Exegetical issues for Psalm 110:

Introduction

Ps. 110:4 according to the MT:^[1]

נִשְׁבַּ֤ע יְהוָ֨ה ׀ וְלֹ֥א יִנָּחֵ֗ם

אַתָּֽה־כֹהֵ֥ן לְעוֹלָ֑ם

עַל־דִּ֝בְרָתִ֗י מַלְכִּי־צֶֽדֶק׃

The NRSV translates Ps. 110:4 as follows: "The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, 'You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.'" The NRSV's translation is representative of the vast majority of translations of this verse. The interpretation reflected in this translation, however, is not the only possible interpretation. The NRSV has a footnote which says, "Or, Forever, a rightful king by my edict."^[2] In other words, the Hebrew text עַל־דִּ֝בְרָתִ֗י מַלְכִּי־צֶֽדֶק may be understood to mean either "according to the order of Melchizedek" or "a rightful king by my edict."

The differences between the NRSV text and the NRSV footnote reflect disagreement at two points of interpretation:

The grammar and meaning of מַלְכִּי־צֶדֶק
1. מַלְכִּי־צֶדֶק as a proper noun ("Melchizedek") (so NRSV)
2. מַלְכִּי־צֶדֶק as a clause or phrase consisting of two common nouns ("king of righteousness" or "my king is righteous") (so NRSV footnote)
The syntactic function of דִּבְרָתִי
1. דִּבְרָתִי as a construct form (so NRSV)
2. דִּבְרָתִי as a noun + pronominal suffix (so NRSV footnote)

Argument Maps

מַלְכִּי־צֶדֶק

The first issue is whether מַלְכִּי־צֶדֶק is a proper noun ("Melchizedek") or whether it is a clause or phrase consisting of two common nouns ("king of righteousness" or "my king is righteous").

מַלְכִּי־צֶדֶק as proper noun ("Melchizedek") (preferred)

Most translations, ancient and modern, interpret מַלְכִּי־צֶדֶק as a proper noun ("Melchizedek"). The arguments for and against this traditional interpretation are as follows.


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=== 
["Melchizedek"]: מַלְכִּי־צֶדֶק is a proper noun, the name "Melchizedek."
 + <Ancient versions>: The ancient versions, with the exception of the Targum, read מַלְכִּי־צֶדֶק as a proper noun.
  + [Ancient versions]: LXX: Μελχισεδεκ; Peshitta: ܡܠܟܝܙܕܩ; Jerome: Melchisedech.
 + <Genesis 14:18>: מַלְכִּי־צֶדֶק is a proper noun in Gen. 14:18, where it refers to the person who, like the king in Ps. 110, is both king and priest in Salem (Jerusalem).
  + [Genesis 14:18]: וּמַלְכִּי־צֶ֙דֶק֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ שָׁלֵ֔ם הוֹצִ֖יא לֶ֣חֶם וָיָ֑יִן וְה֥וּא כֹהֵ֖ן לְאֵ֥ל עֶלְיֽוֹן
 - <Lack of historical evidence>: Apart from Ps. 110, the only text to mention "Melchizedek" is Gen. 14, and this story about Melchizedek in Genesis is probably a late interpolation. Thus, there is a little evidence for a "Melchizedek" tradition on which the author of Ps. 110 might have drawn (Granerød 2010, 205-6 :M:). #dispreferred
 - <Orthography>: "Compound names in the Hebrew Bible normally are contracted to one word... Therefore, the spelling of מַלְכִּי־צֶדֶק suggests that we originally are not dealing with a personal name" (Granerød 2010, 207 :M:). #dispreferred
  + [Contracted compound names]: E.g., גבריאל, אליעזר, אלימלך, etc. #dispreferred
  - <Uncontracted compound names>: There are numerous examples of compound names in the Bible which are not contracted, including מַלְכִּי־צֶדֶק in Gen. 14:18.
   + [Uncontracted compound names]: E.g., בן־הדד, מרדך בלאדן, תגלת פלאסר, תובל־קין, מלכי־צדק, אדני־צדק, etc.

