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Psalm 45 · a question people ask

"Your throne, God, is forever and ever" (45:6). Is the king called God?

In the text

In the WEB the psalm says to the king, "Your throne, God, is forever and ever. A scepter of equity is the scepter of your kingdom" (45:6) (tap throne). God there is Elohim, the word of "God has blessed you forever" (45:2). The very next verse speaks of God as the one who anoints him: "Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows" (45:7). The psalm puts the two lines side by side and doesn't explain them. Hebrews quotes both, of the Son: "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever" (Hebrews 1:8), and "therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows" (Hebrews 1:9). Hebrews doesn't explain the two lines either, and these notes set them side by side and add nothing.

The verses

“You are the most excellent of the sons of men. Grace has anointed your lips, therefore God has blessed you forever.”
Psalm 45:2 · World English Bible
“Your throne, God, is forever and ever. A scepter of equity is the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness, and hated wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows.”
Psalm 45:6-7 · World English Bible
“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 iniquity; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows.””
Hebrews 1:8-9 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Psalm 45

Psalm 45: Your throne is forever

"Grace has anointed your lips" (45:2) and "God, your God, has anointed you" (45:7) are two Hebrew verbs: the first is yatsaq, to pour. The king is told to ride "on behalf of truth, humility, and righteousness" (45:4). And Hebrews gives 45:6-7 "of the Son" (Hebrews 1:8).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions