Matthew 22 · Verse 45

Matthew 22:45

If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?
Matthew 22:45, King James Version

Matthew 22:45 in other translations

BSBSo if David calls Him ‘Lord,’ how can He be David’s son?”
WEB“If then David calls him Lord, how is he his son?”
ASVIf David then calleth him Lord, how is he his son?
YLTIf then David doth call him lord, how is he his son?'
DARBYIf therefore David call him Lord, how is he his son?
BBEIf David then gives him the name of Lord, how is he his son?
WebsterIf David then calleth him Lord, how is he his son?

What does Matthew 22:45 mean?

Barnes' Notes
Verse 45. If David, etc. If he was, then, David's Lord; if he was his superior; if he had an existence at that time, how could he be descended from him ? They could not answer him. Nor is there any way of answering the question but by the admission that the Messiah was Divine as well as human; that he had an existence at the time of David, and was his Lord and Master, his God and King, and that as man he was descended from him.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 45 How is he his son? - As the Jews did not attempt to deny the conclusion of our Lord's question, which was, the Messiah is not only the son of David according to the flesh, but he is the Lord of David according to his Divine nature, then it is evident they could not. Indeed, there was no other way of invalidating the argument, but by denying that the prophecy in question related to Christ: but it seems the prophecy was so fully and so generally understood to belong to the Messiah that they did not attempt to do this; for it is immediately added, No man was able to answer him a word - they were completely nonplussed and confounded.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 22:41-46

When Christ baffled his enemies, he asked what thoughts they had of the promised Messiah? How he could be the Son of David and yet his Lord? He quotes Psa 110:1. If the Christ was to be a mere man, who would not exist till many ages after David's death, how could his forefather call him Lord? The Pharisees could not answer it. Nor can any solve the difficulty except he allows the Messiah to be the Son of God, and…

Read the full comment on Matthew 22:41-46 →

Matthew 22:45 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

εἰeiIfG1487
οὖνounthereforeG3767
ΔαυὶδDauidDavidG1138
καλεῖkaleicallsG2564
αὐτὸνautonHimG846
κύριον,kurionLord,G2962
πῶςpōshowG4459
υἱὸςhuiossonG5207
αὐτοῦautouof himG846
ἐστιν;estinis He?G1510

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Matthew 22:45

  • Revelation 22:16

    I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

  • Romans 1:3-4

    Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

  • John 8:58

    Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

  • 1 Timothy 3:16

    And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

  • Philippians 2:6-8

    Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

  • Hebrews 2:14

    Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

  • Romans 9:5

    Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
how.
Joh 8:58; Ro 1:3,4; 9:5; Php 2:6-8; 1Ti 3:16; Heb 2:14; Re 22:16

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Matthew 22:44

    The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?

  • Matthew 22:45

    If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?

  • Matthew 22:46

    And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.

Read all of Matthew 22

Matthew 22:45 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Pues si David le llama Señor, ¿cómo es su Hijo?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Si donc David l’appelle seigneur, comment est-il son fils?
German
Elberfelder 1871
Wenn nun David ihn Herr nennt, wie ist er sein Sohn?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Si ergo David vocat eum Dominum, quomodo filius ejus est?