Christianity

Psalms 110Sit Thou at My Right Hand

Summary

Psalm 110, attributed to David, is a royal oracle in which the LORD tells the speaker's lord to sit at his right hand until his enemies are made his footstool. It promises a rod of strength out of Zion and a willing people in the day of his power, and declares by oath that he is a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. The New Testament quotes it often and applies it to Christ, while Jewish interpreters have read it of Abraham, David or the Messiah.

Key verse

“The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.”

Psalms 110:1

Themes

Royal Enthronement
The Priest-King
Victory
Melchizedek

The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

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

Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.

The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath.

He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries.

He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall he lift up the head.

Text: King James Version (1611/1769), public domain.

Across traditions

Christianity
Matthew 22: David Calls Him Lord
In Matthew 22:41 to 46 Jesus asks how the Messiah can be David's son if David calls him Lord in Psalm 110:1, a question his hearers could not answer.
Christianity
Hebrews 7: A Priest After Melchizedek
Hebrews 5 to 7 builds its argument for Christ's priesthood on Psalm 110:4, contrasting the order of Melchizedek with the priesthood descended from Levi.
Judaism
Psalm 110 in the JPS 1917 Tanakh
Jewish commentators have variously identified the lord addressed in verse 1 as Abraham, David or the future Messiah, and have read the oath about Melchizedek in light of Genesis 14.

Questions about Psalms 110

Who is 'my Lord' in Psalm 110:1?

The Hebrew distinguishes the LORD, God's personal name, from adoni, my lord, a title for a superior. Christian tradition, following Matthew 22, identifies this lord as the Messiah, while Jewish interpreters have read it of Abraham, David or the Messiah.

What is the order of Melchizedek?

Melchizedek was the priest-king of Salem who blessed Abraham in Genesis 14:18 to 20. Psalm 110:4 makes him the pattern for a king who is also a priest by divine oath, an idea developed in Hebrews 7.