Psalm 2 2

Psalm 2:2 kjv

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

Psalm 2:2 nkjv

The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying,

Psalm 2:2 niv

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

Psalm 2:2 esv

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

Psalm 2:2 nlt

The kings of the earth prepare for battle;
the rulers plot together
against the LORD
and against his anointed one.

Psalm 2 verses

Psalm 2 2 Meaning

Psalm 2:2 depicts the rulers of the earth and their leaders conspiring together, taking a defiant stance against the sovereign God, the LORD (YHVH), and against the King He has specially chosen and consecrated, His Anointed (Messiah). This verse establishes the fundamental conflict between rebellious human authority and divine dominion, foreshadowing the inevitable defeat of those who oppose God's preordained plan and His Christ.

Psalm 2 2 Context

Psalm 2 is a royal messianic psalm, likely originating as a coronation psalm for a Davidic king in ancient Israel, where the king was God's chosen representative. Historically, kings or rulers of surrounding nations often sought to break free from Israelite or Judean vassalage, seeing their dominion as an imposition. This verse captures their concerted rebellion against God's appointed order. Spiritually, it serves as a powerful prophecy looking beyond any single human monarch, pointing to God's ultimate Anointed King—the Messiah. It sets the stage for a dramatic conflict between futile human counsel and irresistible divine decree, immediately followed by God's dismissive laughter and eventual triumph.

Psalm 2 2 Word analysis

• The kings (מְלָכִים - melakhim) of the earth (הָאָרֶץ - ha’arets):
  • Melakhim signifies literal rulers or monarchs. It speaks to established worldly power.
  • Ha’arets ("the earth") indicates a universal scope, not limited to one region or nation, suggesting that this rebellion is characteristic of all human power divorced from God. It highlights the worldly nature of this opposition, as opposed to heavenly or divine rule.
• set themselves (יִתְיַצְּבוּ - yityatsvu):
  • From the root יָצַב (yatsav), meaning "to stand, to station oneself." The reflexive stem (Nifal) here implies taking a stand or positioning oneself, specifically in an attitude of opposition or defiance. It signifies a deliberate and assertive act of defiance and confrontation.
• and the rulers (וְרוֹזְנִים - wəRōzənîm):
  • Roznim refers to princes, potentates, or sub-ordinate authorities, often those who counsel or decree. Their inclusion alongside "kings" broadens the scope of rebellion to all levels of earthly leadership—political, administrative, and influential figures—indicating a collective and comprehensive resistance.
• take counsel together (נוֹסְדוּ - no’adū):
  • From the root יָעַד (ya'ad), meaning "to appoint, meet, or gather by appointment." Here, it's used in the sense of deliberating, consulting, or conspiring. This emphasizes that their opposition is not random but is premeditated, organized, and unified in its malicious intent. It implies a coordinated strategy.
• against the LORD (עַל־יְהוָה - ‘al-YHVH):
  • ‘Al (against) directly signifies opposition.
  • YHVH is the sacred, personal, covenant name of God, revealing His self-existent and relational nature. This clarifies that the ultimate object of their rebellion is not just a king, but the divine, sovereign God Himself, who has a plan and makes a covenant.
• and against His Anointed (וְעַל־מְשִׁיחוֹ - wə‘al-məšîḥô):
  • Mashiach (מָשִׁיחַ) means "anointed one," from the verb mashach (to anoint). This is the Hebrew word from which "Messiah" derives. In ancient Israel, kings, priests, and sometimes prophets were anointed with oil as a sign of divine selection and empowerment. Here, it refers specifically to God's chosen King. The singular "His Anointed" points specifically to one chosen ruler, ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Their rebellion against "His Anointed" is therefore a rebellion against God's own sovereign choice and His chosen representative.

Psalm 2 2 Bonus section

The opposition described in Psalm 2:2 is not just a general resistance to God's principles but specifically targets God's "Anointed," emphasizing a rejection of God's appointed representative or delegated authority on earth. This points to the principle that opposing God's chosen means and messengers is equivalent to opposing God directly. This is echoed throughout Scripture, from the rebellion against Moses to the outright rejection of Jesus Christ. The term Messiah takes on a deeper prophetic significance here, transcending historical Israelite kings to prefigure the ultimate divine King. The futile conspiracy highlighted also reveals that earthly power structures, when operating outside divine alignment, often pool their resources for destructive, rather than constructive, ends.

Psalm 2 2 Commentary

Psalm 2:2 presents a vivid tableau of worldly powers uniting in vain opposition against God and His designated King, the Messiah. This act is depicted not as random rebellion, but as a calculated and concerted effort ("take counsel together") by the highest earthly authorities ("kings" and "rulers"). Yet, the psalm immediately dismisses their efforts as futile. The defiance against God's Anointed is intrinsically defiance against God Himself, underscoring that human attempts to overthrow divine sovereignty or subvert His preordained plans are ultimately foolish. This verse thus prophetically portrays the persistent opposition the Messiah, Jesus Christ, would face from both Jewish and Gentile leaders, from His first advent (as seen in the plotting against Him) to His ultimate establishment of His kingdom. It assures that all such earthly resistance is condemned to fail against the Almighty's will.