מַלְכִּי־צֶדֶק as common nouns ("righteous king")

Some translations interpret מַלְכִּי־צֶדֶק as a pair of common nouns, which together may form either a construct phrase ("king of righteousness") or a nominal clause ("my king is righteousness"). The arguments for and against this view are as follows.


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["Righteous king"]: "מַלְכִּי־צֶדֶק does not represent a personal name but either a nominal phrase (e.g., king of righteousness) or a nominal clause (e.g., my king is righteousness)" (Granerød 2010, 195 :M:, parenthetical notes added; cf. Targum, Radak, Fokkelman 2000, 288-9 :C:). #dispreferred
 + <Orthography>: The spelling of מַלְכִּי־צֶדֶק as two words suggests that מלכי and צדק are common nouns (Granerød 2010, 206-7 :M:). #dispreferred
  - <Uncontracted compound names>: There are numerous examples of compound names in the Bible which are not contracted, including מַלְכִּי־צֶדֶק in Gen. 14:18.
   + [Uncontracted compound names]: E.g., בן־הדד ,תובל־קין, מלכי־צדק, אדני־צדק, etc.
 + <11Q13>: "In 11Q13 it seems that מלכי צדק was used as a functional and ontological characterisation of a heavenly figure, and not simply a personal name" (Granerød 2010, 209 :M:). #dispreferred
  + [מלכי צדק as two words]: In 11Q13, מלכי צדק is written as two words. #dispreferred
   - <Uncontracted compound names>
  + [מלכי צדק vs מלכי רשע]: In 11Q13, the main opponent of מלכי צדק is בליעל, who elsewhere is called מלכי רשע (probably named in contrast to מלכי צדק). #dispreferred
   <_ <Proper noun with significance>: The fact that the author of 11Q13 considers the meaning of מלכי צדק to be "righteous king" or "king of righteousness" does not mean that he did not also consider it a proper noun.
    + [Hebrews]: The author of Hebrews regards Μελχισεδεκ as a proper noun and also finds significance in the noun's meaning: βασιλεὺς δικαιοσύνης (Heb. 7:2).
 - <Theme of צֶדֶק>: "The theme of צֶדֶק is not in the foreground of Psalm 110" (Zenger 2011, 143 :C:).

עַל־דִּבְרָתִי

The second issue is the interpretation of the prepositional phrase עַל־דִּבְרָתִי, which occurs only here in the Hebrew Bible. Interpreters differ in how they understand both the syntactic function and the meaning of דִּבְרָתִי.

Syntactic function of דִּבְרָתִי

Interpreters differ on the syntactic function of דִּבְרָתִי. In particular, they disagree on the function of the yod suffix. There are two main options for understanding this suffix:

The yod suffix on דִּבְרָתִי is a 1cs pronominal suffix.^[3]
The yod suffix on דִּבְרָתִי is an unexplained "connecting yod" (hireq compaginis) which occurs sometimes in poetry.^[4]

דִּבְרָתִי as noun + pronominal suffix

Some interpreters have argued that the form דִּבְרָתִי consists of a noun (דִּבְרָה) plus a pronominal suffix (י). The argument for this view is as follows.


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[דִּבְרָתִי as noun + pronominal suffix]: The prepositional phrase עַל־דִּבְרָתִי consists of a preposition (עַל), a noun (דִּבְרָה), and a 1cs pronominal suffix (י): "according to my word." #dispreferred
 + <Simple understanding>: "The simple understanding of על־דברתי would be that the yodh indicates a pronominal suffix, as at Job 5:8, where the same term occurs" (Mitchell 2003, 259 :M:; cf. Granerød 2010, 205 :M:). #dispreferred
  + [Job 5:8]: אוּלָ֗ם אֲ֭נִי אֶדְרֹ֣שׁ אֶל־אֵ֑ל וְאֶל־אֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים אָשִׂ֥ים דִּבְרָתִֽי׃#dispreferred

דִּבְרָתִי as construct form (preferred)

Most interpreters have analyzed דִּבְרָתִי as a construct form (equivalent to דִּבְרַת) and have attempted to explain the yod suffix on דִּבְרָתִי as a "connecting yod" (hireq compaginis) which occurs sometimes in poetry. The arguments for and against this view are as follows.


