Psalms 2:2

2 The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the LORD and against his anointed, saying,

Psalms 2:2 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,
English Standard Version (ESV)
2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying,
New Living Translation (NLT)
2 The kings of the earth prepare for battle; the rulers plot together against the LORD and against his anointed one.
The Message Bible (MSG)
2 Earth-leaders push for position, Demagogues and delegates meet for summit talks, The God-deniers, the Messiah-defiers:
American Standard Version (ASV)
2 The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against Jehovah, and against his anointed, [saying],
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
2 Kings take their stands. Rulers make plans together against the LORD and against his Messiah by saying,
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
2 The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers conspire together against the Lord and His Anointed One:
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
2 The kings of the earth take their stand against the Lord. The rulers of the earth gather together against his anointed king.

Psalms 2:2 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 2:2

The kings of the earth set themselves
Rose and stood up in great wrath and fury, and presented themselves in an hostile manner, and opposed the Messiah: as Herod the great, king of Judea, who very early bestirred himself, and sought to take away the life of Jesus in his infancy; and Herod Antipas, tetrarch of Galilee, who is called a king, ( Mark 6:14 ) ; who with his men of war mocked him, and set him at nought; and Pontius Pilate, the governor of Judea, who represented the Roman emperor, and condemned him to death, ( Matthew 27:26 ) ; and all the kings of the earth ever since, who ever persecuted Christ in his members, and have set themselves with all their might to hinder the spread of his Gospel and the enlargement of his interest;

and the rulers take counsel together;
as did the Jewish sanhedrim, the great court of judicature among the Jews, the members of which were the rulers of the people, who frequently met together and consulted to take away the life of Christ: though it may also include all other governors and magistrates who have entered into schemes

against the Lord, and against his Anointed,
or Messiah, Christ: by "the Lord", or Jehovah, which is the great, the glorious, and incommunicable name of God, and is expressive of his eternal being and self-existence, and of his being the fountain of essence to all creatures, is meant God the Father; since he is distinguished from his Son, the Messiah, his anointed One, as Messiah and Christ signify; and who is so called, because he is anointed by God with the Holy Ghost, without measure, to the office of the Mediator, Prophet, Priest, and King; from whom the saints receive the anointing, which teacheth all things, and every grace of the Spirit in measure; and who, after his name, are called Christians. This name of the promised Redeemer was well known among the Jews, ( John 1:41 ) ( 4:25 ) ; and which they took from this passage, and from some others;

[saying],
as follows:

Psalms 2:2 In-Context

1 Why do the nations conspireand the peoples plot in vain?
2 The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the LORD and against his anointed, saying,
3 “Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles.”
4 The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them.
5 He rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,

Cross References 3

  • 1. Psalms 48:4
  • 2. S 1 Samuel 9:16; John 1:41
  • 3. Psalms 74:18,23; Acts 4:25-26*
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