This psalm refers to the Messiah. The psalmist (sons of Korah) describes his greatness, his attributes, his glory, his wealth and his dominion. Every generation of Israel asks itself, “When will the Messiah come?” The Jewish Majiach is a person with divine gifts. He is a true leader. But not only the Messiah is a leader, Jews have leaders in every generation. They are known for authentic leadership that is rooted in the Torah. Only those who fully observe the Torah can be considered truly great leaders. The ‘ordinary’ Jew should cling to these great leaders to see what life is really about.
- Text Psalm 45
- Hebrew text Psalm 45 – תהילים מה
- Listen to Psalm 45
- Explanation of Psalm 45 by Rabbi Yitzchok Rubin
- Commentary by Rashi on Psalm 45
- Further explanation of the above Jewish comments
- Psalm 1 to 92
Text Psalm 45
The right words well up in my heart, I spoke my poem for the king, my tongue is the stylus of a skilled writer. You are the most beautiful of all people and loveliness flows from your lips G-d has blessed you forever.
….Your sons succeed your ancestors, you make them rule over the whole land. I will sing praises to your name from generation to generation; all nations will praise you forever and ever.
Hebrew text Psalm 45 – תהילים מה
A to win over the six-year-olds of Bnei-Korah, who teaches a song of friendship. My heart whispers a good word, I say, I am a deed to the king of my tongue, a pen writes quickly. You are the most beautiful of human beings, grace was poured out in your words, therefore God bless you forever. 4 Gird your sword on your thigh, a mighty man, and guide you. And your guidance was successful, riding on the word of truth, and your meekness and righteousness are terrible at your right hand. And your sharp arrows, nations under you, will fall into the heart of the king’s enemies. 7 Your throne, God, is the world, and the tribe of Misher is the tribe of your kingdom. 8 You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, is a mocker of your friend. 9 Mor-vahalot cut off all your clothes from the halls of my delight. Daughters of kings, in your honor a wave stands at your right hand in the stain of Ophir. O daughter, hear and see, and turn away your ear and forget your people and your father’s house. 12 And let the king be kind to you, for he is your lord, and bow down to him. 13 And in Beth-zur, the rich of the people will be healed by the offering of your offering. The hand of the all-honored queen is inside of the golden squares of her shame. 15 To weave a turban for the king with virgins, after which her sheep are brought to you. 16 You will be filled with joy and you will be seen in the king’s palace. 17 Your sons will be under your fathers, and you will appoint them as ministers throughout the land. 18 Remember your name in every generation and generation, therefore, the peoples of Judah forever and ever.
Listen to Psalm 45
Listen to Psalm 45 in Hebrew.
Explanation of Psalm 45 by Rabbi Yitzchok Rubin
The psalmist begins by telling us that his work is aimed at the highest conceivable individual (leader). This is a scholar steeped in Torah knowledge. The psalmist’s tongue becomes a marker describing the importance of the kingship of the Torah. There are so many leaders who think they are important to society but who do not live according to the Torah. The only true leaders are the pious (such as the Messiah and Moses) whose speech is blessed by HaShem and who live completely according to the Torah. Such pious ones are rare in any generation. But we should use them as an example because their lives are really focused on what is good and positive. We must ask them for advice.
The sword spoken of in this Psalm is the Torah that fights for truth, humility and justice. We are lost in the dark world and must ask the Torah leader for advice. Like a star in the dark night, he brings brightness. The true Torah scholar wants to learn more and more, so we ask that his right hand teach us the secrets that are understood only by the humble.
The children of Korah, whose father rebelled against Moses, wrote this psalm. They repented by standing up for Moses, the great leader. The weapons of the scholars are their Torah insights. Only those who observe the Torah have such insights. Their sharp insights can penetrate the hearts of their listeners. The words and judgments of the Torah scholars are eternal. The words of Moses still influence the Jewish people.
HaShem has placed leaders in the Jewish people so that we can see what is real and what evaporates. We don’t realize what we have until it’s gone. It’s a shame that we cry about things we don’t really need. We must cling to the words and actions of the Torah scholars who live only for HaShem and His glory. We should be humble to obtain a calm mind.
Commentary by Rashi on Psalm 45
Per verse the commentary of Rashi, the Jewish Bible commentator who lived from 1040-1105. Rashi is considered the teacher of teachers. All traditional Jews regard Rashi as an authority on the Jewish Bible and Talmud. Hence it is important to record his commentary on the Psalms. Rashi uses new Hebrew supplemented with Old French words. His language is sometimes somewhat oracularly short. For further explanation it is wise to consult an orthodox Jewish rabbi.