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[דִּבְרָתִי as construct form]: דִּבְרָתִי is in construct with מַלְכִּי־צֶדֶק (GKC §90l :G:; JM §93m :G:; IBHS §8.2e :G:).
 + <Ancient versions>: The ancient versions, with the exception of the Targum, understood דִּבְרָתִי to be in construct with מַלְכִּי־צֶדֶק.
  + [Ancient versions]: LXX: κατὰ τὴν τάξιν Μελχισεδεκ (cf. Heb. 5:6; 7:17); Peshitta: ܒܕܡܘܬܗ ܕܡܠܟܝܙܕܩ; Jerome: secundum ordinem Melchisedech.
 - <Masoretic accents>: עַל־דִּ֝בְרָתִ֗י is separated from the following מַלְכִּי־צֶדֶק by the disjunctive accent revia mugrash. If דִּבְרָתִי were in construct and the yod were a "connecting yod," then we might expect a conjunctive accent. #dispreferred
 - <Yod>: If דִּבְרָתִי were in construct, we would expect דִּבְרַת and not דִּבְרָתִי. #dispreferred
  + [דִּבְרַת]: The construct form דִּבְרַת occurs in Eccl. 3:18 (עַל־דִּבְרַת֙ בְּנֵ֣י הָאָדָ֔ם); Eccl. 7:14 (עַל־דִּבְרַ֗ת שֶׁלֹּ֨א יִמְצָ֧א הָֽאָדָ֛ם אַחֲרָ֖יו מְאֽוּמָה), and Eccl. 8:2 (וְעַ֕ל דִּבְרַ֖ת שְׁבוּעַ֥ת אֱלֹהִֽים); cf. Dan. 2:30 (עַל־דִּבְרַת֙ דִּ֤י פִשְׁרָא֙ לְמַלְכָּ֣א יְהוֹדְע֔וּן); Dan. 4:14 (עַד־דִּבְרַ֡ת דִּ֣י יִנְדְּע֣וּן חַ֠יַּיָּא). #dispreferred
  - <Hireq compaginis>: The yod may be explained as an instance of the so-called hireq compaginis ("binding hireq") which occurs sometimes in poetic texts especially (though not exclusively) on construct forms (GKC §90l :G:; JM §93m :G:; IBHS §8.2e :G:). 
   + [Hireq compaginis]: אֹסְרִ֤י לַגֶּ֙פֶן֙ עִירֹה וְלַשֹּׂרֵקָ֖ה בְּנִ֣י אֲתֹנ֑וֹ (Gen. 49:11); עֹזְבִ֣י הַצֹּ֔אן (Zech. 11:17); שֹׁכְנִ֖י סְנֶ֑ה (Deut. 33:16); רַבָּ֣תִי בַגּוֹיִ֗ם שָׂרָ֙תִי֙ בַּמְּדִינ֔וֹת (Lam. 1:1).
   + <Hireq compaginis clusters>: The uses of the so-called *hireq compaginis* tend to cluster, such that the hireq compaginis in מַלְכִּי־צֶדֶק makes it more likely that another hireq compaginis should occur in the same verse (עַל־דִּבְרָתִי).
    + [Hireq compaginis clusters]: E.g., Gen. 49:11; Lam. 1:1.

Meaning of עַל־דִּבְרָתִי

If one assumes that דִּבְרָתִי is a construct form bound with the following proper noun מַלְכִּי־צֶדֶק, the meaning of the phrase עַל־דִּבְרָתִי מַלְכִּי־צֶדֶק remains unclear. It could mean either of the following:

"in/after/according-to/of the order of Melchizedek"^[5] // "in/after the manner of Melchizedek"^[6] >> "just like Melchizedek."^[7]
"because of / for the sake of Melchizedek"^[8]

"After the order/manner of" (preferred)

The argument for interpreting עַל־דִּבְרָתִי in the sense of "in/after of the order/manner of" is as follows.


