Psalm 2 Verse-by-Verse

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Welcome to the DRAFT Verse-by-Verse Notes for Psalm 2!

The Verse-by-Verse Notes present scholarly, exegetical materials (from all layers of analysis) in a verse-by-verse format. They often present alternative interpretive options and justification for a preferred interpretation. The Verse-by-Verse Notes are aimed at consultant-level users.

The discussion of each verse of this psalm includes the following items.

1. A link to the part of the overview video where the verse in question is discussed.
2. The verse in Hebrew and English.
3. An expanded paraphrase of the verse.
4. A grammatical diagram of the verse, which includes glosses for each word and phrase.
5. A series of notes on the verse, which contain information pertaining to the interpretation of the psalm (e.g., meaning of words and phrases, poetic features, difficult grammatical constructions, etc.).

Rebellion (vv. 1-3)

v. 1

v.	Hebrew	Close-but-clear
1a	לָ֭מָּה רָגְשׁ֣וּ גוֹיִ֑ם	Why are nations in an uproar,
1b	וּ֝לְאֻמִּ֗ים יֶהְגּוּ־רִֽיק׃	and [why] would peoples plot emptiness?

Expanded Paraphrase

YHWH and his anointed king rule over the nations and their rulers. But the nations and their rulers want freedom and independence from the imperial rule of YHWH and his anointed one, and so they are attempting to rebel. But there is no point! They will certainly be defeated. Why do they even bother? Why are nations in an uproar, like an agitated crowd or like a turbulent sea, and [why] would peoples make plots that result only in emptiness?

Grammatical Diagram

v. 2

v.	Hebrew	Close-but-clear
2a	יִ֥תְיַצְּב֨וּ ׀ מַלְכֵי־אֶ֗רֶץ	[Why] would earthly kings take a stand
2b	וְרוֹזְנִ֥ים נֽוֹסְדוּ־יָ֑חַד׃	and [why] have rulers conspired together
2c	עַל־יְ֝הוָה וְעַל־מְשִׁיחֽוֹ׃	against YHWH and against his anointed one?

Expanded Paraphrase

[Why] would earthly kings who govern the nations as vassals to YHWH and his king take a stand against their suzerains, and [why] have rulers conspired together against YHWH and against his king whom he anointed as the one to rule his people?

Grammatical Diagram

v. 3

v.	Hebrew	Close-but-clear
3a	נְֽ֭נַתְּקָה אֶת־מֽוֹסְרוֹתֵ֑ימוֹ	"Let's tear off their bonds
3b	וְנַשְׁלִ֖יכָה מִמֶּ֣נּוּ עֲבֹתֵֽימוֹ׃׃	and throw their ropes away from us!"

Expanded Paraphrase

The rebels say, "Let's stop serving them! Let's tear off their bonds and throw their ropes away from us! Let's achieve independence!"

Grammatical Diagram

Response (vv. 4-6)

v. 4

v.	Hebrew	Close-but-clear
4a	יוֹשֵׁ֣ב בַּשָּׁמַ֣יִם יִשְׂחָ֑ק	The one enthroned in the heavens laughs.
4b	אֲ֝דֹנָ֗י יִלְעַג־לָֽמוֹ׃	The Lord mocks them.

Expanded Paraphrase

The one enthroned in the heavens, far above the earthly kings, is not threatened by their rebellion. Instead, he laughs at them, an expression of mockery and disdain. The all-powerful Lord whom they ought to be serving mocks them.

Grammatical Diagram

v. 5

v.	Hebrew	Close-but-clear
5a	אָ֤ז יְדַבֵּ֣ר אֵלֵ֣ימוֹ בְאַפּ֑וֹ	Then he speaks to them in his anger
5b	וּֽבַחֲרוֹנ֥וֹ יְבַהֲלֵֽמוֹ׃	and terrifies them in his wrath.

Expanded Paraphrase

Then he speaks to them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath.

Grammatical Diagram

v. 6

v.	Hebrew	Close-but-clear
6a	וַ֭אֲנִי נָסַ֣כְתִּי מַלְכִּ֑י	"But I have poured out my king
6b	עַל־צִ֝יּ֗וֹן הַר־קָדְשִֽׁי׃	on Zion, my holy mountain."

Expanded Paraphrase

He says in response to their words (v. 3): "You can plot all you like, but it will not work. I have poured out my king as my image, just as a craftsman pours liquid metal into a mold to make an image, and I have placed him on Zion, the city of David, my holy mountain, the place where heaven and earth meet, to represent my heavenly rule on the earth. Nothing that you do can alter this reality."

Grammatical Diagram

Decree (vv. 7-9)

v. 7

v.	Hebrew	Close-but-clear
7a	אֲסַפְּרָ֗ה אֶֽ֫ל חֹ֥ק	I will tell about the decree;
7b	יְֽהוָ֗ה אָמַ֘ר אֵלַ֥י בְּנִ֥י אַ֑תָּה	YHWH said to me, "You are my son.
7c	אֲ֝נִ֗י הַיּ֥וֹם יְלִדְתִּֽיךָ׃	I hereby father you today.

