Psalms 110

Translation Note

The first LORD is יְהוָה, Strong’s H3068. The second is לַאדֹנִי, “to my lord,” Strong’s H113, which Strong’s defines as “sovereign, i.e. controller (human or divine),” not H136, the divine title Adonai. The 1917 Jewish Publication Society reads “The LORD saith unto my lord.” Brenton reads “The Lord said to my Lord,” and the Greek is Κύριος to κύριός μου.

Jesus asks how David can call the Messiah his lord if the Messiah is only David’s son. Matthew 22:41–46, Mark 12:35–37, Acts 2:34–36, and Hebrews 1:13 quote this line. Verse 5 of the same psalm is a different word, Adonai. The New Testament quotes verse 1 and verse 4. It does not quote verse 3.

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

Jewish Publication Society (1917). “The LORD saith unto my lord: 'Sit thou at My right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.'”

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English. “The Lord said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.”

Septuagint, Brenton’s Greek (1851). Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος τῷ Κυρίῳ μου, κάθου ἐκ δεξιῶν μου.

Why don’t Jews believe Jesus is the Messiah? What Does Messiah Mean? Psalm 110: Who Is David’s Lord?

Translation Note

The 1917 Jewish Publication Society reads a willing people, the day of warfare, adornments of holiness, the womb of the dawn, and the dew of youth. The King James reads “the day of thy power” and “the womb of the morning.” Neither English sentence says “I have begotten thee.”

Brenton’s Septuagint does: “I have begotten thee from the womb before the morning.” The Greek is ἐκ γαστρὸς πρὸ Ἑωσφόρου ἐγέννησά σε. The New Testament does not quote this verse. The “begotten” line the apostles quote is Psalm 2:7.

King James Version. 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.

Jewish Publication Society (1917). “Thy people offer themselves willingly in the day of thy warfare; in adornments of holiness, from the womb of the dawn, thine is the dew of thy youth.”

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English. “With thee is dominion in the day of thy power, in the splendours of thy saints: I have begotten thee from the womb before the morning.”

Septuagint, Brenton’s Greek (1851). ἐκ γαστρὸς πρὸ Ἑωσφόρου ἐγέννησά σε.

Psalm 110: Who Is David’s Lord? What Does Messiah Mean?

Translation Note

The first word is אֲדֹנָי, Adonai, Strong’s H136. Verse 1’s “my lord” is H113, לַאדֹנִי, from אָדוֹן. These are not the same Hebrew word. The 1917 Jewish Publication Society reads “The Lord” here and “my lord” in verse 1.

Brenton reads “The Lord at thy right hand.” The Greek is Κύριος, as it is for both words in verse 1. The English of the Septuagint therefore hides a distinction the Hebrew keeps. Verse 1 puts David’s lord at the right hand of the LORD. Verse 5 puts Adonai at “thy” right hand.

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

Jewish Publication Society (1917). “The Lord at thy right hand doth crush kings in the day of His wrath.”

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English. “The Lord at thy right hand has dashed in pieces kings in the day of his wrath.”

Septuagint, Brenton’s Greek (1851). Κύριος ἐκ δεξιῶν σου συνέθλασεν ἐν ἡμέρᾳ ὀργῆς αὐτοῦ βασιλεῖς.

Psalm 110: Who Is David’s Lord? What Does Messiah Mean?