Christianity

Psalms 45A Royal Wedding Song

Summary

Psalm 45 is a song for a king's wedding, called a Maschil of the sons of Korah and a song of loves. The poet praises the king's beauty, gracious speech and victories for truth and justice, and declares that his throne endures forever because he loves righteousness. Then he addresses the bride, urging her to forget her father's house, and pictures her procession into the palace. Jewish and Christian interpreters later read it as messianic or allegorical.

Key verse

“Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.”

Psalms 45:6

Themes

Royal Marriage
Righteous Rule
Beauty
Lasting Throne

My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.

Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.

Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty.

And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.

Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the king’s enemies; whereby the people fall under thee.

Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.

Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad.

Kings’ daughters were among thy honourable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir.

Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father’s house;

So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him.

And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift; even the rich among the people shall intreat thy favour.

The king’s daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold.

She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee.

With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall enter into the king’s palace.

Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth.

I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations: therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever.

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

Across traditions

Christianity
Hebrews 1: Thy Throne, O God
Hebrews 1:8 to 9 quotes Psalm 45:6 to 7 and applies the king's everlasting throne and anointing with the oil of gladness to the Son.
Judaism
Tehillim 45 in the JPS 1917 Tanakh
Jewish interpreters have read the king as the Messiah and, in some readings, the psalm as an allegory of the love between God and Israel or of Torah scholars.
Christianity
Song of Solomon 3: The Royal Wedding Procession
The Song of Songs also celebrates a royal wedding, with Solomon's procession and crown on the day of his espousals (3:6 to 11).

Questions about Psalms 45

Who is the king in Psalm 45?

It was written for a historical king of Israel or Judah, whose identity is unknown. Christians read it of Christ and the Church, and Jewish tradition of the Messiah or of God and Israel.

What does Thy throne, O God, is for ever mean?

Psalm 45:6 addresses the king in exalted language. Translators debate whether to render it Your throne, O God or Your throne is like God's throne; Hebrews 1:8 applies it to Christ.