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=== 
["After the order/manner of"]: עַל־דִּבְרָתִי means "after the order/manner of" (BDB :L:, HALOT :L:, DCH :L:). The phrase specifies the way in which the Messiah is a priest (i.e., a priest-king like Melchizedek).
 + <Ancient versions>: The ancient versions, with the exception of the Targum, understood דִּבְרָתִי to mean "according to the order/manner of."
  + [Ancient versions]: LXX: κατὰ τὴν τάξιν Μελχισεδεκ (cf. Heb. 5:6; 7:17); Jerome: secundum ordinem Melchisedec; Peshitta: ܒܕܡܘܬܗ ܕܡܠܟܝܙܕܩ.
  + <Hebrews>: The author of Hebrews follows the interpretation of the LXX (κατὰ τὴν τάξιν Μελχισέδεκ) and interprets this phrase to refer to "likeness" (ὁμοιότης).
   + [Hebrews]: κατὰ τὴν τάξιν Μελχισέδεκ (Heb. 5:6; 7:17) >> κατὰ τὴν ὁμοιότητα Μελχισέδεκ (Heb. 7:15).
 - <Usage>: Τhe prepositional phrase עַל דִּבְרַת and the prepositional phrase עַל דְּבַר never elsewhere mean "after the order/manner of" (cf. Granderød 2010 :M:). #dispreferred
  <_ <"In relation to">: The prepositional phrase עַל דִּבְרַת and the prepositional phrase עַל דְּבַר often have a very general meaning of "in/with reference/regard to" or "concerning" or "in relation to" (cf. BDB, HALOT, DCH). It is possible that a general phrase such as this might have the more specific nuance of "in relation to" >> "compared to" in certain contexts (cf. the prepositional phrase "vis-à-vis") (cf. SDBH :L: "= a relational ► that points to a certain way of being or acting").
   + ["In relation to"]: Eccl. 3:18 (אָמַ֤רְתִּֽי אֲנִי֙ בְּלִבִּ֔י עַל־דִּבְרַת֙ בְּנֵ֣י הָאָדָ֔ם); Ex. 8:8 (וַיִּצְעַ֤ק מֹשֶׁה֙ אֶל־יְהוָ֔ה עַל־דְּבַ֥ר הַֽצְפַרְדְּעִ֖ים); KAI 194.5 (וכי שלח אדני על דבר בית הרפד).
 + <Context>: "In Ps. cx. 4, the context suggests a shift from the usual causal sense, 'with respect to, because of,' to the modal sense, 'according to the case of, in the manner of,' as understood by the versions" (Tournay 1960, 19 :A:).

"Because of / for the sake of"

The argument for interpreting עַל־דִּבְרָתִי in the sense of "because of" or "for the sake of" is as follows.


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[Causal or telic]: "The Hebrew phrase עַל דִּבְרַת in Ps. 110:4b carries a causal ("because of") or telic ("for the sake of") notion" (Granerød 2010, 203 :M:, parenthetical notes added; cf. Hupfeld 1871 :C:; Booij 1991 :A:). #dispreferred
 + <עַל דִּבְרַת>: Elsewhere the prepositional phrase עַל דִּבְרַת is causal ("because of") or telic ("for the sake of"). #dispreferred
  + [עַל דִּבְרַת]: Eccl. 7:14 (עַל־דִּבְרַ֗ת שֶׁלֹּ֨א יִמְצָ֧א הָֽאָדָ֛ם אַחֲרָ֖יו מְאֽוּמָה), and Eccl. 8:2 (וְעַ֕ל דִּבְרַ֖ת שְׁבוּעַ֥ת אֱלֹהִֽים); cf. Dan. 2:30 (עַל־דִּבְרַת֙ דִּ֤י פִשְׁרָא֙ לְמַלְכָּ֣א יְהוֹדְע֔וּן). #dispreferred
 + <עַל דִּבַר>: The similar prepositional phrase עַל דְּבַר is often causal ("because of") or telic ("for the sake of"). #dispreferred
  + [עַל דְּבַר]: E.g., Gen. 20:11, 18; 12:17; 43:18; Ex. 8:8; Num. 17:14; Pss. 45:5; 79:9. #dispreferred

Conclusion (B)

The phrase מַלְכִּי־צֶדֶק is most likely a proper noun ("Melchizedek"), as in Gen. 14:18.^[9] The psalmist probably refers to Melchizedek because, like the royal figure in Ps. 110, Melchizedek was both king and priest in Salem.

