A figure of speech that represents God's ultimate power and authority, and where the exalted Jesus Christ now sits.
The right hand of God as a symbol
A symbol of power
Mighty is Your arm; strong is Your hand. Your right hand is exalted.
A symbol of protection
Psalm 16:8 See also Psalm 63:8, Psalm 139:10; Isaiah 41:13; Lamentations 2:3
I have set the LORD always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
A symbol of God's presence
Psalm 16:11 See also Psalm 48:10, Psalm 73:23; Isaiah 62:8
You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.
A symbol of God's saving power
Psalm 60:5 parallel Psalm 108:6 See also Psalm 17:7, Psalm 20:6, Psalm 80:15, Psalm 98:1, Psalm 138:7
Respond and save us with Your right hand, that Your beloved may be delivered.
A symbol of victory
Psalm 18:35, Psalm 44:3, Psalm 78:54; Isaiah 41:10
A symbol of the defeat of God's enemies
Exodus 15:6 See also Exodus 15:12; Psalm 21:8, Psalm 74:11
Your right hand, O LORD, is majestic in power; Your right hand, O LORD, has shattered the enemy.
A symbol of God's mighty works
Psalm 45:4 See also Psalm 77:10, Psalm 118:15–16; Isaiah 48:13
In your splendor ride forth in victory on behalf of truth and humility and justice; may your right hand show your awesome deeds.
A symbol of judgment
Lamentations 2:4; Habakkuk 2:16
Jesus Christ at God's right hand
Jesus Christ is exalted to God's right hand
Hebrews 1:13 Comparison between Jesus Christ and the angels confirms Christ's absolute supremacy. See also Psalm 110:1; Matthew 22:44 parallels Mark 12:36, Luke 20:42; Luke 22:69; Acts 2:34, Acts 7:55–56; Colossians 3:1; Hebrews 1:3, Hebrews 12:2
Yet to which of the angels did God ever say: “Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet”?
Jesus Christ rules every authority at God's right hand
1 Peter 3:22 See also Ephesians 1:20–21
who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to Him.
Jesus Christ continues his work at God's right hand
Romans 8:34 See also Acts 2:33, Acts 5:31; Hebrews 4:14–16, Hebrews 8:1
Who is there to condemn us? For Christ Jesus, who died, and more than that was raised to life, is at the right hand of God— and He is interceding for us.
Jesus Christ will return at God's right hand
Matthew 26:64 parallel Mark 14:62
“You have said it yourself,” Jesus answered. “But I say to all of you, from now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
Jesus Christ takes a scroll from God's right hand
Revelation 5:1–7 The scroll probably refers to God's decrees for the destiny of the world.
Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the One seated on the throne. It had writing on both sides and was sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or look inside it. And I began to weep bitterly, because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or look inside it. Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed to open the scroll and its seven seals.” Then I saw a Lamb who appeared to have been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which represent the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. And He came and took the scroll from the right hand of the One seated on the throne.
The right hand of Jesus Christ
The place of the righteous on judgment day
All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep on His right and the goats on His left. Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
A privileged place granted by the Father
Matthew 20:20–23 parallel Mark 10:35–40
Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and knelt down to make a request of Him. “What do you want?” He inquired. She answered, “Declare that in Your kingdom one of these two sons of mine may sit at Your right hand, and the other at Your left.” “You do not know what you are asking,” Jesus replied. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” “We can,” the brothers answered. “You will indeed drink My cup,” Jesus said. “But to sit at My right or left is not Mine to grant. These seats belong to those for whom My Father has prepared them.”
A place of protection for Christians
Revelation 1:20 The angels of the churches are probably the church leaders. See also Revelation 1:16, Revelation 2:1
This is the mystery of the seven stars you saw in My right hand and of the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.[’’]
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.