“Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father’s house;”
The address to the bride as daughter and the exhortation to listen and forget her father's house establish the bride's new identity and primary allegiance. The command to forget her origins and give allegiance to her new husband suggests complete reorientation of identity and loyalty; marriage constitutes a profound transition. The mention of her father's house implies that she must abandon her former identity and family relationships to assume her role as queen. The specific address calling her to attention and obedience establishes the hierarchical dimension of the marriage and the expectation of her compliance with her new role. This verse depicts marriage as identity transformation and the establishment of new familial relationships.
Church Fathers on Psalms 45:10
1. This Psalm, even as we ourselves have been singing with gladness together with you, we would beg you in like manner to consider with attention together with us. For it is sung of the sacred Marriage-feast; of the Bridegroom and the Bride; of the King and His people; of the Saviour and those who are to be saved....His sons are we, in that we are the “children of the Bridegroom;” and it is to us that this Psalm is addressed, whose title has the words, “For the sons of Korah,…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS
Publish a reflection on this verse
No reflections on this verse yet. Be the first to write one!