The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.
The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion - i:e., thy strong rod. Not a sceptre, but a rod of slaughter and punishment х maTeeh (H4294)] (Jeremiah 48:17; Ezekiel 19:11-12; Ezekiel 19:14; Isaiah 9:4; Isaiah 10:5; Isaiah 10:15; Isaiah 14:5; Ezekiel 7:11). The rod, like the sharp, two-edged sword out of His mouth (Revelation 1:16), called "the rod of His mouth" (Isaiah 11:4), symbolizes not government, but victory (over) and punishment of resisting enemies (Psalms 2:9; Revelation 2:27). The rod of Moses, wherewith he was empowered to inflict the plagues on Egypt, is a type of the rod of judgment in Messiah's hand (Isaiah 10:26).
Out of Zion - the ancient seat of David's royal line, which culminated in Messiah; the center from which went forth the Gospel Law at the beginning of our dispensation, and from which it shall go forth with greater power in the last days (Psalms 2:6; Isaiah 2:3-4; Micah 4:2-3; Luke 1:32-33).
Rule thou - not 'reign,' but 'lord it over' х rªdeeh (H7287)]. The imperative expresses a gratulatory prophecy.
In the midst of thine enemies - not merely in some corner of them. Christ rules on every side now, however enemies rage and oppose His Kingdom and His people round about. Or rather, the phrase refers to His future reign, and is an idiom for '(Thou shalt rule) openly as Supreme Lord over them;' their opposition then having been constrained to cease.