sitthou
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Sit Thou At My Right Hand |
“SIT THOU AT MY RIGHT HAND”
We read in Psalms 110:1, “The Lord said unto my Lord, ‘Sit Thou at My right hand Until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool”. This verse has become, through misinterpretation, one of the verses which has come to put Jesus Christ in a position of being less than equal, in the minds of some to God, or, in the minds of others, to God the Father. That is to say, most Christians have a vague idea of a large throne in heaven with a lesser throne to its right. The larger throne is, in their minds, for God and the smaller is for Christ. That picture suggests that somehow Jesus Christ is less than God, which is, of course, impossible because Jesus Christ is God. God can not be less than God. (John 14:28 is another of those verses which diminishes the fact of Who Christ is and discussed in the paper on this web-site Jesus Christ Is Jehovah.
Let us examine Psalms 110 with a view towards correcting that misinterpretation. “Jehovah said unto Adonai, ‘Sit Thou at My right hand until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool”. Jesus Christ is Jehovah (please see the paper mentioned above for proof of that statement.) One of the titles of Jehovah is “Adonai”. That means that Christ, Jehovah, will conquer the enemies of Adonai, a title of Jehovah. So Adonai will be at the right hand of Jehovah. But Adonai is one of the titles of Jehovah. My point is that obviously confusion reigns in the misinterpretation of this verse.
Allow me to put this in another way. If we interpret the phrase, “at the right hand of God” literally and see God sitting on a big throne with Christ on a slightly smaller throne at His right hand, we have placed Christ (as Jehovah) on the big throne and Adonai (which is a title of Jehovah/Christ) on the throne at His right hand. But Jehovah and Adonai are the same Person, Adonai is simply a title. I trust that the reader can see that if we interpret the phrase literally, confusion reigns.
I suggest that we may eradicate all this confusion by seeing the truth of the phrase “sit Thou at My right hand”. That truth is that the phrase must be figurative. That Jehovah/Christ is God, the one and only God (please see the paper on this web-site The Trinity, Is God Three Persons In One?). That Christ will conquer His enemies and that in His office (or title) of Adonai, will reign over those enemies as their conqueror.
I offer this paper to the student of God’s Word as a study of the true meaning of this verse.
The central issue of the phrase “sit Thou at My right hand” is whether it is literal or figurative. That is to say, is Christ seated now at the right hand of God in heaven, or is there a more profound meaning to this statement than to just tell us where Christ is seated in heaven? I believe that there is a deeper meaning than just where He is seated in heaven.
Before we get to that meaning, may I say, lest I am misunderstood, that I do indeed believe that Christ is in heaven. We are told that in the Word and there is no doubt that He is in heaven. Having said that let us now go to the Old Testament and study the phrase “right hand”. It is, in my opinion, very important to understand how the phrase was used in the Old Testament because that is how it would be understood by those living at the time of the writing of the New Testament. We will not study the passages that obviously refer to the right hand as opposed to the left, but only those verses that will help us in our study of the phrase found in Psalms. 110.
The first occurrence of the phrase is in Deut. 33:2, “…..from His right hand went a fiery law…”. Let us consider this phrase in terms of whether it is to be understood literally or figuratively. The literal meaning is, obviously that the “fiery law” came from God. The phrase “from His right hand” therefore is a figure of speech. It is the figure of speech “metonymy”. This is explained in the Companion Bible, Appendix 6 as, “when something pertaining to the subject is put for the subject itself”. An example of this figure of speech is found in Job 32:7, “…days should speak and years should speak multitudes of wisdom”. The phrase, “years should speak multitudes of wisdom” is put by the figure of speech, metonymy for men of age, i.e. old men.
