The Meaning of Psalms 2:2 Explained

Psalms 2:2

KJV: The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,

YLT: Station themselves do kings of the earth, And princes have been united together, Against Jehovah, and against His Messiah:

Darby: The kings of the earth set themselves, and the princes plot together, against Jehovah and against his anointed:

ASV: The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against Jehovah, and against his anointed,'saying ,

KJV Reverse Interlinear

The kings  of the earth  set  themselves, and the rulers  take counsel  together,  against the LORD,  and against his anointed,  [saying], 

What does Psalms 2:2 Mean?

Verse Meaning

When the nations opposed God"s vice-regent, they set themselves against the Lord Himself (cf. Acts 4:25-26). The term "Anointed" is really "Messiah" (Heb. masiah), which in Greek translates to "Christ" (christos). Every Israelite king anointed by a prophet was a messiah. Though we usually think of Jesus as the Messiah, He was the most faithful of many "messiahs" in Israel"s history. Since this psalm deals with Israel"s king it is a royal Psalm , as are Psalm 18 , 20 , 21 , 45 , 72 , 89 , 101 , 110 , 132 , , 144. The godly meditate on God"s words ( Psalm 1:1), but these wicked rulers meditated on rebellion.

Context Summary

Psalms 2:1-12 - God's Son Upon His Throne
This is one of the sublimest of the Psalms, and can find its fulfillment only in our Lord. See Acts 4:25; Acts 13:33; Hebrews 1:5; Hebrews 5:5; Revelation 2:27. The mold in which the psalm is cast is highly dramatic.
The determined hate of the peoples, Psalms 2:1-3
Rage conveys the idea of gesticulations and cries of frenzy. For Psalms 2:2, see Luke 23:12-13; Acts 4:25-26.
The divine tranquillity, Psalms 2:4-6
The scene shifts to heaven. In spite of all, the eternal purpose moves on. I have set-that is, "anointed." "Messiah" and "Christ" alike mean anointed, Acts 10:38.
The manifesto of Messiah, Psalms 2:7-9
Before time began He was the only begotten Son of God, John 17:5. But His sonship was declared at His resurrection, Acts 13:30-37. The world is His, to be won by the Cross and intercession.
Overtures of peace, Psalms 2:12
Kiss, 1 Samuel 10:1. This psalm closes as the first began, "Oh, the blessedness!" [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 2

1  The kingdom of Christ
10  Kings are exhorted to accept it

What do the individual words in Psalms 2:2 mean?

set themselves the kings of the earth and the rulers take counsel together Against Yahweh and against His Anointed [saying]
יִ֥תְיַצְּב֨וּ ׀ מַלְכֵי־ אֶ֗רֶץ וְרוֹזְנִ֥ים נֽוֹסְדוּ־ יָ֑חַד עַל־ יְ֝הוָה וְעַל־ מְשִׁיחֽוֹ

יִ֥תְיַצְּב֨וּ ׀  set  themselves 
Parse: Verb, Hitpael, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: יָצַב 
Sense: to place, set, stand, set or station oneself, present oneself.
מַלְכֵי־  the  kings 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
אֶ֗רֶץ  of  the  earth 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
וְרוֹזְנִ֥ים  and  the  rulers 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: רָזַן  
Sense: (Qal) to be weighty, be judicious, be commanding.
נֽוֹסְדוּ־  take  counsel 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: יָסַד 
Sense: to found, fix, establish, lay foundation.
יָ֑חַד  together 
Parse: Adverb
Root: יַחַד 
Sense: union, unitedness adv.
עַל־  Against 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
יְ֝הוָה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
וְעַל־  and  against 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
מְשִׁיחֽוֹ  His  Anointed  [saying] 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: מָשִׁיחַ  
Sense: anointed, anointed one.