Psalm 45:1 kjv
My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.
Psalm 45:1 nkjv
To the Chief Musician. Set to "The Lilies." A Contemplation of the sons of Korah. A Song of Love. My heart is overflowing with a good theme; I recite my composition concerning the King; My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.
Psalm 45:1 niv
For the director of music. To the tune of "Lilies." Of the Sons of Korah. A maskil. A wedding song. My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses for the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.
Psalm 45:1 esv
My heart overflows with a pleasing theme; I address my verses to the king; my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.
Psalm 45:1 nlt
Beautiful words stir my heart.
I will recite a lovely poem about the king,
for my tongue is like the pen of a skillful poet.
Psalm 45 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 2:6-7 | "Yet have I set my King upon my holy hill... Thou art My Son;" | The King's divine appointment and Sonship |
| Ps 72:1-2, 11 | "Give the king Thy judgments... He shall judge Thy people... all kings shall bow down to him;" | Righteous, universal rule of the Messiah |
| Isa 9:6-7 | "For unto us a Child is born... The Government will be on His shoulder... His Name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." | Prophecy of the Messianic King's character and reign |
| Jer 23:5-6 | "Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; A King shall reign..." | The righteous Branch of David |
| Zec 9:9 | "Rejoice greatly... Your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation," | The coming of the King in righteousness and humility |
| Matt 12:34 | "For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." | Connection between the heart's fullness and speech |
| Lk 4:22 | "And all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth." | The gracious words of the King (Jesus) |
| Eph 6:19 | "that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel," | Divinely enabled utterance |
| Col 3:16 | "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly... teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns..." | Rich indwelling Word leads to spiritual expression |
| Heb 1:8-9 | "But to the Son He says: 'Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your Kingdom.'" | Direct application of Psalm 45 to Christ |
| Rev 19:11-16 | "Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war." | The returning, triumphant King (Christ) |
| 2 Sam 23:2 | "The Spirit of the LORD spoke by me, And His word was on my tongue." | Divine inspiration enabling speech for proclamation |
| Prov 4:23 | "Keep your heart with all diligence, For out from it flow the springs of life." | Heart as source of life, thought, and action |
| Ezek 3:3-4 | "Then He said to me, 'Son of man, feed your stomach and fill your stomach with this scroll... And He said to me, 'Go to the house of Israel and speak My words to them.'" | Ingesting God's word for inspired proclamation |
| Isa 50:4 | "The Lord GOD has given Me The tongue of the learned, That I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary." | The Messiah's empowered tongue and discourse |
| Lk 6:45 | "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks." | Echoes Matt 12:34, emphasizing heart-mouth connection |
| Joel 2:28 | "And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy..." | The pouring out of the Spirit enabling inspired speech |
| Acts 2:4 | "And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." | The Spirit filling and enabling speech |
| Ezra 7:6 | "this Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a skilled scribe in the Law of Moses," | Example of a "ready writer" or skilled scribe |
| Hab 2:2 | "Then the LORD answered me and said: 'Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it.'" | Command to write clearly, implying skilled presentation |
| 1 Pet 1:10-11 | "Of this salvation the prophets have inquired... searching what, or what manner of time, The Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow." | Spirit inspiring prophecy about Christ's sufferings/glories |
Psalm 45 verses
Psalm 45 1 Meaning
Psalm 45:1 opens with the psalmist's heart bubbling over with a noble and excellent theme, specifically regarding the King. This deep internal overflow manifests as speech, where the psalmist's tongue becomes like the swift, skilled pen of an expert scribe. The verse encapsulates a profound, divinely inspired utterance of praise and prophecy directed towards an ultimate monarch, widely understood in Christian tradition as the Messiah, Jesus Christ. It sets the stage for a grand proclamation born from deep spiritual passion and precise linguistic artistry.
Psalm 45 1 Context
Psalm 45 is uniquely titled "A Song of Loves" (or "A Wedding Song") and is also designated as a "Maschil" (instructive psalm). It is a royal psalm, composed for the coronation or wedding of a king. While it likely had an immediate historical context (perhaps a specific king like Solomon, or even a future king), its lavish description of the king's glory, righteousness, and everlasting throne transcends any mere human monarch. Both Jewish and Christian traditions widely interpret it as ultimately messianic, foretelling the King of Kings, Jesus Christ, and His bride, the church. The verse thus introduces a divinely inspired praise for this glorious, righteous, and eternal King.
