Meta Description:
Discover the original Hebrew meaning of Psalm 110:1 and why it likely refers to King David—not Jesus. This article explores grammar, context, and authorship.
Keywords:
Psalm 110:1 Hebrew, Adoni vs Adonai, Psalm 23 Hebrew, Jesus in Psalm 110, Psalm of David, Levites and Psalms, messianic prophecy, Hebrew Bible interpretation
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Psalm 110:1 – Is God Really Calling Jesus “Lord”? A Hebrew-Based Analysis
Many Christians interpret Psalm 110:1 as a prophecy where God addresses Jesus as “Lord.” But a close reading of the Hebrew text and contextual clues suggests a different meaning. When combined with the language of Psalm 23:1 and knowledge of Levitical authorship, we see that Psalm 110 is likely praising King David—not predicting Jesus.
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Literal Hebrew Translation: Psalm 23:1
Hebrew:
> מִזְמוֹר לְדָוִד: יְהוָה רֹעִי לֹא אֶחְסָר
Literal Translation:
> A psalm to/for David: YHWH is my shepherd, I shall not lack.
The superscription “mizmor le-David” can mean:
“by David”
“to David”
“for David”
This opens the possibility that Levitical singers wrote the psalm about David rather than him being the author.
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Literal Hebrew Translation: Psalm 110:1
Hebrew:
> מִזְמוֹר לְדָוִד: נְאֻם יְהוָה לַאדֹנִי שֵׁב לִימִינִי עַד-אָשִׁית אֹיְבֶיךָ הֲדֹם לְרַגְלֶיךָ
Literal Translation:
> A psalm to/for David: An utterance of YHWH to my lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”
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“Adoni” Is Not “Adonai”
The key phrase:
> נְאֻם יְהוָה לַאדֹנִי
“The LORD said to my lord”
Here’s the linguistic distinction:
Adonai (אֲדֹנָי) = the Lord (a title only used for God)
Adoni (אֲדֹנִי) = my lord (a title used for human rulers)
Psalm 110:1 uses Adoni, clearly indicating a human figure, not a second divine being.
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Who Wrote Psalm 110?
The psalm’s introduction:
> מִזְמוֹר לְדָוִד – A Psalm to/for David
This does not prove David’s authorship. Psalms were frequently composed by Levites, who led Israelite worship. In this context, Psalm 110 may be:
A Levitical tribute to King David
Reporting what God declared about David
Using poetic royal language typical in ancient Israel
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“Sit at My Right Hand”: Royal Language
The phrase:
> “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool”
is courtly metaphor, symbolizing:
Honor
Divine favor
Victory over enemies
This was common language for kings—especially David, who was seen as chosen by God.
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Levites Praising David, Not God Addressing Jesus
Given all the evidence:
"Adoni" refers to a human, not divine, figure
The Levitical tradition supports composition for kings like David
The superscription suggests dedication, not authorship
It is highly likely that Psalm 110 was written by Levites in honor of David, declaring YHWH’s support for him—not predicting Jesus’ divine enthronement.
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Conclusion: Not a Messianic Prophecy About Jesus
Psalm 110:1, in its original Hebrew, does not present God addressing Jesus as “Lord.” Instead, it is more faithfully understood as:
A psalm composed by Levites
Honoring David as God's chosen king
Using royal language and metaphors of divine support
The evidence from the Hebrew grammar, historical context, and literary structure all point to this more grounded interpretation.
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