Psalms 110:1

Old Testament Poetry/Hymns ASV (1901)

What does Psalms 110:1 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Jehovah saith unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, Until I make thine enemies thy footstool.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Jehovah saith unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, Until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
Psalms 110:1 — American Standard Version

Context — Psalms 110

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1Jehovah saith unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, Until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“The Lord said unto my Lord, etc.] The Targum is, ''the Lord said in his Word.” Galatinus f1571 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 (<230601>Isaiah 6:1 <390301> Malachi 3:1), 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. The words said to him by Jehovah, as follow, were said in his…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“This Psalm may be regarded as an exposition of Psa 111:10, presenting the happiness of those who fear and obey God, and contrasting the fate of the ungodly. (Psa 112:1-10) True fear produces obedience and this happiness.”
Read attributed excerpt →
Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The Lord said unto my Lord - In the Hebrew, “Spake Jehovah to my Lord.” The word יהוה Yahweh is the incommunicable name of God. It is never given to a created being. The other word translated “Lord - אדני 'Adonāy - means one who has rule or authority; one of high rank; one who has dominion; one who is the owner or possessor, etc. This word is applied frequently to a creature. It is applied to kings, princes, rulers, masters. The phrase “my Lord” refers to someone who was superior in rank to the author of the psalm; one whom he could address as his superior. The psalm, therefore, cannot refer to David himself, as if Yahweh had said to him, “Sit thou at my right hand.” Nor was there anyone on…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“The Lord - God the father. Said - Decreed it from eternity, and in due time published this decree, and actually executed it; which he did when he raised up Christ from the dead, and brought him into his heavenly mansion. Unto - Unto his son the Messiah, whom David designedly calls his Lord, to admonish the whole church, that although he was his son according to his human nature, yet he had an higher nature, and was also his Lord, as being God blessed for ever, and consequently Lord of all things. The Hebrew word Adon is one of God's titles, signifying his power and authority over all things, and therefore is most fitly given to the Messiah, to whom God hath delegated all his power Mat 28:18.…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“Ps 110 Jesus and the apostles cite this psalm to explain Jesus’ unique ministry and status as the Messiah (Matt 22:43-45; Acts 2:32-36). It reaffirms God’s covenant with David and gives hope for the future (see 2 Sam 7:8-16). 110:1 The king of Israel had the great privilege of being the Lord’s adopted son (Ps 2; 1 Chr 22:10), but he fell (Ps 89). This decree restores and heightens his position. • The Lord: Hebrew Yahweh, the name of God (see Exod 3:6-14; 6:2-8; 20:2). • my Lord (Hebrew ’adoni) means “my master” or “my superior.” The psalmist viewed God’s messianic ruler as his superior. The New Testament frequently cites this psalm to validate Jesus’ claim to be the Messiah (Matt 22:44-45;…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“am 2962, bc 1042 (Title), This Psalm was probably composed by David after Nathan's prophetic address; and, from the grandeur of the subject and the sublimity of the expressions, it is evident that it can only refer, as the ancient Jews fully acknowledged, to the royal dignity, priesthood, victories, and triumphs of the MESSIAH. The Lord: Psa 8:1; Mat 22:42-46; Mar 12:35-37; Luk 22:41 Sit: Mar 16:19; Act 2:34; Eph 1:20-22; Heb 12:2; Pe1 3:22 until: Psa 2:6-9, Psa 45:6, Psa 45:7; Co1 15:25; Heb 1:3, Heb 1:13, Heb 10:12, Heb 10:13 Psalms 110:2”
Read attributed excerpt →
Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“In Psa 20:1-9 and Psa 21:1-13 we see at once in the openings that what we have before us is the language of the people concerning their king. Here לאדני in Psa 110:1 does not favour this, and נאם is decidedly against it. The former does not favour it, for it is indeed correct that the subject calls his king "my lord," e.g., Sa1 22:12, although the more exact form of address is "my lord the king," e.g., Sa1 24:9; but if the people are speaking here, what is the object of the title of honour being expressed as if coming from the mouth of an individual, and why not rather, as in Ps 20-21, למלך or למשׁיחו? נאם is, however, decisive against the supposition that it is an Israelite who here…”
Read attributed excerpt →

Related study paths

Sources and verification