The literal meaning of Deut. 33:2 is that a fiery law came from God. Figures of speech are used in order to enhance the literal meaning. How is the literal meaning enhanced by the figure of speech in this case? As we shall see as we continue in this study, the phrase, “His right hand” is used as a figure of speech to stand for many of the characteristics of God. In the case of Deut. 33:2 the characteristics are given in the context, verses 2-3, “….He came with ten thousand of His saints (should be “angels”); From His right hand went a fiery law for them, Yea, He loved the people; All His saints are in Thy hand; And they sat down at Thy feet”. We read of God’s might and of His love in this passage. In this passage, therefore, “His right hand” is a figure of speech that declares, with greater force than a literal interpretation, those characteristics.
Psalms 16:8-11, “I have set the Lord always before me: Because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: My flesh also shall rest in hope. For Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell: Neither wilt Thou suffer Thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in Thy presence is fulness of joy: At Thy right hand there are pleasures forever more”. Note verse 8 where we read that “He is at my right hand”. The writer is saying, literally, that God is always with him. He is using “at my right hand” as a figure of speech. Note also verse 11 where we read that “at Thy right hand there are pleasures…”. Here again, the literal meaning is that God gives pleasures. But the figure of speech, metonymy, enhances the literal meaning with the phrase “at Thy right hand”.
Psalms 17:7, “…..Thou that savest by Thy right hand”. It is, of course, God that saves, but the writer, by the Holy Spirit, enhances that thought by the figure of speech, metonymy. “Thy right hand” is used for the saving power of God.
Psalms 20:6, “…..saving strength of His right hand”. Here the figure of speech employed in the phrase “His right hand” enhances the idea of the saving strength of God.
Psalms 48:10, “…..Thy right hand is full of righteousness”.
Psalms 60:50, “…..save with Thy right hand….”. The phrase “Thy right hand” is the figure of speech metonymy where “right hand” is used for God Himself. That is to say, it is not His right hand that saves, it is God who saves.
Ps. 63:8, “…..Thy right hand upholdeth me”. Again, “Thy right hand” is used as a figure of speech.
Ps. 74:10-11, “O God, how long shall the adversary approach? Shall the enemy blaspheme Thy name forever? Why withdrawest Thou Thy hand, even Thy right hand?” It is clear in all the scriptures quoted above that the phrase “Thy right hand” is not to be taken literally, that it is put as a figure of speech to indicate God’s special characteristic as spoken of in the context. In verse 11 in particular it is obvious that “Thy right hand” is put for God Himself.
Ps. 80:14-15, “Return, we beseech Thee, O God of hosts; Look down from heaven, and behold, and visit this vine; and the vineyard which Thy right hand hath planted….”.
Ps. 98:1, “He hath done marvelous things. His right hand and His holy arm hath gotten Him the victory.”
Ps. 109:6, “Set Thou a wicked man over him (the wicked people of the previous verses) and let Satan stand at his right hand”. This verse is particularly helpful in our understanding of how the phrase “at his right hand” is to be understood. The Psalmist asks for Satan to stand at the right hand of a wicked man. It is clear, in my opinion, that to stand at one’s right hand is to stand in a position of influence. Again, we must take the phrase as a figure of speech, otherwise we learn only where the Psalmist asks for Satan to stand. When we interpret the phrase, as it should be, figuratively, we understand that Satan will occupy a position of influence.
Ps. 110:1, “The Lord (Jehovah) said unto my Lord (Adonai), ‘Sit Thou at My right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool”. We have in this verse two phrases that are used as figures of speech, but not the same figure of speech. “At My right hand” and “Thy footstool”. The right hand of God, as we have learned from all the scriptures quoted above, refers, not to place, but to position. It refers to a position of influence and strength. “Footstool” refers to His enemies in a conquered state.
Let us continue with verse 5 where we read, “The Lord at Thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of His wrath”. Again, at the right hand of the Lord refers to a position of strength, not location.
Ps. 118:15-16, “….The right hand of the Lord doeth valiantly. The right hand of the Lord is exalted”. This verse is perhaps the most obvious in its need to be taken figuratively. It is clear that the right hand of the Lord is not to be exalted more than any other part of the Lord. But the phrase “the right hand of the Lord” is used to mean the Lord in whatever characteristic the context implies. In this verse it implies the position of power and of wrath.