Verse 1
For the conductor on Shoshannim, of the sons of Korah, a maskil a song of love.
on Shoshannim : They founded this psalm in honor of the Torah scholars, who are as gentle as roses and as beautiful as roses, and perform good deeds as fresh as roses.
a maskil : Through an interpreter.
a song of loves : Hebrew שיר ידידות, a song of loves, a song of praise for them [the Torah scholars] to endear them to the people and to endear their Torah to them [the people].
Verse 2
My heart is full of a good theme; I say, ,My works are for a king; my tongue is the pen of an expert scribe.,
My heart is full : In this way the psalmist began his song: My heart caused a good theme to swarm within me in your praise, O Torah scholar.
is full : Hebrew רחש, an expression of moving, like any expression of swarming and creeping.
I say, “My works are for a king : This song, which I founded and composed, I say to one who is fit to be a king, as it is said (Proverbs 8:15): “Kings reign with me. ,
my tongue is : as poetic as the pen of an experienced writer. I saw in the commentary of Rabbi Moses the preacher: מָהִיר in Arabic means expert.
Verse 3
You are more handsome than [other] men; charm is poured into your lips . Therefore G‑d blessed you forever.
You are more handsome than [other] men : who are engaged in the work of the passing life. Why? Because charm is poured into your lips to instruct according to the halachah. הוּצַק means ,poured out , as (Exodus 38:27): ,to cast (לצקת),; (Genesis 28:18), ,and he poured (ויצק) oil.,
Therefore……always blessed : as it is written (under 29 :11): ,The Lord will give strength to His people., And what is their reward? ,The Lord will bless His people with peace.,
Verse 4
Gird a sword on your thigh, O mighty one, your majesty and your glory.
Gird a sword on your thigh : to fight the war of Torah, and that is your majesty and that is your glory.
Verse 5
And your glory is that you will pass by and ride for the sake of truth and righteous humility, and it will instruct you so that your right hand will do great things.
for the sake of the truth : To teach according to the law and to conduct oneself with righteous humility.
and it will instruct you : The Torah and the matter of truth that you are concerned with teach you war tactics so that you should rightly do great things. Since he mentions the study of Torah in an expression of war, the expression of the right hand, prepared to fight, is appropriate (i.e. it is customary to fight with the right hand).
Verse 6
Your arrows are sharpened, nations will fall under you, in the heart of the king’s enemies.
Your arrows are sharpened…..in the heart of the king’s enemies : Hebrew שְּׁנוּנִים, aiguises in French, is sharpened. This is a transliterated verse. We see that the disciples are called arrows, as said (above 127:4): ,As arrows in the hand of a mighty man, so are the children of the youth., And Torah scholars who quarrel with each other about Halachah before that time called enemies against each other, as it is said: ,they will not be ashamed when they speak with the enemies in the gate.,
nations will fall under you : As a reward for the Torah, nations will fall under Israel.
Verse 7
Your throne, O judge, will stand [forever]; the scepter of equity is the scepter of your kingdom.
Your throne, O judge : Your throne, O prince and judge, shall stand forever and ever, as the matter declared (Exodus 7:1): ,I have made you a judge אלהים, (נתתיך about Pharaoh. And why ? Because a scepter of equity is the scepter of your kingdom, that your judgments are true and that you are fit to rule.
Verse 8
You loved righteousness, and you hated wickedness: therefore G-d, your G-d, anointed you with the oil of joy from your like.
Therefore G-d anointed you with oil : Every expression of greatness is depicted by the anointing of oil, as the custom of kings.
Verse 9
Myrrh and aloes and cassia are already your garments; more than ivory palaces, mine will cause you to rejoice.
Myrrh and aloes and cassia : Hebrew קדה (Exod. 30:24) is translated קציעתא, cassia.
all your garments : All your garments smell of the scent of spices. The midrashic interpretation is: all your treachery (בגידותיך) and sins are requited and smell of a fragrant odor.
more than ivory palaces, mine will cause you to rejoice : More than the best of ivory palaces, are the palaces prepared for you in paradise to make you rejoice with them. שֵּׁן is ivoire in French, ivory.
those of Mine will cause you to rejoice : The palaces that are Minethey will make you rejoice, those who give you your reward.
Verse 10
The daughters of kings will visit you; the queen will stand at your right hand [cover] with gold ornaments of Ophir.
