49:10; 2 Samuel 7:16; Isaiah 7:13–14). Yet David sees this Person and refers to Him as Adonai: [David's] Lord. This means Messiah must be more than an ordinary, mortal man. The nature of the conversation and the extent of Adonai's power and rule speaks of His divinity. Jesus pointed to this verse when discussing His role as Messiah (Matthew 22:41–46).

Yahweh expresses Adonai's position of power and authority: at the right hand of God. References to the "right hand" imply strength and approval. To be seated there, in relation to a king, was to be given the highest possible honor. Similarly, Yahweh indicates that all enemies of Adonai will be brought to submission. Depicting enemies as a place to rest one's feet demonstrates utter, unquestioned conquest.

David will continue to describe the nature of Adonai's victory (Psalm 110:2–7). This will include other remarks ascribing divinity to the Messiah. Because of such connections, this verse is one of the most-often quoted in the New Testament (Mark 12:36; Luke 20:42–43; Acts 2:34–35; Hebrews 1:13).

Psalm 110:1–3 involves three separate persons. One is David, the psalmist. Another is YHWH, who is God the Father (Exodus 3:15). The third is someone David refers to as his own "Adonai," or "Lord." This statement is noted repeatedly in the New Testament to support Jesus' claims that He is both God and Messiah (Matthew 22:44; Acts 2:34–35; Hebrews 1:13). God the Father promises to grant God the Son victory and unrivaled rule over the world.

This is the most-often cited psalm in the New Testament. Psalm 110:1 is quoted in Matthew 22:44, Mark 12:36, Luke 20:42–43, Acts 2:34–35, and Hebrews 1:13. The book of Hebrews extensively comments on the meaning of Psalm 110:4. Many other verses refer to subjects touched on in the psalm. David hears YHWH speaking to someone David identifies as his "Lord." This helps to ground important concepts such as the Trinity and Jesus' role as Messiah.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.