Ps. 138:7, “….Thy right hand shall save me…”.
Ps. 139:10, “….Thy right hand shall hold me”.
Ecc. 10:2, “A wise man’s heart is at his right hand, but a fool’s heart is at his left”. This is another case where the phrase must obviously be taken figuratively. Here again the heart being at the right hand of the wise man indicates the position of influence.
Is. 48:13, “Mine hand hath laid the foundation of the earth, My right hand hath spanned the heavens”.
Hab. 2:16, “….the cup of the Lord’s right hand shall be turned unto thee, and shameful spewing shall be on thy glory.”
Zech. 3:1, “Joshua…standing before the angel of the Lord and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him”. To say that the phrase “at his right hand” is simply a literal statement of fact, and it means only the location at which Satan stood, greatly diminishes the meaning of this phrase. When we recognize that “at the right hand” is a position, not a place, then we understand that Satan occupies a position of power to resist the angel of the Lord.
Now that we see that “at the right hand” is a position, not a location we are ready to go to the New Testament uses of the phrase “at the right hand”. The first occurrence is found in Matthew 22:44 which is a quote from Psalms 110:1. This verse has been studied above and the reader may recall that the context of this Psalm very definitely shows “at the right hand” refers, not to location, but to position.
Matt. 26:64, “You will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Might One coming on the clouds of heaven”. That the phrase is to be understood figuratively is obvious by the fact that the “Mighty One” is not also coming in the clouds. That is to say, if the phrase “the right hand of the Mighty One” were to be taken literally as to location, then as the Son of Man comes down from heaven, the Mighty One would have to come down with Him. Otherwise He would not be literally at the right hand of the Mighty One.
Mark 12:36 is a quote from Psalms 110:1.
Mark 14:62 is the same as Matthew 26:64.
Mark 16:19, “….He was taken up into heaven and He sat at the right hand of God”. There is no question that Christ is in heaven, a literal location. That does not, however mean that the phrase “at the right hand of God” must also be taken literally. As we have seen thus far in our study, it has never meant a literal location therefore, Mark would have understood the phrase to be a figurative one.
Luke 20:42 is a quote of Psalms 110:1.
Luke 22:69, “…..from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of Almighty God”. This statement by our Lord comes as a response to the question asked by the chief priests, “Are you the Christ?” If our Lord was simply telling them where He would be it would really not answer their question. He told them so much more than where He would be. He told them by the phrase (which they would have understood from the Old Testament) that He would be exalted in His position.
Acts 2:25 is quoted from Psalms 16:8-11. “Because He is at my right hand I will not be shaken”. Please see the comments on that passage above.
Acts 2:33, “Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, He hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear”. The word “exalted” is an obvious clue that the phrase is to be taken figuratively, as a position of honor and glory. If one takes this phrase literally none of that exaltation is understood.
Acts 2:34 is a quote of Psalm 110:1.
Acts 5:31, “Him hath God exalted with His right hand to be a Prince and a Savior ….”. This is the same phrase that we had read so many times in the Old Testament. Just as His “right hand” should be taken figuratively in the Old Testament, so must it be in the New Testament.
In Acts 7:55-56 we read of Stephan and his seeing “the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God”. The Greek word “kai” translated “and” in this verse can also be translated “even”. Because the glory of God is Jesus Christ, and because one can not really see glory, I believe that in this verse “kai” should be translated “even”. So Stephan saw the glory of God, even Jesus standing at the right hand of God. The fact that he saw Jesus who is the glory of God suggests that “the right hand of God” is a position of glory, not a location.
