Psalm 45:4 kjv
And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.
Psalm 45:4 nkjv
And in Your majesty ride prosperously because of truth, humility, and righteousness; And Your right hand shall teach You awesome things.
Psalm 45:4 niv
In your majesty ride forth victoriously in the cause of truth, humility and justice; let your right hand achieve awesome deeds.
Psalm 45:4 esv
In your majesty ride out victoriously for the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness; let your right hand teach you awesome deeds!
Psalm 45:4 nlt
In your majesty, ride out to victory,
defending truth, humility, and justice.
Go forth to perform awe-inspiring deeds!
Psalm 45 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 2:9 | You shall break them with a rod of iron... | Messiah's ruling power & dominion. |
| Ps 9:4 | You have maintained my right and my cause; you sat on the throne, judging righteously. | God's righteous judgment. |
| Ps 18:35 | Your right hand supported me... | God's powerful support and strength. |
| Ps 89:14 | Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne... | Attributes of God's throne/kingdom. |
| Ps 110:2 | The LORD sends forth from Zion your mighty scepter... | Messiah's reign from Zion. |
| Is 9:6-7 | For to us a child is born... and of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end... | Prophecy of Christ's eternal kingdom. |
| Is 11:3-5 | ...he shall not judge by what his eyes see... but with righteousness he shall judge the poor... | Messiah's righteous judgment and reign. |
| Is 32:16 | Then justice will dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness abide in the fruitful field. | Establishment of righteousness in the kingdom. |
| Is 42:1-4 | He will not cry aloud... he will faithfully bring forth justice... | Servant's meekness & pursuit of justice. |
| Is 53:11 | ...my righteous servant shall make many to be accounted righteous... | Christ's righteousness bringing salvation. |
| Jer 23:5 | ...I will raise up for David a righteous Branch... He shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. | Prophecy of the Righteous King. |
| Zec 9:9 | Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!... Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey... | Messiah's humble, righteous coming. |
| Mt 11:29 | Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart... | Christ's meekness and humility. |
| Jn 14:6 | Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life..." | Christ as the embodiment of Truth. |
| Jn 18:37 | Pilate said to him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. | Christ's kingship tied to truth. |
| Eph 4:21-24 | ...as truth is in Jesus... to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. | Christ embodying truth & calling to righteousness. |
| Col 1:16 | ...for by him all things were created... all things were created through him and for him. | Christ's active power in creation/action. |
| 1 Pet 2:21-23 | For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps... He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. | Christ's righteousness and example. |
| Rev 6:2 | And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer. | Christ's victorious ride. |
| Rev 19:11 | Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. | Christ as the Faithful and True Judge. |
| Rev 19:15 | From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. | Christ's final conquering power. |
| Heb 1:8-9 | But of the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom... You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness..." | Christ's righteous and eternal reign. |
Psalm 45 verses
Psalm 45 4 Meaning
Psalm 45:4 is a prophetic call and prayer concerning the glorious Messianic King. It implores or declares that in His divine majesty, this King should advance triumphantly. The purpose of His victorious ride is specifically for the cause of truth, humility (meekness), and righteousness. It further asserts that His powerful right hand will accomplish awe-inspiring deeds, demonstrating His sovereignty and strength in establishing these virtues on the earth.
Psalm 45 4 Context
Psalm 45 is primarily a royal psalm, composed as a "love song" for a king's wedding (Ps 45:1). While its immediate context is an earthly king's marriage, Jewish and Christian traditions extensively interpret it as a profound messianic prophecy, ultimately pointing to Christ and His relationship with His people (the Church). Verse 4 specifically describes the King's character and mission. Preceding verses acclaim the King's beauty, eloquence, and anointing, setting the stage for His majestic and triumphant rule. The call to "ride out victoriously" reflects a spiritual battle or campaign where the King's true weapons are virtues rather than mere force.
Psalm 45 4 Word analysis
- In your majesty: (Hebrew: haddārəkā הדרךְ). Hadār refers to splendor, glory, majesty, or dignity. This is the intrinsic glory and divine splendor of the King. It is the very essence of who He is that propels His actions. The King does not ride for majesty but in His majesty, meaning His very being is manifest in His triumph.
