Psalm 110, King of Righteousness

Of David. A psalm.

This Messianic psalm will later be quoted by the author of the letter to the Hebrews.

Psalm 110:1, YHWH address my Lord

The LORD says to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand 

until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet."

YHWH promises "my lord" that He, YHWH, will defeat his enemies. Is YHWH addressing David's lord or are these the words of a court writer and then David might be the "lord" in question. The most natural reading (see further below) is that this is a Messianic psalm and that "my Lord" is the Messiah. This was certainly the interpretation of New Testament writers.

Alter writes, "Some Egyptian murals actually depict an enthroned pharaoh with feet resting on the heads of kneeling captives" (p. 396.)

Jesus, challenging the teachers of the law in Mark 12:35-36, cites this passage and asks the religious leaders how this "son of David" could also be the one that David follows. Peter then, in his temple speech in Acts 2:29-36 cites this passage as evidence that Jesus was the Messiah. The author of the New Testament letter to the Hebrews cites this verse (in Hebrews 1:13) as evidence that Jesus is greater than the angels.

Psalm 110:2-3, A mighty scepter

The LORD will extend your mighty scepter from Zion; 

you will rule in the midst of your enemies.

 Your troops will be willing on your day of battle. 

Arrayed in holy majesty, from the womb of the dawn 

you will receive the dew of your youth.

The coming Lord will rule in Zion, his troops arrange in majesty, at first light. He will lead out to battle fresh troops, willing followers.

Psalm 110:4, A priest forever

The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind: 

"You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek."

YHWH has chosen this Lord, this future Messiah, to be a priest forever. The name of the order is

mal·kî-ṣe·ḏeq, which translates roughly as "King of Righteousness." This the name of the king that appears to Abram in Genesis 14:18-20.

The Messiah is not just king, but priest. The author of Hebrews returns to this concept in Hebrews 5:6-10, 6:13-20 before expanding in detail on Melchizedek in Hebrews 7.

Psalm 110:5-6, Heaping up the dead

The Lord is at your right hand; 

he will crush kings on the day of his wrath.

 He will judge the nations, 

heaping up the dead 

and crushing the rulers of the whole earth.

With YHWH at his right hand, this king will be able to defeat all the other kings and judge the nations, overwhelming them in a bloody victory.

Psalm 110:7, Stopping for a drink

 He will drink from a brook beside the way; 

therefore he will lift up his head.

The Messiah is pictured as a weary fighter who, after victory, stops to quench his thirst.

First published October 17, 2025; updated October 17, 2025