Psalm 45 1 Word analysis
- My heart: Libbi (לִבִּי) – The seat of innermost being, not just emotion but also intellect, will, and conscience. It signifies the core essence of the psalmist's identity and deep spiritual state. This profound internal reality is the origin of the subsequent utterance.
- is inditing: Rashaḥ (רָחַשׁ) – This Hebrew verb implies "to boil," "to bubble up," "to overflow," or "to be stirring." It suggests a dynamic, unstoppable surge of feeling or thought from deep within, like water gushing forth or a pot boiling over. It emphasizes spontaneous, fervent, and overflowing inspiration, rather than forced effort.
- a good matter: Davar ṭōḇ (דָּבָר טוֹב) – Literally "a good word" or "a good thing." It signifies an excellent, noble, beautiful, or precious theme. This "good matter" is the profound subject of the psalm itself – the King.
- I speak: ’Ōmēr (אֹמֵר) – A straightforward verb for speaking or saying. It contrasts with the internal "inditing," signifying the outward manifestation of the inner experience.
- of the things which I have made / my compositions: Ma‘ăśay (מַעֲשַׂי) – Literally "my works" or "my deeds." Here, it refers to the artistic or poetic compositions that the psalmist has prepared or crafted. It implies thoughtful composition and diligent artistry dedicated to the King.
- touching the King: Le-melek (לַמֶּלֶךְ) – Directly translated "to the King," "concerning the King," or "for the King." This preposition highlights the singular and ultimate object of the psalmist's focus, inspiration, and entire composition.
- my tongue: Lešō̱nî (לְשׁוֹנִי) – The physical organ of speech, symbolizing the means by which the internal thoughts and feelings are precisely articulated.
- is the pen: ‘Ēṭ (עֵט) – A writing implement or stylus. It symbolizes a tool for precision, permanence, and professional craft. This is not casual speech but a carefully constructed, artful proclamation.
- of a ready writer: Sōfēr māhîr (סוֹפֵר מָהִיר) – "A swift scribe," "a skilled scribe," or "an expert writer." This signifies competence, speed, accuracy, and professional excellence in written communication. The psalmist is portraying his verbal output as being as polished and exact as the work of a professional, swift scribe, thereby ensuring the glorious subject is presented with fitting dignity and eloquence.
- "My heart is inditing a good matter": This phrase emphasizes the wellspring of the psalmist's inspiration – a divinely stirred heart filled to overflowing with an excellent subject. It's a passion so intense it must burst forth in expression.
- "I speak of the things which I have made touching the King": This bridges the internal overflow with outward artistic creation. The inner passion for the "good matter" concerning the King is deliberately crafted into a poetic work.
- "my tongue is the pen of a ready writer": This striking metaphor underscores both the precision and fluency of the psalmist's articulation. The spiritual inspiration translates into meticulously chosen words, delivered with skilled expertise, as if composed by an accomplished scribe. It signifies that the content (the King) merits the highest level of eloquence and dedicated presentation.
Psalm 45 1 Bonus section
The superscription "To the Chief Musician; set to 'Shoshannim.' A Maschil. A Song of Loves." adds further layers. "Shoshannim" (lilies) possibly indicates a melody, a stringed instrument, or a poetic form, suggesting its musical and artistic quality. "Maschil" signifies that it is an "instructive" or "contemplative" psalm, meant to teach deep spiritual truths, reinforcing that the "good matter" is not mere flattery but profound revelation. The "Song of Loves" theme establishes it as a celebration, in ultimate terms, of Christ’s covenant relationship with His church. This foundational verse highlights that God can work in and through His servants, giving them not only divine revelation but also the perfect means of articulating it for His glory and for the instruction of His people, whether through prophecy or through evangelistic proclamation of the Gospel (the "good matter").
Psalm 45 1 Commentary
Psalm 45:1 serves as a divinely inspired preamble to a majestic hymn praising the Messianic King. The psalmist experiences an overwhelming, boiling-over passion ("inditing") in his heart concerning a "good matter"—the magnificent subject of the King. This deep inner impulse does not result in chaotic utterance but in a highly refined and eloquent expression. The tongue, though spoken, is likened to the precise and rapid pen of a professional scribe, indicating that the prophetic utterance is clear, artful, and exactly composed as befits the glorious theme. This verse is key to understanding the subsequent description of the Messiah’s unparalleled beauty, enduring throne, righteous scepter, and eternal glory. It portrays an ideal response of devotion and skilled praise to the One who embodies supreme goodness and power. For believers today, it inspires heartfelt adoration and skillful declaration of Christ's excellence.