Psalm 80:17 kjv
Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, upon the son of man whom thou madest strong for thyself.
Psalm 80:17 nkjv
Let Your hand be upon the man of Your right hand, Upon the son of man whom You made strong for Yourself.
Psalm 80:17 niv
Let your hand rest on the man at your right hand, the son of man you have raised up for yourself.
Psalm 80:17 esv
But let your hand be on the man of your right hand, the son of man whom you have made strong for yourself!
Psalm 80:17 nlt
Strengthen the man you love,
the son of your choice.
Psalm 80 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 80:3 | Restore us, O God... | Prayer for restoration of the people. |
| Ps 80:14-15 | Turn again, O God of hosts... Look down from heaven and see... care for this vine, the stock... | Context of God caring for His people (the vine). |
| Ps 89:20-21 | I have found My servant David; With My holy oil I have anointed him, With whom My hand shall be established; Also My arm shall strengthen him. | God's strengthening hand upon His chosen king, David. |
| Ps 110:1 | The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” | The Messiah exalted to God's right hand. |
| Dan 7:13-14 | I saw in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven... and to Him was given dominion... | Prophecy of the Messianic "Son of Man" receiving ultimate authority. |
| Acts 7:55-56 | But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God... “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing...” | Stephen's vision of Jesus as the Son of Man at God's right hand. |
| Mk 14:61-62 | Again the high priest asked Him... “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” Jesus said, “I Am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds...” | Jesus identifies Himself as the Christ and the "Son of Man" fulfilling prophecy. |
| Heb 1:3 | who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of... | Christ's exalted position and work, seated at God's right hand. |
| Matt 28:18 | And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” | Jesus, as the empowered "man," receives all authority. |
| Isa 41:10 | Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. | God promises to strengthen and uphold His people. |
| Phil 4:13 | I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. | Spiritual strengthening through Christ. |
| Eph 6:10 | Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. | Call to believers to be strengthened by God. |
| Ps 16:11 | You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. | Joy and blessing in God's presence, associated with His right hand. |
| Isa 59:1 | Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. | God's powerful hand is always able to save. |
| Exod 3:20 | So I will stretch out My hand and strike Egypt with all My wonders which I will do in its midst... | God's powerful hand bringing deliverance. |
| Ps 78:69-70 | And He built His sanctuary like the heights, Like the earth which He has established forever. He also chose David His servant, And took him from the sheepfolds... | God establishing His chosen leader for His sanctuary. |
| Ps 28:8 | The Lord is their strength, And He is the saving refuge of His anointed. | God as the strength for His anointed. |
| Ps 44:3 | For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword, Nor did their own arm save them; But it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your countenance, Because You favored them. | Salvation and strength from God's hand, not human effort. |
| Lam 5:21 | Restore us to Yourself, O Lord; That we may be restored; Renew our days as of old. | Direct echo of the core prayer for restoration. |
| Zech 3:8 | Hear, O Joshua, the high priest, you and your companions who sit before you, for they are a wondrous sign; For behold, I am bringing forth My Servant the BRANCH. | Prophecy of "the Branch" who points to the Messiah, a servant empowered by God. |
Psalm 80 verses
Psalm 80 17 Meaning
Psalm 80:17 is a desperate plea to God for the restoration of His people, embodied in a chosen leader. It specifically asks for God's protecting and empowering presence to be upon a divinely appointed individual—referred to as "the man of Your right hand" and "the son of man"—whom God Himself has strengthened for His own purposes and glory, presumably for the salvation and revival of Israel.
Psalm 80 17 Context
Psalm 80 is a fervent communal lament and a plea for divine intervention. It is set during a time of national distress, likely after a significant military defeat or exile, when the people of Israel are experiencing God's discipline and the oppressive power of their enemies. The Psalm uses the metaphor of Israel as God's "vine" which He brought out of Egypt and planted, but which has now been ravaged by outsiders. The repeated refrain, "Restore us, O God," underscores the deep desire for revival and for God to turn His face upon them and save them. Verse 17 is a specific cry within this larger lament, calling for God to empower a chosen leader—a king or messianic figure—who will lead the restoration and bring glory to God. It reflects the people's longing for God's powerful presence to be manifested through a strong human representative, indicating a shift in focus from the general "us" to a specific individual who can deliver and represent the people. This focus anticipates the coming of the ultimate King.
