Meaning, commentary and cross references
Psalms 110:1
“The Lord says to my Lord:
“Sit at my right hand,
until I make your enemies your footstool.”In other translations
KJV · King James Version
The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
NIV · New International Version
The Lord says to my lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”
WEB · World English Bible
A Psalm by David. The LORD says to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool for your feet.”
What does Psalms 110:1 mean?
John Gill · Exposition of the Entire Bible, on Psalms 110:1
The Lord said unto my Lord,.... The Targum is, "the Lord said in his Word.'' Galatinus (q) says the true Targum of Jonathan has it, "the Lord said to his Word;'' and produces an authority for it. These are the words of Jehovah the Father to his Son the Messiah; the "Adon", or Lord, spoken of in Isaiah 6:1, the one Lord Jesus, and only Potentate; the Lord of all, the Lord of David, and of every believer; not by right of creation only, as of all mankind; but by redemption, having bought them; and by right of marriage, having espoused them; and by their own consent, they owning him to be their Lord.
John Gill, Exposition of the Entire Bible (1746–63). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Matthew Henry · Commentary on the Whole Bible, on Psalms 110:1–4
That he was to be advanced to the highest honour, and entrusted with an absolute sovereign power both in heaven and in earth: Sit thou at my right hand. Sitting is a resting posture; after his services and sufferings, he entered into rest from all his labours. It is a ruling posture; he sits to give law, to give judgment. It is a remaining posture; he sits like a king for ever.
Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
John Calvin · Commentaries, on Psalms 110:1–3
1. Jehovah said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. 2. Jehovah shall send out of Zion the scepter of thy power: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies. 3. Thy people shall come with voluntary offerings, at the time of the assembling of thine army, [318] in beauty of holiness: [319] from the womb as from the morning dawn to thee has been the dew of thy youth. 1 Jehovah said to my Lord [320] What is here stated might to some extent be applied to the person of David, inasmuch as he neither ascended the royal throne illegally, nor did he find his way to it by nefarious artifices, nor was he raised to it by the fickle suffrages of the people, but it was…
John Calvin, Commentaries (Calvin Translation Society English text). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Context: Psalms 110:1–4 (WEB)
1A Psalm by David. The LORD says to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool for your feet.” 2The LORD will send out the rod of your strength out of Zion. Rule among your enemies. 3Your people offer themselves willingly in the day of your power, in holy array. Out of the womb of the morning, you have the dew of your youth. 4The LORD has sworn, and will not change his mind: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”
Cross references
- Hebrews 10:12–13
but he, when he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God,
- 1 Corinthians 15:25
For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
- Luke 20:42–43
David himself says in the book of Psalms, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand,
- Hebrews 1:13
But which of the angels has he told at any time, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies the footstool of your feet?”
- Mark 12:35–37
Jesus responded, as he taught in the temple, “How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David?
- Hebrews 1:3
His Son is the radiance of his glory, the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, who, when he had by himself purified us of our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high,
- Ephesians 1:20–22
which he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly places,
- Hebrews 12:2
looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.