Psalm 45 7

Psalm 45:7 kjv

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

Psalm 45:7 nkjv

You love righteousness and hate wickedness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.

Psalm 45:7 niv

You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.

Psalm 45:7 esv

you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions;

Psalm 45:7 nlt

You love justice and hate evil.
Therefore God, your God, has anointed you,
pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else.

Psalm 45 verses

Psalm 45 7 Meaning

Psalm 45:7 declares the profound moral excellence of the King, stating His unwavering devotion to righteousness and absolute rejection of wickedness. As a direct consequence of this perfect character, God, His own God, has uniquely honored Him. This honor is manifested in an unparalleled anointing with the oil of gladness, signifying supreme joy, divine favor, and consecration, elevating Him above all His companions. This verse finds its ultimate and fullest prophetic fulfillment in Jesus Christ, affirming His divine nature, sinless perfection, and incomparable exaltation.

Psalm 45 7 Context

Psalm 45 is a "Maskil" (a wisdom or instructional psalm) and a royal wedding psalm dedicated to the King. While it likely celebrates a specific historical marriage of an Israelite monarch (perhaps Solomon), its language quickly elevates the subject beyond any ordinary earthly ruler, taking on a profound prophetic and Messianic dimension. The psalm progresses from glorifying the king's majesty and martial prowess (vv. 3-5) to extolling his character and divine favor. Verse 7 specifically pivots to emphasize the King's moral uprightness as the fundamental reason for his unique anointing and superlative status. The prophetic trajectory points entirely towards Christ, whose perfections far surpass any human king.

Psalm 45 7 Word analysis

• You love righteousness (אָהַבְתָּ צֶדֶק - ʾāhavtā tzedeq)

  • ʾāhavtā (love): Signifies a deep, devoted affection and commitment, an intrinsic alignment with and active pursuit of righteousness. It denotes an inner disposition, not merely external conformity. For Christ, this love is part of His divine essence and perfect human will.
  • tzedeq (righteousness): Encompasses moral rectitude, justice, conformity to God's holy standards, integrity, and ethical conduct. It describes the King's absolute adherence to what is right in God's eyes. In Christ, it highlights His complete sinlessness and perfect obedience to the Father's will.

• and hate wickedness (וַתִּשְׂנָא רֶשַׁע - vattsiśnāʾ reshaʿ)

  • vattsiśnāʾ (hate): Denotes strong abhorrence and active opposition. It is the antithesis of love, signifying an utter rejection and antagonism toward evil. This is a righteous hatred, essential for a just ruler.
  • reshaʿ (wickedness): Refers to moral evil, lawlessness, sin, and unrighteousness. This profound aversion to evil distinguishes the King and makes Him a fit ruler who will eradicate injustice. Christ's nature utterly repels evil.

• therefore (לָכֵן - lākēn)

  • This causal conjunction indicates that the King's love for righteousness and hatred for wickedness are the direct and righteous basis for His subsequent anointing. His exaltation is a merited consequence of His perfect character.

• God, your God, (אֱלֹהִים אֱלֹהֶיךָ - ʾĕlōhīm ʾĕlōheykā)

  • ʾĕlōhīm: This is a profound and significant term. In Psalm 45:6, the King is directly addressed as ʾĕlōhīm (O God). Here in verse 7, it's "God, your God". The Septuagint and the New Testament (Heb 1:8-9) interpret the first "Elohim" in verse 6 as an address to the Son as God. The second "your God" in verse 7 affirms Christ's relationship to the Father as God, acknowledging His full humanity and His role as the obedient Son within the Trinity, receiving His anointing from the Father. It uniquely demonstrates His dual nature – divine yet obedient.

• has anointed you (מְשָׁחֲךָ - mĕšaḥăḵā)

  • mĕšaḥăḵā: The verb "to anoint" (root: mashah) signifies setting apart, consecrating, or commissioning for a special office (e.g., king, priest, prophet). From this root comes "Messiah" (Mashiach) and "Christ" (Christos). For the Messiah, this anointing is spiritual, primarily by the Holy Spirit (Isa 61:1, Lk 4:18), signifying divine empowerment and unique designation.

