Mark 12 36

Mark 12:36 kjv

For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The LORD said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool.

Mark 12:36 nkjv

For David himself said by the Holy Spirit: 'The LORD said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool." '

Mark 12:36 niv

David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit, declared: "?'The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet."?'

Mark 12:36 esv

David himself, in the Holy Spirit, declared, "'The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet."'

Mark 12:36 nlt

For David himself, speaking under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, said, 'The LORD said to my Lord,
Sit in the place of honor at my right hand
until I humble your enemies beneath your feet.'

Mark 12 verses

Mark 12 36 Meaning

Mark 12:36 presents Jesus quoting Psalm 110:1 to challenge the Jewish leaders concerning the identity of the Messiah. Through David, inspired by the Holy Spirit, God the Father speaks to God the Son (the Messiah). The verse establishes the Messiah's preeminence, divinity, and authority as distinct from and superior to David, portraying Him as seated at the right hand of God in a position of ultimate power until all enemies are subjugated under His divine rule. It highlights the divine nature of Jesus as the anticipated Messiah, who is not merely David's physical descendant but also David's "Lord."

Mark 12 36 Context

The verse occurs in the latter part of Jesus' public ministry in Jerusalem, specifically during the Passion Week. He is in the Temple courts, surrounded by Jewish religious leaders—Pharisees, Sadducees, and scribes—who are continuously trying to entrap Him with difficult questions (Mark 12:13-34). Having successfully answered their challenges about paying taxes to Caesar, the resurrection, and the greatest commandment, Jesus then turns the tables on them (Mark 12:35). Instead of being questioned, He now poses a profound question about the Messiah, revealing the inadequacy of their understanding. He asks them how the Scribes can say the Messiah is merely David's son when David himself calls the Messiah his "Lord." This sets the stage for His citation of Psalm 110:1, aiming to expose the depth of the Messiah's identity—one that transcends simple lineage and touches upon His divine nature and ultimate authority, challenging the contemporary Jewish expectation of a purely earthly, political Davidic king.

Mark 12 36 Word analysis

• For (γὰρ - gar): Connects the statement to the preceding question posed by Jesus in Mark 12:35 about how the Messiah could be both David's son and David's Lord. It introduces the Scriptural proof.
• David (Δαυὶδ - Dauid): Refers to King David, author of the Psalm quoted (Psalm 110). David was highly revered in Jewish tradition, and his authorship lent great weight to the prophecy.
• himself (αὐτός - autos): Emphasizes that it was David directly, not someone else, highlighting the authenticity and authority of the source.
• said (εἶπεν - eipen): Simple past tense, "he spoke."
• by the Holy Spirit (ἐν Πνεύματι Ἁγίῳ - en Pneumati Hagiō): Crucial declaration that David's words were divinely inspired, not merely his own musings. This affirms the prophetic and authoritative nature of the Psalm and elevates its truth beyond human interpretation. It underlines the Trinitarian nature of inspiration.
• 'The Lord (ὁ Κύριος - ho Kyrios - first instance): Refers to God the Father (in the Hebrew of Psalm 110:1, this is YHWH/Yahweh). In Greek, ho Kyrios often denotes the Supreme Lord, God.
• said (εἶπεν - eipen): Again, "said" or "declared."
• to my Lord (τῷ Κυρίῳ μου - tō Kyriō mou - second instance): This is the interpretive crux. In Psalm 110:1, the Hebrew lā'dōnî (to my lord/master) refers to a superior individual distinct from YHWH, whom David (a king) recognizes as his own master or sovereign. Jesus argues that David, being a king and ancestor of the Messiah, would not call a mere human descendant "my Lord" unless that descendant was supernaturally greater. This points to the pre-existence, divine nature, and unique sovereignty of the Messiah.
• "Sit (κάθου - kathou): An imperative command, indicating authority and a place of rest.
• at My right hand (ἐκ δεξιῶν μου - ek dexiōn mou): The highest place of honor, power, and authority. It signifies enthronement and participation in divine rule. In ancient cultures, sitting at the king's right hand designated a co-regent, heir, or one entrusted with the greatest authority. For God, this signifies unique, unparalleled divine authority.
• till I put (ἕως ἂν θῶ - heōs an thō): Indicates a period of ongoing activity culminating in the completion of a specific task. It does not imply that the Messiah will stop sitting at the right hand once the enemies are defeated, but rather that He reigns until that final subjugation is complete. His reign is eternal.
• Your enemies (τοὺς ἐχθρούς σου - tous echthrous sou): Refers to all opposition to Christ's divine authority and kingdom, including spiritual forces, human adversaries, and death itself.
• under Your feet (ὑποκάτω τῶν ποδῶν σου - hypokatō tōn podōn sou): An idiom for complete victory, subjugation, and humiliation of defeated foes. It signifies utter defeat and the establishment of undisputed sovereignty. In the ancient world, victors would literally place their foot on the necks or backs of conquered enemies to symbolize their dominion.

