Psalm 110 Emotional
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Psalm 110/Emotional
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Sit at my right side
Psalm 110
Emotional Analysis
This layer explores the emotional dimension of the biblical text and seeks to uncover the clues within the text itself that are part of the communicative intent of its author. The goal of this analysis is to chart the basic emotional tone and/or progression of the psalm.
For a detailed explanation of our method, see the Emotional Analysis Creator Guidelines.
Emotional Analysis Chart
If an emendation or revocalization is preferred, that emendation or revocalization will be marked in the Hebrew text of all the visuals.
| Emendations/Revocalizations legend | |
|---|---|
| *Emended text* | Emended text, text in which the consonants differ from the consonants of the Masoretic text, is indicated by blue asterisks on either side of the emendation. |
| *Revocalized text* | Revocalized text, text in which only the vowels differ from the vowels of the Masoretic text, is indicated by purple asterisks on either side of the revocalization. |
| Verse | Text (Hebrew) | Text (CBC) The Close-but-clear translation (CBC) exists to provide a window into the Hebrew text according to how we understand its syntax and word-to-phrase-level semantics. It is not intended to be used as a stand-alone translation or base text, but as a supplement to Layer-by-Layer materials to help users make full use of these resources. | The Psalmist Feels | Emotional Analysis Notes |
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| 1 | לְדָוִ֗ד מִ֫זְמ֥וֹר | A psalm by David. | ||
| 1aα | נְאֻ֤ם יְהוָ֨ה ׀ לַֽאדֹנִ֗י | YHWH’s oracle to my lord: | • Deference to his lord. • Confident that his lord's enemies will be utterly and permanently subdued (as a footstool for his feet). |
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| 1aβ | שֵׁ֥ב לִֽימִינִ֑י | “Sit at my right side, | ||
| 1b | עַד־אָשִׁ֥ית אֹ֝יְבֶ֗יךָ הֲדֹ֣ם לְרַגְלֶֽיךָ׃ | until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” | ||
| 2a | מַטֵּֽה־עֻזְּךָ֗ יִשְׁלַ֣ח יְ֭הוָה מִצִּיּ֑וֹן | YHWH will extend your strong staff from Zion. | • Impressed/Admiration at the strength of his lord's staff (> dominion). • Confident and excited that his lord will rule(!) among his enemies. • Triumph, because his lord will rule among his enemies. |
• The imperative is used here, not as a command, but to "to express a distinct assurance... or promise, e.g., ... Ps. 110:2" (GKC 110c). • See story behind notes for the "staff" image.
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| 2b | רְ֝דֵ֗ה בְּקֶ֣רֶב אֹיְבֶֽיךָ׃ | Rule among your enemies! | ||
| 3a | עַמְּךָ֣ נְדָבֹת֮ בְּי֪וֹם חֵ֫ילֶ֥ךָ | Your people will be willing on the day you manifest your power. | • Impressed/Admiration at the quality and quantity of his lord's army, which is like dew. • Determined to celebrate his lord's military might. |
• See story behind imagery chart on "dew."
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| 3b | בְּֽהַדְרֵי־קֹ֭דֶשׁ מֵרֶ֣חֶם מִשְׁחָ֑ר | On holy mountains, from the womb of dawn, | ||
| 3c | לְ֝ךָ֗ טַ֣ל יַלְדֻתֶֽיךָ׃ | The dew, your young men, [will come] into your possession. | ||
| 4a | נִשְׁבַּ֤ע יְהוָ֨ה ׀ וְלֹ֥א יִנָּחֵ֗ם | YHWH has sworn, and he will not change his mind: | • Confident that YHWH will not change his mind, and, therefore, confident that his lord will be a priest forever. |
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| 4b | אַתָּֽה־כֹהֵ֥ן לְעוֹלָ֑ם | “You are forever a priest | ||
| 4c | עַל־דִּ֝בְרָתִ֗י מַלְכִּי־צֶֽדֶק׃ | just like Melchizedek.” | ||
| 5a | אֲדֹנָ֥י עַל־יְמִֽינְךָ֑ | The Lord at your right side • Contempt for the foolish rebellious kings whom YHWH will smash on the day his anger is unleashed, so that they become corpses. • Confident that the kings will be utterly devastated on that day. • Triumph at their defeat at the hands of the Lord, who smashed heads across the wide world and filled the nations with corpses. • Hopeful that the world will be ruled with justice when YHWH becomes king. |
• The verb מחץ, which appears only in poetic texts, has very strong associations with violence and gore (cf. "corpses" in v. 6a). Smashing "heads" of enemies especially common (Hab. 3:13; Pss. 68:22; 110:6; cf. Num. 24:17; Jdg. 5:26). The psalmist may have used such graphic language, in part, to express his contempt for the kings and his confidence that they will be utterly devastated. • In vv. 5-6, the psalmist is probably reporting what he saw in his vision (see notes on verbal semantics). The fact that the psalmist saw these things take place in his dream may contribute to his confidence that they will take place in reality. • YHWH is referred to as "the Lord," a designation which underscores "the universal authority of God"(NIDOTTE) (cf. Ps. 2:4b).
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| 5b | מָחַ֖ץ בְּיוֹם־אַפּ֣וֹ מְלָכִֽים׃ | smashed kings on the day his anger was unleashed. | ||
| 6a | יָדִ֣ין בַּ֭גּוֹיִם מָלֵ֣א גְוִיּ֑וֹת | He will rule among the nations whom he filled with corpses. | ||
| 6b | מָ֥חַץ רֹ֝֗אשׁ עַל־אֶ֥רֶץ רַבָּֽה׃ | He smashed heads across the wide world. | ||
| 7a | מִ֭נַּחַל בַּדֶּ֣רֶךְ יִשְׁתֶּ֑ה | He will drink from a wadi on the campaign. | • For the images of drinking from a wadi on the campaign and lifting one's head, see notes on story behind.
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| 7b | עַל־כֵּ֝֗ן יָרִ֥ים רֹֽאשׁ׃ | Therefore, he will lift [his] head. | • Confidence that YHWH's victory will be complete. • Triumph in the victory of YHWH and the lord. |
Summary Visual
(Click visual to enlarge).
