Psalms 2:6-12

6 "But as for Me, I have [a]installed 1My King Upon Zion, 2My holy mountain."
7 "I will surely tell of the [b]decree of the LORD: He said to Me, 'You are 3My Son, Today I have begotten You.
8 'Ask of Me, and 4I will surely give 5the [c]nations as Your inheritance, And the very 6ends of the earth as Your possession.
9 'You shall [d]7break them with a [e]rod of iron, You shall 8shatter them like [f]earthenware *.' "
10 Now therefore, O kings, 9show discernment; Take warning, O judges of the earth.
11 Worship the LORD with 10reverence And rejoice with 11trembling.
12 Do homage to 12the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way, For 13His wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed are all who 14take refuge in Him!

Psalms 2:6-12 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 2

This psalm is the second in order, and so it is called in Ac 13:33; which shows that the book of Psalms was in the same form in the apostles' days as now, and as it ever had been; and though it is without a title, yet certain it is that it is a psalm of David, since the twelve apostles of Christ with one voice ascribe it to him, in which no doubt they the generally received sense of the Jewish Ac 4:24,25; and the Messiah is the subject of and that it is a prophecy concerning him, his person, office, and kingdom, appears from the express mention of the Lord's Anointed, or Messiah, in his being set as King over Zion, notwithstanding the opposition made against him; from the person spoken of being called the Son of God, and that in such sense as angels and men are not, and therefore cannot belong to any creature; and from his having so large an inheritance, and such power over the Heathen; and from the reverence, service, and obedience due to him from the kings and judges of the earth; and from the trust and confidence which is to be put in him, which ought not to be placed but in a divine Person; and more especially this appears from several passages cited out of it in the New Testament, and applied to the Messiah, \Ac 4:25-27 13:33 Heb 1:5 5:5\, to which may be added, that the ancient Jewish doctors interpreted this psalm of the Messiah {s}; and some of the modern ones own that it may be understood either of David or of the Messiah, and that some things are clearer of the Messiah than of David {t}; and some particular passages in it are applied to him both by ancient and later writers among the Jews, as Ps 2:1,2, "Why do the Heathen rage" {u}; Ps 2:6, "I have set" {w}; Ps 2:7, "I will declare the decree", &c. {x}, and Ps 2:8, "Ask of me" {y}; and we may very safely interpret the whole of him.

{s} Jarchi in loc. {t} Kimchi in v. 12. & Aben Ezra in v. 6. 12. {u} T. Bab. Avodah Zarah, fol. 3. 2. Pirke Eliezer, c. 19. {w} R. Saadiah Gaon in Dan. vii. 13. {x} Yalkut Simeoni, par. 2. fol. 90. 2. Zohar in Numb. fol. 82. 2. Maimon in Misn Sanhedrin, c. 11. 1. & Abarbinel Mashmiah Jeshuah, fol. 37. 4. &. 38. 1. {y} T. Bab. Succah, fol. 52. 1. & Bereshit Rabba, s. 44. fol. 38. 4.

Cross References 14

  • 1. Psalms 45:6
  • 2. Psalms 48:1, 2
  • 3. Acts 13:33; Hebrews 1:5; Hebrews 5:5
  • 4. Psalms 21:1, 2
  • 5. Psalms 22:27
  • 6. Psalms 67:7
  • 7. Psalms 89:23; Psalms 110:5, 6; Revelation 2:26, 27; Revelation 12:5; Revelation 19:15
  • 8. Psalms 28:5; Psalms 52:5; Psalms 72:4
  • 9. Proverbs 8:15; Proverbs 27:11
  • 10. Psalms 5:7
  • 11. Psalms 119:119, 120
  • 12. Psalms 2:7
  • 13. Revelation 6:16, 17
  • 14. Psalms 5:11; Psalms 34:22

Footnotes 11

  • [a]. Or "consecrated"
  • [b]. Or "decree: The LORD said to Me"
  • [c]. Or "Gentiles"
  • [d]. Another reading is "rule"
  • [e]. Or "scepter" or "staff"
  • [f]. Lit "potter's ware"
  • [g]. Or "leaders"
  • [h]. Or "Serve"
  • [i]. Or "fear"
  • [j]. Lit "Kiss;" some ancient versions read "Do homage purely," or, "Lay hold of instruction"
  • [k]. Or "quickly, suddenly, easily"
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