Expanded Paraphrase

Listen up, you rebellious nations! I, the king whom YHWH anointed and cast as his image, will tell about the covenant YHWH made with my father, David, which he has confirmed to me as a decree, a decree that you must heed; YHWH said to me on the day of my enthronement, "You are my son. You resemble me in terms of character, you represent my rule, and you will always receive my paternal care. With this speech, I hereby father you today, on the day of your enthronement, causing you to be born into a royal existence, thus fulfilling what I promised your father, David, when I told him, 'I will raise up your offspring after you... and I will establish his kingdom... I will become his father, and he will become my son' (2 Sam 7:12-14).

Grammatical Diagram

v. 8

v.	Hebrew	Close-but-clear
8a	שְׁאַ֤ל מִמֶּ֗נִּי וְאֶתְּנָ֣ה ג֭וֹיִם נַחֲלָתֶ֑ךָ	Ask me, and I will make nations your inheritance
8b	וַ֝אֲחֻזָּתְךָ֗ אַפְסֵי־אָֽרֶץ׃	and the ends of the earth your property.

Expanded Paraphrase

Ask me, my son, for your inheritance, and I will make nations your inheritance and the ends of the earth your property. For the whole world is mine, and you, my only son, will inherit it all.

Grammatical Diagram

v. 9

v.	Hebrew	Close-but-clear
9a	תְּ֭רֹעֵם בְּשֵׁ֣בֶט בַּרְזֶ֑ל	You will crush them with an iron scepter.
9b	כִּכְלִ֖י יוֹצֵ֣ר תְּנַפְּצֵֽם׃	You will smash them like clay pottery."

Expanded Paraphrase

If they try to rebel against your rule, I will be with you to strengthen you, and you will crush them with an iron scepter and smash them like fragile clay pottery that, once it is smashed, cannot be put back together."

Grammatical Diagram

Ultimatum (vv. 10-12)

v. 10

v.	Hebrew	Close-but-clear
10a	וְ֭עַתָּה מְלָכִ֣ים הַשְׂכִּ֑ילוּ	And now, kings, wise up!
10b	הִ֝וָּסְר֗וּ שֹׁ֣פְטֵי אָֽרֶץ׃	Accept discipline, earthly rulers!

Expanded Paraphrase

And now, kings, be wise. Accept discipline, rulers of earth. (Return to living under the rule of God's king,) (because fearing God is the beginning of wisdom.)

Grammatical Diagram

v. 11

v.	Hebrew	Close-but-clear
11a	עִבְד֣וּ אֶת־יְהוָ֣ה בְּיִרְאָ֑ה	Serve YHWH with fear
11b	וְ֝גִ֗ילוּ בִּרְעָדָֽה׃	and rejoice with trembling!

Expanded Paraphrase

Serve YHWH with fear, (do not rebel in pride,) and (use your voice to) rejoice with trembling(, do not use it to mutter empty noise in firm opposition).

Grammatical Diagram

v. 12

v.	Hebrew	Close-but-clear
12a	נַשְּׁקוּ־בַ֡ר פֶּן־יֶאֱנַ֤ף ׀ וְתֹ֬אבְדוּ דֶ֗רֶךְ	Kiss the son, or else he will become angry and you will perish in your way,
12b	כִּֽי־יִבְעַ֣ר כִּמְעַ֣ט אַפּ֑וֹ	for his anger quickly ignites.
12c	אַ֝שְׁרֵ֗י כָּל־ח֥וֹסֵי בֽוֹ׃	Happy are all who take refuge in him!

Expanded Paraphrase

Kiss the son, (thereby showing submission to him,) lest he become angry and you perish in your conduct, for his anger rages easily(, and he will prevail over you because God has validated him). Happy are all who take refuge in him. (If you do not want to perish in your path,) (serve God at his temple and meditate on his Torah day and night.)

Grammatical Diagram

Legends

Grammatical diagram

The grammar layer visually represents the grammar and syntax of each clause. It also displays alternative interpretations of the grammar. (For more information, click "Grammar Legend" below.)

