Albert Barnes Commentary Psalms 45:5

"Thine arrows are sharp; The peoples fall under thee; [They are] in the heart of the king`s enemies." — Psalms 45:5 (ASV)

Thine arrows are sharp in the heart ... — literally, Thine arrows are sharp — the people under thee shall fall — in the heart of the enemies of the king. The process of thought in the verse seems to be this:

1. The arrows are seen as sharp or penetrating.
2. The people are seen falling as those arrows are shot forth.
3. It is seen that those who fall are the enemies of the king, and that the arrows have pierced the heart.

The word "sharp" is applied to the arrows as denoting that they were adapted to pierce. Sometimes arrows are blunted, or have a thick head, being more adapted to strike with force than to wound by penetrating. The bow and arrow were common instruments in ancient wars and were mainly used by those who went out to battle in a chariot.

Compare 1 Kings 22:34; 2 Kings 9:21–24. Regarding the Messiah, the reference here is, of course, to the truth, and to the power of that truth in penetrating the hearts of people. Compare the notes at Hebrews 4:12.

In the heart of the king’s enemies — That is, the truths stated by the Messiah, the conquering king, would penetrate deep into the soul and slay the sinner, the enemy of the king (that is, of the Messiah). The idea is that truth would produce an effect on the sinner's hopes, self-confidence, and life as a sinner, similar to what an arrow does when it penetrates the heart. Compare Romans 7:9: For I was alive without the law once, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died. See also the notes at Romans 7:10-11.

Whereby the people fall under thee — As the effect of the arrows; as the effect of truth. The representation is that of victory. As represented here, it is the victory of truth: a conquest by subjecting people to the authority and reign of God.