King
From Psalms: Layer by Layer
Key Words
| Word | Gloss | Ref. |
|---|---|---|
| מֶלֶךְ | "king" | Ps. |
| יָשַׁב | "sit [on a throne]" | Ps. 2:4 |
- The verb ישׁב may refer figuratively to “reigning” (i.e., sitting on a throne). It appears a number of times in the phrase ישׁב על כסא (Ex. 11:5; 12:29; Deut. 17:18; 1 Sam 1:9; 4:13; 1 Kgs. 1:13, 17, 20) and may have a similar meaning even when the prepositional phrase (על כסא) is omitted (cf. Isa. 40:22; Zech. 9:6; Ps. 2:4).
Ancient Setting
Target Domains
- In Psalm 2 Yahweh is depicted as a king enthroned in the heavens, higher and mightier than the "kings of the earth" (v. 2).