• with the oil of gladness (שֶׁמֶן שָׂשׂוֹן - šemen sāśōn)

  • šemen (oil): A multifaceted symbol of blessing, prosperity, consecration, health, divine favor, and particularly the Holy Spirit in biblical tradition.
  • sāśōn (gladness/joy): Denotes overflowing, triumphant joy. The anointing is not one of sorrow or burden, but of unparalleled joy, triumph, and delight, reflecting the ultimate blessing of God's favor and the Spirit's presence.

• beyond your companions (מֵחֲבֵרֶיךָ - mêḥăvêreyḵā)

  • mêḥăvêreyḵā: "From your associates, companions, fellows." This emphasizes the supreme and singular nature of this King's anointing and exaltation. He is incomparably superior to all others—all earthly kings, all human leaders, and indeed, all created beings, including angels (Heb 1:5-7). This highlights Christ's unparalleled preeminence.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "You love righteousness and hate wickedness": This couplet powerfully encapsulates the perfect moral integrity and character of the King. It is a fundamental declaration of His purity and uncompromising ethical stance, serving as the necessary foundation for His legitimate and effective rule. This intrinsic holiness sets Him apart from all other rulers and reflects His divine nature.
• "therefore God, your God, has anointed you": This phrase reveals the divine agency and the righteous basis for the King's empowerment. His anointing is not arbitrary but is God's just response to His perfect character. The repetition of "God, your God" for Christ underscores both His divine nature (being addressed as God) and His obedient relationship with the Father (having "His God"). This divine consecration signifies a unique appointment for a unique role.
• "with the oil of gladness beyond your companions": This expression describes the nature and magnitude of the anointing. "Oil of gladness" points to the Spirit's anointing, bringing not just authority, but also triumph, joy, and ultimate blessing. "Beyond your companions" stresses the unparalleled, supreme status granted to Him. No one else has received such an anointing or possesses such an exalted position; He stands without equal, establishing His absolute preeminence.

Psalm 45 7 Bonus section

• The Messianic interpretation of Psalm 45, and specifically verse 7, is undeniably solidified by the New Testament's direct application in Hebrews 1:8-9. Without this Apostolic interpretation, the identity of the "God" spoken to the King and then "your God" would remain a significant interpretive challenge for Psalm scholars, debated as either a poetic exaggeration for an earthly king or a truly unique designation of divine kingship. Hebrews definitively closes that debate, revealing the eternal Son's unique relationship with the Father.
• The "oil of gladness" contrasts with the "oil of mourning" or sorrow. It points to the ultimate triumph of the Messiah's mission and His joy in establishing God's righteous kingdom, turning sorrow into exultation not just for Himself but for all who follow Him. This profound joy is intrinsic to His anointed state.
• This verse provides a crucial understanding of Christian kingship or leadership: true anointing and blessing from God are fundamentally linked to character—a fervent love for righteousness and an uncompromising hatred for wickedness. While no human can achieve Christ's perfect standard, the principle guides righteous governance and personal conduct.

Psalm 45 7 Commentary

Psalm 45:7 unveils the very essence of the Messianic King's character and the divine rationale for His unique status. His active and complete love for everything that is right, coupled with an unwavering and total hatred for all that is evil, establishes His unblemished moral perfection. This righteousness is not merely an attribute but an intrinsic part of His being and action. Because of this flawless character, the triune God uniquely intervenes to anoint Him. The "oil of gladness" symbolizes a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit, not just for office, but for abounding joy and triumphant victory. This anointing transcends any previous one, placing the King in a category utterly distinct from any peer or fellow ruler. In its fullest application through Hebrews 1:8-9, this verse unequivocally identifies Jesus Christ as this King, whose divine nature enables His perfect righteousness and whose willing obedience to the Father merits this singular exaltation and joyous anointing, securing His eternal reign in unmatched preeminence.