Following the ancient versions and the writer to the Hebrews, the phrase עַל־דִּבְרָתִי probably means "in relation to" >> "in the manner of / like."^[10] The yod suffix on דִּבְרָתִי is probably a "connecting yod" (hireq compaginis), such that the whole phrase might be translated, "in relation to Melchizedek" or, more naturally, "like Melchizedek."

Research

Manuscripts

Aleppo Codex:

Translations

Ancient

LXX: κατὰ τὴν τάξιν Μελχισεδεκ
- "according to the order of Melchisedek."^[11]
Aquila & Symmachus: κατα λογον^[12]
Peshitta: ܒܕܡܘܬܗ ܕܡܠܟܝܙܕܩ^[13]
Jerome: secundum ordinem Melchisedech^[14]
Targum: בגין זכותא דהויתא מלך זכי^[15]
- "on account of the merit that you have been a righteous king."^[16]

Modern

"in/after/according-to/of the order of Melchizedek" (NIV, NLT, KJV, ESV, NRSV^[17] NJB; cf. GNT^[18], NET, NGÜ, EÜ; "según el orden de Melquisedec" [RVR95, NVI, BTX4])
"in the succession of Melchizedek" (NEB; cf. "selon la ligne de Melchisédek" [BDS])
"in/after the manner of Melchizedek" (JPS85 footnote; cf. "nach der Weise/Art Melchisedeks" [LUT, ELB, ZÜR, GNB]; "à la manière de Melkisédeq" [TOB, NBS, NVS78P, NFC, S21]) >> "just like Melchizedek" (CEV; cf. HFA)
"a Melchizedek in my service"^[19] (REB)
"a rightful king by My decree"^[20] (JPS85; cf. NRSV footnote)

Secondary Literature

Booij, Thijs. 1991. "Psalm Cx: Rule in the Midst of Your Foes!" Vetus Testamentum. Vol. 41, no.: 396-407.

Fokkelman, J.P. 2000. Major Poems of the Hebrew Bible: At the Interface of Prosody and Structural Analysis (Vol 2: 85 Psalms and Job 4–14). Vol. 2. Studia Semitica Neerlandica. Van Gorcum.

Granerød, Gard. 2010. Abraham and Melchizedek: Scribal Activity of Second Temple Times in Genesis 14 and Psalm 110. Berlin, New York: De Gruyter.

Hossfeld, Frank-Lothar, and Erich Zenger. 2011. Psalms 3: A Commentary on Psalms 101-150. Edited by Klaus Baltzer. Translated by Linda M. Maloney. Hermeneia. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress.

Hupfeld, Hermann. 1871. Die Psalmen. Vol. 4. Gotha: F.A. Perthes.

Mitchell, David C. 2003. The Message of the Psalter: An Eschatological Programme in the Book of Psalms. 2nd ed. Glasgow Scotland: Campbell Publishers.

Stec, David M. 2004. The Targum of Psalms: Translated, with A Critical Introduction, Apparatus, and Notes. Collegeville: Liturgical Press.

Taylor, Richard, George Kiraz, and Joseph Bali. 2020. The Psalms According to the Syriac Peshitta Version with English Translation. 1st ed. Gorgias Press.

Tournay, Raymond Jacques. 1960. "Le Psaume CX.” Revue Biblique. Vol. 67, no. 1: 5–41.

