Psalm 110:2 - Printer Friendly

ESV: The Lord sends forth from Zion your mighty scepter. Rule in the midst of your enemies!

NIV: The Lord will extend your mighty scepter from Zion, saying, "Rule in the midst of your enemies!"

NASB: The Lord will stretch out Your strong scepter from Zion, saying, 'Rule in the midst of Your enemies.'

CSB: The Lord will extend your mighty scepter from Zion. Rule over your surrounding enemies.

NLT: The Lord will extend your powerful kingdom from Jerusalem ; you will rule over your enemies.

KJV: The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.

NKJV: The Lord shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion. Rule in the midst of Your enemies!

The prior verse (Psalm 110:1) records a statement with enormous implications. David refers to two Beings using terms which can both refer to God. The first, Yahweh, tells the second, Adonai, to take a place of power and honor before experiencing total victory. Here, David continues to provide details indicating this Adonai—or "Lord"—is the Messiah. The "Lord" indicated here is Yahweh, or YHWH, a term only used for God (Exodus 3:15). New Testament writers explain how this implies that the Messiah is divine (Matthew 22:41–46; Hebrews 1:13).

Where the earlier statement indicates divinity, this verse declares earthly rule. Zion is a reference to Jerusalem, the city founded by David which became the capital of Israel (2 Samuel 5:7–10). Scripture indicates that the Messiah, or the "Anointed One" (Daniel 9:25) would assume the throne of Israel and eventually the world (Psalm 47:2; Isaiah 9:7). Complete fulfillment of this prophecy will happen when Jesus returns to take His throne on earth (Revelation 19:11–15).

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.

David records statements made between two persons, described using the Hebrew terms YHWH and Adonai. These are promises made by God the Father to the Messiah. Adonai is guaranteed total victory over the earth as well as an unending priesthood. These references point to someone who is both king and priest: Jesus Christ, a descendant of David.

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.

Accessed 11/23/2024 3:16:21 AM