Grammar Legend

Visualization	Description
	The clause is represented by a horizontal line with a vertical line crossing through it, separating the subject and the verb.
	The object is indicated by a vertical line that does not cross the horizontal line of the clause. Infinitives and participles may also have objects. If the direct object marker (d.o.m.) is present in the text, it appears in the diagram immediately before the object. If the grammar includes a secondary object, the secondary object will appear after the object, separated by another vertical line that does not cross the horizontal line of the clause.
	The subject complement follows the verb (often omitted in Hebrew) separated with a line leaning toward the right. It can be a noun, a whole prepositional phrase or an adjective. The later two appear modifying the complement slot.
	When a noun further describes or renames the object, it is an object complement. The object complement follows the object separated by a line leaning toward the right.
	In a construct chain, the noun in the absolute form modifies the noun in the construct form.
	Participles are indicated in whatever position in the clause they are in with a curved line before the participle. Participles can occur as nominal, where they take the place of a noun, predicate, where they take the place of a verb, or attributive, where they modify a noun or a verb similar to adjectives or adverbs.
	Infinitives are indicated by two parallel lines before the infinitive that cross the horizontal line. Infinitive constructs can appear as the verb in an embedded clause. Infinitive absolutes typically appear as an adverbial.
	The subject of the infinitive often appears in construct to it. In this situation, the infinitive and subject are diagrammed as a construct chain.
	The object of the infinitive is indicated by a vertical line that does not cross the horizontal line of the infinitival clause.
	Modifiers are represented by a solid diagonal line from the word they modify. They can attach to verbs, adjectives, or nouns. If modifying a verb or adjective, it is an adverb, but if modifying a noun, it is an adjective, a quantifier, or a definite article. If an adverb is modifying a modifier, it is connected to the modifier by a small dashed horizontal line.
	Adverbials are indicated by a dashed diagonal line extending to a horizontal line. These are nouns or infinitives that function adverbially (modifying either a verb or a participle), but are not connected by a preposition.
	Prepositional phrases are indicated by a solid diagonal line extending to a horizontal line. The preposition is to the left of the diagonal line and the dependent of the preposition is on the horizontal line. They can modify verbs (adverbial) or nouns (adjectival).
	Embedded clauses are indicated by a "stand" that looks like an upside-down Y. The stand rests in the grammatical position that the clause fulfills. Extending from the top of the stand is a horizontal line for the clause. If introduced by a complementizer, for example כִּי, the complementizer appears before the stand. Embedded clauses can stand in the place of any noun.
	When clauses are joined by a conjunction, they are compound clauses. These clauses are connected by a vertical dotted line. The conjunction is placed next to the dotted line.
	Within a clause, if two or more parts of speech are compound, these are represented by angled lines reaching to the two compound elements connected by a solid vertical line. If a conjunction is used, the conjunction appears to the left of the vertical line. Almost all parts of speech can be compound.
	Subordinate clauses are indicated by a dashed line coming from the line dividing the subject from the predicate in the independent clause and leading to the horizontal line of the subordinate clause. The subordinating conjunction appears next to the dashed line.
	Relative clauses also have a dashed line, but the line connects the antecedent to the horizontal line of the relative clause. The relative particle appears next to the dashed line.
	Sentence fragments are represented by a horizontal line with no vertical lines. They are most frequently used in superscriptions to psalms. They are visually similar to discourse particles and vocatives, but most often consist of a noun phrase (that does not refer to a person or people group) or a prepositional phrase.
	In the body of the psalm, a horizontal line by itself (with no modifiers or vertical lines) can indicate either a discourse particle or a vocative (if the word is a noun referring to a person or people group). A discourse particle is a conjunction or particle that functions at the discourse level, not at the grammatical level. Vocatives can appear either before or after the clause addressed to them, depending on the word order of the Hebrew.
	Apposition is indicated by an equal sign equating the two noun phrases. This can occur with a noun in any function in a sentence.

Hebrew text colors
Default preferred text	The default preferred reading is represented by a black line. The text of the MT is represented in bold black text.
Dispreferred reading	The dispreferred reading is an alternative interpretation of the grammar, represented by a pink line. The text of the MT is represented in bold pink text, while emendations and revocalizations retain their corresponding colors (see below).
Emended text	Emended text, text in which the consonants differ from the consonants of the Masoretic text, is represented by bold blue text, whether that reading is preferred or dispreferred.
Revocalized text	Revocalized text, text in which only the vowels differ from the vowels of the Masoretic text, is represented by bold purple text, whether that reading is preferred or dispreferred.
(Supplied elided element)	Any element that is elided in the Hebrew text is represented by bold gray text in parentheses.
( )	The position of a non-supplied elided element is represented by empty black parentheses. For example, this would be used in the place of the noun when an adjective functions substantivally or in the place of the antecedent when a relative clause has an implied antecedent.

Gloss text colors
Gloss used in the CBC	The gloss used in the Close-but-Clear translation is represented by bold blue text.
Literal gloss >> derived meaning	A gloss that shows the more literal meaning as well as the derived figurative meaning is represented in blue text with arrows pointing towards the more figurative meaning. The gloss used in the CBC will be bolded.
Supplied elided element	The gloss for a supplied elided element is represented in bold gray text.

Shapes and colours on grammatical diagram

(For more information, click "Phrase-level Legend" below.)

Phrase-level Legend

Visualization	Description
	The prepositional phrase is indicated by a solid green oval.
	The construct chain is indicated by a solid yellow oval.
	When the conjunction ו appears at the phrase-level (not clause-level), it is indicated by a solid light purple oval.
	The article is indicated by a solid blue oval.

Expanded paraphrase

(For more information, click "Expanded Paraphrase Legend" below.)

Expanded Paraphrase Legend

Expanded paraphrase legend
Close but Clear (CBC) translation	The CBC, our close but clear translation of the Hebrew, is represented in bold text.
Assumptions	Assumptions which provide background information, presuppositions, entailments, and inferences are represented in italics.

References

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