Psalm 110:7 kjv
He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall he lift up the head.
Psalm 110:7 nkjv
He shall drink of the brook by the wayside; Therefore He shall lift up the head.
Psalm 110:7 niv
He will drink from a brook along the way, and so he will lift his head high.
Psalm 110:7 esv
He will drink from the brook by the way; therefore he will lift up his head.
Psalm 110:7 nlt
But he himself will be refreshed from brooks along the way.
He will be victorious.
Psalm 110 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Psa 110:1 | The LORD says to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies... | Messiah's divine authority and enthronement. |
| Php 2:8-9 | He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death… Therefore God has highly exalted him... | Christ's self-abasement leading to exaltation. |
| Heb 12:2 | Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross... | Christ's endurance of suffering for future joy. |
| Isa 53:3-5 | He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief... | Prophecy of the Suffering Servant's humiliation. |
| Isa 53:12 | Therefore I will allot him a portion with the great... because he poured out his soul to death... | Servant's exaltation due to His suffering. |
| Mt 26:39 | My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will... | Jesus' willingness to endure the "cup" of suffering. |
| Jn 18:1 | When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Kidron... | Jesus' journey crossing Kidron brook before arrest/suffering. |
| Heb 2:9 | But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death... | Christ's temporary humbling followed by glorification. |
| Lk 24:26 | Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory? | Necessity of Christ's suffering before glory. |
| 1 Pet 1:11 | ...the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. | Prophetic outline: suffering then glory. |
| Ro 14:9 | For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. | Christ's death and resurrection for His Lordship. |
| Job 22:29 | For when they are cast down, you will say, ‘There is a lifting up’... | Principle of exaltation after humiliation. |
| Pr 15:33 | The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor. | Humility as a prerequisite for honor. |
| Psa 23:2 | He leads me beside still waters. | Provision and refreshment from God. |
| Isa 40:31 | But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings... | Divine strengthening for the journey. |
| Psa 3:3 | But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. | God as the one who restores honor. |
| Eze 21:26 | Thus says the Lord GOD: Remove the turban and take off the crown. Things shall not remain as they are. | Deposition then exaltation (or vice versa), head-covering change. |
| Mt 23:12 | Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. | Kingdom principle of humility and exaltation. |
| Lk 9:22 | The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected... and on the third day be raised. | Christ's necessary suffering and resurrection. |
| 2 Ti 2:12 | If we endure, we will also reign with him... | Enduring with Christ for future reign. |
| Jn 4:13-14 | Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water... will never be thirsty again... | Contrasts physical water with spiritual water/life. |
| Psa 42:1 | As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. | Thirst and desire for God's provision. |
Psalm 110 verses
Psalm 110 7 Meaning
Psalm 110:7 foretells a characteristic act of the Messianic King, prophesied to David. It describes a moment of humble sustenance and refreshment during a challenging journey or mission: "He will drink from the brook by the way." This necessary action is directly linked by cause and effect to His ultimate and glorious exaltation: "therefore he will lift up his head." Interpreted Messianically, this verse powerfully foreshadows Jesus Christ's pathway of suffering and humiliation during His earthly life and ministry, His enduring and overcoming, and His subsequent resurrection, ascension, and supreme exaltation at the right hand of God the Father, fulfilling His kingly and priestly roles.
Psalm 110 7 Context
Psalm 110 is a pivotal prophetic, royal, and Messianic Psalm, attributed to David, addressing his greater "Lord." The preceding verses (1-6) establish this Lord's divine appointment, eternal kingship and priesthood (like Melchizedek), ultimate triumph over enemies, and righteous judgment. Verse 7, therefore, describes a key aspect of this triumphant King's character and journey. In the historical context of ancient Near Eastern kingship, kings were often depicted in grand and powerful ways. Psalm 110:7 provides a nuanced picture, hinting at the humble path taken by this extraordinary King. It contrasts typical human glory by showing that the ultimate triumph and "lifting up of the head" comes not from earthly pomp or self-sufficiency, but from an act of simple sustenance and endurance during the course of the King's arduous task.
