Psalms 2:4

2:4 The one enthroned in heaven laughs in disgust;

the Lord taunts them.

Psalms 9:7

9:7 But the Lord rules forever;

he reigns in a just manner.

Psalms 11:4

11:4 The Lord is in his holy temple;

the Lord’s throne is in heaven.

His eyes watch; 10 

his eyes 11  examine 12  all people. 13 

Psalms 115:3

115:3 Our God is in heaven!

He does whatever he pleases! 14 

Isaiah 66:1

66:1 This is what the Lord says:

“The heavens are my throne

and the earth is my footstool.

Where then is the house you will build for me?

Where is the place where I will rest?

Hebrews 8:1

The High Priest of a Better Covenant

8:1 Now the main point of what we are saying is this: 15  We have such a high priest, one who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, 16 


tn Heb “sitting.” The Hebrew verb יָשַׁב (yashav) is here used metonymically of “sitting enthroned” (see Pss 9:7; 29:10; 55:19; 102:12; 123:1).

tn As the next line indicates, this refers to derisive laughter. The Hebrew imperfect verbal forms in vv. 4-5 describe the action from the perspective of an eyewitness who is watching the divine response as it unfolds before his eyes.

tn Or “scoffs at”; “derides”; “mocks.”

tn The construction vav (ו) + subject highlights the contrast between the exalted Lord and his defeated foes (see v. 6).

tn Heb “sits” (i.e., enthroned, see v. 4). The imperfect verbal form highlights the generalization.

tn Heb “he establishes for justice his throne.”

tn Because of the royal imagery involved here, one could translate “lofty palace.” The Lord’s heavenly temple is in view here (see Mic 1:2-4).

sn The Lords throne is in heaven. The psalmist is confident that the Lord reigns as sovereign king, “keeps an eye on” all people, and responds in a just manner to the godly and wicked.

sn His eyes. The anthropomorphic language draws attention to God’s awareness of and interest in the situation on earth. Though the enemies are hidden by the darkness (v. 2), the Lord sees all.

10 tn The two Hebrew imperfect verbal forms in this verse describe the Lord’s characteristic activity.

11 tn Heb “eyelids.”

12 tn For other uses of the verb in this sense, see Job 7:18; Pss 7:9; 26:2; 139:23.

13 tn Heb “test the sons of men.”

14 sn He does whatever he pleases. Such sovereignty is characteristic of kings (see Eccl 8:3).

15 tn Grk “the main point of the things being said.”

16 sn An allusion to Ps 110:1; see Heb 1:3, 13.