1:8–9

In 1:8–9 the author contrasted the role of the Son as king and the role of the angels as servants in 1:7. He quoted from Psalm 45, which is a wedding song for a royal bridegroom. He applied these words of Psalm 45:6–7 to God’s Son. These verses are the fifth quotation that the author used to contrast the Son and the angels.

1:8a

But: The word But introduces the contrast with 1:7.

about the Son He says: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as about usually means “to,” but it can also mean about. Here it introduces the quotation that God spoke to his Son and also about him. You should use the natural way in your language to introduce the quotation. Some ways to introduce it in English are:

But God said this about his Son: (New Century Version)
-or-
But of the Son he says (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
But to the Son he says (New Living Translation (2004))

1:8b

Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever: In this clause God spoke directly to Christ and called him God. The word O is not in the Greek text. It is often included in English versions when someone speaks directly to God, using a vocative.

Use a natural way in your language to address God directly. In some languages it may be more natural to put the word God at a different place in the sentence. For example:

God, your throne will last forever and ever (New Century Version)
-or-
You God, you will rule forever.

In other languages it may be more natural not to use a vocative. For example:

You are God, and you will rule as King forever! (Contemporary English Version)

Your throne…endures forever and ever: The word throne is used figuratively here. The phrase Your throne means “your ruling as king.” The whole clause means “Your rule lasts forever” or “You will be king forever.” Some other ways to translate it are:

you are King forever
-or-
Your kingdom…will last forever and ever! (Good News Translation)
-or-
your rule/reign will never end

1:8c

and justice is the scepter of Your kingdom: Like the clause that refers to “throne” in 1:8b, this clause is also figurative language. The word scepter refers literally to a staff that belongs to a king. It is a symbol of his authority to rule his people.

The whole clause means that the Son will use his authority fairly. He will rule his kingdom with justice. Some other ways to translate the clause are:

You will rule your kingdom with justice.
-or-
You will rule your people fairly.
-or-
You use your royal power to do what is right/good.

justice: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as justice means “just, fair.” It has a similar meaning as the word “righteousness” in 1:9. For other ways to translate justice, see the preceding note. In some languages there may be an idiom to translate this. For example:

straightness
-or-
uprightness (English Standard Version)

Your kingdom: The pronoun Your is singular. It refers here to Christ, the Son. God used the phrase Your kingdom to refer to the rule of Christ his Son over his people.

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