Prophecies of Jesus-9

1. Messiah's throne will be anointed and eternal.

   
   

   Old Testament Scripture. Psm. 45:6-7; Dan. 2:44

   
   

   New Testament Fulfillment. Ref. Luke 1:33; Heb. 1:8-10

Psm. 45:6 Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.

The king was righteous in his administration. In a surprising extravagance of language, the psalmist addressed the king as God ('ĕlōhı̂m). This is not entirely unique; judges in Moses’ day were designated in this way as God’s just representatives (cf. Exo. 21:6; 22:8-9; Psm. 82:1). As God’s representative, this king would have an everlasting throne and a righteous reign (a scepter of justice). Because he loved righteousness and hated wickedness, God had blessed him with abundant joy.

Thy (Father's) throne,... parentheses mine.

כּסּה / כּסּא

kissê' / kissêh

Definition:

1) seat (of honour), throne, seat, stool

1a) seat (of honour), throne

1b) royal dignity, authority, power (figuratively)

Part of Speech: noun masculine

O God (Father),...

אלהים

'ĕlôhı̂ym

Definition:

1) (plural)

1a) rulers, judges

1b) divine ones

1c) angels

1d) gods

2) (plural intensive - singular meaning)

2a) god, goddess

2b) godlike one

2c) works or special possessions of God

2d) the (true) God

2e) God

Part of Speech: noun masculine plural

The 34th prophecy in Psalms (Psm. 45:6-7, fulfilled in Christ, Heb. 1:8-9). Next, Psm. 45:17.

Christ’s kingdom, which He will set up at His second coming, will be eternal, not just for 1,000 years (Isa. 9:6-7; Ezk. 43:7-9; Dan. 2:44-45; 7:13-14, 7:18, 7:27; Luke 1:32-33; Heb. 1:8; 12:28; Rev. 11:15; 22:4-5). The purpose of the first 1,000 years is to rid the earth of all rebellion (1Cor. 15:24-28; Eph. 1:10). Christ will then continue to reign forever over the people who go from the Millennium into the New Earth.

is for ever...

עלם / עולם

‛ôlâm

Definition:

1) long duration, antiquity, futurity, for ever, ever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient, world

1a) ancient time, long time (of past)

1b) (of future)

1b1) for ever, always

1b2) continuous existence, perpetual

1b3) everlasting, indefinite or unending future, eternity

Part of Speech: noun masculine

and ever:...

עד

‛ad

Definition:

1) perpetuity, for ever, continuing future

1a) ancient (of past time)

1b) for ever (of future time)

1b1) of continuous existence

1c) for ever (of God’s existence)

Part of Speech: noun masculine

This is proof that Jesus Christ is God—one of the three divine persons in the Trinity. See cp. Isa. 7:14; 9:6-7; Jer. 23:6; 33:16; Mic. 5:1-2; Mat. 1:18-23; John 1:1-2; Heb. 1:1-2; Rev. 1:8, 1:11; 21:6; 22:13).

Psm. 45:6-7 undoubtedly refers to the promise of an eternal throne for the house of David (cf. 2Sam. 7:16) which will be fulfilled in Jesus Christ when He returns to reign forever. Heb. 1:8-9 quotes this passage in reference to the exaltation and dominion of Christ. Whether the psalmist used the word 'ĕlōhı̂m to mean God or His human representative, the writer of Hebrews demonstrated that it points up the essential difference between the Son and the angels (cf. Heb. 1:5, 1:7).

the Sceptre (Jesus)...

שׁבט

shêbeṭ

Definition:

1) rod, staff, branch, offshoot, club, sceptre, tribe

1a) rod, staff

1b) shaft (of spear, dart)

1c) club (of shepherd’s implement)

1d) truncheon, sceptre (mark of authority)

1e) clan, tribe

Part of Speech: noun masculine

of thy (Father's/Christ's) kingdom...