Psalm 80 17 Word analysis
- Let Your hand: (Hebrew: Yadeka) "Hand" often signifies power, authority, presence, and action. "Let Your hand be upon" implies divine protection, favor, guidance, and empowering touch. It's a prayer for active divine engagement.
- be upon: This preposition indicates proximity, authority, and blessing. The desired outcome is God's active, favorable influence resting on this person.
- the man: (Hebrew: ’Ish) Refers to a specific individual, a strong male person. It denotes humanity but, in context, a highly significant human being.
- of Your right hand: (Hebrew: Yemīneka) The "right hand" is universally symbolic of strength, honor, authority, and favor. To be the "man of Your right hand" signifies one chosen, specially favored, powerful, and given authority by God. It indicates a prime position of strength and representation directly linked to God's own power. This term carries echoes of God’s own strength and authority (Ps 44:3).
- Upon the son of man: (Hebrew: ‘Al ben-’āḏām) "Son of man" can generally refer to a human being, a mortal. However, its usage here, parallel to "man of Your right hand," suggests a unique human chosen for a divine purpose. In Daniel 7:13, it becomes a distinct messianic title, portraying a celestial figure given eternal dominion, thus carrying prophetic weight. Here, it denotes a true human representative, but one divinely appointed and empowered.
- whom You made strong: (Hebrew: ’Ammaṣtā) Literally, "You have strengthened." This verb indicates divine enablement and empowerment. It's not self-made strength, but strength divinely imparted for a specific purpose. This highlights God's sovereignty and active role in raising up and sustaining this figure.
- for Yourself: (Hebrew: Lāk) This crucial phrase reveals the ultimate purpose of this chosen one's strength and mission. It is not for the individual's glory or even solely for Israel's benefit, but fundamentally for God's own purposes, His glory, and the fulfillment of His divine plan. The individual is a tool in God's sovereign hands.
Words-group analysis:
- "Let Your hand be upon the man of Your right hand": This phrase expresses an intense yearning for God to openly identify with, empower, and protect His chosen human instrument. It combines divine power ("Your hand") with human chosenness and privilege ("man of Your right hand"), pointing to a sovereign King or Messiah directly under God's anointing and care.
- "Upon the son of man whom You made strong for Yourself": This second parallel clause clarifies the identity and purpose of the chosen one. "Son of man" underscores humanity, while "whom You made strong for Yourself" highlights that this human strength is divinely bestowed and intended for God's ultimate design and honor, not human agenda. It points to a perfectly human, yet divinely equipped, leader.
Psalm 80 17 Bonus section
The longing expressed in Psalm 80:17 for "the man of Your right hand" resonates throughout the Old Testament's anticipation of a Messiah King. While initially likely referring to a specific monarch during Israel's monarchy, its poetic and spiritual depth allows it to stretch beyond any singular earthly king, hinting at one who truly represents God's strength and serves His ultimate purposes. This individual would not only be protected and empowered by God but would also perfectly embody the ideal leadership God intended for His people, guiding them back into faithful relationship and security. This ultimate fulfillment is clearly seen in Jesus Christ, the only one who perfectly fits both descriptors: fully human ("Son of Man") and exalted by God to the highest position of authority and honor ("man of Your right hand," seated at God's right hand), demonstrating God's power and accomplishing God's redemptive work for Himself. The prayer then becomes a prophetic anticipation of the King of kings whose return will bring complete and lasting restoration.
Psalm 80 17 Commentary
Psalm 80:17 encapsulates the desperate hope of God's people for a divinely empowered leader in times of profound crisis. The twin descriptions—"the man of Your right hand" and "the son of man"—point to a human agent, specifically a king in the Davidic line, whom God has singled out, endowed with His own strength, and positioned for His divine purposes. This chosen figure is seen as the pivotal instrument through whom God's restorative power and favor will flow back to His beleaguered people. The ultimate intent of this strengthening is "for Yourself," meaning for God’s own glory and the advancement of His Kingdom, demonstrating His unwavering commitment to His covenant people through a human mediator. The verse is both a cry for a present king to be established in strength and a prophetic longing for the perfect King, the Messiah, who would fully embody the title "Son of Man" and sit at God's right hand (Mk 14:62, Acts 7:56), bringing about the complete and final restoration of all things according to God’s eternal plan. It shifts the people's plea from a general request for divine favor upon the entire nation to a more specific desire for a chosen, empowered individual who will lead the revival.