Psalm 110/Notes/Phrasal.V. 2.499149

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  • The phrase your strong staff (מַטֵּה־עֻזְּךָ) is, in Hebrew, a construct chain: lit.: "the staff of your strength." The second noun in the construct chain ("strength") expresses an attribute of the first noun ("staff").[1] Thus, translations have "strong staff" or "mighty scepter" (NIV, ESV, CSB). Other translations make it clear that the king's strong staff is a metonymy for his kingdom: "your powerful kingdom" (NLT), "your royal power" (GNT), "your dominion" (NET).[2]
  1. ↑ Similar constructions with עז include Ps. 150:1 (בִּרְקִ֥יעַ עֻזֹּֽו = his strong firmament); Prov. 10:15//18:11 (קִרְיַ֣ת עֻזֹּ֑ו = his strong city); Ezek. 26:11 (וּמַצְּבֹ֥ות עֻזֵּ֖ךְ = your strong pillars). Cf. Jer. 48:17 – נִשְׁבַּר֙ מַטֵּה־עֹ֔ז.
  2. ↑ Cf. Zenger: "The 'scepter of your power' is the insignia of royal rule" (1993, 148).