Romans 8:34, “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ That died, yea rather, That is risen again, Who is even at the right hand of God, Who also maketh intercession for us”. I believe that in every occurrence of the phrase “at the right hand” a figurative interpretation (position) is called for. In this verse I can see that one could interpret the phrase either figuratively or literally, both would be meaningful. Therefore, I suggest that this verse is inconclusive in terms of whether Christ is literally or figuratively at the right hand of God.
Eph. 1:20-22, “Which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and set Him at His own right hand in heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come. And hath put all things under His feet….”. We see in verse 22 a quote from Psalms 110:1 which is definitely figurative. That is to say, “all things under His feet” refers to the fact that Christ has conquered all things, not to a literal placement of all things under His feet. To say that Christ is located far above all principalities, powers, etc. is to greatly detract from the meaning of this verse. The meaning is that His is so much more than all other things, not that He is located above them.
Col. 3:1, “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God”. There is no question that Christ is seated in heaven. The question is whether the phrase “sitteth on the right hand of God” refers to where in heaven He is seated or whether Paul is writing of the position Christ holds in heaven. I believe it is the latter. That being the case, I believe that there is no real proof of the phrase “at the right hand of God” ever referring to place rather than position.
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 on the right hand of the Majesty on high”. This entire verse centers on Who Christ is. He is the glory of God, He is the image of God, He is all powerful and He has purged our sins. It is highly unlikely that the writer of Hebrews goes from such a lofty theme to tell his readers where Christ is seated. I trust the reader will agree that in this verse also, the phrase “on the right hand of the Majesty on high” refers, not to location but to position.
Hebrews 1:13 is a quote from Psalms 110:1.
Heb. 8:1, Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an High Priest who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens”. What are “the things which we have spoken” which the writer sums up? They are things that have to do with superiority of Christ, the High Priest after the order of Melchisedec. Note for example 7:26, “For such an High Priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens”. The phrase, “made higher than the heavens” is obviously meant to be taken figuratively. That is to say, He was made higher than anyone or anything on earth or in heaven. There are several things which point to the phrase “set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens” as referring, not to location, but to position.
- Verse 8:1 is the sum of the previous statements of the writer. Surely, Christ’s location is not the sum of those things. It is His position that is the sum.
- The phrase “the throne of the Majesty” is not a literal throne. How do we know that? We know that because only Christ is spoken of in the Bible as being on the throne. Neither the Father or the Holy Spirit is ever spoken of being on a throne. Therefore, because the throne is figurative, so also is being at the right hand of the throne figurative.
Heb. 10:12, “But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God”. The message of Hebrews 10 is that unlike the sacrifices of old which had to be offered over and over again, Christ offered one sacrifice and was finished. I believe that the contrast is being made between the ineffectiveness of the old and the effectiveness of the new. Therefore, once again, the writer is emphasizing the position of Christ, not His location.
Hebrews 12:2, “Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith, Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God”. It is impossible to believe that the author of Hebrews was saying that Jesus Christ endured the cross and the shame and that He is now located at the right hand of God. There is no reason that we should take the phrase literally, since it is meant to be understood figuratively. Also, as we have seen above in the comment on Heb. 8:1. There is no scriptural evidence to assume a literal throne, that too is figurative.
I Peter 3:22, “Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God: angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto Him”. Angels and powers are not made subject to Christ simply because of where He is located. We must understand that “on the right hand of God” is a figure of speech emphasizing His position.
CONCLUSION
As I suggested above, it is important to understand the phrase “at the right hand” as figurative. Otherwise, we see in our hearts and minds Christ in a lesser position than God. It is very possible that many recognize that to be at one’s right hand is in itself a position of power and influence. The point is, however, as one does that, he is already interpreting the phrase figuratively. That being the case, I suggest that in order to allow Christ His rightful position of glory and honor we divest ourselves of any mental image which places Him on a literal throne at the right hand of a literal throne. In doing that we will in no way detract, if even in our own hearts and minds, from the glory and honor due our Lord Jesus Christ.
I would love to hear your thoughts. Please E-mail me at:
This paper has been written by Joyce Pollard