מלכיּה / מלכת / מלכוּת

malkûth / malkûyâh

Definition:

1) royalty, royal power, reign, kingdom, sovereign power

1a) royal power, dominion

1b) reign

1c) kingdom, realm

Part of Speech: noun feminine

is a right...

מישׁר / מישׁור

mı̂yshôr / mı̂yshôr

Definition:

1) level place, uprightness

1a) level country, table-land, plain

1b) level place

1c) uprightness

Part of Speech: noun masculine

Sceptre (Jesus)... see above.

Psm. 45:7 Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

In a pair of contrasting quotations, the author juxtaposed the servant-hood of the angels (Heb. 1:7) and the eternal dominion of the Son (Heb. 1:8-9). It is possible that, in line with one strand of Jewish thought about angels (cf. 2 Esdras 8:21-22), the writer understood the statement of Psm. 104:4 (quoted in Heb. 1:7) as suggesting that angels often blended their mutable natures with winds or fire as they performed the tasks God gave them. But in contrast with this mutability, the Son’s throne is eternal and immutable (Heb. 1:8).

Thou (God) lovest...

אהב / אהב

'âhab / 'âhêb

Definition:

1) to love

1a) (Qal)

1a1) human love for another, includes family, and sexual

1a2) human appetite for objects such as food, drink, sleep, wisdom

1a3) human love for or to God

1a4) act of being a friend

1a4a) lover (participle)

1a4b) friend (participle)

1a5) God’s love toward man

1a5a) to individual men

1a5b) to people Israel

1a5c) to righteousness

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) lovely (participle)

1b2) loveable (participle)

1c) (Piel)

1c1) friends

1c2) lovers (figuratively of adulterers)

2) to like

Part of Speech: verb

The quotation found in Heb. 1:8-9 is derived from Psm. 45:6-7 which describes the final triumph of God’s messianic King. The writer extended this citation further than the previous ones, no doubt because the statements of the psalmist served well to highlight truths on which the author of Hebrews desired to elaborate. The King the psalmist described had loved righteousness and hated wickedness.

righteousness...

צדק

tsedeq

Definition:

1) justice, rightness, righteousness

1a) what is right or just or normal, rightness, justness (of weights and measures)

1b) righteousness (in government)

1b1) of judges, rulers, kings

1b2) of law

1b3) of Davidic king, Messiah

1b4) of Jerusalem as seat of just government

1b5) of God’s attribute

1c) righteousness, justice (in case or cause)

1d) rightness (in speech)

1e) righteousness (as ethically right)

1f) righteousness (as vindicated), justification (in controversy), deliverance, victory, prosperity

1f1) of God as covenant-keeping in redemption

1f2) in name of Messianic king

1f3) of people enjoying salvation

1f4) of Cyrus

Part of Speech: noun masculine

and hatest...

שׂנא

śânê'

Definition:

1) to hate, be hateful

1a) (Qal) to hate

1a1) of man

1a2) of God

1a3) hater, one hating, enemy (participle) (substantive)

1b) (Niphal) to be hated

1c) (Piel) hater (participle)

1c1) of persons, nations, God, wisdom

Part of Speech: verb

wickedness:...

שׂנא

śânê'

Definition:

1) to hate, be hateful

1a) (Qal) to hate

1a1) of man

1a2) of God

1a3) hater, one hating, enemy (participle) (substantive)

1b) (Niphal) to be hated

1c) (Piel) hater (participle)

1c1) of persons, nations, God, wisdom

Part of Speech: verb

therefore...

על

‛al

Definition:

1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against (preposition)

1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards

1b) above, beyond, over (of excess)

1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence)

1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition)

1e) over (of suspension or extension)

1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity)

1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion)

1h) to (as a dative)

2) because that, because, notwithstanding, although (conjunction)

Part of Speech: see above in Definition

כּן

kên

Definition:

1) so, therefore, thus (adverb)

1a) thus, so

1b) just so

1c) therefore

1d) so ... as (paired with adverb)

1e) then

1f) forasmuch as (in phrase)

1g) (with preposition)

1g1) therefore, this being so (specific)

1g2) hitherto

1g3) therefore, on this ground (general)

1g4) afterwards

1g5) in such case

2) right, just, honest, true, veritable (adjective)

2a) right, just, honest

2b) correct

2c) true, veritable

2d) true!, right!, correct! (in assent)

Part of Speech: see above in Definition

God,...

אלהים

'ĕlôhı̂ym

Definition:

1) (plural)

1a) rulers, judges

1b) divine ones

1c) angels

1d) gods

2) (plural intensive - singular meaning)

2a) god, goddess

2b) godlike one

2c) works or special possessions of God

2d) the (true) God

2e) God

Part of Speech: noun masculine plural

thy God,... see above.

hath anointed...

משׁח

mâshach

Definition:

1) to smear, anoint, spread a liquid

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to smear

1a2) to anoint (as consecration)

1a3) to anoint, consecrate

1b) (Niphal) to be anointed

Part of Speech: verb

thee with oil...

שׁמן

shemen

Definition:

1) fat, oil

1a) fat, fatness

1b) oil, olive oil

1b1) as staple, medicament or unguent

1b2) for anointing

1c) fat (of fruitful land, valleys) (metaphorically)

Part of Speech: noun masculine

of gladness...

שׂשׂן / שׂשׂון

śâśôn

Definition:

1) gladness, joy, exultation, rejoicing

1a) exultation, joy

Part of Speech: noun masculine

above thy fellows...

מנּי / מנּי / מן

min / minnı̂y / minnêy

Definition:

1) from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than (preposition)

1a) from (expressing separation), off, on the side of

1b) out of

1b1) (with verbs of proceeding, removing, expelling)

1b2) (of material from which something is made)

1b3) (of source or origin)

1c) out of, some of, from (partitively)

1d) from, since, after (of time)

1e) than, more than (in comparison)

1f) from...even to, both...and, either...or

1g) than, more than, too much for (in comparisons)

1h) from, on account of, through, because (with infinitive)

2) that (conjunction)

Part of Speech: see above in Definition

חבר

châbêr

Definition:

1) united (adjective)

2) associate, fellow, worshippers (noun masculine)

3) companion (noun masculine)

Part of Speech: see above in Definition

This points to the holiness and obedience of Christ while He was on earth, to which reference will be repeatedly made later (cf. Heb. 3:1-2; 5:7-8; 7:26; 9:14). And though this King thus deservedly enjoys a superlative joy, still He has companions in that joy. The reference to “companions” is likewise a significant theme for the writer. The same word metochoi (“companions or sharers”) is employed in Heb. 3:1, 3:14 of Christians (it is also used in Heb. 12:8). Since the King has attained His joy and dominion through a life of steadfast righteousness, it might be concluded that His companions will share His experience by that same means. This inference will later become quite clear (cf. Heb. 12:28).

Heb. 1:8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

Heb. 1:9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

Heb. 1:10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:

The immutability of the King-Son is further stressed by the statements now quoted from Psm. 102:25-27. A simple “and” (kai, disguised a bit by NIV’s He also says) links the quotation in these verses with that in Heb. 1:8-9. That the author construed the words of Psm. 102:1-28 as likewise addressed to the Son cannot be reasonably doubted. The Son, then, is Lord and has created both earth and the heavens (cf. Heb. 1:2). But even when the present creation wears out like an old garment and is exchanged for a new one, the Son will remain unchanged. The reference here of course is to the transformation of the heavens and earth which will occur after the Millennium and will introduce the eternal state (2Pet. 3:10-13). Yet even after those cataclysmic events the Son’s years will never end. This certainly points to His personal eternality, but it is also likely that the word “years” stands for all that they contain for the Son, including an eternal throne and scepter as well as unending joy with His companions. The writer definitely taught that Messiah’s kingdom would survive the final “shaking” of the creation (cf. Heb. 12:26-28).