- Ride out victoriously: (Hebrew: ṣelaḥ rəḵav צלח רכב). Ṣelaḥ means to succeed, prosper, advance, or breakthrough. Rāḵav means to ride, typically on a horse or chariot. Together, it conveys a victorious, prosperous, and successful advance or campaign. This is not just a ride but a progress of triumph and overcoming, implying an unstoppable force. The phrase often speaks of divine empowerment for success in battle or mission.
- For the cause of: (Hebrew: ʿal-dəḇar עַל-דְּבַר). Literally "on account of," "concerning the word of," or "for the sake of." This phrase indicates the underlying purpose, motivation, and standard for the King's triumphant ride. His victory is not arbitrary but for specific, virtuous objectives.
- Truth: (Hebrew: ʾĕmet אֱמֶת). Meaning faithfulness, trustworthiness, reliability, or objective truth. This signifies divine authenticity and integrity. The King establishes a rule where reality aligns with God's character and word, in contrast to falsehood and deception prevalent in the world. It points to Christ as the ultimate truth.
- Meekness: (Hebrew: ʿanwāh עַנְוָה). Often translated as humility or lowliness. This is a divine attribute not weakness, but a righteous humility that does not assert itself violently or selfishly. It contrasts sharply with the proud, tyrannical rule of earthly despots. This humility is the basis for His compassion and just dealing with the afflicted, yet it is coupled with invincible strength.
- Righteousness: (Hebrew: ṣeḏeq צֶדֶק). Meaning justice, moral rectitude, conformity to God's standard. The King's reign brings divine order, fair judgment, and restores right relationships. This is the practical outcome and moral framework of His kingdom. He executes what is right, both punitively against evil and restoratively for the good.
- Let your right hand: (Hebrew: yəmiyneḵā יְמִינֶךָ). The right hand is universally a symbol of power, strength, authority, skill, and executive action. It is the instrument through which mighty deeds are performed.
- Teach you: (Hebrew: wəṯôrəkā וְתוֹרְךָ). The root yārāh (יָרָה) means to teach, instruct, or show the way, but it also has the sense of shooting or casting, implying decisive action. Here, it conveys that His own inherent power and strength will reveal, demonstrate, or bring about these deeds, as if His right hand itself is instructing Him in how to perfectly execute powerful acts. It emphasizes the active agency of the King's divine power.
- Awesome deeds: (Hebrew: nôrāʾōṯ נוֹרָאוֹת). From yārēʾ (ירא), to fear or dread. These are fearsome, terrible, or awe-inspiring acts. They are not merely great deeds, but deeds that evoke profound reverence, dread, or wonder because of their overwhelming power and righteous impact. They are displays of divine might that enforce the king's righteous rule and defeat all opposition.
Psalm 45 4 Bonus section
The emphasis on "meekness" (or humility) alongside "truth" and "righteousness" in a conquering king is profoundly counter-cultural to ancient near eastern royal ideologies. Typically, kings were depicted as ruthless, conquering figures demonstrating unbridled power and might. Psalm 45 presents a radically different kind of victorious King – one whose ultimate strength and majesty are exercised in conjunction with and for the sake of these moral virtues. His awe-inspiring deeds are not arbitrary acts of might but purposeful manifestations that advance justice and truth through His righteous character. This King's meekness ensures His perfect alignment with God's will and His compassion for humanity. The very "awesome deeds" are guided by these virtues.
Psalm 45 4 Commentary
Psalm 45:4 beautifully encapsulates the essence of the Messiah's reign: it is a glorious triumph, rooted in His inherent divine splendor. Unlike earthly conquerors who often ride forth for self-glory, plunder, or territorial gain, the Messianic King’s campaign is explicitly driven by a higher purpose: the establishment of truth, humility, and righteousness. This triad of virtues forms the foundation and ultimate aim of His kingdom. Truth counters deception, meekness challenges oppressive pride, and righteousness corrects injustice.
The King's majestic procession is a display of divine power, where His very 'right hand' is the active agent in manifesting "awesome deeds." These are not deeds of wanton destruction, but awe-inspiring demonstrations of His power to enforce justice, uphold truth, and humble the proud, ensuring that His reign is characterized by these divine virtues. This verse, therefore, prophesies the irresistible advance of God's righteous kingdom through Christ, a kingdom whose power is inextricably linked to its moral perfection and benevolent character. His victory is a moral victory, a triumph of divine virtues manifested in the world.