Psalms 80:17

Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, upon the son of man [whom] thou madest strong for thyself.

Let thy hand {H3027} be upon the man {H376} of thy right hand {H3225}, upon the son {H1121} of man {H120} whom thou madest strong {H553}{H8765)} for thyself.

Help the man at your right hand, the son of man you made strong for yourself.

Let Your hand be upon the man at Your right hand, on the son of man You have raised up for Yourself.

Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, Upon the son of man whom thou madest strong for thyself.

Commentary

Psalms 80:17 is a poignant plea within a communal lament, calling upon God to restore His people, Israel. It specifically asks for divine favor and empowerment upon a chosen individual who would bring about this deliverance.

Context of Psalms 80

Psalm 80 is a fervent prayer for national restoration, depicting Israel as a vine that God brought out of Egypt and planted, but which is now ravaged and in need of revival. The psalm repeatedly cries out, "Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved." Verse 17 is part of the culminating petition, identifying the hope for deliverance with a specific, divinely appointed figure.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Intervention: The verse is a direct appeal for God's active involvement ("Let thy hand be upon"). It underscores the belief that true salvation and restoration come only through divine power.
  • The Chosen Deliverer: The phrases "the man of thy right hand" and "the son of man" point to a uniquely favored individual. In ancient Near Eastern culture, the "right hand" symbolized strength, authority, and honor. This figure is one whom God has specifically "made strong for thyself," indicating a divine purpose and empowerment.
  • Messianic Foreshadowing: While initially referring to a contemporary leader or perhaps the Davidic king, these titles ("man of thy right hand," "son of man") carry profound prophetic weight. The phrase "son of man" is famously used by the prophet Daniel to describe a heavenly figure, and later became a prominent self-designation for Jesus Christ in the New Testament. Similarly, the concept of being at God's right hand is applied to Christ's exaltation (Psalm 110:1, Hebrews 1:3). Thus, the psalm looks beyond an immediate human king to the ultimate deliverer, the Messiah.
  • Strength for God's Purpose: The chosen one's strength is not for personal gain but "for thyself" โ€“ for God's glory and the fulfillment of His redemptive plan.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrase for "man of thy right hand" (ืึดื™ืฉื ื™ึฐืžึดื™ื ึถืšึธ - 'ish yฤ•mฤซnekฤ) literally means "man of your right." This emphasizes the position of honor, power, and favor this individual holds with God. The term "son of man" (ื‘ึถึผืŸึพืึธื“ึธื - ben-adam) is a common Hebrew idiom for a human being, but in prophetic contexts, it often takes on a specialized meaning, particularly in Daniel and the Gospels, pointing to a unique, divinely appointed figure. The strength given to this individual is not inherent but divinely imparted, underscoring God's sovereignty.

Practical Application and Significance

Psalms 80:17 continues to resonate today as a prayer for divine leadership and intervention. It reminds us that:

  • We should look to God for true deliverance and restoration, both personally and for our communities.
  • God empowers those He chooses for His purposes. Our strength for service comes from Him.
  • Ultimately, this verse points to Jesus Christ as the true "man of God's right hand" and the ultimate "Son of Man," through whom God brings lasting salvation and restoration. Believers find their hope and help in Him, recognizing His authority and strength given by the Father (John 5:19).

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Psalms 110:1

    ยถ A Psalm of David. The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

  • Psalms 89:21

    With whom my hand shall be established: mine arm also shall strengthen him.

  • Daniel 7:13

    I saw in the night visions, and, behold, [one] like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.

  • Daniel 7:14

    And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion [is] an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom [that] which shall not be destroyed.

  • Psalms 80:15

    And the vineyard which thy right hand hath planted, and the branch [that] thou madest strong for thyself.

  • Isaiah 53:5

    But he [was] wounded for our transgressions, [he was] bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace [was] upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

  • John 5:21

    For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth [them]; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.