Anakalypsis / Unveiling the Word
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⚙ Annotations & References ▾
Passage sections 1 ▾
The LORD's Anointed poetry 2:1–2:12
Themes 7 ▾
Judgment 1-2, 12 Sovereignty of God 1-2 Kingship of Christ 2, 6-7, 12 Messianic Promise 7-8 Kingdom of God 8 Faith 12 Blessing and Curse 12
Places 1 ▾
Mount Zion Judah 6
Prophecies 5 ▾
Kings Rage Against the Anointed (Ps 2) 1-2 Anointed King Set on Zion 6 Declared the Son of God 7 Ask of Me and I Will Give Thee the Nations 8 Rules with a Rod of Iron 9
Typology 1 ▾
David → Christ as King 6-7
Historic voices 20 ▾
Catechism of the Catholic Church 6× 1-2, 7-8 Mystici Corporis Christi 1× 1 Commentary on the Book of Psalms 1× 1-2, 4, 6-8, 11-12 Summa Theologica 2× 1, 7 Church History (Historia Ecclesiastica) 2× 2, 7 Homilies on the Epistle to the Hebrews 3× 4, 8, 11 Homilies on the Gospel of John 1× 5 London Baptist Confession of 1689 1× 6 1 Clement (Letter to the Corinthians) 1× 7 Contra Celsum (Against Celsus) 1× 7 Against Praxeas 1× 7 Catechetical Lectures 1× 7 Homilies on the First Epistle to the Corinthians 1× 8 Heidelberg Catechism 2× 9, 11 Homilies on the Epistle to the Romans 1× 11 John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible 1× 1-12 Keil and Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament 1× 1, 4, 7, 10 Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary 1× 1, 7, 10 Expositions on the Psalms 1× 1, 3, 7 Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary 1× 2-10, 12
Manuscript witnesses 5 ▾
Codex Sinaiticus Aleph c. AD 330-360 Codex Vaticanus B c. AD 300-325 Codex Alexandrinus A c. AD 400-440 Aleppo Codex (Crown of Aleppo) c. AD 930 Leningrad Codex (Codex Leningradensis) AD 1008
Cross-references 139 ▾
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What is Psalms 2 about?

Following the two ways of the righteous and the wicked, the second psalm lifts the reader from the individual to the nations, showing the kings of the earth raging together against the LORD and against His Anointed. God answers their rebellion with laughter from heaven and the declaration that He has set His King upon Zion, saying to Him, 'Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee,' and granting Him the nations for an inheritance. The rulers of the earth are therefore warned to serve the LORD with fear and to kiss the Son, lest they perish in the way. Paired with the first psalm as the double gateway of the book, this royal psalm announces the reign of God's anointed King, whom the New Testament proclaims as Jesus the Christ, sounding the note of His kingdom that carries through the whole Psalter.

Historical backdrop

These are the songbook of a nation, sung across a thousand years of Israel's worship, from Moses in the wilderness to the exiles returned from Babylon. They were carried from the tabernacle to Solomon's temple to the second temple rebuilt under Persia, set to the lyre and the harp and the clash of cymbals in the courts of the LORD.

Matthew Henry on Psalms 2
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Psalms 2
The Church Fathers on Psalms 2
Cited by the confessions

Psalms 2

Psalms Chapter 2
2
1Why do the nations rage, And the peoples meditate a vain thing?
2The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against Jehovah, and against his anointed, saying,
3Let us break their bonds asunder, And cast away their cords from us.
4He that sitteth in the heavens will laugh: The Lord will have them in derision.
5Then will he speak unto them in his wrath, And vex them in his sore displeasure:
6Yet I have set my king Upon my holy hill of Zion.
7I will tell of the decree: Jehovah said unto me, Thou art my son; This day have I begotten thee.
8Ask of me, and I will givetheethe nations for thine inheritance, And the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
9Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.
10Now therefore be wise, O ye kings: Be instructed, ye judges of the earth.
11Serve Jehovah with fear, And rejoice with trembling.
12Kiss the son, lest he be angry, and ye perish in the way, For his wrath will soon be kindled. Blessed are all they that take refuge in him.
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What is Psalms 2 about?

Following the two ways of the righteous and the wicked, the second psalm lifts the reader from the individual to the nations, showing the kings of the earth raging together against the LORD and against His Anointed. God answers their rebellion with laughter from heaven and the declaration that He has set His King upon Zion, saying to Him, 'Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee,' and granting Him the nations for an inheritance. The rulers of the earth are therefore warned to serve the LORD with fear and to kiss the Son, lest they perish in the way. Paired with the first psalm as the double gateway of the book, this royal psalm announces the reign of God's anointed King, whom the New Testament proclaims as Jesus the Christ, sounding the note of His kingdom that carries through the whole Psalter.