Psalm 45 (44):13Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

“And you shall worship Him. And the daughter of Tyre with gifts.” What is the significance of this statement? It carries a strong implication. The call to come is grounded in His immense power, which compels all to yield to Him. The prophet references a city nearby, notorious for its wickedness and regarded as a stronghold of evil, known for its great riches; from this specific instance, he implies a broader meaning. It appears to me that he encompasses all forms of ungodliness and moral decay. The Scriptures frequently use the names of cities to represent human behaviors, as illustrated by: “Hear the word of the Lord, you princes of Sodom; give heed to the law of our God, you people of Gomorrah” (Isaiah 1:10).

The peoples who put their faith in Christ reside near the area where the prophecy was spoken, and they are part of the community of believers.

In the region of Canaan, it appears that idol worship was fervently embraced. Tyre was the principal city of this land. Consequently, the prophetic message encourages the Church to be obedient, declaring that even "the children of Tyre" will eventually come forward with offerings. "And thy face shall the rich men worship with gifts." The emphasis is on "thy face" rather than stating that the Church will be worshipped "with gifts." This indicates that it is not the Church that is to receive worship, but rather Christ, the head of the Church, who is referred to in Scripture as the Face.

The inhabitants of Tyre shall come bearing offerings. When referring to the Tyrians, I indicate the calling of all the nations. I specifically mention the Tyrians because they were particularly opposed to righteous living. The wealthy among people will pray in Your presence. This is spoken to kings and powerful individuals, urging them to honor the Church and its Lord.

In the Hebrew text, it refers to ‘O daughter of the mightiest. The affluent among the nations shall approach you with offerings. The Hebrew term sor, which is seen in the translation of the Seventy in Ezekiel, can signify ‘Tyre,’ ‘affliction,’ ‘mightiest,’ or refer to ‘flint,’ meaning ‘the hardest stone.’ This has led to some misunderstanding in the present context.

The text mentions, "And Dschchi Tirova with gifts." The other translators instructed the queen to offer her worship. Aquila and Theodotion rendered it as "and let you worship Him," while Symmachus stated, "for He is your Lord, and you shall worship Him." However, the seventy suggest to the queen that the Bridegroom is not only her Lord but also has authority over those who resist Him, as even the daughters of Tyre will present gifts and be willing to serve. Through these daughters, the Prophet illustrates the pervasive nature of wickedness. It is a common practice in Scripture to represent the whole through a part. In another instance, the decline of Lebanon serves as a symbol of the complete end of idolatry.

Rejoice, highly favored Anna, for you have borne a daughter, who is the Mother of God, the light-bringer, the fountain of life, and the savior of women from judgment. The wealthy will seek her intercession, and the rulers of the earth will approach her with offerings and adoration.

The inhabitants of Tyre approach with offerings. Tyre was filled with idols and was more depraved than any other city. However, David prophesies that it will bring its gifts to Christ—this includes temple constructions, diverse offerings, and all forms of service. He indicates that it will come with gifts or that the daughter of Tyre will present offerings. It is a common practice among Hebrews to refer to cities as daughters, since every city represents a portion, akin to a daughter within its respective country and region. For example, Babylon is referred to as the daughter of Babylon, or the entirety of that province: lamentable daughter of Babylon (Psalm 136:8). This tradition is also noted at the end of verse 28 in Psalm 72:28, "In the gates of the daughter of Zion."

The inhabitants of Tyre, representing the nations once steeped in idolatry, have through faith in Christ and the sacred sacrament of baptism, become children of God. They will approach You with gifts as they honor the Immaculate Mother of their Lord. Additionally, Your affluent followers will come before You in reverence and devotion, kneeling before Your pure and venerable icon. This act of veneration is not only practiced by the Orthodox faithful but also by various heretics, including Latins and Armenians, dating back to the time of the Apostles. It was during this period that the holy Evangelist Luke created a revered image of Her and presented it to Her during Her earthly life. According to tradition, upon seeing the image, She expressed her joy by saying, "The grace that abides in Me may be with this image."

Through these words, the Prophet alleviates, or rather entirely removes, the bride's recollection of her previous prosperous life in her parents' home. Sacred history reveals that Tyre was renowned as one of the wealthiest cities of the ancient world. Consequently, rather than receiving only the highest accolades, this situation suggests that the Tyrians, who were under her husband’s dominion and potentially former adversaries of her homeland, will approach her with profound respect and bring forth the most exquisite offerings.