Psalms 110:1 — The Lord at the Right Hand

Verse 1 opens with the superscription "A Psalm of David," attributing the poem to David and framing its content as his composition. Within the psalm, David reports a divine speech: "Jehovah saith unto my Lord." Two distinct figures appear — the speaker, Jehovah, and the one addressed, "my Lord" (ʾădōnî). David calls this second figure "my Lord" while recording words spoken to him by Jehovah, establishing a scene of address between two persons of authority.

The command "Sit thou at my right hand" places the addressed Lord in the position of honor beside the enthroned King. In the ancient Near Eastern royal idiom, sitting at the right hand of a king meant sharing in royal prerogative and rule. The Hebrew verb yāšab ("sit") here is durative — "be seated" — indicating a settled position of authority rather than a brief visit. The verse does not yet identify who this Lord is; it simply presents David hearing Jehovah address him.

The duration clause, "Until I make thine enemies thy footstool," fixes the length of the enthronement: it lasts until Jehovah subdues the addressed Lord's enemies. The footstool image depicts total defeat of foes beneath the victor's feet, a common Old Testament picture of completed conquest (cf. Josh. 10:24). The speaker, Jehovah, is the one who accomplishes this subjugation; the addressed Lord reigns while it unfolds.

Psalm 110 has no preceding verses in the chapter, so verse 1 opens the psalm directly. The superscription places the psalm among the Davidic psalms and sets the tone of royal address. The verses that follow — Jehovah sending forth the rod of strength from Zion (v. 2), the people willingly serving in the day of power (v. 3), the sworn priesthood after the order of Melchizedek (v. 4), the Lord at the right hand striking through kings (v. 5), judging among the nations (v. 6), and drinking of the brook before lifting up the head (v. 7) — all extend the enthronement scene introduced in verse 1. The note provided in the source material identifies this as a royal psalm frequently cited in the New Testament to proclaim Christ's exaltation, framing the psalm's reception in Christian tradition.

Verse 1 itself contains the core claim from which the psalm develops: a figure David calls "my Lord" is invited to sit at Jehovah's right hand until his enemies are subdued. The royal-imessidential framing shapes the entire psalm, with the rod sent from Zion (v. 2), the Melchizedekian priesthood (v. 4), and the judging Lord at the right hand (v. 5) all elaborating on the enthronement first announced here.