The daughters of kings : will visit you, as the thing declared (Isaiah 49:23): ,and their princesses your wet nurses.,
will visit you : literally your visitors. Hebrew ביקרותיך. The ,kaf, is interrupted by a ,dagesh, because it is an expression of visiting, although it is preceded by a ,yod., I saw in Rav Saadia’s punctuation that this word is arranged with (Isaiah 42:24), ,Whom Jacob subjected to plunder (למשיסה), which is written with a yod although the samech is interrupted by a dagesh. However, Menachem associated it as an expression of value, such as (Job 28:16): “with precious (יקר) onyx.
the queen : Hebrew שגל, the queen, as (Nehemiah 2:6): ,and the queen (השגל) sat beside him,; (Daniel 5:2), “and they shall drink with them, the king and his nobles, and his queen (שגלתה) and his concubines.” Your wife will be at your right hand.
with gold jewelry from Ophir : with a collection of gold ornaments that come from Ophir.
Verse 11
Hear, daughter, and see, and incline your ear, and forget your people and your father’s house.
Hear, daughter, and see : Hear, O people of Israel, and see the good way.
and incline your ear : to the Torah.
and forget your people : The nations among whom you grew up.
and your father’s house : The idolatry that your fathers worshiped on the other side of the river.
Verse 12
And the King will long for your beauty, for He is your Lord and prostrates himself before Him.
And the King will desire your beauty : And if you do this, the King, the Holy One, blessed be He, will desire the beauty of your deeds.
Verse 13
And the daughter of Tire will seek your presence with honor, those who are the richest of the people.
And the daughter of Tire will seek your presence with honor : Hebrew יחלו, as (Exodus 32:11): “And Moses prayed (ויחל).” And as a reward for this you will deserve that those who are now the richest of the people will bring you tribute and gifts.
Verse 14
All honor awaits the daughter of the King who is within; her clothing is superior to institutions of gold.
All honor [awaits] the King’s daughter who is within, etc .: Those who deserve all honor, and they are the King’s nation, who now behaved modestly, their garments will be more prized than the institutions of gold of the High Priests. משבצוֹת is chatons in French, settings.
Verse 15
She will be brought to the king with embroidered garments; and virgins in her train who are her companions will be brought to You.
With embroidered garments she will be brought to the king : In embroidered garments they will bring her as a gift to the King of all the earth. רקמוֹת is a broderie in French. This is what is said (Isaiah 66:20): “And they shall bring all your brethren out of all nations for a tribute, etc.”
virgins in her train who are her companions : Some of the idolatrous nations will follow them, as the matter is declared (Zechariah 8:23): will take hold of the skirt of a Jewish man, and say, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is
with
you .
land.
Instead of your forefathers, etc. : He addresses every Israelite.
Verse 18
I will mention Your name in every generation; therefore the nations will thank You forever and ever.
I will mention Your name : The Psalmist addresses the Holy One , blessed be He.
Further explanation of the above Jewish comments
As becomes clear in the above explanation, people must be guided by the real leaders of this world: the Torah scholars. In the introduction we already wrote about the Messiah who is seen as the highest conceivable individual. But every generation has its own leaders. One of the greatest leaders of the current Jewish generation was the Lubavitcher Rebbe. He was seen as the great leader by his followers of Chabad Chassidism. It is interesting how this great leader himself described leadership. That is completely different from leaders as we know them in the secular world. A true Jewish leader is selfless and ensures that every individual becomes a leader. A true leader inspires and encourages action. He teaches what purpose in life is and how to pursue it with confidence and strength of mind.
People need real leaders because they often lack the vision, direction and strength to achieve their goals. True leaders teach individuals to be independent within their own responsibility. We see in the Tanakh that G-d often chooses shepherds as true leaders. Consider, for example, Moses and King David. They are people who are NOT selfish or arrogant and have no self-interest. Leadership is service to the Greater Interest. An authentic leader indicates that the world is leading somewhere. A true leader does not look for followers but ensures that other people become leaders. You don’t impose leadership. A leader must also be a visionary and live in accordance with what he preaches. The greatest leader, Moses, was the humblest man ever.
Numbers 12:3
Now Moshe was a very modest man – there was no one in the whole world as modest as he.
By having confidence in an authentic leader, people rise from their narrowness and egocentrism.
How can someone become a leader? Then ask yourself the following:
- Do you positively influence the people around you?
- Do you inspire people intellectually, emotionally and spiritually?
Each leader produces another leader into infinity until the darkness is filled with radiant light.
Psalm 1 to 92
Would you like to read more Psalms with a Jewish interpretation? Go to: Psalms 1 through 92.