Words-group analysis

• "David himself said by the Holy Spirit": This phrase emphasizes the divine inspiration of Scripture. David, as a prophetic king, was not merely expressing his personal thoughts but delivering a divine message under the Spirit's influence, validating the scriptural foundation of Jesus' argument and implicitly affirming the Holy Spirit's role in revelation.
• "The Lord said to my Lord": This forms the core Christological revelation. It demonstrates a profound distinction and relationship within the Godhead. The first "Lord" (YHWH) speaks to the second "Lord" (the Messiah), implying two distinct persons (or identities) both bearing the title of "Lord," yet one receiving a command from the other, thus underscoring the Messiah's divine yet subordinate-in-mission status relative to the Father, along with His inherent deity that allowed David, a king, to call Him "my Lord."
• "Sit at My right hand, till I put Your enemies under Your feet": This statement describes the Messiah's exalted status and ongoing triumphant reign. "Sitting at the right hand" indicates shared divine authority, rest in completed work (ascension), and continuous intercession/rule. "Till I put Your enemies under Your feet" outlines the scope of His authoritative reign—a period of active, progressive victory over all opposition that culminates in His final eschatological triumph over sin, death, and all foes, not a cessation of His reign.

Mark 12 36 Bonus section

• Psalm 110:1 is the most frequently quoted or alluded to Old Testament verse in the New Testament, appearing around 25 times directly or indirectly. This ubiquity underscores its foundational importance for understanding the person and work of Christ in the early church.
• The linguistic distinction between the two "Lords" in the Hebrew of Psa 110:1 (Yahweh speaking to Adonai) strongly suggests a plurality within the Godhead, prefiguring Trinitarian theology, though not explicitly defining it. Jesus' use of the Greek Kyrios for both figures preserves this distinction of divine authority and identity.
• Jesus’ strategic use of Scripture to engage with His adversaries demonstrates His authority as a master interpreter of the Torah and Prophets. He used the very texts they claimed to understand to reveal their blind spots concerning the true nature of the Messiah.
• The concept of the Messiah conquering His enemies has direct implications for the spiritual battle. Believers, united with Christ, share in His victory over sin, Satan, and death, looking forward to the complete fulfillment of His rule.

Mark 12 36 Commentary

Mark 12:36, by citing Psalm 110:1, serves as Jesus' direct and unanswerable theological challenge to the religious leaders. Jesus takes a prophecy they revered, attributed to their revered ancestor David and divinely inspired by the Holy Spirit, and exposes its profound Christological implications. The crux is David calling his descendant "my Lord." If the Messiah were only human, a king's descendant, why would David elevate Him to the status of his "Lord" (adonai), a term typically used for God or a superior master? Jesus’ argument unveils the Messiah’s unique identity: He must be more than just David’s earthly son; He is David's divine Lord, pre-existent, heavenly, and superior to all. This pointedly reveals Jesus’ own claim to divine Messiahship.

Furthermore, "Sit at My right hand" vividly describes the Messiah's supreme position of power, authority, and honor after His earthly work is completed, anticipating His ascension and heavenly enthronement. This is a perpetual reign, during which God the Father ensures the progressive and ultimate defeat of all opposing forces. "Till I put Your enemies under Your feet" signifies the Messiah's certain and complete victory over all evil, highlighting His active role in the ultimate consummation of His kingdom. The passage powerfully affirms the divinity, supremacy, and triumphal reign of Jesus Christ, asserting that He fulfills the prophecy as both the Son of David and David’s eternal Lord.