ScriptureDepth's study of Psalm 110
“Yahweh says to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool for your feet.”
Psalms 110:1
Yahweh speaks to the psalmist's Lord, commanding him to 'Sit at my right hand', which establishes his authority and sets in motion the promise of victory over enemies.
What Psalm 110 is about
Yahweh says to the Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool for your feet’ (v. 1). He will send the rod of strength out of Zion. The Lord will rule among his enemies (v. 2). The people offer themselves willingly. They stand ready in holy array and show the dew of youth (vv. 3). Yahweh swears that the Lord is a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek (v. 4). The Lord is at the right hand of Yahweh. He will crush kings and judge the nations (vv. 5-6). He will drink from the brook and lift up his head (v. 7).
The chapter leaves the reader with the promise of the Lord's eternal priesthood and the coming judgment.
Psalm 110 at a glance
- Psalm 110:1Divine Invitation to Rule
- Psalm 110:2–3Strength and Willingness of the People
- Psalm 110:4–7Eternal Priesthood and Judgment
Key verse: Psalms 110:1
One thing to notice
Yahweh speaks to 'my Lord' in v. 1. The following verses, vv. 2-7, describe Yahweh's actions and promises regarding this figure. The initial address is personal and direct, while the subsequent verses describe the role and authority of the Lord.
Summary and study helps: AI-drafted (September 2026), checked by automated Scripture gates. Spotted an error? Report it. Fixes are listed on the corrections page.
Chapter text
Read Psalm 110 (WEB)
Divine Invitation to Rule Psalm 110:1
1Verse 1. Yahweh says to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand,until I make your enemies your footstool for your feet.”
Strength and Willingness of the People Psalm 110:2–3
2Verse 2. Yahweh will send out the rod of your strength out of Zion.Rule among your enemies.3Verse 3. Your 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.
Eternal Priesthood and Judgment Psalm 110:4–7
4Verse 4. Yahweh has sworn, and will not change his mind:“You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”5Verse 5. The Lord is at your right hand.He will crush kings in the day of his wrath.6Verse 6. He will judge among the nations.He will heap up dead bodies.He will crush the ruler of the whole earth.7Verse 7. He will drink of the brook on the way;therefore he will lift up his head.
World English Bible (public domain)
Go deeper
Ask the AI about Psalm 110
Bring your question about the chapter, the key verse, or how this passage fits the rest of Scripture. Ask unlimited questions and keep study notes on every chapter. 7 days free, no card.
Main themes in Psalm 110
Messianic prophecy
In v. 1, 'Yahweh says to my Lord,' reveals a divine conversation that establishes the authority of the figure referred to as 'my Lord.' This figure is invited to 'Sit at my right hand,' indicating a position of honor and power. The psalm anticipates a future ruler who will establish dominion and vanquish enemies, suggesting a messianic expectation linked with kingship.
Divine sovereignty
Divine sovereignty surfaces in verse 2, which states, 'Yahweh will send out the rod of your strength out of Zion.' This indicates God's authority in the establishment of His ruler's reign and His dominion over the nations. Additionally, the declaration in verse 1 that Yahweh will make enemies 'your footstool' further showcases His supreme power over creation.
Royal priesthood
In v. 4, the text names this priest as 'a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek,' which connects the royal and priestly roles in a single figure. This dual appointment signifies an eternal and unchanging priesthood, contrasting with the temporary nature of the Levitical priesthood. The establishment of this order emphasizes the unique status of the ruler and their divine backing.
Judgment and victory
Judgment and victory appear prominently in verses 5-6, where 'The Lord is at your right hand' and 'He will crush kings in the day of his wrath' portray a scene of divine judgment. The ruler's role includes executing justice among nations, leading to victory over adversaries as noted in 'He will heap up dead bodies.' Verse 7's imagery of the ruler 'will lift up his head' conveys a sense of triumph following this judgment.
Chapter outline
How Psalm 110 unfolds
Psalm 110:1 Divine Invitation to Rule
Yahweh commands the Lord to 'Sit at my right hand' until all enemies are subdued, establishing His authority and position (v. 1).
Psalm 110:2–3 Strength and Willingness of the People
Yahweh sends 'the rod of your strength' from Zion, commanding the Lord to 'rule among your enemies.' His people offer themselves 'willingly in the day of your power' with 'the dew of your youth'.
Psalm 110:4–7 Eternal Priesthood and Judgment
Yahweh declares the Lord as 'a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek,' assuring His eternal priesthood while also proclaiming judgment upon nations and rulers (vv. 4-7).
Key verses
Psalms 110:1Yahweh speaks to the psalmist's Lord, commanding him to 'Sit at my right hand', which establishes his authority and sets in motion the promise of victory over enemies.
Get a short devotional by email, one passage and one question a day.
One short email each morning, with the free study guide. Unsubscribe anytime. By subscribing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. We use your address only to send this email.
Study questions
Questions for studying Psalm 110
- observeIn v1, who is speaking to 'my Lord'?
- observeWhat does Yahweh promise to do in v2 regarding Zion?
- interpretThe phrase 'priest forever in the order of Melchizedek' in v4: what does this imply about the Messiah's priesthood?
- interpretIn v6, what does it mean that he will 'heap up dead bodies'?
- applyWhen have you felt like a ruler among your enemies as described in v2?
For Bible groups
Study Psalm 110 with your group
A free one-page handout with the overview, key verse, outline and discussion questions, ready to print for everyone at the table.
Cross-references
Passages that echo Psalm 110
- Hebrews 1Psalm 110:1 and Hebrews 1:13Both sit at my right hand: Psalm 110:1 says, “Sit at my right hand,” while Hebrews 1:13 says, “Sit at my right hand.”
- Hebrews 7Psalm 110:4 and Hebrews 7:17Both you are a priest forever: Psalm 110:4 says, “You are a priest forever,” while Hebrews 7:17 says, “You are a priest forever.”
- Hebrews 10Psalm 110:1 and Hebrews 10:12Both sit at my right hand: Psalm 110:1 says, “Sit at my right hand,” while Hebrews 10:12 says, “sat down on the right hand of God.”
- Acts 2Psalm 110:1 and Acts 2:34Both sit at my right hand: Psalm 110:1 says, “Sit at my right hand,” while Acts 2:34 says, “Sit by my right hand.”
- Mark 12Psalm 110:1 and Mark 12:35Both sit at my right hand: Psalm 110:1 says, “Sit at my right hand,” while Mark 12:35 says, “the Christ is the son of David.”
- 1 Corinthians 15Psalm 110:1 and 1 Corinthians 15:25Both put all his enemies: Psalm 110:1 says, “make your enemies your footstool,” while 1 Corinthians 15:25 says, “he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
Related chapters
Chapters that connect with Psalm 110
Elsewhere on ScriptureDepth
Where to go from here
- Psalms: the whole bookPsalms is Israel's prayer book and hymnal: 150 poems gathered over centuries and arranged in five books that…
- Full Year Chronological Bible, day 136Day 136 of 365: Psalms 108–110.
- PrayerWhat the Bible says about prayer, with verses.
- Common Bible questionsThe questions people bring to Bible study, each answered from the text.
- Today's devotionalOne verse and a short reflection, new every morning.
Psalm 110: frequently asked questions
What is Psalm 110 about?+
What is the key verse in Psalm 110?+
What are the main themes of Psalm 110?+
Studying Psalms with a print Bible beside you? See our study Bible guides.