Psalm 110 7 Word analysis
- He will drink (יִשְׁתֶּה - yishteh): From the verb "to drink" (shatah). The imperfect tense indicates a future or continuous action. It's a deliberate act of the King, not a forced one. In Messianic prophecy, it points to Christ's voluntary engagement with His earthly experiences, including hardship.
- from the brook (מִנַּחַל - minnachal): A "brook" or "wadi" (nachal) refers to a stream, often seasonal, a gully, or a torrent. It signifies a simple, perhaps temporary, source of water, accessible "by the way" during a journey. It contrasts with grand rivers or cisterns of plenty. It may symbolize refreshment in the midst of effort or suffering. The image suggests humble means, self-denial, or the rigors of a military campaign. In Christian interpretation, it has been linked to Christ's humble journey, His earthly trials, or even the "cup" of suffering He drank (Mt 26:39).
- by the way (בַּדֶּרֶךְ - baderekh): "On the path" or "along the road." This emphasizes the King is on a journey, an active campaign or mission. It implies movement, effort, and possibly exposure to hardship rather than comfort in a palace. For Christ, this represents His earthly walk, His ministry that was not easy but involved weariness and suffering.
- therefore (עַל־כֵּן - al-ken): "For this reason," "consequently." This is a strong connective, establishing a direct cause-and-effect relationship. The act of drinking from the brook (representing His arduous journey, humility, or suffering) is presented as the very reason for His subsequent exaltation. It signifies that the humiliation and endurance are not merely antecedent but instrumental to the glory.
- he will lift up his head (יָרִים רֹאשׁ - yarim ro'sh): From the verb "to lift up" (rum) and "head" (rosh). This is an idiom for victory, exaltation, triumph, honor, and regaining strength or dignity. In ancient culture, a bowed head signified defeat or shame, while a lifted head denoted conquest and authority. This refers to the King's ultimate triumph, His vindication, resurrection, ascension, and enthronement at God's right hand.
Psalm 110 7 Bonus section
The image of "drinking from the brook by the way" may also subtly counter prevalent views of mighty kings whose glory derived from lavishness and uncontested power. This King's power and exaltation are rooted in His willingness to descend, refresh Himself humbly, and persist. It's an active humility that enables ultimate conquest. The brook, though humble, also signifies life-giving water, a metaphor often used in the Psalms and Prophets for divine provision and spiritual sustenance, highlighting that the King is not self-sufficient but draws strength from external—divine—sources. Some Jewish interpretations, without a Christological application, might view the brook as representative of suffering or tribulation through which a righteous leader passes before attaining prominence. However, the consistent New Testament application to Christ is the primary and definitive understanding for Christian theology, where the "way" is clearly the path to the Cross, and the "lifting of the head" is His triumph over sin and death.
Psalm 110 7 Commentary
Psalm 110:7 captures a profound truth concerning the Messianic King: His path to supreme exaltation (lifting up His head) runs directly through humble endurance and active engagement with His challenging mission (drinking from the brook by the way). This is not an incidental detail but the very mechanism of His triumph, established by the divine decree found throughout the psalm. For Jesus Christ, this verse illuminates His entire redemptive journey. His life was not one of earthly luxury but marked by self-denial and the burden of humanity's sin, culminating in His profound suffering and death. His refreshing, like "drinking from the brook," represents a transient but necessary act on His difficult path, enabling Him to press on. It could be understood as drawing strength from God (prayer, the Father's will) amidst His human weakness, or enduring the temporary discomfort of His earthly sojourn. His willing humiliation and obedience to the Father's will, even unto death on the cross, precisely because of that, God highly exalted Him, crowning Him with glory and honor, making Him Lord of all. This verse sets the ultimate pattern for victory through humble service and suffering, teaching that true power is perfected through apparent weakness.