References

110:4 Approved

↑ Hebrew text taken from OSHB.
↑ The JPS85 translation presents the same two translation options, though with the opposite decision with regard to which option to include in the main text and which to include in the footnote. JPS85 text: "a rightful king by My decree." JPS85 footnote: "Or 'after the manner of Melchizedek.'"
↑ So JPS85: "my edict."
↑ So most translations: "order/manner of Melchizedek."
↑ NIV, NLT, KJV, ESV, NRSV, NJB; cf. GNT, NET, NGÜ, EÜ; "según el orden de Melquisedec" (RVR95, NVI, BTX4).
↑ JPS85 footnote; cf. "nach der Weise/Art Melchisedeks" (LUT, ELB, ZÜR, GNB); "à la manière de Melkisédeq" (TOB, NBS, NVS78P, NFC, S21).
↑ CEV; cf. HFA.
↑ This interpretation is not represented in any of the translations consulted. Some commentators, however, have taken this position (e.g., Hupfeld 1872).
↑ This proper noun may be either a title or a personal name. It seems likely that מַלְכִּי־צֶדֶק is a title. Cf. אֲדֹֽנִי־צֶ֜דֶק מֶ֣לֶךְ יְרוּשָׁלִַ֗ם in Josh 10:1, 3.
↑ Cf. SDBH: = a relational ► that points to a certain way of being or acting -- in the manner of; of the pattern of.
↑ Pietersma, NETS.
↑ Syro-hexapla: איך מלטא (see Field).
↑ Variant: ܥܠ ܡܠܬܗ ܕܡܠܟܝܙܕܩ
↑ Jerome's translation from the Hebrew is identical to his translation from the Greek at this point.
↑ Variant (M, P110): בגלל זכותא דהויתא מלך זכי
↑ Stec 2004, 203.
↑ NRSV footnote: "Or Forever, a rightful king by my edict."
↑ GNT footnote: "in the priestly order of Melchizedek; or like Melchizedek; or in the line of succession to Melchizedek."
↑ REB footnote: "...or in the succession of Melchizedek..."
↑ JPS85 footnote: "Or 'after the manner of Melchizedek.'"

[1] Hebrew text taken from OSHB.

[2] The JPS85 translation presents the same two translation options, though with the opposite decision with regard to which option to include in the main text and which to include in the footnote. JPS85 text: "a rightful king by My decree." JPS85 footnote: "Or 'after the manner of Melchizedek.'"

[3] So JPS85: "my edict."

[4] So most translations: "order/manner of Melchizedek."

[5] NIV, NLT, KJV, ESV, NRSV, NJB; cf. GNT, NET, NGÜ, EÜ; "según el orden de Melquisedec" (RVR95, NVI, BTX4).

[6] JPS85 footnote; cf. "nach der Weise/Art Melchisedeks" (LUT, ELB, ZÜR, GNB); "à la manière de Melkisédeq" (TOB, NBS, NVS78P, NFC, S21).

[7] CEV; cf. HFA.

[8] This interpretation is not represented in any of the translations consulted. Some commentators, however, have taken this position (e.g., Hupfeld 1872).

[9] This proper noun may be either a title or a personal name. It seems likely that מַלְכִּי־צֶדֶק is a title. Cf. אֲדֹֽנִי־צֶ֜דֶק מֶ֣לֶךְ יְרוּשָׁלִַ֗ם in Josh 10:1, 3.

[10] Cf. SDBH: = a relational ► that points to a certain way of being or acting -- in the manner of; of the pattern of.

[11] Pietersma, NETS.

[12] Syro-hexapla: איך מלטא (see Field).

[13] Variant: ܥܠ ܡܠܬܗ ܕܡܠܟܝܙܕܩ

[14] Jerome's translation from the Hebrew is identical to his translation from the Greek at this point.

[15] Variant (M, P110): בגלל זכותא דהויתא מלך זכי

[16] Stec 2004, 203.

[17] NRSV footnote: "Or Forever, a rightful king by my edict."

[18] GNT footnote: "in the priestly order of Melchizedek; or like Melchizedek; or in the line of succession to Melchizedek."

[19] REB footnote: "...or in the succession of Melchizedek..."

[20] JPS85 footnote: "Or 'after the manner of Melchizedek.'"

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The Grammar and Meaning of Ps. 110:4

Contents